From here to Utility - The End!

Tom finished on Saturday afternoon and we now have moved most things in to the new utility/workshop that are going to live there. There's still a few bits left to do but only minor things like putting blinds up etc.

It's very exciting to have such an amazing space, where once there was only breeze blocks and old toilets, and I think that it's going to take some getting used to. Don't mind getting used to it, though!

The "after" pictures (for before you need to look back a few weeks!):

The extra window at the end makes all the difference.


The utility end

The workshop end. As you can see, this is already in use....

So I reckon we're all done in terms of renovations (well, for the moment, anyway). Thanks to Tom, it's all been a lot less hassle than we thought it might but I think we're good to go for a while now. Time to spend some thought and effort on the garden, as the weather gets better!

From here to Utility, part 4

Tom has been building away and working really hard, as he aims to finish the utility/workshop by the end of this week. Mike is beyond excited at this prospect. I get the impression that I will be redirecting his post to the workshop after a while.

Although all is very clearly under control, there still seems a lot left to do to the untrained eye, especially as the supposed-to-be-pre-assembled cupboards came as a flat pack. That'll double your work, especially as the main use of this space is for storage - ie a lot of cupboards! However, nothing if not inventive, Tom has been getting help where he can. The plasterer found new flat pack assembly skills he didn't know he had yesterday and a similar fate awaits the electrician tomorrow....

Who knows - by the weekend, I may well have gained a utility room and lost a husband.

The difference from those before pictures a few weeks back is quite striking, though! No longer a dingy out-building!

From here to Utility

You'll be pleased to know that I'm done with the bathroom updates. Now what happens in there is purely between those 4 (rather lovely) walls.

However, nobody could accuse us of standing still! Phase 2 of renovations to Rhodes Towers has now commenced. Our very tatty outhouse/workshop/not-garage is being transformed into a utility and work area. Here's the before shots...

Having witnessed the conversation between Tom and Mike tonight, I have every suspicion that as much time will be spent on perfecting the model-restoration corner as the rest of the room. I forsee many more conversations like tonight's, where my eyes begin to glaze over and theirs gleam. Let's face it, it's a boys' paradise - where questions like where can he spray paint most effectively (better have an extractor fan near that area at just the right height) and should we have a window at the back of the room so that he can look up and stretch his eyeballs when he's doing the fiddly bits (the answer is yes) are considered absolutely valid and treated with utmost seriousness. I certainly got the impression that Tom is looking forward to dealing with this kind of detail and Mike is planning never to leave this haven, once finished. I've told him that I draw the line at a fridge in there, as then at least he'll have to come out to eat.

Tom, however, must be relieved to have a bit more space to inhabit for the next few weeks. Compared to our 6 ft square bathroom, the workshop must feel like a palace - albeit a very draughty one!

PS I like the idea of the new window but not for the same reasons. I'm less concerned about Mike's eyesight and more interested in natural light!