Transcript
Speaker: Welcome to the DIY Guys, the podcast where home renovations, power tools and mild panic go hand in hand. I'm Nick Morris. And I'm Dan Dower. Each week we'll be chatting with some property pros, some DIY diehards, hopefully helping with some tips and tricks along the way.
Speaker: Hi everyone, we have Amanda here from Sweet Pea and Sorrel. How are you today? Oh, very good. Thank you very much for having me Thank you for joining us. Please just get straight in and tell us a little bit about your property, which I would say is quite involved and quite a lot going on there. So please tell us a little bit about it.
Speaker: Yeah, so we bought this rambling old Victorian ah I think it was probably a farmhouse is probably the best way to describe it, but it's been added on to and added on to a bit more and added on to. I think everyone's had a go at it over the last you know few hundred years. um And so, yeah, it's some there's a lot to do. it basically needs.
Speaker: I wouldn't say it needs gutting, but but that but every room is different. So every time you go into room, you have to sort of think, right, how far do we take this back? And what stage do we take this bit back to? and Because it's all different, because it's all been added onto at different times.
Speaker: So... um So yeah, it's it's an interesting project. And we've just sort of started and we've been here three years, um but it's going to be a long, it's a long term.
Speaker: It's our lifetime project. is within like That's what it's about really, isn't it? Like building your forever home, I suppose. Absolutely, yeah. How did you feel about taking on such a large project? Is it something you wanted to do for a while? Or is it like this pop-top like, oh, I just love the history of it?
Speaker: Yeah, it was all kind of a complete accident. So we we did a big renovation like 20 years ago, um but i was where I was pregnant when we started it and then I had a small baby. And so I didn't have much to do with the actual day-to-day of the renovation. we we were I just sort of made a few decisions and my husband did most of it.
Speaker: um And we moved into it. I had a tiny baby when we moved in and, um you know, it was a mess. So, you know, it wasn't finished. And then we had to try and get it all done. And and by the end of it, I hated it I hated the house. I hated just It was just awful. um And I hated the experience more than anything. um And I swore then i was never going to do another renovation. Yeah.
Speaker: um So um from there, we'd just been moving around. We'd rented quite a lot. And that was down south. That was in Dorset. um And then we moved up to Cheshire originally and then ended up here.
Speaker: But we'd been renting. And we'd got to the point where we were, like, you know, ready to buy again Oh, sorry. It's going ding. um And then, ah yeah, so we were, like, ready to buy. And we were looking around.
Speaker: um And, i you know, I was looking for... sort of four bedroom houses. and um And I didn't mind a bit of redecoration, that sort of thing, but i definitely didn't want a renovation project.
Speaker: And this only happened because we were on holiday at the time and I was doing my sort of daily scroll through right move. And we were arguing about square footage and James kept saying, no, it's not big enough. I want more square footage, more square footage. And so I jokingly showed him this property and said, is that enough square footage for you? Because there's...
Speaker: just as much as we were looking at. um And he was like, oh yeah, that's quite nice. And I said, you know don't be too stupid. And it was only because if if we hadn't been on holiday, we would have just, I would have just moved on. That would have been the end of the conversation. But we were sitting on this balcony. And so you know we were chatting about it and we were sort saying,
Speaker: you know, would you think about doing a renovation and or, you know, and and we were talking for hours about it. And then James was like, I'm just going to make some calls and see, you know, what um what mortgage I could get. And, you know,
Speaker: And then it just sort of snowballed from there. And I honestly, right up until we got the keys, I never believed it was going to go through because there was loads of people looking at the house.
Speaker: um The mortgage, it we we managed to get a mortgage right before the mortgage rates shot up. And I was convinced that they were going to pull it and say, no, we're not going to do it. We're going to reassess. you know i just never thought it was going to go through.
Speaker: um And then I just kind of ended up here. So, yeah, so that's how it happened. Wow. and And was it a house that a lot of people were interested in? Because it's a magnificent house, but it would scare the average person, I think, just hugely. And it's it's got so many rooms and so much to it. But um I imagine there must have been a few people who would be like willing to take it on.
Speaker: Yeah, there was a lot because it was quite reasonably priced for the size of the property. um And I think, well, it was on the market for two weeks and um they had 30 people looking around it at that time.
Speaker: um And I think... The agent, it didn't it didn't go to sealed bids, but he basically said, he was actually a really good guy, the um the estate agent. um He basically just sort of said, you know, I'm going to give it till this date and I want you all to just give your offers in and we'll take it from there. But it wasn't it wasn't as it wasn't sort of sealed bids because it was owned by the estate. The estate were quite...
Speaker: picky about who they wanted to sell to in that they didn't want it to end up as a hotel or being turned into flats or anything because it's right in the middle of the village and they still own the rest of the village. um So they were quite keen for it to remain ah a private house basically. um So, you know, they, they wanted some control over, over who ended up with it. Um,
Speaker: So, yeah. ah And I don't think ours was the highest offer. It was more just that they they knew us through a – it was quite complicated. But the guy that showed us round knew James's dad from the army. And then it turns out that – we knew none of this, but it turns out that James's grandfather used to shoot with – um somebody from the estate so it was you know there was sort of vague connections um so yeah that was how i think we ended up being chosen um
Speaker: I'm not sure it's a good thing. Or the thesaurus coming, and I don't know. I love that, that they they wanted it to go to like a a nice family and someone who's actually going to improve it and you know, like you say, not knock it down or make a hotel or something out of it. So that's pretty cool, right? I think they were quite worried that somebody was going to, you know, just change the how the village is. um ah You know, mean, this is like, it's a really sleepy sort of little village um and we're right next to the church. And, um i you know, I don't think they wanted that to change that without feel of the community. so
Speaker: And I don't think it has. i think queerer I think we're blending in quite nicely. It was the Christmas carol service at the at the... church last night and then we all went for a drink and I got quite drunk so we're blending in you're definitely blended in yeah so do you guys have a DIY background of any kind because taking on a project like that unless you've got very deep pockets you need to either learn fast or have some sort of experience in DIY wirere yeah thank god for YouTube no um yeah no um
Speaker: pretty handy but no we haven't my husband does a lot of carpentry so he's always been interested in that and um it's never been his job but he um he did work um straight out of school he had a job but with with a carpenter um and um so yeah he he really enjoys that sort of stuff so that's quite handy um and i Yeah, no, I'm just learning as I go, I think. I don't and haven't really done anything before. you know Even when we did that last renovation, like I said, I wasn't really involved.
Speaker: I think I did a bit of wallpaper stripping and that was about it. Yeah. Well, I've been watching your um your content and it made me laugh when you said you had like the plastering wall that turned into just where you ended up practicing because it was so bad. I'm afraid just to jump in and try whatever.
Speaker: yeah, yeah. Yeah, no, I just, yeah. Yeah, no, just carry on. I i think you learn by doing it. And um and did i think we've always had a bit of a motto in that, you know, none of it is rocket science. It's,
Speaker: you know, some of it is you can have a go at it. And sometimes what you learn is that it's quicker and easier to pay somebody to do this.
Speaker: But other times you think, well, actually that's quite, I quite liked doing that, you know, and I've learned to do it and it's not that difficult. And so I'd, you know, I can keep doing this myself. So I think, you know, try it and see how you get on.
Speaker: I think would be my, my, motto. Yeah. Try anything. I'm probably not going to be driving. Dumpa trucks anymore, but.
Speaker: Oh, yes. I heard about this. This is awful. I don't know you know if you want to talk about it, whether it's too stressful. Too traumatic. Yeah. No, I was driving one of those mini dumper trucks, you know, the really tiny ones, the one ton ones with the really small buckets. And on the front, there's a big sign that says, do not tip on sloping ground.
Speaker: And let's just say I miscalculated the yeah the level of the slope. And so the whole thing tipped over and landed on my leg, which ah ah wasn't very good.
Speaker: But amazingly, it didn't break my leg. um I don't know how it didn't, but it didn't. um But it was, um yeah, it wasn't very good. It got infected and I ended up in hospital for a week. say Oh, no, that's terrible. So that was miserable and it took ages.
Speaker: But, and the worst thing was it was really hot and I couldn't go in the pool because of husband stupid life. But yeah, no, but it's lucky. I know it's it's all, i'm I would say I have full function now. I'm just a person.
Speaker: That's just the way it goes. But yeah, um what's my top tip? Read the signs and read safety signs. They do actually mean...
Speaker: Yeah, they're signed for a reason, right? Yeah, yeah. And everybody since has said, oh, yeah, they tip over really easily. Is that really helpful? Yeah, yeah. Thanks for telling me. We're done with that information a couple of weeks ago. yeah You're obviously like quite a creative person as well. Is that something you've just done throughout your life or that something you've done with your work?
Speaker: not Not always. I mean, I've had loads of different jobs, but um I was a physiotherapist originally. and But I was a photographer for a long time. So I did a lot of wedding photography and children. and um animal wolves and just you know really enjoyed my photography and I think that's sort of where the Instagram came from because of because of being well in photography you kind of have to have an Instagram account and you have to learn how to do social media and all that sort of thing um and then when Covid came along I sort of started a yeah just for entertainment really just a gardening Instagram
Speaker: um And the gardening community on Instagram is lovely, actually. They were really friendly. um And so we met quite a few people doing that and then just carried that on. And then when we moved here, it was just natural to just sort of carry it on and you know involve the house and what we were doing. um And it was probably about six months after we moved here that this account just really sort of took off.
Speaker: And um yeah, yeah. just I mean, your account's incredible. I mean, i think I think it's because the property is so different. And obviously, there's quite a few people renovating Victorian properties, but it's just like the scale of it. And then, I mean, I've seen so many of your posts where you're just still like discovering nooks and rooms and yeah things everywhere. so And I'm not surprised it had that huge uplift.
Speaker: Yeah, I think that's what people really love about it is the history. I think that particularly anyone in America or, you know, worldwide, they love the, you know, learning about the history of the place. And um and yeah, and I literally I'm still discovering every time we strip a room back, there'll be something that I haven't realised or haven't thought ah of or...
Speaker: And because it's so because there's so many layers, quite often you sort of think, okay, this is just going to be the – because this there's a Victorian house built in 1840, somewhere around there.
Speaker: um But it was obviously built over the top of other buildings. And so we keep finding bits of the original and you sort of think, oh, well, that's not that's not Victorian. Where's that come from? and like How long has that been there? um And so, yeah, it's just, it's...
Speaker: it's a It's a giant puzzle. and We just find we find bits as we get along. that's fun I really enjoy that bit. so I really enjoyed that. think What's the favourite thing you found then?
Speaker: um Well, i'm still I'm still fascinated by the cellar that's under here, under where I'm sitting now. and The stonework down there is really old and it matches. its I mean, obviously the house is red brick, but the cellar is this red sandstone, which is the same as the church next door. And the church has been there since...
Speaker: what's in the Doomsday Book, it's really old. and So ah I would really love to find out how old that cellar is and how old those walls are down there.
Speaker: um But there's also, don't know, it kind of looks like a prison down there, but I think it was probably like a safe room. I think they probably kept valuables down there but it's you know it's all like the windows there's sort of room with like barred windows and a door with all bars on it and um so yeah so i like yeah is it like is a space you envisage utilizing in some way or yeah i mean it's so it because we're on such a slope the house is on a real slope we've got a basement at the other end of the house
Speaker: which is much more accessible. um And that's got ah a wine cellar and a storeroom and what will be a laundry room next door. So that's a sort of a cellar space, if you like, that we will use a lot.
Speaker: But this one under here, I think we will just end up with um as storage, you know, you know not nothing. ah um I wouldn't put a cinema room down there or anything like that. It's just going to be sort of slightly dusty. Yeah, it's always quite a hard space to sort of renovate as well. And even though I'm nearly 40 years old, I'm still slightly scared of going down into basements as well. I only go down there to check the pipes. Yeah, it's like Home Alone. Is it Home Alone 2? We go to the basement. I'm still scared to this day.
Speaker: There is actually, there's a really old... there's an old Coke boiler down there. So it would have been the first boiler that was put in the house. So it's still got, there's still piles of Coke, coal stuff, and then this ancient boiler. and And I have no idea how we're going to get that out. Or, I mean, I think it would just have to stay there because it must weigh a ton and I'm not carrying it on the steps. here i live there forever Yeah, it might just have to stay there.
Speaker: till it rusts away. But although this floor has got to come out, so maybe, don't know. still don't know how it would come up through the floor, but there we are. That's it. And it's always that puzzle, right? You're like, I want to do this, but then to do this, I have to do this, this and this. And then you're like, if I want to get this out and we're getting the floor up, it just, everything snowballs, right? yeah How do you sort of plan this scale of renovation? Did you just really sit down and talk it through or is it something you just went for?
Speaker: um we did talk it through but probably not enough um is I think the the house bit has always doing the house bit has always kind of befuddled me about the order and and I'm still working our way through it but um I think that's why we ended up doing so we've done the annex next door um which is a sort of it it's attached, but it's a separate um so sort of self-contained annex. And that was because it's got its own plumbing and its own heating.
Speaker: It's just much easier to have done that separately. um And then we've done some of the outbuildings because again, they're separate. The main house, um we've had the architect in and we've decided on the ground, the plan for the ground floor. And that's really helped now.
Speaker: sort of bring it all together and know which we order we've got to do things in because for ages I I i was you know we were umming and ahhing about where the kitchen was going to go for example and that until you've decided that it's really hard to make any kind of plan you know um so and we've still got um we've got some really big plumbing jobs to do and I didn't want to do those before the architect had done the plans because i was terrified the pipe's going to end up in, you know, right where you wanted a door and things like that. So now that we've got the plans done, we've got this o one big bit of plumbing left to do.
Speaker: And then we can start and then it all becomes much easier then as to where we start. um But the worst bit is going to be And this is the bit that keep putting it off. James wants, we argue about this because James wants to just get the worst bit done.
Speaker: like um But I'm terrified that it's going to be half done and not you know and I'm going to be living in just chaos.
Speaker: So I like to go much more gently, like bit by bit. you know yeah um the the but this So this room and the one behind me, is um that will be the new kitchen.
Speaker: ah but because there's that that really old cellar underneath the whole floor needs to come out. Um, and then there's an extension of like a sort of conservatory that goes on, uh, that side.
Speaker: And so this sort of, these three rooms are like the really big job. that I'm just kicking down the road it's difficult though isn't it because sometimes I think especially if you're getting used to DIYing a lot yourself if you almost want to start on a room that doesn't matter as much and then progress into the people but then actually like the kitchen in the bathroom and the ways and like your bedrooms where you spend most of your time it's kind of you you want to do those first but it doesn't always make sense no I mean i I like to leave, i I feel like we've learned so much doing the annex and we're getting faster. We are getting quicker.
Speaker: I hope. and So, you know, I think that's, that's been a real lesson and I think that it's good that we've left it. And I, I'm quite glad that we didn't have the architect in straight away either, because I think it was really good to just live here for a bit and get a feel for it because then, know,
Speaker: you you know you get much more of an idea of how you want to live in a house and um and what the problems are and how to you know sort of sort them out so i think that's been really good um but yeah it's just slow and i think you know it's just a just just a choice of how you live isn't it you're just going to have to live in the living the mess for a bit yeah that's it i completely agree with you where you're like let's live in it and let's then decide what we want to do because you know how many times you think you want to do something and then you live in it and something changes or you in the summer there's a loads of light at the back so we should have had our kids in there do you what mean
Speaker: yeah yeah yeah no i think it you know houses houses feel feel different in different times a year and um you know i think it's been really good to figure that out a bit and get our heads around it and it is a complicated house and you know it's a with everything that's sort of been added on and bits and and yeah we still change our minds a little bit sometimes um But i think I think we're all right now. I think we've got the plan. rings my and and yeah You strike me as someone who's quite sort of patient and relaxed about it. But I guess you sort of have to be in when you're doing something of that scale. and You have to actually just be like, OK, OK, we want it all done. But actually, you just need to take your time and think about it and not just rush into anything.
Speaker: I think my husband and I are completely opposites. We completely balance each other out. So if it was him, he'd have had a team of people in here day one and the whole thing out. And you know we be like juggling a million things. He always wants things done.
Speaker: now as fast as possible do it do it it make a decision and i'm like i don't know might need to think about that for a bit we do drive each other slightly mad but um hopefully what it means is that we balance each other out and we meet in the middle somewhere and it's you know sensible I mean, that sounds like every couple that's ever lived. So I think it's not it's not too similar from other people we've spoken I think. Yeah, yeah, yeah. There's got to be one, hasn't there? There's got to be one who's like the driving force and the other one who's...
Speaker: Just don't worry about it. And are you like mixing up the style? Because it's an old traditional building, but it doesn't mean to say you have to do like an old traditional kitchen. you can do the odd thing that's maybe a bit more modern or are you sort of leaning into one area? Yeah.
Speaker: I don't. Yeah. I mean, we're not. I don't. Hmm. we do We want to keep the feel of the house. So i've we didn't want to, for instance, we don't want really big open rooms. um And, you know, we talked a lot with the architect about, you know, where to widen doorways and and how to get a sort of,
Speaker: flow of the house without ripping it out and making it a big you know we could have like tried to take I mean I don't know that it would even work but we could have taken this whole wall out and had this all as one big you know open plan kitchen which would have suited a sort of modern everyday you know you know houses nowadays but I just felt like that would change the feel of the house and I quite like the fact that it is lots of you know, there are corridors and it's, it's old and, you know, it's rambling and you get, you turn a corner and there's a whole nother bit. And then, you know, and i I like, I didn't want to lose the feel of that. So yeah,
Speaker: So the layout of the house will um still be quite old and traditional, I guess. um And the conservatory that we're adding on is is ah a traditional style, not is not a new, you know, there's no bifold doors or anything like that. It's a traditional French window type thing. um And so so, yeah, I think, but having said that, my husband really likes modern houses. Yeah. This is where we argue because I will go and buy all these, you know, i I like antique furniture and things like that. And he's like, do we have to have that?
Speaker: so So, yeah, so I would say we're sort of there will There will be a mix. So so there will be a mix of of both. But um it won't look particularly modern, but it won't look particularly old there'll be no I think it's good to mix it sometimes. So i think i think you can I think you can use modern furniture mixed with antique furniture. And I think you can, you know, if you do it right, it can look amazing.
Speaker: So, yeah. Yeah, definitely. And, you know, you seem quite hands-on yourself. like what's what's the favourite sort of project you've done or what you're most proud of?
Speaker: I think, I think I'm most proud of the repointing that I've done on the back of the house because that was quite hard work. But, um, there's one, there's a big gable end, which took me forever. I'm a lot quicker now than when I started and I've got a system and, um, I quite enjoy it now. so um So I'm actually looking forward to getting back to that and this this summer and doing it working my way around. So I'll do the front, which is actually, there's much less to do on the front, so it should be quicker. But yeah, so i like I quite like pointing. You definitely have patience. Yeah. Because that is a slow and tricky job. I like to sit there raking out, raking out, and getting all back in again. yeah No, i just I quite enjoy that. that's quite yeah
Speaker: I think actually... When we had the scaffolding up on the back of the house, it faces south. um And apart from the pointing drying out too quickly, which is a bit of a pain, it was lovely to be up there because it was just sunny and we had nice weather. And I was just sat there on the scaffolding with my headphones on. And, you know, it was it was quite a nice job. So um I quite like that.
Speaker: and I am also really proud of just how it looks because... and I think we had we had a builder come in and I was a bit, you know, I was sort of thinking, oh my God, is this actually going to last? Have I done this right? You know, is it all going to just fall out?
Speaker: But, and we had, there was a few tricky bits that I didn't really know how to do. Like there was a a brick arch way over a window ah where a couple of the bricks needed replacing. and i was like, oh God, if I take those out, is it all going to fall down?
Speaker: and and I didn't really know what to do about the blown bricks and how to get them out and everything. So we had this builder come in and he was great. And um he showed me how to change the, you know, take the blown bricks out and checked what I was doing. And we did a bit together and I, sort you know, he sort of showed me what he was doing and, um and what I'd done was, was fine. You know, he was like, yeah, no, that's great. And so that, that really helped that yeah gave me loads confidence. So, yeah.
Speaker: So yeah, so I learned a lot from him. And then I think, I think if you get trades in and ask them, they're always happy to share what they do and talk about what they do. And, um,
Speaker: You know, i think you learn a lot like that. so Yeah, we've we've said this and to cover up a couple of other guests. I don't think a lot of people are sort of scared to speak with tradesmen. They think they're going to get some sort of hourly rate just for speaking with them. But you can just sort of speak to regular people down the... I think if you go to any pub in the world, you'll find a tradesman. you can just actually speak and ask for some advice. It's a really good tip.
Speaker: Yeah, no, I think, and you know, they were um yeah whenever we've had people here, they're always happy to talk about what they do and how they do I mean, the worst thing is getting them to, I think, you know, everyone, certainly with things like line pointing and things like that, everyone has their own opinions and they're very, you know, this is the only way to do this and this is the way I do it and this is the way you must do it And so I think that's the only thing is that you've got to sort of talk to a few people maybe and, you know,
Speaker: take take some advice with a pinch of salt. But um but yeah, no, but I mean, people will talk to you and they'll help you and they'll teach you and more than happy to, um you know, let you join in. So yeah and i think I think that's great. i think that's how people learn.
Speaker: And how have you found your sort of social media? Because you've got a huge number of followers. Have you found in a similar way that that can be quite a useful space to get advice?
Speaker: Yeah, definitely. I think... um So there's, I mean, some people have been absolutely brilliant. So ah there's, um so the guy that runs ex expertable, um have you heard of expert? Yes. yeah we've um We've interviewed him. yeah yeah yeah um So um I've, I used expert, but when you, you know, when they did the sort of beta testing for it and, and that was really good, you know, talking to, um you know, Lime expert about lime plastering in one of our basement rooms. and really helpful.
Speaker: And I, yeah, there's quite a few people like that. um You know, Man With A Hammer, Greg Penn has been really helpful with more with sort of the social media type thing. um And then, like I said, the gardening community are great. So um I've met quite a few people through um ah still.
Speaker: we You know, people who still have like a few, you know, sort of influencer days. So they um we did some stuff with chainsaws and they really wanted to make sure that we were all safe before they left. just make videos about chainsaws, you know. It's a really good idea. So um there was a few of us that went for a sort of, you know, a chainsaw safety day.
Speaker: um And that was really good fun and, you met quite a few people through that. And, ah ah yeah, like I said, they're all lovely and and helpful, yeah. Imagine you rocking up on your dumper truck with your chainsaw going. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, we're having a bit of a – I think when I hurt myself, they were like, oh my God, thank God she wasn't using a chainsaw. Yeah.
Speaker: so how do you find like the community in general like all your followers are they all quite friendly do they do do they often reach out for advice from you yeah sometimes yeah I uh talked to quite a people quite a few people who are just starting renovations who will you know ask for um all sorts of things and then everybody's always after recommendations for know gear and and stuff um what you've used and that sort of thing um and then yeah i think
Speaker: make most of the time people are like really, really lovely. But, you do you know, there's always something like if you post. I mean, I don't post on TikTok very much because I i find TikTok quite terrifying. Yeah.
Speaker: Because you can't post anything on there without, you know. um And the main thing I get, I suppose, I mean, I did. Originally, we we've talked about things like taking out the servant's stairs.
Speaker: um That was not popular on Instagram. I was like, whoa. yeah People can be quite opinionated. um But that's fine. And that's, you know, you have to take that with them with with what the, um it's just the the name of the game, isn't it If you post things in the public, then but you're going to get some backlash with certain things. um But like I said, most of the time people are lovely.
Speaker: um And I think maybe I'm a little bit, I think you do learn, you know, what's going to upset people. And I think probably I do edit myself a little bit about certain things. Um,
Speaker: And maybe that's not such a good thing. Maybe I should just be honest and take the take the flak when it comes. it's a tricky one, isn't it? Because it's your home and it's your choices. But, you know, some people out there are just farcical and really incriminated. So it's a fine line.
Speaker: Yeah, yeah. And I think, I ah don't know, you get a feeling sometimes you pace something and think, oh, God, this is good. Yeah. you're going to get some stick with but um uh a lot of the time and the safety things always like really drive me mad really because um you know i don't we we are i am quite safety conscious obviously i'm not brilliant because that i wouldn't have tipped it off i do wear a mask when i'm sanding and i do wear i i do wear my safety shoes most of the time um
Speaker: But, you know, you can't, i I get comments when, if I show a video of me sanding, I've got a face mask on and I still get comments. You must wear a face mask. It's on, what do you want?
Speaker: i just yeah save them Yeah, that's just, that's what it is. i think I think sometimes people scroll through and they're just looking for people sanding so that they can say, wear a face mask or anything. Yeah, you just can't help some people. No, no.
Speaker: Have you found um a budget tool or hack? I'm asking this with a little bit of a guiding point because I saw you use one of my favourite things I've bought in the last couple of years, a plasterboard hoist just to do ceilings and things. hey Yeah, yeah, yeah. And have you found anything like that?
Speaker: Like there's a really sort of cheap way of doing things or an easy way of making life a bit easier for that you'd really sort of recommend? Because I love my plasterboard hoist. The plasterboard lifter is, yeah, I mean, that is... some that so that saved that so saved the marriage That has hasn't. It's such hard work and it just does the job for me. think mine was £107 something and it I basically did it all by myself pretty much rather than needing someone to help me. was great. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like I said, I mean, there's only, you plasterboarding a ceiling with two of you is a quick way to get divorced in my opinion.
Speaker: Just hold it there. i'm no Yeah, okay. um Yeah, no, that plasterboard lift is really, really good. um I don't know. Things that we use the most, I think...
Speaker: So my husband's a huge Fez tool fan, which is not a budget you know conscious way of doing things at all. Um, but they are really good. And, um, those, the battery powered Sanders have been brilliant because, uh, you know, if you're working up on the scaffolding, they're just, it's so nice to just have a little battery sander and just be, know, be able to carry on, um, with that. Uh,
Speaker: The, probably the tool we use one of the most is the Milwaukee multi-tool. Oh, yeah. That, I mean, you just can't survive without those. And we, we had some other ones, which we had a cheap one, first of all, which wasn't as good, but the Milwaukee one is brilliant. um And that will just cut through anything. And we probably, that's the thing that we were always like, damn it, where have I left the multi-tool? You really need that.
Speaker: um And then what else? um One of the things, it's not so much a renovation thing maybe, but well something that we bought for renovation that we actually use probably all the time is this plumber's torch.
Speaker: And it's like a ah torch that goes on the top of a big can, a big gas canister. And we probably use it every day for lighting the wood burner, lighting the bonfire or I don't know. What was i using it for the other day? um Oh, getting the bubbles out of resin on the stairs. Handle with dinners.
Speaker: that It's like in the barbecue, it's like one of those things that everybody's always like, get the talk. And do you know what? It lasted probably about a year before the canister ran out. And neither of us believe that this canister hadn't run out yet. I don't think you're using it so much. So yeah, get a plumber's torch. They're really good.
Speaker: That's a really good tip. Yeah. I've never even heard of those. No, I thought you were just going to say like a flashlight type thing. I was like, oh, That's tip. it's like a sort of It's like a torch thing that just goes on the top of this canister. It's like like a gun, you know. Awesome, awesome, yeah.
Speaker: well brilliant Well, thank you for your time today. We always end the pod on just sort of the same question. And it's sort of your sort of least favorite and most favorite thing about DIY and what you've sort of achieved in your house. like what What's been the sort of your best thing about doing the DIY yourself? So then also, what's the worst thing about DIYing a house, especially on your scale yourself? Yeah.
Speaker: um It's probably the same thing for both.
Speaker: And it's working together with my husband. Oh, ah Sometimes we, ala what have we done? we So we laid the floor. so So we laid like an engineered wood floor. um There's a post of that on Instagram of us.
Speaker: And it was really hard and we were on a really tight schedule because the kitchen was arriving. So we had to get it done before the kitchen arrived. um And so we literally had like two days and, you know, we were like trying to lay this engineered floor.
Speaker: But we're quite, when we're under pressure like that, we're quite good at just problem solving and figuring it out and we work together and then it's really satisfying at the end of it. And, you know, it feels like, and I think it's brought us, we have actually got quite a lot closer because we've because we're working together like all the time.
Speaker: um But then that's probably the worst part as well. And sometimes I'm just like, you know, like I said, my husband likes to do things like really quickly and he always wants to like get on with things. And and I quite like to just, like I do most of the decorating just on my own. and He doesn't really like painting. So, and I really like putting my audio book on and working quietly on my own.
Speaker: meaning And he says, I'm like Instagramming because ah he says, oh, you're just just Instagramming with your little paintbrush. Yeah.
Speaker: And then he'll come and interrupt me and he's like, oh, can you just help me move this door? And can you just do this? Can you just do that? Crazy. So, um yeah.
Speaker: It's the best the best um amazing ah answer. That's the first time we actually had that answer. That's really sort nice one to finish on. I'm good. I'm glad I thought it was something original. Well, amazing. Thank you so much for your time today. If you could let and the listeners know at home just where we can find you and follow, I really recommend people check out your property. It's incredible.
Speaker: Yeah. so it's just Sweet Pea and Sorel, at Sweet Pea Sorel on Instagram. um And then you can find me on Substack as well, which is substack.com forward slash Amanda Balmain, which is amazing.
Speaker: Thank you. And actually, i don't know if this is completely naive. What is sweet pea and sorrel? Is that something personal to you or is it something I should not? No, no. So sweet pea and sorrel was, because I started the Instagram account when it during COVID, it was it was mainly about gardening.
Speaker: um And sweet peas and sorrel were two of the things that i was really good at growing. Oh, I see. Right. And so that's it. And I've kept thinking that I should change it to something more house renovation, but I can't think of anything. So it's just stayed the same. So it's... that's what it is maybe that's what's hooking people in they're like what is this yeah they're confused yeah so i really need to plant some i've got some sorrel in the garden now i really need to do better with my sweet peas this year and then maybe it'll make more sense be more on brand yeah well brilliant thank you ever so much for your time and good luck with the the mountain of diy in front of you Yeah, we'll be here for a while. So, come back in a few years and I'll let you know how it is. That's it, yeah. Thanks, Amanda. Thanks, Amanda. Have a good one. Thank you. Bye.
Speaker: are you
