CONCRETE WORKTOPS

I've been following Remodelista for many years, getting daily updates on design ideas, amazing architectural projects, shopping and travel suggestions.  It's a very interesting blog which I'm addicted too. 

Today they focused on concrete worktops, a subject that I am passionate about as we have them in our kitchen.  I am so, so happy with ours, which is certainly 'The star of the show' in our kitchen! 

They have a solid, sturdiness mixed with a natural feel that no other worktop could provide.

Even over time the concrete will develop a patina with more use.  How good is this?

The only slight draw back with concrete, is that we have to be cautious about are squirts of lemon juice or spillages of white wine. Generally, washing off instantly rectifies this problem though. Because ours is polished concrete we add a waterproof sealant to buff it up every now and again...'rub it on, rub it off', a bit like on the film 'Karate Kid' if you've ever seen it?  

Once done, it shines like new again.

Concrete worktops don't have to be grey in colour, in fact when people walk into our kitchen this is normally the first comment they make.  Ours is a natural white.

If you're considering concrete worktops, I would highly recommend Lowinfo, this is the company that we worked with to produce ours. I have previously written a post about the process here. 

We are so pleased we chose concrete worktops.

HALL RENOVATIONS - A STONE FLOOR

Our hall has a grandness. It has remained, the same as it was originally built back in 1870's. 
The staircase is the prized feature, with its deep stairs and mahogany handrail. 

This is the hall as it looks today... 



and looking the other way towards the front door...

When introduced to The Manor House, it was the hall that we walked into first. 

Standing all together, our first impressions was of a room in need of updating and some renovations. High ceilings, large staircase, lots of space, mostly a light and airy room with beautiful original doors to rooms that had to be explored.  

Once we'd moved in and started renovating the house, generally our motto has been that not everything has to be expensive to update.  We always try to use what you have or clean, mend or add too it. 

Under a green carpet in the hall, we found a natural stone floor.  It was an exciting moment.  
We suspect that the sandstone had been sourced from a Mansfield quarry in Nottinghamshire around the 1800's when this part of the house was built.  



(above) detail of stone floor

After many years of walking on the floor, especially into rooms that were probably occupied by servants, some areas have become worn and indented. We were keen to discard the carpet and see the distinctive beauty of the natural stone floor. 
It's a durable, unpretentious, honest flooring that will last many decades and beyond.


BEFORE (below)
We had to take the hall carpet up as soon as possible because I hated it (we didn't even have time to take any photos). The stair carpet we had to live with for many years before we decorated the hall and came up with a better solution.

BEFORE (below)

IT STARTED WITH A HALL

The first time we came to this house, it was only me that wanted to see it.  

We'd all stayed at a friend's house for the night and were having lots of fun. In the morning we needed to leave early in order to arrive on time for our appointment. Our children had already seen a lot of houses and weren't happy with traipsing around another one. 

We debated for ages whether to cancel the viewing.... 

eventually we walked up the path to the front door, rang the bell and the door opened to this....

 Well, mostly this.  

(A green carpet was still down on the hall floor and the painting and wooden forks weren't there either). 

(below) Walking into the house and looking back at the front door, we saw this...

When I look at these photos now, I find it hard to imagine why we ALL fell so in love with this house. 

I knew the minute, I stood in the hall that I wanted to live here.

It seems that when you get that 'gut feeling' that something is right, 

it's hard to let go of it. This house was perfect for us and we had to have it.

It's easy to be impressed with a properties good points and completely overlook the amount of work that is needed to renovate it. Looking beyond what we could see, it was easy to see it's potential. 

The list of our 'wants' for a new home were easily matched and with great excitement three months later we moved in. 

This was only the beginning!

ROCKING CHAIR

Can you help me out with a dilemma...

do I paint this rocking chair in a dark grey or leave it as it is?

MORE SPARE BEDROOM DETAILS

In the cupboard (below) in the spare bedroom are a collection of 'things' that have been gained over many years. 'Things' that are still as important as the day they were bought, found or given to us....

  

Wooden 'Peace' sign from Emily Readett-Bayley - Handmade soap from Sara Maria Strand  

LOOKING OUT OF THE WINDOWS

We are so lucky to have beautiful and interesting views from each of our windows.

Take this one above...it's from the hall landing looking across at our neighbour's field.

The sun is setting after a warm summers evening, the grass has been cut

and bundled into hay bales. Is there anything more lovely to look at?

We look out of this window every morning as we walk down the stairs to the hall below.

Each day, after several years of seeing it, it does not disappoint. 

The lounge (above) looks towards the church across the road.  

You may not be able to see it clearly in this photo, 

as the shrubs and trees against the wall are growing fast but beyond them you can just see the roof of the church.

Richard's office has a special view looking past the conservatory onto the garden. 

The purple Catmint is in full bloom, lush green grass and a Corkscrew Willow.

We are very lucky to have dual aspect windows in the kitchen, offering us two very different views to look at. 

The sink (above) looks out over our neighbour's drive (always immaculately kept).... 

and the opposite side has views of our garden which has lots of green trees, bushes and grass too.

Looking through the windows every day brings a happiness....

it offers a new image to see as the seasons come and go.

SPARE ROOM DETAILS

I've been influenced by a photographer that used our house as a backdrop for a photo shoot.  

Beth Botterill is a smart, witty and talented photographer.  She works fast and intuitively. 

I like her style and the images she got from our rooms. 
With her speed and impulsive style in mind, here are some details from our spare room...

 

CONCRETE WORK TOPS

One of the most exciting decisions we made during the renovations of our kitchen, 

was to have polished concrete worktops.  

We spent a lot of time discussing (...and with the odd argument thrown in!), what work surface would be best.  

Was it to be wood, granite, corian, ceramic, quartz or concrete?   

My research lead us to concrete and once I'd seen it, there was no going back. 

I knew it was what we had to have.  

Luckily for us, I found a local firm - Low info, - who with the help of Tim, 'spoon fed' us through every step of the process.

Once the units where in place, templates were made in MDF. We needed 3 separate pieces... large island size with cut out for hob, L-shape that goes from door into corner then to sink and lastly the section where the sink was to be. 

(above) This is the sink section and below shows the MDF template.

Once the measurements and templates were made, the concrete was filled and caste at the factory. It then needs to cure...

"Curing is the process in which the concrete is protected from loss of moisture and

kept within a reasonable temperature range. The result of this process is increased

strength and decreased permeability. Curing is also a key player in mitigating

cracks in the concrete, which severely impacts durability."

We decided on a natural 'beach white' colour.  To lighten the weight of the concrete, the
centre is filled with a foam plaster board and the concrete poured (sometimes by hand)
around the edges.  Below shows the underneath of the worktop with plaster board in the
middle and the concrete on the edge.

1. 
   

Finally, after 10 weeks of waiting, the exciting day arrives and the concrete is delivered.  

It took 5 strong men to lift the island into place ... 

from van to tressel table ... 

from tressel table to utility room floor...

from utility room floor, then basically sliding it on cotton rags to the kitchen, 

picked up and put onto the units and moved into its final position.

                           (below) The finished work tops in place. 

JACKDAW UP THE CHIMNEY

Our daughter was woken by loud chirping noises coming from her chimney - 

it's not uncommon for Jackdaws to build their nests on top of chimneys with sticks and twigs, 

which often fall down them - bird included.

The chimney had been sealed off with a board when we renovated the room, mainly because of the mess that the birds had caused in the past. 

We couldn't leave this one stuck up the chimney to die, 

so the board was removed, dust sheets draped...

bird pulled out and rescued....

(funny how my daughter has a bird on her t-shirt this morning!!!)

It flew off out of the window. 

A few minutes later it was back on top of the chimney - 

hopefully not to repeat its adventure again!!

KITCHEN AND UTILITY RENOVATIONS (PART 4)

DECISIONS

After the 'strip out' of both kitchen and utility rooms, decisions from us were necessary.

Our builders helped with the planning for the internal walls.  We were adamant that these rooms wouldn't be cold or drafty.  

The builders offered us with a great source of information and after much discussion, 
it was decided that insulated plaster board was the way forward.

Insulated plaster board has become an important material used in new housing or 
to renovate and refurbish older houses like ours.

There is a layer of plaster board which on the reverse side has an insulating foam.  

The boards are designed for cold weather conditions, reducing the amount of heat passing through them, ensuring a warm environment to live in, reducing energy costs and carbon foot print.  All this was good for us and most importantly for the house as well.

Before the insulated board was attached, most of the positioning for wiring and plumbing had to be made instantly 
- which was a little stressful.  
The pressure was on to get it right!!
Confident with our choice of plumber and electrician, we were guided by their expertise, we listened and decisions were finalized.  

The boards were installed, plastering began on top of the boards and then over night the rooms were transformed... 

(above) Plumbing and first fit electrics installed in the kitchen.

 

(above) utility room showing toilet (right hand-side door)
and cupboard (left hand-side door).

(above) detail of toilet room with first fit plumbing.

(above) walls plastered and doors hung to toilet and cupboard.
Both doors open into the utility room.

(above) First fit utility room plumbing for sink and washing machine.
Also, this is the wonderful new window that has been added on the south side of the house.
It is one of the best decisions we made.