It's Bedlam at our house at the moment. Number one son decided to buy us a second hand kitchen this week. We've done this before when I bought a kitchen for 300 Euros from a posh house in Schull a couple of years ago for the farm house next door.
Apparently people just buy houses and go for planning and demolish the house they have just purchased along with all the internal fixtures and fittings. They are virtually assured of getting planning because there is already a dwelling there.
So one day this week I came home from work and he'd knocked down the utility room wall. I barrowed the concrete blocks outside.
Number one son purchased our 'new' kitchen units from a posh house in Cork city. He got a friend to transport down it to West Cork in a van. Since then he's been busy fitting the units:
We're getting there. It just shows you don't need to spend thousands to have a nice kitchen.
I'm having a day off today so I have smashed up the old kitchen units with my sledge hammer and been Kangoing the kitchen tiles off the floor and using a lump hammer and bolster chisel to chisel up the tile cement. The Joy's of DIY!🤗
It's good to recycle kitchens. Not only are you saving money but you are saving the planet too. I am impressed that your first born son possesses the necessary skills and indeed the confidence to take on such a job. I imagine that Mrs Northsider just stands there with her arms folded managing the job in her executive capacity.
ReplyDeleteShe does YP. I am a great believer in being resourceful and recycling stuff from posh people's houses.
DeleteGood to see you are having a relaxing day off 😉
ReplyDeleteYour "new" kitchen sounds a great bargain.
We always have a project coming up to Christmas Jaycee. Last year you will remember the hole in the front room wall.
ReplyDeleteThat made it easier for Santa to get in.
DeleteTrue. Hope he brings his wife Mary (merry) Christmas.
DeleteImpressive work and impressive skills too - it looks great and you're right, it's good for the pocket and the planet.
ReplyDeleteGood For The Pocket And The Planet. That's a good title for a book Mark.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Dave. Real life.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement Rachel. Any one can have a nice house if the seek and find things.
ReplyDeleteLucky you. What a great way to get a new kitchen. Number one son is s a hem!
ReplyDeleteYes LA. There's an internet selling site in Ireland called Done Deal. You can find lots of stuff for sale on it.
ReplyDeleteThat is a lovely kitchen, I could do with that. I have a work top in my kitchen that was there when we moved in and is now 57 years old. Honest!
ReplyDeleteI bet there aren't many people who could boast that. lol
Must be minging with germs, lol
What a smashing son you have.
Briony
x
Thanks Briony. Yes it was so good of him. Your work top sounds like it's been a good one.
ReplyDeleteGood for you. It is what we do, as well, whenever we can. I've got a custom hickory cabinets waiting for my new kitchen. All we have to do is build a house for them. :(
ReplyDeleteMy husband loves his Stihl chain saws, and he has the hats to prove it.
Good to read Debby. I am sure you will build another house you have done it before.
ReplyDeleteNumber one son likes Makita power tools. I'm a tight wad and buy Parkside tools in Lidl. He laughs at my cheap purchases.
Milwaukee tools not Makita. Silly me!
ReplyDeletePower tools of choice are Kobalt (do you have them there?) and Milwaukee. We are great fans of repurposing. Old things are so well made and will outlast most cobbled together things you can buy today.
ReplyDeleteIt always astounds me to watch the DIY programs here. People complain about their "dated" kitchens, and will rip out a completely usable kitchen to replace it with something more stylish. In my mind, if you start with a good base, updating a kitchen doesn't have to mean scrapping the whole place. You can switch out knobs and handles, you can paint, you can lay new linoleum. and throw down new rugs and hang new curtains. The wastefulness really bothers me. You have a very nice kitchen.
Hi again Debby. Not sure of Kobalt but familiar with Milwaukee and Makita. I agree about old things being made so well. I love Shaker furniture and Tramp art. My Irish grandmother use to have a Welsh dresser and a range and used the table for baking and preparing meals.
ReplyDeleteYou should write a book about the renovation projects you and Tim have done. I would definitely buy it. I"ll post some photos when the kitchen is finished.
you wouldnt like my house right now. We are moving the kitchen from the north to the south of the house. we are on floating floors have dry rot and no noggins. the house is chaos, noise and dust and we have been living in one room for 4 months, cooking, eating, sleeping, work... I think we have finally gone crazy
ReplyDeleteHi Sol. Yes it feels like you describe. But I am sure it will be worth it and you are not paying rent. I would love to see some of your restoration pictures on your blog.
ReplyDelete