Quick home renovation

[CaptFinnBad]

Painting nearly done. I'll be all about flooring from Sunday onwards.

Not making it easy for myself, I was supposed to go for a casual walk with this woman who's been on the back burner for a while.

I bailed on her this morning and canceled in favour of going to the DIY store and finishing up the walls.

I kinda felt bad I blew her off like that and offered to take her to see some bioluminescence plankton at the beach next weekend.

I wasn't really thinking when I offered. Will mean being at the beach alone with her probably until 3 am.

So that completely messes up having the whole of next weekend to focus on fitting a solid floor.

Depending on how the night plays out (I think I already know) , it will be the first time I've actually given her the green for her to actually enter my life and be more than a casual acquaintance which I've been keeping her as (originally did this because I was seeing a different women).

I'm 100% into her though. Just might be biting off more than I can chew energy and focus wise.

 

[justaroundthecorner]

Some break from dating is often a good idea (esp. if you feel things go nowhere).

BTW. Concerning your house - think about installing a lot of various kinds of designer lighting (whether on walls, floor/standing lamps or on ceiling). I would also consider ordering floor renovation/change with more modern materials or at least putting some nice quality, neutral colours carpets (beige, light grey, mix of warmer colours but no retro-designs). I'd go hipster with old house when planning out interior - you cannot really put a spirit of new building into the old one but you definitely can mix new with old efficiently.

 

[CaptFinnBad]

Some break from dating is often a good idea (esp. if you feel things go nowhere).

BTW. Concerning your house - think about installing a lot of various kinds of designer lighting (whether on walls, floor/standing lamps or on ceiling). I would also consider ordering floor renovation/change with more modern materials or at least putting some nice quality, neutral colours carpets (beige, light grey, mix of warmer colours but no retro-designs). I'd go hipster with old house when planning out interior - you cannot really put a spirit of new building into the old one but you definitely can mix new with old efficiently.

Thanks man! That's the plan.

About to order a light oak floor this weekend . Also ordered a big modern led light for the living room yesterday.

Definitely going to take my time picking the right lighting for each space.


I need to find a good ceiling light for the bathroom next. Something colour changing that isn't controlled by Alexa unless I can work out how to get an Alexa in there (no sockets in UK bathrooms unfortunately).

Alexa in there would be great because I could control the lighting and have music, which is important.

Last time I had a women over I had to made do playing music from my phone and using tea lights when we were fooling around in the bathroom. A bit of a faf setting it all up.

I've done this often over the years, just would be a nice and effortless to have a helping hand via an Alexa.

 

[Scaramouche]

Hi CaptainFinn,
With your dodgy Ceiling finish,go for down lights,nothing that throws light across the Ceiling,accentuating faults...Quite envious of your solid Oak floor!

 

[BeExcellent]

Advice from the old lady:

Would you categorize the house as a historic cottage? I own a number of homes that are over 100 years old, including 1 from 1908/1910 time frame.

Do not install a skylight. Much too modern (will look weird) unless you completely remove ceilings & attic altogether, and vault your ceilings. That is a ton of work and must all be done exactly right as all is visible.

You want a railing on the staircase certainly. The entire space will feel eerie and weird without that. Get spindles that are appropriate for the house & a wooden handrail. That railing and spindles will help stabilize the stairs and reduce the creaking a bit too.

You are going to have creaky floors and stairs. I have this in my home that my ex husband lives in. It is a rather grand 1893 Italian Victorian home. Quartersawn oak wainscoating, staircase, spindles, rail, and treads. Very well built house. Floors & stairs creak here & there. Big deal.

White interior paint will help with light but those old homes were built in a way where you could compartmentalize spaces to reduce heating & cooling costs. My house has 5 fireplaces and enourmous pocket doors. Why? To be able to close areas off & keep them cozy. I have sleeping porches too upstairs (2). Why? So those areas could have all the windows open to the cool night air to help with sleeping in pre central HVAC times.

Form follows function.

An old house with no railing for the stairs will feel hazardous & incomplete. People know that railing was once there & that should be dealt with immediately.

Fixtures and details are the jewelry for a house. Look at design photos for the age & style of your house to get good design ideas. There are all kinds of photos you can refer to.

Are you near the ocean? If so incorporate the beach into your art or decor. Again, lots of photos available to illustrate this. Everyone likes a beachy feeling space.....

 

[zekko]

"How much time does a person spend in a hallway, anyway?" I used to buy and sell Houses,my Agent was an exceedingly Clever Lady who opined that the entrance way was very significant as it created a first impression,she used to adorn the Hallway with a large scenic picture,mirrors,large amphora with artificial flowers and a fancy upholstered chair,which she set up on all my open Days

Around these parts we call that the foyer.

 

[Scaramouche]

Hi BeExcellent,
I agree with most of your observations....As for your sqeaky
treads,a hundred years ago labour was cheap,if you have underfloor access you may well find there are wedges you may tighten...The Freestanding Newel Posts at the foot of Balustrades can also be tightened if wobbly.

 

[BeExcellent]

Hi BeExcellent,
I agree with most of your observations....As for your sqeaky
treads,a hundred years ago labour was cheap,if you have underfloor access you may well find there are wedges you may tighten...The Freestanding Newel Posts at the foot of Balustrades can also be tightened if wobbly.

Unfortunately the understair access (coat/hat closet with a custom 3/4 size nine panel oak door and a 90 degree interior turn (follows shape of staircase) is fully finished in plaster. This house was a showplace for entertaining when originally built and thus the formal spaces were finished in great detail.....so no underfloor access.

The service staircase in the back of the house wraps behind the back of the dining room fireplace chimney (again a way of heating the stairs in winter and transference of heat to the second story) but those stairs may have wedges ingeniously incorporated into the steps themselves. Will advise ex husband to examine closely as that set of stairs has been painted.

 

[Scaramouche]

Hi BeExcellent,
Well,if you cannot access from under,then your only option is to remove your Carpet and work from the top....My Dad was good on Staircases on one we did,he pushed the cracked treads apart with very course Screws,then we trowelled Plasterboard adhesive into the cracks,finished with a thick brush coat of PVA glue thickened with Cornice Cement....Never squeaked again LOL.

 

[CaptFinnBad]

Question....

I have three bedrooms. No shed. One of the rooms has been used as a storage room for a long time.

I'm currently having a de cluttering and
organising the space.

.I have relocated my home gym to that space also. It's going to work perfectly. Gym also used as storage for tools , outdoor stuff , e.t.c.


I want an honest opinion here.

My only concern is this room giving of a serial killer vibe.

Due to space constraints I've started to mount tools to the walls (very practical and space efficient).

But I do have outdoor axes, tomahawks, saws mounted on walls in plain sight.

Also I have incredibly high ceilings so storing my numours fishing rods on the walls well above head hight.

Next I'll probably be mounting my scoped hunting air rifles on the wall for easy storage.

It gets worse. I also have a couple of functional swords (which I need to store ). Along with my outdoor equipment. God knows where I'm going to put my outdoor knives, Climbing ropes e.t.c.

Possibly on the industrial racking I've just bought, mixed with in with tools.

On the plus side, all this type of equipment, tools and things will be confined to one room and the house will free from any or it.

BUT considering how neat and functional it's going to be part of me is slightly worried about what vibe this room is going to give off !


Must guys around here are office worker type guys, women are NOT going to be used to seeing this type of stuff in a guy's house.

I'm in the UK. So even air rifles, knives , axes e.t.c. are NOT the norm. Socially most people here are anti pointy objects and do not view them as tools.

I'm kinda worried about what impression this room is going to give someone not used to it. Also I think having a locked door would only make this room way worse.


Advice with my gym / outdoor/ storage room. Am I looking too much into this ?


Obviously never been a problem with ladies in the past, it's usually part of the attraction to me.

But I'm thinking casual hook ups e.t.c.

I've kinda thinking I bring a women back, she opens this door and thinks she's just been picked up and seduced by Ted Bundy lol

I wish I had a garage but sadly I don't so my option is limited.

 

[Scaramouche]

Hi CaptainFinn,
Hope you have a sturdy bench and vice....On the walls pegboard is very useful,fixed proud of wall on inch thick battens enabling tool hooks to be hung...I found pigeon holes to fit Ice Cream buckets very handy enabling storage of screws,bolts,nails etc...On the Female front,agewise you are coming into your own,you are not Captain Finn any more but Handy Andy!...There are just so many Women with houses they can't maintain out there,you are a valuable assett...As you age losing your charm seems inevitable but no excuse for losing your Black and Decker LOL.

 

[CaptFinnBad]

Hi CaptainFinn,
Hope you have a sturdy bench and vice....On the walls pegboard is very useful,fixed proud of wall on inch thick battens enabling tool hooks to be hung...I found pigeon holes to fit Ice Cream buckets very handy enabling storage of screws,bolts,nails etc...On the Female front,agewise you are coming into your own,you are not Captain Finn any more but Handy Andy!...There are just so many Women with houses they can't maintain out there,you are a valuable assett...As you age losing your charm seems inevitable but no excuse for losing your Black and Decker LOL.

Haha I just want to nail women and not fix their houses.

 

[CaptFinnBad]

It's the rifles need to store on the walls some how but not be too in your face or hidden.

I think they are the things that a going to cross the line from the room okay /masculine slightly out of the ordinary to fear invoking.

 

[ThisIsSparta]

Haha I just want to nail women and not fix their houses.

You dont need to show women you nail all of your house.


Dont overdo things man. This will creep into your mindset and one day you meet at woman you might want to keep and you will blow it by being "to good" of a guy.

 

[MatureDJ]

Bit of a weird one. I own a home that was build in 1908. So it's a bit old, I've had this house a long time. Being so old it's a lil wonky in places.

About 10 years ago I did a major renovation, the house was a state. Rectified major issues with the building and brought it up to standard.

The building work I carried out was substantial, towards the end I just threw it back together and didn't put a lot of love into the finer details.

The house is awesome just needs a bit of tlc cosmetically.

Taking a lil break away from women. It was initially going to be to the end of June but it's taking a lil longer than expected.

I noticed a bit of a pattern women pointing out how clean and tidy it is but it's a little dark and dingy, doesn't have a good energy to it.

In one regard I don't care but on the other hand they have a point.

You know, so yeah, I think it's in my benefit to create a better and much more inviting space .

I'd much rather have a space women adore being in than not. The reason being sometimes I can't always be bothered putting in a lot of investment, going out , doing stuff , dates , dinners e.t.c.



It is a dark house, light wise, not huge amounts of natural light I'm going back to painting it all white to bounce natural light, did it on a couple of rooms already and it's made a hell of a difference, also actually going to give a sh1t and think about light fixtures.

Inject my personality through art, the occasional touch of colour.

I'm placing a little extra energy to finer details in finishing regarding decorating. Fixing minor issues like creaky stairs , stabilising subfloor on second floor, all minor stuff that's not needed but it will give the house a solid feel. With no major building stuff to do what I'm doing is focusing on how the house feels.

Any other ideas how to update a place / space ?


I want a kick ass home for me and really inviting anyone I bring back.

As soon as I'm done I want to get back on it and start plough through these chicks.

Carpentry Cope.

 

[Bible_Belt]

My only concern is this room giving of a serial killer vibe

Nah, go for it. Have a lot of rope and some chains hanging from the ceiling.

 

[Clockwerk50]

Nah, go for it. Have a lot of rope and some chains hanging from the ceiling.

Why stop there. Let them see the bodies lol