Owning your own home

I did that - not with Natwest specifically. It's as simple as you said.

The thing is the place I'm buying already has the galley kitchen out the back so I'm wondering if I can take out the side wall do the side return and knock into the already existing dining room.

If I need to think about the kitchen rebuild its probably out of the question (as there are rooms above that).

In my head it'll be a case of RSJ for the rear load bearing wall (original back of house) and probably another for the side kitchen wall.

Good to hear - thanks.

Follow on question is what layout to consider. It's a mid terrace and the logical thing to do seems to be an L-shaped dormer to give a bedroom/ensuite with eaves storage.

Looking at floorplans of similar properties, some have gone for two bedrooms, but that seems like too much of a compromise on practical space.

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You're being overly generous with the bathrooms...

I think they should have added a third on the first floor, personally. Or maybe knocked them all through into one massive bathroom. Tiled from floor to ceiling.

It’s a general problem with that footprint - given the fenestration at the back either you have huge bathrooms or they have no windows.

Actually just spotted the bay window bathroom. Must be a typo!!

Now you're ticking all my immigrant boxes, 100% floor to ceiling tiles in the kitchen and bathroom(s)... We're getting a wet room this year... Tiles... Fucking... Everywhere...

Where's the bike room?

The big one that says reception.

Some really odd shit done to some of these houses.

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Good shout. If you're in a warm country it's 100% the way to go.

I recently tiled the entire ground floor and it’s been lovely under foot this week.

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OCD Alert.

Calling the tiling police. I am not having non lined up tiles in my house.

Speaking of tiling, my kitchen is coming close to completion. It needs some areas repainted as the black grout went everywhere

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There is a step there!

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That looks great

Thank you!

Went for 6x2 tiles to try to stretch the room visually.

The only manufacturer doing such tiles were H&E Smith Ltd (who also do the tiles for the tube) and they offered a bespoke colour choice so they created "set plaster" for us.
I'd recommend them for personalised tiles (shayne@hesmith.co.uk)

And for those thinking of getting black grout - tilers charge extra as it's very messy and it genuinely goes everywhere (something to do with the compound).
I now have areas of the freshly painted kitchen to re-paint...

Really like the colour - looks great against the white of the cupboards and the wood

Hmm, I can probably dig out an old contact for cheap slim white tiles if needed. We used dark grouting too (darkest they had for cheaps, not quite black)... we were also trying to bend time/space (low ceilings).

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And finally completed. About a year from start to end but got there in the end after various trials and tribulations.

Anyone want to give me a bulb referral link?

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For agreement in principle I just used one of the bank websites (Santander I think). Never had any intention of going with them but it takes 5 minutes to knock out.

This is obviously assuming that your mortgage is relatively straightforward.

Congrats

if ever you want to go with Octopus I have a referral code

Yeah I got one, will send it over in a sec.

Congrats! I did too 2 days ago - my first place. No chain, and still took 9 months..

congrats, sent one as well... ask for a smart meter, they gave us one for free when we signed up last year

Saved by the bell, we received two offers this afternoon, and expecting a third.