Planning for 2013

As 2012 came to an end we decided that we really needed to concentrate our efforts on getting the ground floor of the house completed. The floor screed needed to be laid, floor tiling to put down and the purchase and fitting of the kitchen. We also needed the clear the debris and rubble from down the side of house.

As it worked out the temporary kitchen that had served us for our last two visits was stripped out after our September 2012 visit and the sand/cement floor screed laid. We were happy for this as this allowed for the screed to dry out sufficiently for when we needed the floor laying.

So in January 2013 we embarked on the design of the kitchen. The only thing we really knew at the outset was that it needed to stretch out along the back wall as this was were all the services had be installed and where the temporary kitchen had been. Initially we had looked towards purchasing the kitchen from France but soon found this to be difficult because of the amount of time required to get it sorted. With sourcing the right kitchen, obtaining initial designs, re-visits for finalisation of a design and details bearing in mind we are only over in France for a week or two at a time. The exchange rate was also against us at 1.12 Euro to the Pound.  After several weeks of initial planning, re-planning and tweaking we went eventually to see Sam Neal at Sam Neal Kitchens with a design idea. Sam took this on and turned it into something workable. Below are a few images that Sam produced for us.

Here's one of the original design where the hob was placed against the wall.

Here's the design that we eventually chose with the hob moved onto the island unit. We thought this changed the entire the feel of the kitchen area and whilst making  it more user friendly.

Nice perspective of the island unit. Although the this was eventually tweaked again.

As regards the transporting over of the flat pack kitchen, the appliances and the floor tiles we used a man with a van that basically operated between Brighton and France. All the goods were delivered to his store in Brighton.  In fact he lived in a village near ours so it was quite convenient and reasonably economic.

More to follow.......