How do I bathroom / kitchen / extension? etc.

Ha, I’ll be sure to let her know the current setup has forum approval.

Thanks for this, wasn’t aware of fittingly so 100% gonna set up a call with them.

Re curtain / doors - not gonna wash, plus it’s as much about creating more storage space than it is covering it up.

@chrisbmx116 thanks too. Yeah it’s a great space. We really don’t have any storage tho, anything that comes into the flat just lies around so I’ve basically got everything I own in those drawers (not just clothes). If it’s not in there it’s strewn around the flat and we do need a space of some sort. There’s stuff jammed behind those drawers. Ironing board in living room, bikes in baby room etc etc.

Custom self build - not an option, don’t have the skill or the time. Wish I did, makes me think I want to be a wardrobe fitter / joiner.

PAX and carpenter - have thought about this. Gonna pursue fittingly and plan a PAX just to see where we start to get to then take from there.

Thanks both

I’m absolutely shocked at the cost of fitted wardrobes. I had no idea.

Materials are (comparatively) cheap, but labour is currently very, very expensive because demand is high, because money has largely been criminally cheap until the last couple of quarters.

It feels like there are two separate questions perhaps; more storage doesn't have to mean a build in wardrobe.

Looking at that space, I'd certainly consider trying to put a shelf above the current rail to get more storage space.

I'd try and tease out what a built in wardrobe is going to achieve that your current solution isn't, appreciate this might be a difficult conversation in current circs.

Yeah I hear you. Have learned that lesson very quickly lately. Was on here recently re tiling costs. Given many ask for cash in hand makes me start to think what sort of salary they’re pulling in and it’s mind boggling. But they can afford to turn jobs down and they’re constantly busy so I guess that is simply the market.

There was something above and we ripped it out. It was super imposing and open so it was really messy.

We basically don’t have any room to put things that don’t go in drawers. Ironing board, clothes drying rack, dehumidifier (cos we dry clothes inside) etc. they all just lie around so we’d want something tall, at least at the sides.

Have you thought about an Ottoman bed? Good for long flat stuff like ironing board and clothes rack. Easy to get to and look neater than just putting under the bed.

We recently paid £4k (inc VAT) for these (in London). Each is about 90cm x 270cm.

these are what I meant by custom felt build

Probably snapped up by Dani Foffa.
Alas, no re fridge, just the Westinghouse made Ikea one. Will let you know once it's fired up.

Okay didn’t know that was a thing. This could be perfect, amazing thanks.

@aggi thanks too. Bed switch not an option but cheers. Those look high quality, nice.

I’ll stop hogging the thread thanks all.

Thanks, looks good and non brown could work well. The price is a bit prohibitive sadly. But maybe everything is that much now.

No probs!
For ref this was one I bought from them.

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One way film doesn't really exist. You might be better off with it inside or outside due to diffraction before/after the partially reflective surface but it's probably not huge. I would guess you're better off with it on the outside if anything as you're more likely to get reflectance (the beam is closer to normal angle inside the glass so you get higher transmission). But my optics knowledge is rusty as shit.

@ectoplasmosis
Rolling all the way back to this question- an alternative and neat solution is to aim for an overhang that blocks most of the high sun in summer, but embraces low sun in winter- essentially optimising light paths:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq-3cZ0cbws

I like to compare our extension and our roof-box- both done before we moved in, and one with the input of good architect (extension) and one completely standard (roof-box).

Both massively over-use glass and both are south-west exposures with similar flat roof material on top.
The roof-box gets absurdly hot (obviously not 100% just solar exposure from the windows), whereas the extension with the overhang never really heats up, even in that heatwave last year.

Just had a big PERMIT stamped on my loft conversion application. Seven increasingly stressful months since initiating this thing and not even close to starting yet.

Don't much fancy having a roof completely replaced over winter so probably put it on hold until next year. Way things have progressed so far, sorting out the legal faff will take that long anyway.

I know nothing other than the instructions saying it wasn’t bi directional and should be installed on the inside.

Of course it could just be to avoid people installing it outside and then it getting wrecked in 10 mins.

Yeah they probably know better than me which side is optimal, but either way you should get 95% of the performance on either side of the window (until it peels off I suppose)

That must be a relief. How did it go with the neighbour's objections in the end?

How did it go with the neighbour's objections in the end?

Think it's fairly safe to say that situation is ongoing, so it's a huge relief to get a positive result on the planning. Time for an awkward conversation to find out what their thoughts are in light of this. May post more details later, but right now I'm almost completely unsympathetic to their circumstances.

The planning thing was a bit odd. Architect forwarded an email from the officer a couple of weeks ago, which requested that a) the extension on the rear be stepped from the side wall by an excessive-sounding 400mm, and b) that the new extension and terrace didn't extend more than half the depth of the existing rear extension. Given that the total depth is just under 8m, there's no way that could reasonably accommodate both new extension and terrace.

I was aware of a couple of very similar projects which had been approved so forwarded them to the architect. He seemed to agree that the request for the stepping in was odd. Only real difference was that their terraces were ~0.5m further back from the rear wall (and smaller in area) than our plans, so was expecting that we'd be forced to compromise in that respect.

Got the decision email yesterday and noticed that amended drawings had been added. Thought it a bit weird that these had been submitted without me seeing them, but the only concession was to step in the side of the terrace. Apparently he'd had a 'discussion' with the officer regarding the prior approved plans which went very much in our favour.

Getting permission for the dormer plus rear extension was pretty much a formality given the amount of precedence around here, but the terrace definitely wasn't. It's only since covid that Haringey have become more sympathetic to the owners of first floor flats in the area, still not allowed on houses. Incredibly happy to have got these plans approved, feels like a big win.

We're planning a new kitchen, going with Ikea, got it all sorted but after pulling out the existing one we realised 2 of the walls have a slightly obtuse angle. We're planning on putting a counter top around that corner. Any advice on how to deal with the wider angle?

I had mine done over winter. Over the Christmas break it snowed which means that when it melted the water got everywhere. Fortunately we were redecorating the hallway but would have been a bit annoying otherwise.

On the other hand, for downstairs it meant that the scaffolding in the back garden wasn't up when they'd want to use the garden during the summer.

Roof terrace should make a massive difference to the flat.

My concern was mainly the heating implications of having absolutely nothing above the living room/bedroom ceiling for a significant amount of time. I'm not particularly averse to the cold but don't fancy having to run the CH 24/7 to prevent the place from freezing. Am fully expecting the neighbour to object to the scaffolding, but they never use the side return anyway.

Also, realise we've discussed the merits of pediments before. I noticed on google maps that the construction of them differs quite significantly from street to street. Here they're the full height of the roof which hopefully makes the internal space more useable.

deeper counter than you need and custom cut the back so that it accommodates the angle, while leaving 90 degrees at the front edge?

Good point. Can't say I noticed any difference when it was done, I think the old roof came off and the new one on pretty quickly but I was a lot less sensitive about heating prices then so maybe just didn't notice. Wonder if I still have thermostat data from then.

I had scaffolding in the back garden as well as side return so you may want to check that.

Yes, there's quite a variety when you look at them on satellite view, sometimes even on the same street. Mine was a smaller one that didn't go right back to the ridge. I saw this yesterday on a very expensive (£1.65m!) listing on Mattison if you're looking for something to do with it ...

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Some lovely cork floor tiles available here if anyone's that way inclined: https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/389611

People with cork or linoleum flooring - how does it fare with getting scratched up by grit etc walked onto it? I'd like one or the other in the kitchen, but the kitchen door to the garden gets used a lot. At the moment there's just a decking step outside, it could gain a new doormat but it's not like there would never be dirt trodden in.