8 Denby Lane
Heaton Chapel
empty house (2009) ◊ moving in (2009) ◊ winter (2009) ◊ furnished (2010) ◊ gardening (2010) ◊ decorating (2010) ◊ decorating (2010 to 2014) ◊ gardening (2011 & 2012) ◊ landscaping (2012 & 2013) ◊ gardening (2013 & 2014)
Empty house (2009)
After six months of what can only be described as an emotional rollercoaster (moving house is meant to be one of the most stressful events in one life, and we had more complications than most), we finally got the keys to 8 Denby Lane, Heaton Chapel (north of Stockport, east of Didsbury, just off the A6) on Friday 18th September 2009. And there was much rejoicing.
Nothing being simple, we still have to rid the place of some well-hidden asbestos but, for now, we can enjoy its perfect proportions. This page will be a source of our new house's development.
First up, some staple frontage shots. Firstly, from centre. Never mind the estate agents' sign - this is ours now! (Although, to be fair, it does say sold. But it hasn't stopped them getting lots of queries since.)
And from left and right, the former capturing Lynne in "unload car" mode. Ooh, it looks a bit weird putting the two together. Like there's a mirror in the middle. (There isn't.)
Down the left side, the gate opens up to reveal yet more parking space, and one of the key features, an external "double garage". As with most houses these days, it has long since been abandoned as an attempt to park a car, and the way it is set up renders that difficult. From left to right, it houses an "outdoor" toilet, a store room and the main L-shaped garage area (interior not shown, but locked and alarmed, security fans) on which the Allen snooker table has its designs.
As we move round the left hand side of the building, we come to what is probably the most stunning feature of the property (oops, lapsing somewhat into estate agent speak) - the garden. This is the view from front left to back right (approximately south west, compass point fans).
Lest we get daunted by the scale of maintenance work involved, here are shots of the greenhouse and allotment (allotment!). What are city slickers such as us going to do with facilities like that? In the allotment plus shed shot, there are actual onions growing there. What on earth do we do?
And, to capture the scale of it all, a shot of the back, showing pergola, onion patch, greenhouse and detached garage.
This is the plum tree that is the centrepiece of the back lawn.
Here's, um, a purgola. With the greenhouse and allotment in the background.
Imagining a shot taken from atop our state of the art garden furniture (actually a balcony freebie from our purchase of 126 City South, bargain fans), we see the imaginary garden-lover looking south, with the potentially garrotting washing line running diagonally across the lawn.
And looking the other way, here is the deluxe garden set, with the living/dining room's French windows to the left, and the kitchen's patio doors to the right.
The side of the house on the left and the not-accessible-from-the-house utility room/single garage combo.
And here they are: utility room and single garage. Nope, not the most exciting of rooms.
Ok, back round to the front now, as we go into the hall.
To the left, the sitting room, with remote control gas fire.
Looking back out from the sitting room, we can see the kitchen on the left and the living/dining room across the hall, which is where we are going next.
Here is the living/dining room, first looking out onto the garden, and second looking to the front.
And the view of the garden from the kitchen...
...which is shown here. Quite spacious, but nothing in it yet. Apart from the Glastonbury director's chairs, put there in a classic 'where the hell do we put stuff?' dilemma. With a small bin.
Time to go upstairs, on to the landing...
...and looking back downstairs.
Here is the view of the front.
The fancy fitted bathroom is definitely not on the list of 'things to do'.
At the front left, this is the master bedroom, with the fitted wardrobes that Lynne has her eye on (ripping out).
Whilst (narrowly) not the biggest bedroom, it does have the en-suite bathroom.
Moving to the back left, the smallest bedroom will be used as an office. The vendors left the desk behind (it was either that or they were going to take it to the tip as they had no room for it), at the moment one of our only pieces of furniture. And it gives it that office look. This will be the computer room - the printer is there in readiness.
The window gives a good opportunity to look out onto the garden.
Looking back out onto the landing, there is the third bedroom to the left and the, um, second bedroom to the right.
The third bedroom will be used for a multitude of purposes, potentially with a sofa bed, dresser and bass chair...
Probably the largest bedroom is the second bedroom, again with fitted furniture (off camera, Lynne is standing there, tapping a large axe with her hand). Apparently the wallpaper is Laura Ashley. Lovely.
There will be more photos once we have some furniture in there...
Click here for next part.