A funny story - no really, we're laughing now!

The loft - now painted and carpeted

I told you I was a nightmare right?  Even you gathered that my tether didn't have much distance left in it, right?  Why then did my husband not quite get it? 

My office was due to have it's carpet down last Saturday.  I've painted it a really nice couple of shades of green that look nice and vintage (not by design, halfway through putting the stronger green on I was convinced it was a huge mistake that wouldn't work but thankfully once it was on I loved it.) That was the only thing John was supposed to be doing.  He's been working really hard so I knew he really needed a rest and a break.  BUT...we have a nice, old fashioned fire surround (painted white) with a boarded grate in that room and when he lifted the old carpet we discovered the most gorgeous tiles underneath.  I was so blown away by them that if probably lulled me into a bit of a false sense of security.

So when John said to me Friday night: "I think that fire surround is cast iron you know."
"NO" I said.
"What?" he says.
"No, you're not stripping it down."
"But it'll look really good."
"I'm sure it will, but it's not exactly a priority right now - I need to stop living in chaos. we need carpet and painting.  We need to get the house straight...don't we?...please?"
"Ok, ok"
"Hmm" Thinks I!

So when the tiles were uncovered and cleaned up I knew he was doubly dying to get in there and find out what was underneath the paint and behind the boarding. 

So in a moment of weakness I said he could look behind the board and see what was there.  Hmmm!

What was there was the biggest pile of brick dust and soot you've ever seen - I mean it was tumbling out along with broken bricks and the odd piece of broken fireplace.  Needless to say there wasn't a beautiful cast iron grate behind there  (there were bits of what used to be one) but there was an almighty mess. 

And then John spent the rest of the weekend cleaning the mess and stripping it down.  He didn't really stop - just worked and worked.  Which doubly makes me sound like some harpy.  BUT...it had looked fine as it was and it meant we were still was no nearer to getting the house sorted.  We've spent all our free time painting, building, cleaning and we still seem to be in the midst of constant mess.  I don't think I'd realised just how badly I need my home to be a sanctuary and it's not been anything approaching that for months now.  We're both tired, ratty and fed up and really needed to be kind and gentle with one another.  But what did we do?  had a huge row which resulted in John stomping off and starting to fit the carpet at 11.30 that night which I'm sure the neighbors were thrilled about!  It was silly, childish argument and we both said things we probably wish we hadn't.  it was completely the result of tiredness and simply not getting a break recently.  We should have been pulling together (and for the most part throughout this we have been) but on this occasion we didn't - we sooooo didn't!

And we're friends again now.  AND the fireplace does look fab. Cole and I are going to do some more painting today and see if we can get the hall, stairs and landing done and probably another trip to the tip will make the place look clearer.  Then I've got to get on with some UNI work because I'm really, really behind on it and THEN maybe there'll be time for a rest - hopefully before Christmas comes along!

Oh and the fireplace does look fantastic - and will look even better once we find another grate to go inside it!

Enjoy your weekend

Jo x

Comments

[Twiggy]

The fireplace does look fantastic, our old house had a similar one with identical dark green tiles that you've got there. Have a rest tomorrow you guys!!
Twiggy x

[elizabeth]

Those are the best tiles ever! I thought at first you had put them there yourself... but isn't it nice that they match your paint?
Sorry about that pile of bricks, though. That sounds like it was scary. I'm glad the fireplace is still salvageable... it would have been a shame to loose those awesome tiles!

[Katy]

Having just come through a summer of seemingly endless DIY and fireplace discovery, I completely sympathise!

It will be worth it tho, and it's amazing how quickly you forget the pain of the work...

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