Reclamation yard treasure....

This morning we went to Frome Reclamation to have a look for floorboards and doors but instead found 2 matching fireplaces for the living room and the bedroom! Dave did some bargaining and we got them both for £250 which we are very happy with. One is slightly larger than the other so that will be for the living room and the smaller one for the bedroom. Other than missing the fixing points which broke off when they were removed and a small patch broken on the top they are in excellent condition. 

The fireplaces precariously balanced in the Yaris

The smaller fireplace for the bedroom

The larger fireplace for the living room

 

 

The view!!

View from the rear

View East, from the rear

View from the rear

Phase One - Remove the Woodchip Wallpaper

This weekend we started the huge task of removing all the woodchip wallpaper from every surface in the flat. We managed to do the living room where, apart from some patches which have suffered from water damage, the walls seem to be in quite good condition. It came off quite easily although we still need to remove the gluey bits with the steamer. We found some old 70's wallpaper when we looked under the electric fireplace.....

The Old Wallpaper under the Fireplace

Dave Exposing the Wallpaper

Removing the Beam 'Features'

Having Lots of Fun Stripping the Woodchip

Getting There.....

We finished the living room on Saturday night and then stopped for a well deserved dinner of sausages and beans! On Sunday we then moved all of our things out of the bedroom into the living room so we could start stripping the wallpaper in there. Under the paper we found another bit of 70's wallpaper, some very dark red paint and a paler green paint.

Our Progress so Far in the Bedroom

The Former Wardrobe

The Layers of Paint and Wallpaper

After this there was lots of clearing up to do and Dave's first trip to the dump.

Before......

Buying the property is the easy part, (relatively). Now we must put right the wrongs of the past. Sourcing and reinstating the fireplaces. Replacing the steel framed, single glazed windows, (unless the planning Nazis get their way) and generally eradicating the 60's/70's from memory.

Some before photos......

The Hallway

The Tiny Bathroom

The Bedroom with Lovely Fake Beam Features

The Living Room and It's Character Fireplace

The Living Room

The Kitchen with Retro Appliances

View from the Kitchen into the Hall

First Dinner

Water and Dave Damage

Starting to Remove Wallpaper