I have always bought wrecks - I love renovating: and I completely agree with overpaying for a new renovation that is rubbish and soulless: I won't even view a house that has obviously been done up by one of the many "property developers" that infest London. I can cope with anything (have rectified asbestos, removed wood chip, put back period features and replaced everything from roof to digging up a floor to install underfloor heating in the past), but my absolute nos: dodgy neighbours/road, lack of off-street parking (London), a floor plan I can do nothing with, lack of potential to add value myself. I have seen (and met) some real horrors whilst looking for houses! Also, I have to have a period house: 1930s or older.

Hi. His Name is Roy Turner and you can reach him at: royturner22@aol.com Please mention my name - Clare Beynon at Surrey Home Interiors. Good luck with the kitchen!

Hi Jophilip I've been pondering this all evening and this morning! I think to maximise the space and light you have to move the services (utility, wc) to the left hand side of the house. I would change the current downstairs bathroom to a cloakroom for all your storage needs. I would block off the wall in the sitting room to make this a more formal space to escape to in the evening. I think you would need to get rid of the wall on the right hand side and incorporate that narrow space into the kitchen. Then you can get the light into the middle of the house with velux windows. I'm just not sure with moving all that plumbing and the wall it would come within budget. Hopefully a pro will give some input, apologies for the crude drawing!

I feel like I'm making loads of decision but still not really getting anywhere. There is so much to think about! Spotted some lovely toggle light switches so I've already bought them. I know where the light switches are going but its a case of figuring out the best places to put the plug sockets because we have so many in my mums house but we still run out! We've opted for a few USB sockets too so at least if we are charging phones and laptops, we are freeing space for other things too. In terms of kitchen layout, the suggestion of the seating in the bay window is great but because that would mean the kitchen would have to go at the other end, we've decided against this. It would work, and would probably be the best option once the horrible extension is knocked down but at the moment, the extension blocks all the sun light on that side so the kitchen would be very dim and dark for a while. The extension is something we are saving for and is more likely to be done in 4-5 years time so I'm not sure it makes sense to be in a dark corner for that length of time. We've had the house a month tomorrow and so far it has been ripping the house apart. January is the month we put everything back! Super excited. Plumber, heating engineer and builders are all put to the task in January. New floor in the kitchen, wall removed and built up again to accommodate the new window so that we can have units underneath, first fix plumbing, first fix heating and boiler installation. All other windows to be installed. Hoping that guttering and chimneys can be looked at too! We have a chimney breast on almost every wall which I'm sure was great for heating years ago but as they are no longer used, they cause so many damp issues! I bought paint tester pots today - I have no idea why, we are nowhere near ready for that but it just felt nice to buy something pretty and cosmetic rather than look at insulation and damp proofing. P.S; any suggestions on obscure glass for the bathroom and hallway? I've been given a huge list of options but unsure as to what to choose. Thinking just Contora or Arctic?