Outside 1920’s less ugly ideas needed
Rachel Pinker
6 years ago
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6 years agoRelated Discussions
Need help disguising ugly air vents on cupboard door
Comments (9)I can't imagine that you actually need two air vents in one door? I would probably seal up the top one completely then maybe just get a decorative cover for the lower one? Even a white plastic one louvred down so you can't see into the 'blackness' a Carolina mentioned would be better. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grille-Cover-150x150mm-WOODEN-Ventilation/dp/B00Q9HG1VU/ref=sr_1_36?ie=UTF8&qid=1497888481&sr=8-36&keywords=vent+cover https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001E09BK0/ref=sr_1_28?ie=UTF8&qid=1497888417&sr=8-28&keywords=decorative+vent+grate https://www.amazon.co.uk/Plastic-Ducting-Ventilation-200x300mm-flyscreen/dp/B016343RUQ/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1497888586&sr=8-5&keywords=white+vent+cover Another solution would be to seal up both vents, remove the skirting from the bottom of the door and cut off about an inch from the bottom to allow ventilation at that point....See MoreAsymmetrical Ugly Fireplace - Help Anyone got any ideas?!
Comments (4)I think your fireplace is lovely and I love the warm honey tone of the bricks. Many fireplaces aren’t symmetrical, mine isn’t. I think it would be sacrilege to cover it up. Such a lovely cosy room. If you really hate it then you could remove the bricks and plaster the wall, or remove the bricks and put in a wooden fire surround and paint that. I like Ribena‘s idea - candles or even electrical lighting can create warmth, or maybe an electric faux log burner,....See MoreHelp needed with ugly UPVC front porch!
Comments (12)Depending on budget, I would replace the sliding doors with the original front door and window you could then brick up the window space giving you more storage space internally, then just add a different front door in its place. where the side window is going back towards the bay I would brick up to underside of existing window sill height and keep the window above so you don't loose to much light in the bay window. Seeing the original front door would be so much better than the sliding doors ....See Morehow do we make 1920s house warmer?
Comments (7)We moved from a 2000 new build to a 1906 build. It is a very different way of living in a house. Before you call/hire anyone, do your own research. Find out how your house was constructed. Is it solid or cavity wall (more likely to be solid, ours is). You have double glazing but how many chimneys are in the house and how draughty is it? These houses are not meant to be hermetically sealed, they can suffer dreadfully with condensation and damp if they are insulated incorrectly. We don't use the chimneys so have invested in a chimney sheep to block the draughts but still keep the breathable aspect. https://www.chimneysheep.co.uk/ Really thick curtains on the windows help enormously as does keeping the internal doors closed over most of the time. If you can't afford blanket lined curtains, an easy trick is to get cheap fleece blankets from somewhere like The Range and sew/velcro them into your existing curtains. Careful of fire regs though, we don't do candles as we have cats and they are wonderful yet stupid, so no open flames for us! Roof space insulation is a good start, again, research breathable insulation. Lining your walls with 10cm of internal insulation is a terrible idea if you want to keep the original features in a house. However if you are gutting it because there are no features left, get someone in who has a proven track record of old house renovations. Ask to see their portfolio and you also shouldn't be able to book them for at least 6 months if they are good! There is a Haynes manual for Victorian to Edwardian construction in which you may find some info on the construction of you house, though yours is more interwar period. It's a good read nonetheless. There are loads of sites on the internet which give info on house building, This one describes the various periods with how to recognise them. We often go for a walk around our area and try to guess the house age (and this was before lock down!) https://fet.uwe.ac.uk/conweb/house_ages/flypast/print.htm These are just my thoughts from having experienced the joy (and pain) of owning an older house. Get used to having to fix stuff, don't worry unduly if hairline cracks are appearing as the house naturally shifts (cos they do and it is usually ok!) Get a structural survey done on the house. Also get used to a much higher fuel bill, plus investigate HEPA fans that can help reduce particles (we got one for our bedroom and it has worked well). Keep asking on here for help and advice because the community is super and helpful and has helped me transform my tired old house into a home that I love. Oh and live in it for at least 6 months before deciding to do any decoration. The house will tell you what it wants. :-) I wish you all the best in your new home....See MoreRachel Pinker
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Rachel PinkerOriginal Author