How do I bathroom / kitchen / extension? etc.

It is perfect if you are golf club rich.

Idk. My mate started his building career doing high end reno projects - 00's Primrose Hill celebs, pre-crash bank MDs, etc. None of the wives were ever completely happy.

Pretty sure ours is a hailo.
Binopolis.com have a decent range of bins.

That's prob a Dif issue though, I imagine they are just picky dicks who don't actually try and work with people to find solutions, whereas I'm a picky dick who totally works with people.

I've come to a rough estimate of the time/effort problem after 30+ years of building work.

80% is the normal you are getting quoted/paying for. As an example there will be cheaper materials, small corners cut, things done once where they should be done twice, plans changed on the fly etc. In general though you could say the end result is 'normal'. Some clients specifically request this approach, "It doesn't need to be perfect" etc.

The remaining 20% costs another 80% in time and materials. If you want the very best passing close examination, durable and repairable this is likely the cost in time and effort. Some clients can afford this and expect it but they are paying nearly double the amount other clients are and they will pay to have problems ironed out regardless of the cost of another pack of tiles/wood etc. another round of spray painting or whatever.

Please don't shoot the messenger but perfection costs a lot of money and I have a lot of experience chasing it in interiors. When I've managed projects I've been surprised how often I've had to insist the plans are followed where builders have applied their 'initiative' which is basically cutting corners in a 'normal' fashion. I've also had many days when I've had to send them home with a six pack and an apology because I've insisted they do something according to the plans and I need them to turn up the next day ready to do that again.

In short I guess what I'm really saying is the cost/results curve is exponential not linear.

This seems about right to me!

I sometimes have to remind my wife that our budget is South Norwood, not South Kensington. Not expecting perfection and there are compromises but equally I would like it if the builders actually read the drawings properly.

Sounds about right to me, the Architect design and build firm that did downstairs quoted roughly 80% more than what we are paying for the loft to do what they even said was roughly the same work.

Right in the middle or almost through the cost/time/perfection thing on our refurb and there comes a point where you have to let certain things go as the law of diminishing returns comes into play.
A lot of our flat has been paper lined at some point and some walls I had to strip but there is no way I was going to strip/clean paste residue and sand/fill everything as it’s a 70 year old building and not exactly perfect when built and another 10 days of work for me.
Have done the very obvious bits that have been bodge filled in big lumps but the rest stays, at least I know nobody is going to walk in and think ‘that looks a bit shit’
The friend I had helping me doing the insulation did say it was a £60k all in job.
Budget is a chunk less than a Velocio kitchen or a Tenderloin bathroom so I can’t grumble about the end result.

It would be good enough go straight to TMH if we ever sell but Kitchen and hallway built in storage need to be done first.

I visited a property in Brockley/Crofton Park owned by somebody who does posh café fit outs and everything was mm precision and superbly thought out which is now on the market but I expect most people viewing will not notice the extra hours of work/cogitation

Water based oil or varnish on iroku floor?
I suggested oil to partner but she dances and wants to practice at home now lounge has doubled in size, shoes are never worn outside only in venues and they often use little protective things on heels or special trainers with higher heel.
Been told that Bona varnish is good for high traffic for at least 10 years, is easy to apply and looks good.
We don’t wear shoes indoors so not going to be wearing any finish out soon but the easy spot repairs and topping up with the oil appeals to me, do worry about the varnish yellowing over time as the plastic looking lacquer used before went very yellow.
Anyone picked varnish over oil?

My builders use 3 coats of Bona Traffic HD (almost always the Extra Matte).

Another example, although I think these are looking great, is the opening for the Velux.
I have seen one company doing way more open, err, openings, but our guy didn't know how, and looking at the Velux, I couldn't work it out too as the drywall had to slide in at a set angle.

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way more open, err, openings

Do you have a comparative image?

These guys do it... https://www.instagram.com/giraffe_lofts/

@Tenderloin - mates bin is a Howdens one. No link and their website doesn't show it. But it's like this and cost ~£200.

Feels stable - there is a fair bit of material on the sides so assume this is the reason.

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I think the milky way thing is a video edit.

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... but I see what you mean. The plasterboard frame/recess is set at an ~45° angle which makes it look bigger, rather than 90°.

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'Zactly.
But how they do it I have no idea, if its not solid in the groove it'll flex and crack?
Really don't want Airheads input here because I bet he knows an easy way.

So annoyed.

Yours look fine. It hides the handle anyway.

At least your velux's stay open - our builders put some centre pivot ones in which just hang open at an angle that's within a 1mm of the pitch of our roof (so essentially shut). I've had to stand on a chair and prop an empty milk carton in to keep them open on hot days. Sigh.

Top open FTW.

Thats one thing I would not compromise on, we plan on using them like a faux balcony.

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Yes, in retrospect that would have been nice. Would have been nice to be consulted to be honest!
I suppose you get what you pay for - the actual building work is fine but the finishing & planning has all been terrible/non-existent!

There's prob a middle ground, I put 100% effort in and prob got 20% of what I wanted, maybe less (not that I am super unhappy).

Doesn't help now, but you can kind of see how they do it here

Yeah seen that, kinda doesn't show the details and looks a bit dodgy, especially the top.
Looks to me from that that neither top or bottom boards are sitting correctly.

I've done that detail on all my windows (arch tech) and I believe it is recommended by Velux to aid air flow. The channel top and bottom is angled on one side to accept the palsterboard at an angle.