"I'm always thinking about future projects and at the same time trying to finish the project you're in the middle off" Jerry Lewis

Finishing the kitchen mezzanine

The top rail was eventually attached and the painting completed. Do then set about organising the playloft - a place to keep childhood memories and old books. A space for grandchildren to play one day perhaps 

 

Some favourite storybooks

Do's dolls house needs a few repairs to old hinges. The big chest now contains an eclectic collection of board games and quizzes

So now it's a place to be,something had to be done about the two wall plates. They were painted and used to show some items of kitchenalia we've picked up over the years 

"Graffiti's always been a temporary art form. You make your mark and then they scrub it off." Banksy

 Well Banksy, maybe not always. We are trying to preserve as much of the history of the building as we can and that includes some graffiti. Some we will keep on view

This message is on the upstairs gable end wall. There was another, similar one, on the lath and plaster roof which we had no option to take down but this was definitely saveable. The plan is to frame and insulate around it and cover with glass so it remains visible.

Downstairs there are some more recent scribings.

These were done at some point during the abandoned years following the sale to the previous owner, the last one being particularly prophetic. These are part of the story of the house and although we can't keep them all visible I will be leaving the plaster on the wall when we frame and insulate. One day maybe the archaeologists will rediscover them!

to be continued

"All insulation is environmentally friendly. Some installation has better environmental credentials, but what matters is the energy it saves" Dick Strawbridge

 I chose the quote because Manseadventure is our version of Escape to the Chateau. (I hasten to add that I'm no Dick... and though Do is no Angel she is an angel) The structural stuff is maybe not on the same scale but, then again, neither is the available budget nor the extent of the assistance.

errr, and not the balustrade either.

However, the action continues in our Studio project. We seesaw between full upstairs floor and mezzanine; stairs or spiral staircase but one thing which we definitely need is insulation.

Once I can see a few days without rain we will fit the new rooflight and finally make the house roof watertight. Maybe there'll also be final decisions regarding what the upstairs will look like, exciting!

"Two things are bad for the heart - running up stairs and running down people" Bernard Baruch

A spell of wet weather led to me working at my incomplete indoor jobs, or snagging. There are several of these as my preferred modus operandi is something akin to a bee collecting nectar (oh that looks interesting I'll try that...oh hang on look at that one) One of the longest outstanding jobs was up on the mezzanine in the kitchen. Health and safety would suffer cardiac arrest if they saw it pre balustrade

This weekend will hopefully see the finishing touches - watch this space.