Back in the saddle again.

Before I began Ramsay House I read many many blogs and articles, I did my research as I do for any project. Sometimes in life it stops at research because we realise that what we planned to do is beyond us. I tend to go with the saying ' He knew it not to be impossible so he did it'. 

One thing that I soon realised that not being as pliable as I was in my Younger years the idea of 'getting into' these rooms to decorate was going to be a problem. I read our lovely Giacs blog where he cracked ribs redecorating his ballroom!

I decided to make the core of the house, the hallway and stairs and landings as one tall edifice and then add the rooms on each side as I went, giving me access to the spaces.

Here you can see I cut out what is in fact a large and tall window which will be mullioned with metal cross bars. I bought some lead tape to try to make this happen. 

The wall panel slots into a gap in the side and in the end the whole side panels of the build will have an added layer of mdf added to 'knit' all the layers together and give more depth to the windows.

To balance this window when I get round to the facade I will add a dummy window to the left as was often the case in architecture of the period.

This is the view from the hallway through the drawing room to the new window. The idea being that you can peek through the side windows and get a view of the rooms from a different angle.

As I needed the wall to be deeper than the thickness of the mdf I decided to line it with finer mdf and use the gap to hide wiring etc. These are some of my antique irons, they have felt glued Under them to protect the items weighted down.

The panel set in and the second layer cut with an added piece below the window to give depth.

At this stage I decided to make the Template for the parquet flooring as this would have to be installed before the wall was fixed in place and until the wall is fixed  I cannot finish the cornicing around the ceiling and so forth. I used large pieces of kraft card with a gum paper join.

Below are two photo used for inspiration. I will add shutters at one point. I decided not to make a window seat but make the added depth higher to put some potted plants on later. 

My window is deeper than these but too late to do anything about that!

The wall panel prior to decorating.

Skirting/base boards some chair rail trim, a piece of 'blind' wood at the top to give depth to the cornicing and some mount board panels layered over white kraft card. I 'framed' the window but it still needs some extra molding.

The wall dry fitted with a chair to check scale, the book case will be glued in place knitting it all together.

Another view, realising that what I thought was going to be a small room is in fact a good size.

In this view you can see the ceiling of the dining room with a ceiling rose ready to take a chandelier , working or not, because the holes you see are for LED lighting. No one will actually see this ceiling!

Below my inspiration for the ceiling.

The panelling painted up and not yet patinated. The walls will be pink, unless that changes. The colour of the woodwork is almost the same as the hallway colour but is in reality different. it's Farrow & Ball 'Shaded White', they do so many 'off' colours.

I will say this now, DO NOT CUT OUT SOCKET HOLES AT 2 AM !! I decided last night to check my workroom before going to bed around 1h30 and had the idea before I forgot to cut out the hole for the electric socket and messed it up so spackeling I will go !

Nothing here is glued in place as the floor has to be done first.

Beginning the parquet floor, so much fun to be had, except cutting out the strips.

Below is a rough idea of what the windows will be like, stone mullions with iron and lead glazing bars. Initially I was going to do a classical Georgian English facade but on seeing so many wonderful buildings in Scotland I decided to go for an older style. I add that it will be a LOT more work.