BEFORE AND AFTER....

Well after a weekend of cleaning and organising, the kitchen and bathroom are presentable....

I think the before and afters are self explanatory....

Still lots of things need finishing....

What do you think???

DAY 30....

37 days ago Alessandro and Stefano, my 2 trusty workmen, began work in our little flat. We had a really horrible bathroom and an out dated kitchen to renovate! Today was the 30th working day and also the day that they packed up ALL their tools and left!!

Here's what went on today in the mad rush to finish....

Stefano had to sort out the problem with the shower enclosure being too tall....


But after nearly all day in the bathroom he managed to install it and honestly now that the extra tiles are grouted and the other piece of glass is up it is hardly noticeable.

Salvatore went and picked up all the wood for the washing machine cupboard. Not sure when I'll be able to make it but I'd really like to do it asap as that will be the only storage in the bathroom at the moment.

In the kitchen it was go go go all day!!! The worktop arrived!! Poor guys that had to carry it up a lot of stairs, it was sooooo heavy! And it was soooo hot! It was great watching them install it. But OMG the "glue" that they used took my breath away!! As well as the 2 main pieces for the units, they had to make the breakfast bar thingy and the peninsula that divides the kitchen from the dining room. I am so happy with the end result!

Whilst the worktop guys were busy making my kitchen lovely, the 2 delivery guys turned up with the dishwasher and my new fridge (the right one this time!! - I checked it before they installed it!!). So at this point my little flat was rather crowded - me and 6 guys!! Luckily by lunchtime they had finished, leaving only Alessandro and Stefano!! So then it was a matter of attaching sink and tap (love it), the oven, cooker and touching up the plaster around the peninsula.

So here are a few pics of my nearly finished kitchen....




There are still lots of things that need doing or finishing. I'll try to do as much as I can before we go away on our summer holiday down south. But first the kitchen and bathroom need a really good clean (as does the rest of the flat) then I can start putting things away! I can't wait!

p.s. will take some pics of finished bathroom after cleaning it tomorrow!

DAY 28....

Kitchen day!

This morning it was a mad rush to get everything finished before the kitchen delivery. When they arrived Stefano was still on the ladder painting the ceiling!! This is what it looked like this morning....

And this is what it looked like 3 hours later....

Almost finished!! The dishwasher still hadn't arrived this morning so will be delivered on Friday. The 3 guys that delivered and installed the kitchen were great! Really fast, acurate, polite and funny, all qualities not normally associated with delivery guys! They do expect a tip! Not wanting to offend them I asked around before to see what is the "expected" tip for a kitchen delivery - around €50. Oh well, they deserved it!

After they left the "worktop guy" came and measured up and made a plywood pattern of the worktop! I was told this would be ready in about 3 days but he said it's more likely going to be Tuesday!!! I pleaded and begged that they do it sooner.... Friday would be perfect. That way on Saturday Alessandro could put in the oven, the sink etc... I've also asked him to give me a quote to make a breakfast bar or what ever they're called! Who knows how much a 130cm x 35cms piece of composite worktop could cost?!? Oh, plus 2 side panels each 35cms x 90something cms!?! Well, I'll know tomorrow when he calls!

On the other side of the flat in the bathroom Stefano "fought " all day with the bidet. Being a back to wall bidet he had trouble getting it right as all the pipes are hidden! It kept leaking but he couldn't tell from where. At one point I think he was ready to throw the bidet out the window! In the end he sorted it out!

There's still a long list of things to do in the next few days but at least all the major work is over and done with!!! I just have to do a major tidy up and clean! It's so disgustingly dirty!!!

p.s. before leaving Stefano rested the cooker on the kitchen cupboards and attached the gas as they've done every evening. I lit the gas so I could boil the water for some pasta but after awhile could smell gas!! Aaaah, so many problems with the gas!!! We ended out eating take away pizza!

ONE DOWN, ONE TO GO....

We actually had 2 horrible bathrooms...

Last October we renovated the first one. It was very small and badly arranged. The toilet was squeezed in between the wall and a column! Unfortuately we couldn't move the columns but by taking a small piece (70x65cms) of the adjoining office and by moving the door we managed to create a spacious-feeling small bathroom with quite a large shower (100x80cms). Here's a few before and afters.

p.s. still missing the lights above and under the cabinet, and the shower door which is waiting to be installed! And one day I'll have to replace the cabinet door! I broke the corner of the mirror whilst attaching the handle!!!