Black family victorian renovation

13/08/2022

13/08/2022

24/07/2022

Bathroom tips.

One of the biggest tips I have so far. Is to try and source all your own materials yourself, or at the very least where possible.

As you know, this bathroom renovation is partnership campaign. Which means I have been gifted a materials budget. Which I could use to use in store or online to purchase what was needed for bathroom reno. We exceed the budget and then used our own money. Using comparisons online to source what we needed cheaper.

When going ahead with a trade. I advise you have a prior meeting to nail down all the materials and the amounts/volumes needed. It takes hard work, time and a logistical thought process to ensure things arrive on time. Also as a huge tip, Make sure materials arrive well before the trade is to start works. This time will allow you to check over you order. Make sure everything has arrived safely and replace anything that maybe damaged or incorrect. Please ensure you have a contiguity budget & store things in the correctly to avoid any issues for installation.

I also use a cash back site . I have added my link in my smart bio if you want to sign up. I have received
£100s over this renovation buying material’s ourselves and using Quidco.

as the images show. For all items that haven’t been used. You can take them back, a refund and use that money/credit note to purchase things you may now need and didn’t budget for. We had to buy a bifold door that we didn’t expect or budget for. So retuning these materials allowed us to purchase the door and hardware straight after the return.

Getting a trade for labour only can be tricky. But when you get one that can accommodate, it can save you so much. To be aware though. If you are supplying materials, you need to be on site when works are taking place as there maybe times you need to buy items that pop up.

Have you done the same? If not, will you do it in future?

06/07/2022

Bathroom update - Trade tips

Finding a trade person that is worthy of coming into your home to quote. Never mind then getting the quote back is a task

I always go for recommendations, usually branching out further than friends and family. By posting my requirements in the local Facebook groups like ‘Bolton buy and sell’ and had such success so far. I start by researching the recommendations. I check their Facebook/business sites. Checking over the images posted, zooming into the finishes and tally up how many recommendations per trade

That’s how I found my trade this time. He was the most recommended by far. It went down like this. 3 trades I asked to leave or said I no longer wanted a quote. Always follow your gut, it’s so important. 3 were moving mad with the quotes (I think they realised how picky I was and out priced themselves. which I think happens a lot) 3 came back with quotes that I was comfortable with, but only 2 could achieve the finish I wanted. Also finding a trade that would solely quote for labour only was tricky. As you know the materials are part of a collaboration. So many trades either don’t want to work with materials they haven’t worked with before. Or want to make extra money off the job, by adding ‘hidden extras’. I will go into this more another time. -

Anyway, I then asked the 2 trades to come back for a second visit, to recheck the job and nail the price. This time with Tijjani was with me so he could ask what he wanted too and catch a vibe. Some Important Questions we ask. Do you have liability insurance, we need a written up contract of works and a payment schedule before we commit. We run over realistic time frames, when can they start and when will you be finished. You can guarantee you need to add on an extra 4 days to that. Also ensuring they have full understanding of the aims of the project, the finish you want to achieve and ensuring the price is the price.

Do you have any tips for securing the right trade? Do you have anything you wish you would of asked or made sure of?

02/07/2022

Bathroom update.

Sorry for the radio silence. But the last week of this bathroom renovation has done me in. We had a 2 week timeframe, which has now very quickly become 3 weeks.

3 weeks of stress, uncomfortableness in your home. Dust, financial worry, uncleanlinesses. The impact the upheaval has had on Isaiah and now my health.

This image is a physical representation of my (could say tijjani too. But I can’t speak on his behalf ) physical, mental and relationship health right now. We have had 3 leaks, a whole day with no water and today is the final day. The final push to finish. Cos man wants his money init.

I must admit, it really does look spectacular and when I can clean up and not have trades stomping around my house in steel toe caps. I know I will be able to say it was all worth it.

I can wait to show you all. Every inch of this space has truly been considered and done within a tight ass budget. So I can’t wait to share and talk some.

This image is of the kitchen ceiling directly above the toilet, cha. Did you have any leaks with your bathroom renovation? Is it normal? What issues did you have?

12/06/2022

Hasta Luego Bathroom.

Whilst Tijjani is battling with the sticky carpet protector. I am here, looking at all the sh*tty design choices the pervious owners made when creating this bathroom, hoping none of irk us like this current set up.

The step down into the bathroom and the wet room not having a correct draining tilt. Not concealling all the pipe work. The terrible bath tap that sprays and soaks you. That we still have the paste bottle wrapped around to run a bath. That my dad did when decorating and filling his paste bucket.

Not putting the shower on the back wall and on the side. Not having a wall free to house more storage. The orange tongue and groove fake ceiling, that I awfully give one coat of white paint too. The list goes on. I am happy to see the back of it all.

I hope the trade arrives turns up and this bathroom is worth all the tears, arguments and no holidays this year. Here to a soak in the bath and breathing again.

‘It will all be worth it, it will all be worth it’

See you on the other side folks and thank you for all the support up to this point.

04/06/2022

Hallway progress….

I am not sure many on this app today to see this image today. Also it’s not all fancy and completed. But honestly so proud of myself right now. I wanted to share this image on the grid.

If you have been here a while, you know I have wanted to panel this hallway forever. It must be definitely over 12mths. Even having most of the materials shaming me collecting dust, hanging around the house in the pile of not started or unfinished jobs.

Last week I finally got started with the mdf and today managed to get the timber beading done on some of the panels. Both jobs demanding me using a electric jigsaw and mitre saw for the first time. Unfortunately I have run out of beading. So need another trip to . But buzzin to crack on and finish now. Can’t wait to get it sanded, caulked, primed and painted. It’s going to look amazing.

Pervious image is of the space when we bought the house (right move image). Lathered with wood chip, crumbling plaster and awful carpet. Not a very warm welcome. To which I feel we are finally creating a very warm welcome to our home. What project you most proud of so far?

03/03/2022

For all those generations of children who never had the opportunity.

Wakanda forever 🖤🙅🏾

12/02/2022

Living room procession 2022

The effort that it takes me to take a picture of our home at the moment is huge. Never mind cleaning and staging. Everywhere is full of half finished projects. It’s bogging up every space in our home.

Roll on the end of this month as I have booked some annual leave to dedicate some time to the house as she’s feel very neglected at the moment.

Family and friends wall project pending, watch this space. Also nice to look over where it all began to make you feel accomplished, when you are feeling crap about your renovation progress.

Pervious PR products tagged.

03/02/2022

Our Bedroom 2022

Currently musing over our beautifully decorated bedroom before I thought it was a really great idea to go over some wall marks with a colour match. Because I am an idiot and a cheap ass one at that.

Hopefully at some point I will have the money to hire a painter to come and sort this monstrosity out. Is it bad that I don’t even see the patches no more it’s been that long?

But if you been here a while. You know my relationship with the super tall ladders that are needed to do anything near the ceiling in this Victorian home. I know it’s boijie, but I just can’t get on those tall ladders ever again. I am done with them. Circa 2021.

You feeling me? What shortcut do you regrets and still living with the consequences?








*previous PR products tagged

01/02/2022

Bathroom plans 2022

This evening I had my plumber friend visit to start the wheels on the future bathroom plans.

I have a booked a virtual planning meeting with at the end of the week. Which I am beyond excited for. I have never done any of the virtual planning before.

Here is some of the vibes we are aiming for. We want an ultra sleek and modern spa space created. With great hidden storage to hide the bathroom crap. Amen 🙏🏽

What do you think gang? You feeling me, you like?

*images from

24/01/2022

When will we ever get one room/space finished?

I love our hallway, it’s instantly makes me happy. Especially now we have the porch nearly finished now. But the MDF panels I have stretched out on the hallway floor gathering so much dust are an embarrassment. I can’t believe I been reno fatigued so long.

Since I have been back to work after furlough. I have really struggled with balancing renovating and content creating. I really miss the joy getting my hands dirty in a project or my creative hat on upcycling something for our home. Sitting at a desk (dining table) really isn’t for me. Also the impact of long Covid on my energy levels has been a lot.

I have booked some annual leave next month to try and give that final push and get the panelling, beading and hanging of some picture frames for the art I want to start collecting done. Which will complete this space finally. I also want to use the time to take some new pictures around the yard and content creating for you all. Thanks for sticking around

Roll on springtime. Have a swipe to see where we started

Pervious PR product tagged