Painting and colours

 Today we had Matt come and repaint and re caulk the stairs in the hall.

We then found out that I had bought the wrong paint.

We should have:

Wevet  on the wall in the hall (Johnsons covaplus vinyl matt)  If we did the whole wall again in future I would do this with a durable washable paint,

Wevet  egg shell on the stairs (woodwork)

French grey mid  is in the front room and kitchen.

One year in - We have loved living in this house

We are now one year on from finishing the renovations and this house has been incredible kind to us.

We had family and friends staying, cooking parties, games evenings, dinner parties and many impromptu cups of tea/coffee and juice around the kitchen table.

Granddad's chair in the corner of the kitchen is like a magnet,  a great reading chair for Mark
and a drop in chair for June, Consuelo, Erna and Elsa, not sure what they would do if I were to move the chair!

We have finally decided to install some curtains in front of the bifold doors. we hope it will give a little bit of a 'warmer' feeling in winter. They are linen and transparent, but at least on dark winter days it gives a feeling of coziness.

In the front room we have put some roller blinds. In the summer to give some shade if we want to watch some television, in winter to give a cozier feel.

The garden has been a great joy, low maintenance but extremely productive, enough food to go around and feed family and friends on a regular basis.

Between the outhouse and the kitchen there is plenty of space for process, store equipment and the end products, without anything feeling cramped.

The only thing that was not working so well was the paint on the walls in the hall, as they became marked very easily and it was difficult to take the marks off, without leaving a 'stain'

Also the woodwork along the stairs started blistering, so hope to remedy this when Sean and his team are coming back for a couple of days to repaint, touch up any little cracks and get the house in tip top condition.

Just so that we remember what paint was used where:
Johnstone's Cambridge 01223 364 521

Johnstone's acrylic Durable Matt  NTB273 PPG NTB  Walls in Hall 78 Wevet (scrubable)
Johnstone's Covaplus Vinyl Matt  NT273 this is not durable, just for decorative purposes for bedrooms and not heavy traffic.
Johnstone's Jonmat Premium Contract Matt  Brilliant White:  White Ceiling
Johnstone's acrylic Durable Matt French grey mid  for all the grey walls

Paint for the kitchen cupboards
Holman Specialist Paints Ltd  01793 511537
Feelings Furniture Paint:
Dark:  HSP NT 31 Railings
White: HSP NT Wevet 273
The primers for the above colours are on top of the wall cabinets.

Front door
F&B Oval Room Blue 85

All the paints are stored under the stairs of 78 Victoria Road.

Welcome to our new home

Welcome to 78 Victoria Road

What a wonderful experience this building project was, it has been a joy to work with Fallon Builders; Sean, Warren, Richard, Kenny and Peter. I will miss them but will  enjoy the labour of their work.

Hall way - narrow and a little tight

After

                                     

Before (after taking out the suspended floor)

As the hall way is rather tight, we put a large coir matting  by cut price carpets on Mill Road (1m x 1m) in the front, just the sequoia tiles all the way through into the kitchen and the underfloor heating to give a warm welcome. A mirror to make this tiny place feel a little wider. The stairs are covered with sisal from  Carpet Mill on Chesterton Road.

Look at our garden now - only 1 month after moving in

1 month after moving in

Before: preparing the shed area

Mark has settled into his office and this is what he sees from his window. A hard working wife and her visiting scholar friends.

We are in!

First day in our new home. It all turned out just how we hoped it would feel and look.

This home will be very kind to us.



The paint I used for the kitchen cupboards was from
Holman Specialist Paints Ltd
Feeling furniture paint semi matt Railings(dark blue/grey and Wevet white/grey

Floor tiles from Tile Giant: Sequoia

Walls: Johnston wholesale- Little Greene equivalent French Grey Mid - acrylic vinyl matt durable

Some picture of the kitchen before

Warren and Richard putting in insulations on kitchen floor next door

New extension; right hand is where kitchen units will go

Hole knocked though from Front room into new  reception/cloakroom
 area. 

Pea shingle in the garden

For many months we have been talking about how we can use the pea shingle to make the garden low maintenance.  I had seen a great company on line who supplies Ray slate slabs, unfortunately when I tried to order it, it was still in transit and Warren wants me to get the slabs within the next couple of days. In a little bit of a panic Mark and I went to have a cup of coffee at Stir on Chesterton Road, where I found that they had a lovely slate outside the cafe. We asked for the details, phoned The Natural Slate Company straight away and bought Andean Grey Paving Large Random  64 at £23.50 a piece. Much more expensive than hoped but the end result is lovely. (I think)

.

The moment I had the chance to plant a few of my baby plants that were kept in Consuelo's green house, I planted them up in my new garden.  May they grow well.

Found a place for mum's picture

When the removal guys came, the large wooden box arrived with a picture of mummy in it.
Initially we wondered where to hang it and think we have found a place in prime position.

When you come into the hall, there she is, big smile holding the cherry flowers.

Landing upstairs

As we could not have engineered wood nor tiles in the bathroom due to thin joists we have decided to
use Polyflor by flooring supplies.  White Limed Oak with  natural oak marquetry




.

Oh no, my desk does not fit!

The original idea was to put my 18th birthday present, my little writing desk, in the front room and use it as my study during the day. When the removal van came and tried to put it in place we realised that even though we tried hard, the space allocated for this piece of furniture was too small by 5mm.

We temporarily put it in the kitchen next to the dresser. Then Paola came who suggested to twist it slightly. I am so pleased as it fits perfectly. Thanks Paola for your suggestion

What to do with the middle room?

When we first looked at the plans for our new home, we were thinking of making the middle room a television room as we thought it might be a little dark.

In the end we decided to make it an extension of the hall, incorporating the downstairs WC and the 'hidden' cupboard under the stairs. The bead and butt wall panel we got from Ridgeonas 1220 x 2440mm. It was already primed £50.46

Our 'snug' is nearly ready.

To make sure that our down stairs is not too open, we have decided to make a cozy little room with our wood burning stove, Opa's chairs and our new John Lewis 'snuggle' sofa.
Initially we hoped to have used our existing sofa's but they were too big and did not fit in the room at all.  For a week or so we had both chairs in the room, but today the sofa arrived and fits in well with the other furniture.

After

Before:

Wheelie bin cover

To have both a neat storage for the wheelie bins as well as a 'table' to use for potting up and working at.

Rainwater Harvesting and Soak aways

After having been told that we needed a soak away, I have decided to also put in  a rainwater harvesting system as in the short time I have lived in Cambridge it has become clear that it is much drier here than in the Midlands. No doubt there will be hose bans in the future so not good if you want to have a 100% edible garden.  Besides, I can also use the water for doing laundry (with soft water) and flushing the wc.

I found a UK company who manufactures the tanks and also supplies the UK made submersible pumps.  I have asked Sean to order one today. As  they are so local, it might be that we will pick up if they cannot deliver in the next couple of day.

Ecosure   
Jon James

Etills Ltd

Unit 1 Whiting Way

Melbourn

Cambs

SG8 6NA

Tel: 01763 261 781

Fax: 01763 268 409

For a 1500 Litre system they are charging £899+VAT

Yesterday, the tank was picked up and today Warren is digging an enormous hole to fit in the tank. The top of the tank will be situated in the middle of the raised bed area, we will put the pea gravel over it so it is hidden but accessible if need be. There is a separate drum with the filter that is placed between the water supply and the tank,  so all water should be very clean before it reaches the holding tank. The filter needs to be cleaned every now and again, but should not be a problem. Fingers crossed!

We are now the middle of July and focus has gone to the garden. Peter and Richard have put together the beds and put in the grids for the pea shingle around the rainwater harvesting service

On 10th May 2018 Sean Fallon called Jon to report that the pump is not working properly. It works and then stops. He was told that the Hydropforle series 3 pump  has 2 years warranty and that he was going to look for the hard copy of the invoice. He said that we ordered the system on the 1st February, but we picked up in July. We are just trying to establish if it is still under warranty.

We were given the telephone number of the Technical team 01733 405111 who might be able to explain over the phone what to do. We are awaiting instructions.

On 4th August 2025 we called Rob Cooper to try and sort out the pump as it had stopped working. 

Mark in his new office - his first writing session

We have settled in well and within hours of the removal van leaving, Mark has found his place over looking the garden. Surrounded by his Warhammer and books, he is in his element.

The paint of the wall is French Grey Mid  and the ceilings Wevet Covaplus Vinyl Matt

After

My thanks to Kenny who took this picture

Insulation and plasterboard are in

The Big Red Mover has arrived

Earlier than expected (and with more stuff than expected) Paul and Stuart have arrived with our belongings that were in storage for the last 2 years.

We had forgotten what there was and the sizes of various items, which resulted in having to store them in the garage until we have found a new home for them.

Mark and I worked hard over the weekend  to make sure all items are into positions, pictures are up, boxes unpacked and had lovely breakfasts on the patio, bi fold doors have been open from morning till evening and as a treat Thomas and Michael made food to help when we were tired.

"It is already feeling like home," Michael said.  We have slept well in our new bed so a good start

The bed has arrived and they managed to get it upstairs!

Just after lunch Bob and his colleague came from Dreams to drop off the Wison Ottoman bed Mark and I saw some months ago.  We decided to pay them for delivery as well as putting it together.  They were so efficient and helpful. They took away all the cardboard and the bed is great.

The day before we move...

Out of the blue, Marie Christine a friend whom I met last year at the NVS (New comers and visiting scholars) had come back from France for a couple of days and was so kind to come and help tidy and clean in preparation for the move tomorrow.

She took this picture of the kitchen and a bit of the garden. By tomorrow evening, we should be opening our boxes and will be reunited with our furniture that has been in storage in Nottingham for the last 2 years.

6.45 this morning

The team, Richard, Warren, Peter and Kenny, first thing in the morning with their cups of tea and Warren on the phone

Paint, paint and more paint - Kitchen BEFORE and AFTER

This is the After picture. We have now moved in and furnished the house with my antique furniture that came out of storage and a 'new' antique French table and 6 harlequin  wheel back chairs





Today Sharon has arrived to put on the first layer of paint for the kitchen units whilst Richard and Ray are busy doing the walls, ceiling and woodwork in the rest of the house.


Richard has just asked me to contact Johnstone's Leyland, Henley Rd, City Centre, Cambridge CB1 3EA Phone:01223 364521 to order 
Ecological Solutions Joncryl waterbed primer undercoat, white 5L

and Jonat premium contract matt brilliant white 10L for delivery tomorrow morning.


Now (21st July,) the house looks lovely and ready to move in, I noticed that the walls mark very easily, when trying to remove the marks with water (which I assumed can be done with washable paint)  you notice marks where I washed. Not happy.

Went back to Jamie from Johnston's and after some investigating found out that we had been supplied with vinyl matt rather than ACRYLIC MATT WEVET paint. As a gesture of goodwill Jamie volunteered to supply us with a 10Ltr  free bucket of paint. Richard will repaint the hall area today to make sure that it is less vulnerable to scratching. Fingers crossed.

Richard is a star

Richard has been amazing throughout our build. At the beginning he was helping Warren with the groundwork, the demolition and  brick work  then once the time came to start painting, he was single handedly for the first 2 weeks painted the whole house. As many a time the paint was marked he had to go over it again and again. His patience is amazing.

Then Ray came for a couple of days to help him out so that the kitchen was ready for Sharon to come and paint it. Sharon stayed the week with us at Garden walk and Richard started camping at Victoria Road to make up time.


Every now and again, I gave them a hand to help with preparing the wood work.

Now he is back helping me outside with the garden shifting tonnes of top soil, that was treasured and  piled up during the works.  Having Richard on our team is fun, reassuring and will miss him when he moves on to the next job.

Fabulous work by Michael Phillips

We are nearing the end of our building project and it is time to tackle the garden.
Since February the garden has been a dumping ground for building materials so when the  Andean Grey slate arrived for the paths and terraces in the garden, I was so excited.

Warren put down the hard core and Michael came this week all the way from Birmingham, to lay the slabs. The first days were cold and wet and the last 3 days were the hottest of the year.
Michael and Will did a marvellous job. Whilst Richard, Peter and I set out and filled up the raised beds.
Then in the smouldering heat, Michael and Will helped us move many barrows of top soil whilst waiting for some more slabs to arrive. (they only came at the end of the day) so amazing that they kept their cool as this meant one more day for them to drive all the way to finish off the job .

Great team work, a lovely way to finish off our project.

More pictures of Michael Phillips' work

Opulence stoves - another option

I contacted Opulence Stoves for an appointment for them to do a survey on Thursday 18th February at 10am. I met James Pullinger who came up with some alternative ideas on 2 stoves in the woodwarm range.
After some consideration we decided on Woodwarm Fireview Slender 5kw  

as 

• it would fill the space better, 
• it would fit inside the chimney breast, not protruding into the front room. 
• It also takes much larger logs and needs less fuel to give the heat. All that sounded very attractive to me. The price was double of what we had in mind £920 but his company was fine with not having scaffolding to put in the chimney liner.  balancing out the cost a little.

We have a 10 years guarantee

At the moment it is booked in for the 3rd week in June, we do have to contact James a few weeks before though for him to inspect the work that will be done by Warren and his team.

I paid £1144.50  deposit (50%) 

Unit 1, 8 Out Risbygate,
Bury St. Edmunds.
Suffolk. IP33 3RJ.
Tel: 01284 768542 Fax: 01284 756690

sales@opulencestoves.co.uk

On 8th July Opulence came to install the stove, after a few hiccups that were later sorted  the stove looks lovely. At the hottest day of the year 18th July James came to show Mark and I how to light the fire! Crazy but useful

Jay, the silicone man zooms through the house

Peter Fallon, warmed me.
"Jay is coming, make sure that nothing is placed against walls and make sure it is dust free as he zooms around the house and before you know it he will have done the whole house."


Well he was right. When Jay came, with sticks and silicone tubes,  his craftwork was mesmerising.
the end result beautiful.

Sprucing up the front of the house

Now the bay window is in and is looking nice and clean, I want to make sure that the rest of the front is welcoming but functional,

Warren has built a wall a little taller with the same brick as the house rather than the red ones we had before. The coping stones that would have been used in Victorian Times were extremely expensive and we felt the modern ones would be fine to finish the job.

For the path we used new anti slip Charcoal Aragon from Walls and Floors and their red version to make a matching pattern as our neighbours path. So now 76,78,80 have the same paths, giving it a bit of continuity.

frosted glass from Abode window film

To give us privacy in our front rooms but still let light in, we have decided to put frosted glass on front bay window and use it to make our number above front door.  We bought the frosted one.

After a little research Tracey of Abode Windows sent me pre cut window film.
Opal Frost for the windows and Silver Frost for the number above the door, so it off sets it better.
 Mark has been great  and applied it onto the windows. The end result has been brilliant. I am so pleased we found this company.




Abode Window Films
Tel:   0116 2784844
Fax:  0116 2784645
www.abodewindowfilms.co.uk

Steve Pulestone made our TV cabinet and wardrobe

As we do no longer have our stand alone wardrobes we needed some built in ones as the alcoves were different width.

A few months ago I notices a Bakfiets with a sign of bespoke furniture maker. I  knocked on the door of where Steve was working to have a look at the job he was doing.  Dominique was very happy with his work and his attitude, so felt it would be good to have Steve in our team.

He came to have a look at what needed doing and showed up with ladders, wood and tools strapped on his bike. He set up in our bedroom first as at this stage many people had to work around each other, electricians, plumbers, flooring and path layers, painters,  and more painters.
When he moved down stairs to make the TV cabinet he even had the wood burning stove people to content with.

BeSpoke Cambridge

32 Kerridge Close

Cambridge

Cb1 2QW

Phone: 0771 9208 968

Email:bespokecambridge@gmail.com

Invoice                                                                      To: Karina Wells                                                                                                                                  78 Victoria Road

Cambridge

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Ref: BSC0040

Date: 19 July  2016                                                                

                                                                                                           

Dear Karina

Thank you for choosing BeSpoke.

Date                   Services                                       Amount

6/6/2016-15/6/16

 Install and paint 2 fitted wardrobes in bedroom

Install and paint TV unit

Install fitted shelves above TV cupboard

                                    Materials                                                      £350

                                    Labour                                                           £900

                                                Total amount due:                                      £1250

Electronic Payment Details

Mr S J Puleston – A/C No. 11269324 – Sort Code: 60 18 23

PAYMENT TERMS

Total due amount to be paid by bank transfer to account details above within 5 working days of receipt.

Visit from Jenny Bell - choosing colours - Richard has started painting today

How blessed I am to have Jenny as my friend to advise me on the use of colour in our new home.



As the house is so small she suggested to not complicate colours (especially as she knows that I tend to move furniture and pictures every now and then).

As the kitchen base units will be in Railings satin by Farrow and Ball and, wall units and all wood work is Wevet Farrow & Balll and White ceilings. The walls will be French Grey Mid 162 Little Greene Company

Richard has started the painting yesterday so that the ceilings are done before the flooring goes in.
We felt the ceilings in Wevet would be too dark so have changed it to white. As we have too much Wevet, we will use it for the walls in the hall. Will see how it pans out.

Thursday day 4 - looking at the garden plan

With the weather so awful I have decided to start a bit of day dreaming on how the garden may look,

I think we have found the log cabin both Mark and I like. It is from Tuin a Dutch garden company.
We like the colour as it ties in with the back of the house and is hopefully not to dominant as it is painted in a light colour. The back will function as a 'fence'.

This is the layout, although I think there must be a mistake with the dimensions as they don't add up. Too late now, but will have to check this out.  

TELEPHONE: 01508 558308  Mon to Fri 0900 - 1700

The area on the right will be the preserving area as well as storage for the juices, cordials, preserves, the apple shelving, apple press, sink and kitchen units

The area on the left will be to put in our bikes, garden furniture and cushions

underneath the window under the veranda we could have a little garden bench.

In front of the cabin will be a mediterranean bed:  this bed is 3 meters long. and will have plants like

Globe artichoke, pink lavender,  mini nectarine, mini peach, grape hyacinth, Tulip Angelique,

Quartz work tops from affordable marble

For a while now I have been looking for good quality and value quartz work tops for the kitchen and possible the bathroom.

Looks like Adam Cook of

Affordable Granite and Marble Co. Ltd.

Tel: 01629 630022

Fax: 01629 630041

Email: aaron.thomson@agandm.co.uk

Web: www.agandm.co.uk

might have the best deal up until now.

I asked them to quote for 5meter x 60cm Quartz, with sink hole and draining lines, and 2 tap holes.

The sample we likes was white marble
£2235

They came yesterday to do the templating, (they took with them the sink) 

and should be ready in 10 days time.