Welcome

Cowieswells is a derelict farm south of Stonehaven in NE Scotland. We were lucky enough to acquire the place in August 2010 when we were moving back to the UK from Norway and looking for something to match or even better our previous, fjord-side home. The farm house and steading (barns) command an impressive and exposed cliff top location with fantastic views across the North Sea. The buildings were constructed from sandstone in a traditional style and our goal in rebuilding it is to be sympathetic to the original design whilst creating a much larger house which is modern, efficient and maximizes the unique views.

Since we bought the place we have spent over a year working with architects, planners and generally doing stuff that doesn't make for interesting reading. This blog picks up the renovation process in late 2011 when work outside got started. Over the coming months it will be updated every week or so with pictures, movies and the odd bit of text. Like Grand Designs but without the suave sarcasm of Kevin McCloud.

Saturday, 27 October 2012

Week 33 - Delays

Work progresses well, the first fix (electrics and plumbing) is complete, most of the plaster board is on the walls and the roof is almost slated. We should be happy.

Slating the roof is almost complete. To bad the windows are currently made of wood
Main living area, plasterboarded
Kitchen area, almost plasterboarded
However, I found out on Friday that the windows, which are being made by Nordan in Norway and where due on the 6th November, will now not be ready until the 26th. There has been no real explanation for this other than "they will be ready on the 26th November". Hmm this is a serious bummer because it means that we will now not be finished by Christmas. This is proper Grand Designs drama, and in the large scheme of things, not really a big deal. But at the moment it is rather depressing. Was very much looking forward to my christmas dinner looking out over the sea in a cosy warm house.

The builders have suggested that they may be able to get the bothy ready for christmas which would be a reasonable consolation prize.
Bedroom, plasterboarded and taped
In the meantime I was off work for a week and spent the time building a wall in the steading courtyard. Building with field stones (large well rounded boulders from Devonian rivers)  is rather like balancing golf balls on top of each other, but despite being slow, I am getting there and its been fun. May even be finished before the house at this rate.

New wall and steps in the steading courtyard. Almost straight!


The best part of a week of work!

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1 comment:

  1. Ben26 November 2012 at 14:47

    Building a well (?) with round stones sounds almost impossible! Gutted with you, hearing about the delayed windows. Why not postpone Christmas dinner?

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