What we're working with

Despite everyone's warnings, the settlement went through exactly when and how it was supposed to, and Marmalade Cottage is ours.

Since there's so much to do, we got straight into it.  With the help of P and D, we drank a bottle of Moet, then we ripped out the lino.

Over the weekend, there's been a small army of helpers and we've managed to get the walls washed - orange power is brilliant at removing 50 years of cigarette smoke residue.  Most of the floors are sanded and waxed, the furniture we're keeping is stacked out of the way.  We have a functional back door and the revolting old stove is in a skip.

Today the electricians started the rewiring, which involves cutting lots of holes in walls.  Tomorrow the rewiring will be finished, and the plumbers start.  After that the house will be liveable, and that's when we move in. 

Meanwhile here are some before photos.

 What we'll wake up to every day, minus the horrible curtains and the hospital green paint.

 This is the original kitchen.  It seems to have been used as only a dining room.  We'll put in a sink and stove, lots of shelves and good lighting and it will be a kitchen again.

 This is our loungeroom fireplace.  Under that lino are floorboards, they're not great, but they're sanded and waxed now and they'll do. 

 This is truly hideous - cracked and filthy and it doesn't drain properly.  We have a new pedestal basin (one of the few new things we've bought) and taps found at a garage sale for $15.  We'll paint and install a toilet and the bathroom will be transformed!

 This is what will greet us everytime we come in the front door.  We've cleaned off the grime, but it's still rather green. Once we've finished with it, the feature pieces will be glossy blue, a shade called foresight, and the rest white.

 The party toilet.  Not working now due to extreme neglect, the details of which are best not mentioned.  To be fixed shortly.

 This is the old kitchen sink, installed, we think, around the 1940s.  There is no hot water.  It's in the built in verandah bit, you can just see the edge of the old back door on the right. We're leaving it there, as it'll be useful for washing hands from gardening or rinsing off vegies just picked.

This is a horrible room, poky and dark.  Right now it's floor to ceiling with furniture and boxes, but once we've organised the rest of the house it will be the practical one's sewing room.  We have an over-the-top pink glass chandelier for it!

More to come!