Blog Post 19: Barn Conversion - Moving Towards The End?

July 2023 - lots of random tasks beginning to be ticked off …

Almost a year after I bought the thing, I’ve finally reached a point where the stove can be installed …. shout out to Mark and the Ember Fires installation team - they made the whole process relatively painless despite one or two tricky issues such as the angle of the living room cat slide roof.

Thankfully no additional external venting is needed … I really did not want to have to knock a hole in the living room wall … to me, that would have made all that insulation I put in pointless.

I did toy with the idea of a decorative hearth (aka a ‘visual warning area’) rather than a ‘constructional hearth’, but, in the end, rather than risk any issue with Building Regs, I took the safe option and went with a glass constructional hearth.

I did find a hearth made of ‘low iron’ glass - it was super-clear - but it was double the price of Ember Fires glass hearth … and … I could only source it from Cornwall which meant a mahooosive delivery cost … that just wasn’t happening :-)

I’d bought some lights that were badged as indoor or outdoor, hoping to use then externally, but the electrician said they just wouldn’t work outside were I wanted to put them … I’ve had them too long to return them, but, I can’t afford to waste them, so I’ve put them on the landing … they will do there for now :-)

I now have a rubbish bin …

… just need to move it into the bin store :-)

As a warts and all blog, I’ll balance those positives with some niggles …

I’ve got more soft furnishing choices to make - carpets - who knew there was so much to think about loop v tuft, wool v synthetic … soft furnishings are really just not my thing :-(

… and don’t talk to me about internet connection :-(

Apparently to get connection to the property Openreach have had to approach neighbouring landowners to dig a trench … the landowners have refused …

… so, as a stop-gap, until Openreach can sort that out, I’ve had to go with Starlink … Elon Musk’s satellites can now track my every move :-)

It’s bloomin’ expensive, but, it was super-easy to install and the speeds are amazing :-)