I moved closer to London for work in late 2015, but everything was left packed in boxes as the house needed major renovations. I was just "existing" actually before we moved - working late and at all hours, living out of boxes, and actually not trying to be at "home" very much. Finally, the builders were able to get started with the project. We lived in the house the whole time, confined to one small bedroom with the Merlin the cat. The ground floor was gutted, and any spare amount of space in the small bedroom and any other spare corner became a storage pile for the unopened boxes. We didn't have heating for one night (the coldest night of the year) and was impossible to sleep; the other nights/days. we had to resort to the electric heaters that the builders lent to us. Earlier this month, the majority of the work finished, but there's a few more snagging and places that the builders need to come back to finish. However, we've been able to start unpacking and attempting to live.
Unpacking the boxes of my items that I have not seen since early in 2015 was satisfying, but I am still missing a couple of boxes. One of the items that I had the builders make was a set of shelves around the fireplace. (In the photograph below, the shelves were not built yet, but the fireplace, light fittings, mirror, and paint colours was all picked out by me.) On the shelves, I decided to add books mixed in with items that mean something to me and look good together. I love plants, and I have mixed these with books and other items that I have picked up on my travels and that bring me happiness when I look at them.
I now also have a decent bedroom, and I picked out the paint, flooring and doors. I am really happy with this room. The colours go so well, and behind the door in the photograph is an en-suite that I also designed with grey-brown tiles (which complement the room) with a textured section that forms a feature wall. I will have to get more photographs once the work is complete and tidied.
I am so happy that the majority of the work is now completed, but the unpacking and getting everything sorted is taking time. This is what I have been busy with recently and what is consuming a lot of my time.
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