The Beginning

The Beginning
Our House

Wednesday 2 August 2017

It's been a long time - again!

It really is more than a year since my last post! As the house is pretty much finished inside there's not been too much to write about. We have been enjoying spending time in our house and work hasn't been a priority!

We re-joined Cullen sea school earlier this year and have been enjoying their increasing choice of activities. Zack spent most Saturday mornings during the winter at the boat building where he helped to build a second rowing skiff and refurbish an older boat.  I enjoy the social rowing with a really great bunch!  I like that you can just turn up on the beach and go out with a different group each time. I even raced for the first time last weekend in the biggest swell I have rowed in!  It was also good to try out the new skiff, Swift that Zack had a hand in building. We weren't placed but our sister boat Mhairi went on to win.  The school is now also offering kayak tuition which we have enjoyed as a family, the highlight so far being the water polo.

The house has not been neglected though! We had a huge delivery of firewood ready for the winter from Portsoy Firewood. They offer a great service and the wood burns nicely. The paintwork around the windows is also getting a makeover. We have started to peel off the many layers of paint using an amazing paste called Peelaway. It's a bit time consuming but the paint peels off like a dream!










Tuesday 29 March 2016

Outside makeover

It maybe wasn't the best plan to re-point the whole house over the winter as it has taken nearly 4 months!  It is nearly finished with only one wall to go and looks great.  The builder is a perfectionist and has picked out 1/2 a wall because he wasn't happy with it!  There's just one problem now; the masonry paintwork around the windows and door is now looking really shabby.  I think that will be my summer job!
Before starting any work outside
 
After windows and door painted
After re-pointing
 
After re-pointing

After re-pointing

Pointing protection from weather

 
 

Thursday 10 December 2015

Four and a half years on!

Yes, it really has been 4 1\2 years! Can't believe we thought the renovations would only take us a year, we now understand why every house on Grand Designs takes longer than planned (and goes over budget😓!) Little was achieved most of the year due to Michael working in China. Since he has been home we have found the motivation to get all the little jobs finished.
Cloakroom finished - on the hunt for a small unit for under the sink!


Utility area fitted and washing machine plumbed in

New steps - now meet regulations!

Shed painted - I was so cold after painting I needed a shower to warm me back up! 

Christmas decorations up 


The Antique centre now has reclamation - I was in heaven!!

Looking forward to going back up again soon, the builder is starting to repoint the house tomorrow.  We may even be completely finished before our 5 year milestone!🙌

Wednesday 19 August 2015

It's been a while!

I really didn't realise it had been a year since my last blog entry!  Time really has flown this year.  As the house is now habitable we have had less work to do therefore not much to report on.  After speaking with some friends today I decided to make this post a bit of a nostalgic one.  It has now been 4 years since we bought our lovely Cullen house and made it our own.  I honestly had forgotten just how much we have done in that time.  I hope you enjoy the before and after photos!

Before

Downstairs bedroom

Downstairs bedroom

Hallway

Kitchen in old extension

Kitchen in old extension

Living room

Living room

Boys bedroom

Boys bedroom

Office which became the bathroom

Original bathroom

Original bathroom

Master bedroom which was partitioned

Partitioned bedroom

Partitioned bedroom

After

Hallway
 
Hallway

Boys bedroom

Master bedroom



Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Cloakroom
Downstairs bedroom


Downstairs bedroom
Bathroom
En-suite shower


Living room

 
 

Tuesday 9 September 2014

Summer 2014

I've not posted for some time as I have lost the charger to my camera!  A new one is now on it's way so I can retrieve all the holiday photos.

Summer was not as good as last year but we still had plenty great days at the beach and in the water.  It meant that not a lot of work was done on the house!  We started the summer with a fantastic outdoor performance of 'George's Marvellous Medicine' at Duff House in Banff.  This was the second show we have seen from Illyria and it did not disappoint.   The boys swam with their snorkels, jumped off the harbour wall (once!) and enjoyed meeting some friends from last year.

We have had our builder and plasterer in finishing off some things for us.  The coving was completed at the beginning of the summer.  That has really finished off the rooms and has also stopped the draughts!  Our builder has bricked around the back of the fireplace and that marks the completion of the living room.   All we need is a door on the downstairs toilet and cement at the back door  and we can apply for our completion certificate!
Illyria's George's Marvellous Medicine at Duff House
Snorkeling in the harbour

A storm coming in - we had a few of those!

Couldn't get the boys off the beach on this night! 
Living room finished, I love the fireplace!

Another lampshade made by me

Coving finished

Downstairs bedroom finished

Curtains in the living room

Kitchen cabinet painted