An almost finished blank canvas
Hello and sorry for the radio silence! We’ve been very busy feeling tired (ha!), running around after a toddler and trying to wrap up the end of our renovation project. Our contractor has been brilliant and basically finished ahead of schedule after eight weeks – unheard of, no? – and then it was Jules’s turn to take over and finish sanding the floorboards that he began some weeks ago. This has dragged on for far longer than anticipated firstly because he only has the weekends (the house is an hour from where we are staying so the evenings after work aren’t really an option) and secondly because I didn’t like the finish and made him re-do it – twice (and still wasn’t happy!). Last week to get things moving and save Jules’s knees we made the decision to pass the last sand and oiling over to our builders. The sanding has now been done, we are having the house cleaned from top to bottom on Wednesday and then the floor will be oiled, the (small) kitchen will be fitted and we have booked to move our furniture in on September 8th – yay! Once we are in there will still be LOADS of small things to do inside like tiling the fireplaces, putting shelves into cupboards, mending the original fire hearths, hanging lights etc but I like the idea of it being an ongoing project and living there for a while to get a feel for what we need and what will work best.
Anyhoo, back to the problems with the floorboards. Basically, I love the colour of the original boards in their raw state but well aware that they will get darker and more orange once they are oiled so I wanted to try out a white stain to try and neutralise the orange. Jules first of all tried out a cheap method our builder suggested, which involved using a mix of white spirit and white emulsion paint. This worked well but looked too much like a white wash, which isn’t what I wanted. Therefore, Jules sanded that off and tried the white stain Osmo oil. We did a sample and the white was barely noticeable so went ahead and used it on a whole room and I hated it! I think the colour of our boards make the white stain look purple almost! It had to go and this was the point at which Jules asked the builders to take over the sanding – ha!! We have now settled on Osmo Raw oil, which is supposed to make the wood look like its raw state and reduce the ‘wet look’ of oil. I’m keeping everything crossed that I like it!
The disastrous results of the white Osmo oil that I hated. This has all been re-sanded and awaiting Osmo Raw oil instead.
A success that I have had in the meantime is choosing a colour for the bathroom, which is now finished. In my last post I had asked for ideas as I was at a loss and although in my mind I was convinced I wanted a dark colour I actually came to the decision to go with a really calm neutral on the woodwork that would give just enough contrast with the white walls and soften the stark white sanitary ware. Here is a peek…it is Ammonite by Farrow & Ball.
A peek of the finished bathroom (before the sink was installed and there will be a mirror below the wall light).
The next couple of weeks are going to be VERY busy with cleaners, the floor being oiled, Jules fitting the kitchen, big new furniture being delivered and then moving in the weekend after next! Wish us luck!
Katy x
Love the grey, it looks soooo good. Your colours are going to make me sigh very happily. It’s going to be BEAUTIFUL!!!
So exciting, The living space looks huge and so open. Xx
I have been looking out for an update. Yay!
Here’s to getting it right from the start. Such perseverance!
Looking forward to seeing the next photos.
All the very best of luck with your move and wishing you very much happiness in your new home.
Eeek! Can’t wait to come over! Looks utterly fab! Xxx
Love the colour of the woodwork in the bathroom. So great to see it coming together. You must be so excited to move in. x
It is looking lovely.
All the best for your move.
So right to keep going until you are happy .. was reading Design Hunter Helen P’s tip on a product called Woca Wood Lye, have you heard of that? Bleaches permanently apparently, fearing I might be back on sanding the floor in our bedroom which has turned a little *sigh* X
I did the EXACT same thing with the Osmo whitewash oil. I thought it would reduce the orange on similar coloured floorboards. I don’t hate it but I don’t love it so wish I’d changed it and it bothers me. At the time I was doing it all myself and couldn’t be bothered re-sanding. Next time I will learn that if you don’t like at the time you never will!
Hello. I was wondering what result you got from using Osmo Raw on your floorboards? We have just used osmo satin on our pine floorboards and it has made them so orange! So we are now going to redo them.
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The Osmo raw gives a completely matt finish and it makes the pine boards slightly darker and more orange but nothing drastic. I’m really pleased with the way they have come up. Feel for you having to redo them 🙁 x
Love what you’ve done , colours are lovely.i totally agree with you waiting until you find the right pieces for your home . Enjoy your home with your family x