This summer I had a call and was asked if I would work along side other tradespeople on an episode of ITV's Love Your Garden Your Home And Garden presented by Alan Titchmarsh and Katie Rushworth. I would love to thank Women Into Construction for recommending Decorella and thank Kunle Barker of Illustrious Homes for giving us the interior decorating job. It was a lovely project to work on and made even more wonderful at the end when we all got to meet the lovely family in person. A real honour.
First day nerves
It had been several years since I had done any site work where I had not know anyone. Walking up the path felt a lot like my first day of school. Once on site the fear was soon taken over with a healthy measure of panic at seeing the mammoth task ahead.The work was still very much in progress for all trades involved and many walls were still being plastered. If i had known I would of brought my hair dryer with me I thought.
The Builders were great. I needn't have worried about the first day nerves. Michael, Andy and Edgar of Wilmot Construction where a joy to work with and would often help me out espiaclly with a promise of a Percy Ingles peanut butter donut. Apprentice Joe and Electrician Kevin (the Seahorse) with his 200 multiple personalities could light up a room with his jokes but I was more grateful when he got the lights up and working. It was really nice to be a part of this extra Special project and lucky we all got on well as it was pretty crowded most of the time.
Look at the gallery below to see images midway through project and the end.
The last few days rolled around fast and the huge glass doors had arrived. When fitted the build was starting to resembling a home again. It was luxury to be able to finish painting the dining area without getting whipped by the rain or a loose bit of tarpaulin.
The Garden
The ground work and Garden team where amazing too. With all the rubble lying in the garden from the removal of walls and previous extension the garden looked like a war zone. I don't know where they hid it all! There was no longer a side access due to the wonderful addition of the utility room and widening of the kitchen. This meant that everything had to be taken through the house, rubble out, decking and plants brought in. Thank you guys for not wrecking those walls. The crew and presenters and designers were good fun too, they were so easy to talk to until the red light on the camera was on.lol!
Pressures on
It's the last day and the tension, excitement, ( I call it tensitement lol ) hit its height. Huge day for everyone. Massive thank you to Denice (pocket door) French for coming with me that day. Without you I would of needed physically dragging out. While snagging in the utility room Alan Titchmarsh opens the door to find her in there. She held it like a star. Well done!
Big clean up
Thank you to the great guys and ladies from Serna Cleaning. They were so wonderful. They Followed in our wake and working late the night previously. I have never known patience like it! you made everyones job so much easier when the clock was ticking.
Finishing Touches
On that last day I would not thought It possible to fit so many people into one house and garden. Every person that had been involved at every stage seemed to be here. A swarm of people all playing their important part in this beautiful transformation. The designers and their team busy adding the final crucial elements to transform this space into everything they have envisaged.
The building site I had walked into weeks before was now fully transformed. It was a lovely moment when you looked around and could see that with the joint efforts of so many people all playing their part that this would be live changing and it was now a home and garden ready for a truly beautiful family to return and enjoy.