Bishopswood, GLOS
New Tiles and Old
August 2007
We are tiling the kitchen walls and cleaning the old quarry tiles wherever possible. As is to be expected in a Victorian building, some parts of the floor in the hallway, dining room and original kitchen are rather the worse for wear. We want to keep as many of these old tiles in situ as we can, so we're experimenting with cleaning methods for them. Where necessary, however, we can cut out and replace individual tiles that are beyond recovery. The work is slow and backbreaking at times, but it's all part of the challenge of breathing new life into a cottage of this vintage.
New stone fireplace
July 2007
There are several fireplaces in this Victorian cottage, and all but one of them are in good condition. The exception, in the dining room, was pulled out by our team some time ago and we asked a local stonemason to make a new one. This has now been assembled and installed, as you can see in the photo. We are very pleased with his craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Meanwhile, the kitchen is making steady progress. The floor tiles are all in place and the large utility cupboard has new doors. We have bought all the lights we need so the electrician can proceed with his second fix.
Kitchen Tiles and Units
June 2007
After a bit of research and legwork, we've found enough red Victorian quarry tiles for the kitchen floor. These match the cottage's original kitchen tiles and are being laid in the new section, continuing the diagonal layout.
The kitchen units, worktops and sink have now been installed. Like the bathroom upstairs, the kitchen has such quirky dimensions that we've had to keep adjusting our design. This is not a large room, even with the extension that we've added, but we hope it will be a practical and pleasant space for cooking and socialising. With large windows, it has plenty of natural light and a most inspiring view.
Kitchen Purchase
April 2007
Our kitchen preparations are well underway. We have bought the hob, oven, oak block worktops and timber units with light oak Shaker doors. These will be installed as soon as our fitter has finished his current job for another client.
Black and White Tiles
October 2006
We have finished tiling and grouting the walls above the bath. The vanity unit and shower are now in place as well. This is probably our most unusual and challenging bathroom to date. Working on such an old cottage means striking a series of compromises between Victorian character and modern comfort, and we hope the finished effect will be pleasing. It's a highly satisfying (if slow) process.
Exterior Wall
October 2006
The newly rendered section of wall is being painted white.
More Tiling
October 2006
We have chosen black and white tiles with a decorative border to go on the wall above the bath, and these are being fitted. They looked very good in the showroom so we hope they will suit this lovely old cottage.
Exterior Finish
September 2006
Our men have been at work refinishing the large section around the upstairs window. This process has had several stages. Firstly, we removed the old render to reveal the underlying wooden frame. Fortunately this was in good condition, so we didn't need to make any repairs. The next stage was to cover the frame with plywood, install a waterproof membrane and wrap it all in a metal screen (shown in last week's photo). We're now at the stage where we are putting the exterior finish, Tyrolean render, onto the screen. See this week's photo, right.
Making the Most of the Sunshine
September 2006
We are taking advantage of the dry weather to give some attention to the exterior front wall of our Bishopswood cottage. The corbels (two decorative scrolls) have been repainted, and the damaged section of wall above the dining room has been repaired. As you can see in the photo, this is now encased in wire mesh. The next step – applying a new layer of render – has been scheduled for next week. Indoors, the bathroom suite and boxing are being installed.
Front Wall
September 2006
The view from our kitchen and dining room windows at Bishopswood is rather less idyllic than usual this week – but this is just a temporary measure. We have erected some scaffolding on the path in front of the cottage so that the exterior wall above the dining room windows can be repaired. So far the weather seems to be on our side. Fingers crossed!
Utility Area in Kitchen
August 2006
The back door of our Bishopswood cottage has been painted a rather striking shade of red. This opens into the back part of the kitchen, where we are building a tall utility cupboard to house the boiler, washing machine and tumble dryer.
The exterior wall above the dining room windows needs to be repaired and re-rendered. We have talked to the builder about the kind of scaffolding that will be required. Weather permitting, this work will be done around the end of August.
Lick o' paint for Bishopswood
August 2006
The work of painting the corbels and newly plastered walls and ceilings continues.
Shower, Bath and Tiles
July 2006
The bathroom at Bishopswood is taking shape: the floor is being tiled and the way prepared to install the bath and shower. This is a small upstairs bathroom, nestled right under the eaves. While sloping ceilings add character, they also present distinct challenges for the designers! For one thing, most people these days expect to have headroom when standing under the shower. In order to make this possible here, we have built an internal wall at the end of the bathtub so that the shower can be mounted over the bath. In this line of work no two projects are ever the same, so there is endless scope for creativity.
Bishopswood Bathroom
June 2006
We have ordered the tiles for the bathroom floor and started pricing options for the suite and units.
Brushes and Rollers at Bishopswood
June 2006
We are painting the kitchen and bathroom walls and ceilings. Outside, we are stripping back the corbels to prepare them for repainting.
Plasterers at Bishopswood
June 2006
The kitchen and bathroom have been plastered and skimmed. Once the walls are completely dry, they will be ready for painting. We have finalised the design for the bathroom and started researching possibilities for the next stage of the new driveway, where a retaining structure of some kind will be needed.
Kitchen Progress
May 2006
The new kitchen windows are being painted.Kitchen Windows at Bishopswood
April 2006
A local joinery company has fitted the new timber sash windows in the small kitchen extension that went up last year. These have been custom-made to suit the other windows in this character Victorian cottage.
Driveway Update
January 2006
The banks have been cut away to create a reasonably gentle slope up from the sides of the driveway cutting. We have also created visibility splays on both sides of the new entrance. Given the slope of the land this has been a considerable task. There is still a lot of shaping and then planting to do.
Driveway Subsurface
November 2005
There is now a subsurface packed down onto the new roadway. Next there'll be some drainage to be arranged and walls to be built. It's quite a feat to create a road that will allow cars to come off the road and up the hill towards the cottage.
Driveway Excavations
November 2005
Three men driving large machines have been busy this last week digging out hundreds of tons of earth to create a new driveway. Fortunately the dig produced only one large boulder which slowed the process for a while. The team dug space around it so that their digger could reach in and move it away. It's always amazing to see what heavy equipment can do.
We were able to dispose of the soil elsewhere on the land – creating the base for a contoured garden. We have also been able to help out a neighbour who was very pleased to get some clean fill to create a level parking space on his property.
Kitchen Extension
August 2005
At last, we're starting to see some progress at Bishopswood. We've opened up the existing wall and built an extension which will include plenty of glass to make the most of the views over the river Wye.
We were able to find bricks to match the existing structure, which was completed in 1896, and the new windows will be timber sash windows to match the existing ones, which are still in excellent condition.
Inside the house, the timber floors have been oiled. The floor downstairs is completed and the upstairs floors are waiting for their final coating.
News at Bishopswood
June 2005
We've cleared leaves and other debris from behind the house, which should help to alleviate the problems we've been having with damp. The new drain that we've installed should ensure that such a buildup won't happen again.
Our team has been busy in the bathroom. The old suite has been taken out, the ceiling pulled down, and a velux window installed. We are considering various possibilities for the new design, with our goal being to turn this difficult space into a workable bathroom.
The kitchen has been almost completely cleared and the ceiling pulled down. One possibility for extending this space is to install a "permanent" conservatory, which will give an attractive kitchen with a fantastic outlook.
Planning Permission
April 2005
We are delighted to announce that full planning permission has now been granted for our proposed work to this property. We are obtaining quotes from various tradespeople for the work.
Plans Drawn
March 2005
Plans have been drawn for extending the cottage and repositioning the driveway.
Inside the house, our team have plastered and painted the reception rooms. We are redesigning the kitchen and bathroom.
Rewiring
December 2004
Our electrician has been busy updating the early 20th century wiring in the house. We had to cut a new access hatch in the ceiling, move the distribution board and then totally rewire. We took the opportunity to add a considerable number of new power points through the house. (We think the charm of a single power point per room is outweighed by its inconvenience!)
With all the new wiring now in place, our man Ben is beginning to work his magic in bonding and plastering.
Work Continues
November 2004
While we consider options for the extension, work continues in the grounds.
Work Continues
September 2004
Work continues on refurbishing the doors and other timber. Having engaged the services of a planning consultant to advise us about the extension, we are drawing more detailed sketches for his guidance. We hope to make use of the slope by building two storeys at that end of the house: we imagine a Victorian conservatory leading off the lounge, with space underneath for a double garage and Bedroom 3.
Works Commence
August 2004
The highways authority has advised us about repositioning the drive, and two local firms have given us quotes. A planning officer from the local council has looked at our sketch for extending the house and replacing the garage, and invited us to apply for planning permission. Work has started on refurbishing the house: stripping wallpaper, discarding the bathroom suite and removing panels from the internal doors to reveal the original Victorian style underneath. In addition, the garden is being pruned and tidied. It has a great variety of trees, shrubs and perennials which we hope to encourage.
New Purchase
April 2004
We have just bought this detached Victorian cottage in Bishopswood, Gloucestershire. It has a great location and considerable potential for development: at the very least, a new kitchen, bathroom & driveway. We also plan to install central heating and a large Victorian conservatory.