Well, here I am, and here it is. The beginning of our extension in Scotland. This is just a shot to document the work, but if you're interested, on the right of the image is the back of our house. We have taken down the old 'extension' - you can see the remains of where it was. The new extension will be on two levels and so the back granite wall will eventually be breached and the upper slated dormer windows will be also taken away and replaced. The cottage facing you is just that, an old wooden cottage which we use as a garage at one end, and it's a fun barbecue area when the weather's inclement (quite often in Scotland ...). I'm quite nervous about the whole affair - knocking down walls in Victorian houses is always a worry!
I'll be here for a week or so, so commenting will be sporadic as I have a lot of work to do!
This will be fun for us to be able to see your progress. And good, I suspect, for you to be there in person as the work begins. How often will you have to return to supervise? You've given me the idea for August, to do the same when we get to move into our condo and start renovations. Enjoy your time there!
This is so interesting, Issi! Must be quite exciting for you! I look forward to keeping up with the project progress as you return to Scotland to check up on the work. :-)
@randystreat The building straight ahead is ours too Kathy. It's actually an old wooden cottage (listed building) and used to be used by the family of the house in summer. Traditionally, families used to rent out their granite dwelling house for the summer, and they would move into the wooden cottage for the duration. Interesting. We won't be doing that ! ;-) We use one half as a kind of summer house for parties and barbecues and I keep lots of souvenirs and stuff in there that I don't want to hang in the house. It's a wonderful extra space to have! The other side is used as a small garage and for storage. On our main house, we are adding a bedroom upstairs, overlooking the garden and a kitchen downstairs. The existing kitchen will become a bathroom and a utility/cloak room. The upstairs bathroom will also be modified. It's quite a significant piece of work, and we have hesitated for years before finally deciding to go ahead and do it! It is to be our 'forever' home, so we want to get it right!
@milaniet Myriad decisions, you are right. I'm going into Aberdeen next week to start making some of the bathroom decisions. It's a minefield out there ... too much choice!
@taffy Ii have an architect keeping an eye on things, but nothing replaces the owner popping in by from time to time! Plus as you'll know - there are times when you just need to be around. Now is not that time, but it will be soon as more of the finer details need to be decided upon. I plan coming over every 6 weeks-ish until August, and then I'll come over when required and for as long as required. They anticipate it should be finished by October, but I realistically I'm hoping it will be completely finished, inside and out, by Christmas.
@gaylewood It is very exciting but scary too. The good thing about having to come over for the house is that I can also spend time with dad who's having some eye problems and hip problems at the moment. He doesn't tell me off for coming over as he thinks it's purely for the house! :-)
@gijsje Hoping the main body of work will be completely finished by October, but I'm fairly sure there will be indoor stuff going on until nearer Christmas. Trying to be realistic!
@leggzy We are lucky not to have the stress of trying to camp in the property whilst it's undergoing the work. I am still able to stay here, as there's no impact yet on the main building - but I suspect my May visit will see me staying at dad's and popping up and down. By then there'll probably be no bathroom and no kitchen.
@jamibann Our project starts August 1 -- so I'll be watching yours with interest. It should take 2 months, but like you, I'm hoping for the holidays -- hopefully Thanksgiving!
