Tuesday 22 November 2011

Window sill

For those of you who like a bit of render/plaster/building mayhem.



This is the back 'door' to the new utility area. Notice the new down pipe and water butt? Well, it rains so much here, may as well use it!

The new door will match the little door from the garden into the kitchen, but will be bigger - even I have to stoop to exit this one.



And this is the future utility room. Not really a room, more a corridor, but still....

The rougher lumps have been knocked off the old wall.

This morning, K and S set to with a will, 'parging' the rough surface.



Adding another layer later in the day. These are the first two of five, I believe, after which the old garden wall will be waterproofed and smooth.



There will be a long timber windowsill. The window is high on this side, but much lower from next door's drive.

Not a sunny window, but ideal for orchids.


 (new camera practice shots)

Opposite the window there will be a Belfast sink, a run of appliances and worktop, and somewhere to feed the cats.


A new door into the kitchen will be made to measure. There are three doors into this narrow space! The floor will be slate.


My poor washing machine and dryer sit there while all goes on around them; they will move into the hall at the last minute.

And at the far end, opposite the little kitchen door, there will be a bank of cupboards. No room for a chair, but oh, such a useful and much-needed space!

More as it happens, I promise.

Meantime, for those of you who prefer to see fur rather than mortar, here's Catkin.



Fatkin . Poor cat; Lottie and Millie hate her. So she comfort-eats.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's coming on a treat, they've done a wonderful job with the parging. It will be a very useful place when finished.
Poor Catkin, is she still living upstairs?

Marcheline said...

Great stuff! Me, off to find out what a Belfast sink is....

Marcheline said...

A butler's sink is a rectangular ceramic sink with a rounded rim which is set into a work surface.[1] There are generally two kinds of butler's sinks: The London sink and the Belfast sink.[1] In 2006, both types of sinks usually were 61 centimetres (24 in) across and 46 centimetres (18 in) front-to-back, with a depth of 22.5 centimetres (8.9 in).[2] London sinks were originally shallower than Belfast sinks.[1] (One plumbing guide in 1921 suggested that the Belfast sink was 38 centimetres (15 in) deep.)[3] This was primarily because London had less access to fresh water (and thus a greater need to conserve water).[4] But that difference usually does not exist in the modern era, and both sinks are now shallow.[1] The primary difference both in the past and today between a Belfast and London sink is that the Belfast sink is fitted with an overflow weir which prevented water from spilling over the sink's edge by draining it away and down into the wastewater plumbing.[5]

Maggie Christie said...

My future utility room looks like the fourth picture down and has done so for years. I need some nice blue shirted men to come in and finish it. In the meantime it waits for my husband to continue where he left off. If I ever do him in, that'll be why. Poor Fatkin, I can sympathise with the comfort eating.

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

Oh nearly there now! It all looks very promising. And I am deeply envious of the new camera. I have been toying with the idea but I am so at ease now with my little one I am not sure I would improve anything. You know the feeling I suspect!

Val said...

I have to subject you to this my 9 year old finds it the peak of hilarity and Fatkin made me think of it...

What do you call a cat that's eaten a whole duck ?





A Duck filled Fatty Puss




Ok I apologise...I blame the demon puppy myself

Dan said...

Fantastic to see someone else's building mayhem for a change! It's all coming along quite well, and it must be a relief to see the windows going in and the walls becoming smooth. I have serious camera envy after looking at your last post - are you having fun with it yet..? Great pictures of the cats.
Dan
-x-

Rose H (UK) said...

It's comin' along nicely Rachel, and oh how useful :o)
Poor Catkin, such a beautiful puss too :o)

mountainear said...

Great progress. It is going to be the most FAB space in the SW.

Here's where I prove I don't get out much...when I get excited about the verb being used today - it's surely medieval in origin?

Susan said...

smiling, big smiling xo s + gang

Arthur Ransome said...

Wow and thrice wow, missus, it's looking great and sounds as if it'll be almost another kitchen when it's done. I love the pargetting - or am I getting parging mixed up with the late, lamented Nigel? Your waterbutt looks very well plumbed in unlike mine which had to be dismantled with speed the other day when I finally realised the overflow thingy wasn't working (because I'd asked the carpenter to install it and he hadn't a clue what he was doing) and the whole butt was in danger of collapsing on top of where my dad was busy sawing firewood blithely unaware of the danger of being washed away.

Does Catkin mix with the boys? Or would she not stoop to that?

Lyn said...

Looking good!
poor Catkin and she is so cute looking, but I do love tabby's
xxx

Dartford Warbler said...

Poor Catkin - still, it is early days. It took about six months before my lot really accepted Lucy Kitten into their gang.

Your new Cats Dining Room ( aka utility room) is a great use of the space!

the veg artist said...

This is going to be fabulous. I won't be the only one turning a delicate shade of green by the time you've finished on this particular project!

judy in ky said...

You are a great space planner... very impressive. I feel bad for Catkin, she looks so sweet. I hope things improve for her.

flwrjane said...

Parging? We have no such word or maybe even work here in the states.

They look to be excellent pargers and if I had the need for any would employ them immediately.

Excellent plan for your new room. Orchids? perfect.

xo Jane

Lesley said...

Fatkin/Catkin seems slightly less hostile than in her introductory shots!! Maybe Millie and Lottie will warm eventually....one can hope!

Anonymous said...

Looking good! Malcolm is very impressed with the progress. Love the orchid photos (of course!). Poor little Catkin - you will have to give the others a stern talking to!!

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

Exactly how many cups of tea does it take to complete a parged (pargued?) wall , then ? Not to mention Jumbo packs of Penguins ....
Your tea-pouring arm may be feeling the strain but the result is worth it all .
A very glamorous utility room !

Bea said...

Female cats can be very unfriendly with newcomers. Our boys usually welcomed a new boy with open paws, but our 1 female had a complete meltdown if another female showed up. I hope Catkin can overcome the hostility presently being displayed and can become eventually be accepted in the household.

Lesley said...

wow - pretty much to everything - utility, camera, photos (I see George has been entirely replaced in Flossie's affections) and poor Catkin ('though she looks a lot happier). Speak soon . . . perhaps . . . but then again . . x

Anonymous said...

I'll take Catkin! I can offer her the exclusive relationship she so clearly craves. :)

rachel said...

Oh, Anonymous, how I wish you (or someone like you) could take Catkin! She's a solitary creature, and finds it nerve-racking to share her home with so many others, particularly two who make it plain that's she's not wanted here. She needs a quiet, calm, pet-free household with someone who understands that she can switch from aloofness and downright grumpiness to overwhelming affection, and who will help her to watch her waistline. If the right person came along, I would let her go.....

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