Renovations to a 250 year old cottage | Homestead renovation

[@LizZorab]

To see how the woodburner was replaced in the lounge, see this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZycmoCBnrJ2m5I

[@MarvinNL]

Congratulations with your award. Well deserved for sure!

[@LizZorab]

Thank you so much 😀

[@lesleyharris525]

I missed this video last year as I was in hospital, actually in an induced coma for 5 weeks, so I'm glad that you linked this video, so much progress on the cottage, it's looking so good. ❤

[@the_green_anna]

You are describing all that work with such happy face. So Nice to see. Your home - It's gonna be fabulous! 😍

[@georginan4703]

Well done Liz - you are cracking on! We’ve been in our similar aged Welsh cottage for 30+ years and we’re STILL working in it!! Congratulations on the well deserved award.

[@AJsGreenThumbLLC]

Congrats on the award Liz! I love the coziness and rich character of older homes in the UK. I know the feeling of living through a renovation...or two😅😅You will be done before you know it. Happy New Year!

[@LizZorab]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@lyndaturner6686]

It will be a lovely home, having once renovated two 300 year old cottages and lived in it I feel your pain, however it’s incredible how the vision of how it will be keeps you going , and now I’m in my seventies and my renovating days are over I miss it , I would still love to have the option to change something , it gets into your blood. So enjoy and record every minute of it. Happy Christmas to you and Mr J ❤️

[@margaretsofocleous1999]

I wish both you and Mr J joy and happiness in your wonderful home. I am sure it is going to be just beautiful and it will be worth all the effort and the chaos and disruption it is causing you. I didn't manage to get to a bookshop in the 6 days I was in Wales this year but I intend to buy both your books someday. Things are just bad with me at the moment with Spyros in hospital. Visiting not allowed so you can imagine but I just know that one day I will read your books. Once again a huge congratulations on your well deserved award. Margaret in Cyprus

[@slomo1716]

I LOVE your realness and honesty, this is how real people live. God Bless and may all the funds needed for your reno fall into your laps!

[@LizZorab]

Aw thank you! Hopefully we'll earn the funds over the next few years, I know it won't be fast, but each step forward feels fantastic!

[@RalfyCustoms]

Fantastic Liz, thank you so much for welcoming us into your beautiful home, its going to be stunning

[@LizZorab]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@ErnieCG]

Watching again

[@gardentours]

You've done a lot 👍 Congratulations for your award 🥇 👏 and for finishing your new book 📚 🙌 I know what it takes to write a book, especially before you have to hand it in. I could feel my back from sitting at the computer😉 weeding is nothing compared to it.

[@jessievanswaaij2971]

That door is fab.

[@cadalot58]

Just like the garden "little and often" and you will get there eventually.

[@LizZorab]

Exactly!

[@joannahart1604]

Beautiful old cottage with great features and no way would I take that gorgeous door out but then it’s not my home 🤣 I love my wood burner makes a great cowboy coffee xX

[@Lovelygreens]

It's coming along! So glad for you that you were able to get the skylight in before the dark of winter sets in properly :)

[@LizZorab]

Thanks Tanya. Hopefully by the time you visit again, you'll see major differences 💚

[@stevendowden2579]

going to look lovely congratulations on your award

[@LizZorab]

Thank you so much Steven, I was so surprised to have won. But better than that, I was with Niall as he won his category and seeing how thrilled he was will make me smile for years to come.

[@davidwormleighton2839]

Hi Liz great update on the house, and your doing it right by doing a little bit at a time 😀 thank you for your efforts this past year, merry Christmas to you and mr J and a happy new year, stay safe David 👍👍

[@LizZorab]

Thanks so much! 😊 Happy holidays and new year to you too.

[@misschez84]

Your home is beautiful 😍 and I do like that gothic door ☺️☺️

[@LizZorab]

Thank you!! 😊

[@Peterharte73]

It will all come together Liz Congratulations on your book and top award well deserved 👍

[@LizZorab]

Thanks so much 😊

[@darinbennett3638]

Liz, thanks for showing us what's happening on the inside of your cottage. It's going to be beautiful. My wife and I did a renovation of our kitchen earlier this year and lived in the 'mess' of remodeling but, as we say, 'if it's worth having, it's worth waiting for'. We did the work ourselves and saved a lot of money and thoroughly enjoy the finished product. Enjoy the journey!

[@LizZorab]

Thank you for the encouragement. I'm sure that it's going to be worth it. The difference in our home with just the changes we've made so far have felt enormous, so I can only begin to imagine how nice it might be once the work is completed.

[@darinbennett3638]

@@LizZorab we found that if we maintained the 'rhythm' of life (those things that bring us joy/peace) then we could survive without the 'routine' of life (everything in it's place all the time). Please continue to take us along on the journey of your renovations! (Kentucky, USA)

[@AmirsAllotment]

Nice to see what you have been up to in your home Liz. I’m sure you are going to make it all look lovely. I have finally got round to Vlogging my allotment journey. Inspired by you 😊

[@LizZorab]

I've subscribed and posted about your channel in the FB group - I hope you'll enjoy making the videos, they are good fun to look back on at a later date.

[@AmirsAllotment]

@@LizZorab thank you so much Liz. It means a lot 😊

[@wineberryfarm6445]

Liz congratulation on your award I’m so very proud I love watching your videos and thank you for letting us see inside your cottage your home is beautiful wishing you a merry Christmas and a very happy and healthy new year

[@LizZorab]

Thank you so much Drema 💚

[@wineberryfarm6445]

I just retired from The hospital I worked at 42 years unfortunately, six weeks after that I lost the love of my life Beth due to cancer. I’m spending most of my time at WineBerryFarm in West Virginia it’s been in my family for over 100 years so I’m starting to do renovations on the old farmhouse. I hope to start a new garden and have chickens and sheep and maybe a milk cow. I can’t wait to read your new book I’m ordering it this week. You are an inspiration to me and bring joy to my life through your videos and books. I wish you the best from across the pond, Drema

[@junewrogg6137]

Wow! Thanks for the tour.

[@LizZorab]

Our pleasure!

[@meadows.simplicities]

Congrats on your award Liz 🙂 👏

[@LizZorab]

Thank you! 😊

[@BeFree-BeFrugal]

Congratulations on your award… you’ve done a lot of work, looking forward to see it finished, have a lovely Christmas

[@LizZorab]

Thank you! I think it's going to be a long time before the house is finished.

[@bettylongshore9594]

You have such a sweet cottage and I know you will enjoy getting things finished and in their right places! Blessings!!!

[@LizZorab]

Thank you so much!

[@Peg06]

We've seen you create an amazing garden so it's lovely to see you create an amazing house! Once upon a time, I knew people who only had hot water in the shower so they took their dishes in there to wash. You're a more hardy woman than I am living in the house while renovating!

[@LizZorab]

Thank you so much! I'm not sure whether I'm hardy or foolhardy!

[@funnybunny81]

Hi Liz this house is so romantic, so cozy. Congratulations on the new renovations as they come to life! Congratulations on bringing this beautiful historic back to life and making it a maintained placed of yours! Wishing a smooth process for you Liz and thanks for sharing with us

[@LizZorab]

Thank you so much!

[@JanesGrowingGarden]

Well now I'm dizzy but I bet inside your head it all looks fab!

[@kated6442]

Great to see your home renovations coming along Liz. The skylight is a great addition. Well done too on your award. Super pleased for you. 2023 is looking to be a great year all round. 🎉🏆📚🌺🥕

[@LizZorab]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@davidjones8680]

Congratulations on winning the award, much deserved in my humble opinion. Good luck with the domestic alterations, I am about to do a similar project on a 250 year old Welsh cottage. I too will be swopping about the kitchen and lounge, but installing a Raybun. One fire, with endless hot water and cooking and heat. Many thanks David in Wales

[@LizZorab]

Thank you David. I suspect we will end up with a Rayburn in our new kitchen (if I can save up sufficient pennies), they really are such incredible things. Our old one was going to take thousands to renovate and I decided that I would rather wait and save up for just the right one than fix something that was so broken. However, it went off to a place where they strip them down and use all the parts, so it wasn't completely wasted.

[@Heligany]

Yes it really is insane how good rayburns are, its my sole source of hot water so I definitely get the saving up the washing for the days you put the rayburn on.

[@davidjones8680]

@@LizZorab Im so glad to hear that you old Rayburn just didn't end up in a skip. All of the many houses i have lived in over the past 65 years have been fitted with a solid fuel cooker. I have tried several diffrent makes but i have found the Rayburn to be the best and most economical to operate. I look forward to the day when I see a brand new one arrive in your home.

[@66REDD66]

What a beautiful home. Lots of hard work going on inside and outside. 😻 Many congratulations on your much deserved award. 🎉 ❤ Best wishes for Christmas and 2023. Can’t wait for your new book. ☃️🎄🎅👍

[@LizZorab]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@zoestanisstreet8058]

it already looks so different, you must be super pleased. Have you figured a plan for the stairs?!

[@LizZorab]

Not exactly. We need to hire an architect or designer to make sure that any new staircase is safe etc. It will come in time - when we've earned enough!

[@katiesvegpatch]

Looks super-exciting! And congratulations on your award - very well deserved!

[@LizZorab]

Thank you so much!

[@BlessingsfromNorthIdaho]

Congratulations on your award, well done! I totally sympathize with your situation of living in your house while you remodel. We have been living in our house while we are building it. Paying for everything as we go so we haven’t a mortgage. August was 6 years at it and we’re still not quite done. Mostly just finishing up trim work, etc…..then off to the outside to plot and plan. The chaos of trying to find anything in such a situation is maddening. It will be worth it though in the end, right? Merry Christmas from Idaho, TeresaSue. P.S. also congratulations on your new book. I have your last one and it’s lovely.

[@LizZorab]

Thank you TeresaSue, just like you, we are paying as we go so we have no debt. It makes it very slow going, but yes, it'll definitely be worth it!

[@Mountainviewfarm2022]

Love what you have done with the house so far it will look great when it's finished 👍

[@LizZorab]

Thanks 👍

[@CompostHeap]

Liz, congratulations on your award! Ah ah ah, watching your video was like being in my house, boxes everywhere and playing find this or that... We had some major work done and have been out for 7 months and have just returned home. It's not finished and it's driving me nuts to keep chasing things which were in a room a day or so ago are now in God knows which room! So indeed a well deserved award especially as you are rather busy. Joyeux Noël and Happy New Year. Claudine

[@LizZorab]

Thank you Claudine. Happy holidays to you too 💚

[@maryegerton6848]

Hi Liz! Isn’t it so satisfying when each project is complete? I have been in this old homestead of mine for over two years and I just finished painting and plastering the last room 😅 This winter I get to do the fun stuff, like decorating etc. The best thing ever is I can get out into the gardens in the spring ( because I have a ton of snow right now 🇨🇦) and do what makes me truly happy. Plant stuff and not have to think about the inside. Have a wonderful Christmas. Peace and love to you. ☮️💕

[@gracecotton9819]

What a lovely house, and so full of potential. Thank you for showing it to us. Is the cupboard door a characteristic feature of the age of the house? Many congratulations on receiving the award, you deserve it.

[@LizZorab]

Thank you! The door is in a new extension put on 1980-1990 ish, so the door is not indicative of the age of the house. I think it was put in there to make the newer part of the building feel old (the same with the awful fake beams in the kitchen).

[@ErnieCG]

Good video

[@cherylbertolini3140]

your homestead is looking great!

[@LizZorab]

Thank you! It's starting to take shape - at last!

[@petpawteek8776]

Oh my word. That’s quite a bit of work to move nearly all of the rooms. But, how fantastic to make a sweet cottage suite your needs. Also…the walls are two feet thick??? 😮You don’t find that kind of thing in the states!

[@LizZorab]

Thick walls are a common feature in old cottages here in UK, it helps to keep a place warm in winter and cooler in summer.

[@jennyjohnson9012]

Love seeing all your renovations. Cant wait to get the new book, I've read Grounded so many times. Well done on your award, thoroughly deserved.

[@LizZorab]

Thank you so much Jenny. I'm starting to get excited about the new book now, but there's still a while to go yet until it's published.

[@lorrainerichardson3280]

Lol your door looks like you have an entrance to your own wee church. I've been living like you are for 7 years after my home was internally damaged in an earthquake in 2015. So carting stuff from one room to the next as I find time to finish gibstopping and painting. Not easy but we will get there.

[@LizZorab]

I did think about making that cupboard into a downstairs toilet room 😉

[@karenw9996]

Wonderful changes you have in mind! Personally, I can't picture things in my head, at least not the 'big picture'. I have to take one room or project at a time, decide what I don't like & how to improve it, complete that project. Then I live with it for a while (often years) before another idea comes to mind. The exception was my last house, where I knew exactly what colors I wanted on all the walls, which windows I wanted replaced & which left as they were, how I wanted the side porch done...everything about it. But I only lived there about five years, so not everything got done. Ah well, I'm blessed to have a roof over my head & heat & electric & indoor plumbing (but I'm still going to replace the final three not-energy-efficient windows, and add a new one to a dark area).

[@LizZorab]

I think adding light to a dark space makes such a massive difference to the feel of a place 💚

[@karenw9996]

@@LizZorab The living room is long and narrow, and the one end of it has just one small window. On cloudy days especially, it's so dreary!

[@soymilkmuse]

How lovely! May I ask when your house was originally built? Here in the US, everything is so "new" especially in the West coast. I am thoroughly charmed by buildings with history, and I just love the door!💕

[@gracecotton9819]

Shawna McKinnis I love the door, too.

[@LizZorab]

I've found records going back over 200 years showing a cottage on this site, although that was only the size of our living room and then an extension (the existing kitchen and other downstairs room) was added about 30-40 years ago).

[@izby2652]

Are those kitchen tiles real? Love them!

[@LizZorab]

Yes they are! When the rooms are moved around, they will be going. They are quite hard to live with if you suffer from headaches!

[@izby2652]

@@LizZorab oh I'm sorry. I would have suggested trying to reuse them in your future mudroom.

[@dollyperry3020]

My bathroom is being remodeled at the moment. So my washing machine and dryer are in the kitchen :( I feel your pain. But its going to be so lovely when its done. How long to you anticipate the entirety of the renovations to take?

[@LizZorab]

I imagine that it will years Dolly, because we need to earn the money before we get the work done. So it will have to happen in stages.

[@nicolaj3294]

Who paints a ceiling red??. Coming along nicely Liz. PS I love that door but does look like it's the door to a hobbits house.

[@LizZorab]

The red ceiling wasn't one of the features that attracted us to the place 🤣

[@tiffcat1100]

❄️🎄🌟🎄❄️

[@gudi361]

You certainly w'ont run out of work!

[@thelifeobservant9688]

Oh that was a treat… seeing in doors and your plans. It’s good to see how everything is ‘real’ We’re renovating an old house with land in rural Bulgaria and you have been a good source of inspiration I have Instagram and am called the Streamside story😊

[@LizZorab]

Oh it's very real here. I don't think pretending we live in a spotlessly tidy home would work, it would certainly take me far too long to get everything looking clean to film it!