The Penultimate Post....

Only one week to go until the West Wing is complete. Yes it's nearly the end of the blog. There has been so much progress over the last week and it is all coming together and looking GORGEOUS!

But... I won't be revealing the final 'after' shots until after the official opening of The West Wing. So my penultimate post will instead simply give you a sneaky glimpse into the new space.

So first up the kitchen... oh the kitchen. It is a thing of beauty and as well as double ovens we now have two warming drawers... we still haven't quite got over the rotisserie in the oven but I am sure at some point the novelty will wear off.... in 2025!

The island is in place - at this point it is covered up so you can't see it in all it's glory but it looks amazing and I am envisaging theatre style cooking by the husband in this area!

Here's a cheeky glimpse at the hob... 

.. I said it was cheeky.. I aim to tease. This hob is AMAZING but I am resisting the urge to show it off yet! I am loving my Smeg appliances I just now need to work out how the hell to use them!


We love the tiles - they are yet to be grouted but still look brilliant

Toilet is getting there - we don't have a toilet installed yet but we do have a sink in and rad is on. It will be given a regal feel with the decor but more on that to follow!

Utility room has cupboards and a sink and tiles...

And the vestibule is still sparse but the floor is finished

Then we had the archway into the dining room, which was a tad on the 80s side...

... but we now have corners...

The builders have kept on track and it will have been a 3 month build from start to finish which is exactly what they said, I know it sounds weird but while I won't miss the dust and the drilling I will miss the questions, the company, the trips to plumbing shops and even the tea making. They are a really nice bunch and would thoroughly recommend them!

So as Mr D is limbering up for a marathon, we are nearing the finishing line for the West Wing. Come Easter Weekend we may well be cooking a lovely roast (or maybe a spitroast chicken!) but not before we embark on the job of filling up the cupboards - can't wait! 

My next trick is to try to secure a celebrity to officially open the west wing.... I do like a challenge!

So until next time when there will be a big reveal!

Mrs Dx

Working Flat Out

So since my last post we have seen a HUGE amount of progress and the end is nigh!! I am pleased to report the doors went in... everyone say Hallelujah! The plywood panels that thought they were doors are no more! Lady Di will be pleased.

Since the doors were officially hung 'we' have been flying! Kris has returned from Poland and we have had lots of the Alpha team on site (soooo many cups of tea!) for the last week and a half as we near the finish line.

The drainage is all done, driveway repaired and back to a better state than it was before we started and the inside is looking good!

The utility and toilet got plastered (NB the sink unit below is just temporary!), and the electrics were pretty much finished off.

The kitchen was cleared in anticipation of a flat packed delivery from IKEA... and the space looked huge.

Just before the kitchen arrived, the walls and ceiling had an initial lick of paint - the right colour! Two walls pale grey and the rest is white and Mr Doyle and I will be attempting to do a second coat later. Hmmmm.

And then the kitchen was delivered...and as I type .... said kitchen is being fitted. I am officially in love with our new smeg ovens, one of which contains a rottiserie!! Oh how Mr Doyle and I will amuse ourselves on a saturday night cooking a chicken on a spit! I am VERY excited now, we are just a couple of weeks away and it is all coming together rather nicely.

The vestibule had it's ceiling plastered and the walls were boarded ready for plaster.

I achieved my goal and sought out and purchased two chairs for the vestibule and bloody lovely chairs at that. Louis and Louis will be the new Doyle Thrones, so meet Louis...

The next post will include that of a finished kitchen - white gloss units, oak worksurfaces and rather lovely tiles... and then we will introduce the island it will be a thing of beauty! Oh yes the West Wing is nearly there, not long now!

Mrs D x