Pictures: the house (or selected bits thereof)

[johnny9fingers]

A few lj-chums have asked the odd question or two about our house. Over the weekend I took some pictures in my inexpert way so I thought I could post a few of 'em on here for those that want.

Two views of the front room/drawing/room/parlour/lounge, or what you will:








The front hall/corridor and stairs:




Two views of the garden from the back of the house:







When the bathroom's finished I'll take some piccies and post them.

Comments

[pastorlenny.livejournal.com]

Looks quite serviceable.

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

It is. Then again it was far too costly for what is in essence a four-bedroomed semi-detatched house in an inner suburb of London: $1.158M at current exchange rates (1.654). Since we bought, its value has probably gone down some 12%. Bliss....but one needs a place to lay ones head, especially when one considers the repayments. Nevertheless, we're not quite beggared, but blimey....When the school fees kick in, I suppose I'll be living on baked beans and unheated tap water. Such is life. I'm sure I'll live.

I'll post some more pix later. My last day of free time gives me a little push to do some of these things.

[pastorlenny.livejournal.com]

The Beast is not satisfied with anything less than all you've got.

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

I must admit to being none too bothered: I'll do what is required to bring the young mite up properly, and not be too much of an embarrassment to it. Then I may find me an hermitage when that is all done. The problem with accumulation goods and wealth is not that one might care to keep it for oneself....but that you saddle the next generation with it. And try as I might, even if I think of it as inherently unfair, I cannot keep from hoarding for those to come after me. And worse, I'm only slightly ashamed of myself for doing and thinking like that.

[pastorlenny.livejournal.com]

BUT WHAT WILL THEY DO WITH ALL OUR BOOKS?????

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

Sell them for a deposit on another house?

[pastorlenny.livejournal.com]

Heaven forbid anyone would actually ever read Phillips' account of the Fourth Crusade.

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

They could always sell it to underlankers.

[pastorlenny.livejournal.com]

:)

[tripinthehead33.livejournal.com]

"Then again it was far too costly for what is in essence a four-bedroomed semi-detatched house in an inner suburb of London: $1.158M at current exchange rates (1.654)"

Christ, a house like that here would cost roughly $130,000 or less, depending on land and location in my area of farm country NY. Amazing what living in one of the worlds biggest cities does to cost of living and housing. Gorgeous house though.

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

Well, London is pretty damn expensive.

Thanks for the nice words too. :)

[weswilson]

That's gorgeous... I covet your digs.

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

Mainly herself to blame for that, though we've left a lot of the old decoration in situ, just tarted it up a bit.

Accessorise, darlings, accessorise. (This means SWMBO buys things.)

[david-deacon.livejournal.com]

It's a beautiful house.

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

Thank you. There's still a lot to do: big things mainly, like French Windows from the dining room into the garden; replacing three other windows to something closer (but double glazed) to the original wooden sash-window fittings; maybe installing a 3.5Gw array of solar panels on the South-facing part of the roof; and a summerhouse/studio for yours truly. Nevertheless, Madame will be pleased at the compliment.

When we realised we were going to be parents we started looking for the right house: in my case keeping Palladio and Vitruvius in mind: growing things respond to their environment, and beauty is a necessary part of the equation, and SWMBO relying on her natural good taste.

It took six months before we moved in, in February. One classic weekend we saw fifteen houses in a row.

It is a pretty house, and will be prettier if we have our way: but still, there's not quite enough room to put a grand piano in comfortably.

Oh, the hardship: it's so difficult being me. :)

[Tips hat.]

[david-deacon.livejournal.com]

Too bad I can't advise you on your future home improvement projects. I work for a company that does exactly that here in the US.

(If you're wondering why I Friended you, it was because of the classy way you responded to farchivist in a post at politicartoons.)

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

Well, as for the home improvement stuff, an 1890's house can go a number of different ways. Given that it's not by a 'name' architect, being just a simple corporate artisan's/petit bourgeoise house, we're keeping it simple. We may replace some of the moldings on the rear drawing room ceiling and shelve that whole rear part of the room (including library steps) as SWMBO opines we shall not move from here. So....simple and comfortable and (hopefully) beautiful. Fingers crossed.

As for young farchivist, I like her, but felt a line had been overstepped: so I basically asked her to check and examine her behaviour in the matter. You seemed to take the whole episode pretty well too, considering. Sometimes it's nice to be a bit better than to descend to other folks behaviour. I hope there is no animosity between you. You young folk :) can be a bit serious about stuff, especially when it is stuff none of us really have much control over, even in democracies.

[adudeabides.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, I absolutely love the first pic. Color me jealous.

Also, I'm digging the back yard.

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

Thanks. SWMBO's parents came around for a couple of weekends to really put it into shape.

[adudeabides.livejournal.com]

Can I borrow them for my place? lol