Foreign Perspectives

I suspect that for most people it’s very much a gradual process of change for their homes. Not only is this easier going financially but it avoids really serious disruption.

But where do you start? We’re in a house that missed out on something like 20 years worth of updates and maintenance so it’s in need of pretty much a complete upgrade. What we’re trying to do is to go through it in the most sensible way we can manage. That basically means starting at the top and working down on the basis that dust and whatnot will fall down so working on the top floor first should reduce the mess.

Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to do things in the logical sequence. Thus we find ourselves needing to replace the heating system now rather than in the summer when it wouldn’t be as inconvenient. We also found ourselves forced into replacing the kitchen roof when ideally that would have waited until next year when we might be extending the room beside it and thus needing another roof.

It’s easier with soft furnishings of course which can be upgraded anytime without affecting any of the other things going on. What we can’t really do is replace the carpet until the building work is done as it would be sure to be full of dirt if we did.

So, gradual with little flurries of activity is our approach.