Wednesday 23 February 2011

NeC show house progress

It's all go go go at the mo mo mo - all hands on deck for the NEC show (did I tell you that we are building a whole house in three days?) Sorry, that sounds like a lyric from a terrible song.

Thought you might like an update on progress

Well the house is currently half up in our workshop (it is too tall to fit in so we will have to build it in two bits)

But it looks really great - sort of simple, modest and exciting all in one. Its bigger than I imagined but I don't think thats a bad thing- especially as it has a large home office/studio (to enhance the home working idea). The oak frame looks especially nice and very simple (which helps with the affordability angle)

I have been filling my time with sourcing items to go with it and trying to get publicity, brochures, exhibition material all prepared and ready. It is manic and to make matters worse/better its half term too. I feel very bad for my lovely children that I am pretty much tied to the laptop and not giving them the attention I should. If its not the laptop its the phone - you can tell I have been making lots of work calls because Min now answers the phone with an official sounding 'good morning, Minnie speaking'.

So far I have found a lovely kitchen www.devolkitchens.co.uk, a fabulous woodburner www.clearviewstoves.co.uk and some amazing, local paint www.potsofpaint.co.uk and a great stair runner made from Shetland undyed wool by Roger Oates www.rogeroates.com. All of them have very high sustainability credentials, most are local, all work really well and also look the part, so it should be exciting to see it come together in 4 weeks time. And most importantly all the companies were delighted to be involved with our innovative new product which is very encouraging.

I am hoping we will have our FSC accreditation and know the result of the FMB award by the time the show opens but most of all I am hoping the new Border Oak website will be up and running too - even if not fully complete. Watch this space! A sneaky peak below



better pop off now- so much to do....................

Wednesday 2 February 2011

I forgot to say........

We have two magazine articles out at the moment.

Pop by the news agents and get your hands on Homebuilding and Renovating to read all about a barn style home built for around £170,000 and while you are there pick up a copy of Build It where you will see a gorgeous Halfpenny Cottage on the front cover. Lovely photos, lots of interesting tips and general inspiration from people who have 'been there, done that, got the mug - a limited edition Border Oak mug).

 Homebuilding and Renovating

Build It


ps And I think we have something going in the Daily Mail property section on Friday...........

sorry for the delay - let me make it up to you with this lovely house

 Based on the Pearmain Cottage system (oak frame encase in SIPs) but with a brick outer face, this house is a large three bedroom cottage on a long and narrow  plot in a Conservation village in Herefordshire.

 With an uncluttered country atmosphere it has a simple and understated oak frame, perfectly balanced with oak joinery and a muted palette of natural materials and colours.

 The garden room has glass on threes sides and folding doors into the kitchen making the space flexible, light and interesting.

 The oak frame is quietly expressed throughout and gives a contemporary edge to what appears to be a traditional brick cottage - it also allows the interiors to flow without over dominating.

 We under took a complete build package for the lady who lives here - she even bought the site from us. So our typical attention to detail is prevalent - from the rounded shoulders of the fireplace to the dentil course brick work and lime mortar. We also provided a project manager.

Interestingly, there is no conventional hallway, it is simply open plan - which makes the sitting room very large but may not be to every ones taste - lord only knows what callers would make of me in my jim jams gaffawering big belly laughs at  My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding should they knock at our door one evening.  The P.J's may be from Toast and match the tonal spectrum of my Baileys Loft Sofas but you might still want a division between the Jehovah's Witnesses and the couch potato ........?

 How tidy is this utility room? Amazing! The roof light also floods the space with sunshine and will bean idea I definitely steal for my next house


A very pretty bedroom - with full height side walls (pearmains are usual 1 .5 storeys tall - this is two storey)

 And a posh en-suite over the sun room. Note the rounded ceiling lines.


the owner has also planted a lovely cottage garden  so that she can really benefit from all the glass. Wish I had space for a garden room............I know a lovely oak frame company who could build one!