A review of last winter

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Well, I can’t believe it’s been so long since I last put finger to keyboard for our blog. I am calling this “a review of the winter”, but it made me think “what winter?” I don’t think we ever had more than 4 inches of snow, and we only had the chance to build 3 snowmen. Wind we have plenty of though. Do you remember I wrote about the work we had done on the dry stone wall on the south side of the building? On one of the stormy nights the wind managed to blow over one large tree, and snap of several large branches. Guess where they landed. Yep, you guessed it. Right on one of there repaired patches. We now have a rather damaged 10m section of wall again. Oh well, it could have been worse, and considering what lots of other people have had to cope with, its very minor.

tree and wall damage after high winds
tree and wall damage after high winds

Other than that we have had a very productive few months. The main hall, upstairs communal are and the corridors have all been redecorated and look fantastic. Throughout the redecorating, we have tried to use colours that would have been in keeping with the period of the building. This is not always feasible at room level as they have changed use over the years, what was originally a bedroom, might now be a living room etc. We have also taken into consideration the way the communal can be used. We have settled on using the red that featured in some areas, throughout the corridors or below the dado rails where they exist. Above the dado rail, and up to the picture rails we have used a feature wallpaper.

The corridor to the garden exit
The corridor to the garden exit

 

hargate hall landing area
hargate hall landing area
upstairs communal area
upstairs communal area

 

The fireplace alcove has also been done. The chimney breast now features a bookcase effect wallpaper to the sides and the centre section is red (or should that be read?)

Hargate Hall fireplace
Hargate Hall fireplace
main hall repainted
main hall repainted and with a new mirror

 

Balmoral’s living room has had a lot of work done. All that pine cladding has been pulled off, plaster repaired and repainted. We took the opportunity to replace the main chandelier and wall lights as well.

Balmoral's living room without the pine cladding
Balmoral’s living room without the pine cladding
balmoral redecorated and with new lighting
balmoral redecorated and with new lighting

Haddon, Chatsworth and Hardwick have also been repainted, and we have made a start on the living room of Sandringham. Julie has also been brushing up on the art of curtain making, and new curtains have now been put into Eyam and Welbeck.

Sandringham's living room half redecorated!
Sandringham’s living room half redecorated!

One of the biggest things that we have achieved, has been getting started on something which has been my pet project for the last 3 years. In December we were finally in a position to sign a contract for the purchase and installation on a biomass boiler to take over from the two old oil boilers, and eventually it will take over the heating in the apartments as well, so we can get rid of the electric panel heaters. This however will be the subject of my next blog – installing the biomass boiler!

5 thoughts on “A review of last winter

    1. Hi Jo. Thank you. I’m pleased you enjoyed your recent stay. Lets see how much we can get done before you come back again ?!?

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