Happy New Year

As the new year starts, it feels a good time to reflect on all that has happened in the last 12 months. What better way to do this than a selection of before and after shots...

So, here is the back of the house shortly after we arrived:

And now - after the addition of a new window opening (top left), 

solar panels, and kitchen extension: 

A suspect lintel of the courtyard steps has been removed:

   

The outhouse that stored fuel for the property -

 with seasoned logs and bags of coal:

Now updated to the 21st century, with pipes, pumps

and modern electrics that service the biomass boiler:

The old dairy back entrance:

Now, with remodeled windows and roof lights to the floor above:

 The old dining room:

stripped right back:

The old lounge: 

With larger fire place opening and plastered finish:

an old guest bedroom: 

reconfigured as part of the main bathroom:

One of the other bedrooms:

Claimed as the master bedroom and remodeled to incorporate, 

en-suite bathroom, entrance lobby:

and dressing room:

the smallest of the old bedrooms:

turned into a bathroom with the addition of a skylight:

An old neglected bedroom with suspect roof truses: 

Completely re structured with new roof and exposed beams:

An old servants staircase: 

Removed to create a more functional corridor, 

enabling the house to link and flow much better than before:

The old kitchen:

Opened up into the adjoining utility to create an open plan 

kitchen/diner that truly celebrates the heart of the home:

There are many other in progress spaces, but this selection reflects the best of what we have achieved so far... it's not until the 29th of this month that we will celebrate the anniversary of getting the keys. A lot has happened, a lot has changed, and after finally completing on the sale of the house in Nottingham just before Christmas, this really feels like a true fresh start this year, in a new space, our new home, our new life in Somerset.