Cob doorframe

[Bogart]

I have stated cob as I am not sure how else to describe it. I have an outbuilding with walls of thickness varying from around 200mm to 300mm which looks to all intents and purposes like a cob. Now I always thought that a cob construction would have walls somewhat thicker than mine. Anyway I may be diverging. My problem is I have an external door frame that has parted company from the wall and am wondering the best method to re-attach it. Using rawlplugs does not seem appropriate. Now one final question the outbuilding has a normally constructed roof ie rafters, battens, felt and tiles.
The eaves are totally open and I am wondering if I can fill them in to reduce the effects of draughts. The outbuilding is only used for a freezer.
Thanks

 

[Hobden]

I'd be interested in knowing what the best "fixings" for cob are too - we might be buying a cob house (in Devon) and I did wonder what one might use on the walls, especially when fixing something heavy like kitchen cabinets to such walls. Don't want to hear a big crash in the middle of the night!

 

[livias]

I think I would use chunks of timber possibly wedge shaped and butter them in with more cob (mud). Let them dry and then screw the doorframe to them

 

[88v8]

Have no experiencer with cob, but iirc freezers should not be allowed to freeze. In our previous house I built a sort of sarcophagus around the freezer in the shed, to keep it from freezing, and connected it through a low-limit thermostat so it turned off entirely when the temp fell below can't remember what.

Check owner's manual.

Ivor

 

[Bogart]

I have specifically bought a freezer designed to operate down to -15deg C so hopefully no problems.

 

[Bogart]

I'd be interested in knowing what the best "fixings" for cob are too - we might be buying a cob house (in Devon) and I did wonder what one might use on the walls, especially when fixing something heavy like kitchen cabinets to such walls. Don't want to hear a big crash in the middle of the night!

Suppose in the days when these houses were built all the kitchen "units" would be floor standing ie dressers etc so the structural strength of the wall was not of paramount interest. I have been a few
cob houses, in Devon as it happened, and there did not seem a problem so it can be done. I am assuming the property you are considering has shall we say uneven walls, if so that then neccessitates some
sort of framework putting up beforehand ie timber battens and plasterboard I would think.

 

[88v8]

...... and plasterboard I would think.

Arrgh. The beginnings of destruction, flat, level, in the interests of creating a modern interior.
Fitted kitchen. The builder's default option.
Units.
Huh.
Pah.
Mumble.

As you rightly say, an unfitted kitchen
http://www.marksandspencer.com/padstow-large-2-door-larder-unit/p/p22095349?extid=ps_gglpla_UK_Gen_,Home%20&%20Furniture%20_PLAHome%20&%20Furniture%20-->%20Furniture%20-->%20Shop%20By%20Range%20-->%20Kitchen%20&%20Dining%20Ranges%20-->%20Padstow%20Dining%20Room%20Ranges%20-->%20Padstow%20Kitchen%20Range_M&S%20Padstow%202-Door%20Larder%20Unit%20Putty%20PUTTY&s_kwcid=AL!2750!3!47119164976!!!g!67997744789!&device=c&s_kwcid=AL!2750!3!47119164976!!!g!!&ef_id=WDwNpQAAAAIsjNKf:20161128111054:s&pdpredirect

obviates the 'need' to destroy periodicity in the interests of convenience.

I dare say less expensive options are available. Many antiques shops are struggling, and prices commensurate.

Ivor

 

[a twig]

As Ivor says, there is also very little demand for dark wood furniture at present.

Having recently picked up a dark mahogany dresser for £15 from eBay (which was originally over £1000 new) - I would definitely go for the secondhand freestanding option if possible.

 

[Hobden]

I am assuming the property you are considering has shall we say uneven walls

That's one way of describing them And they've been plastered with modern (gypsum?) plaster, so they might be even more uneven if we decide it's wise to remove that at the same time we do the kitchen! So, yes, freestanding might be the smart move, if I can convince t'other half of this ...

 

[Hobden]

As you rightly say, an unfitted kitchen
http://www.marksandspencer.com/padstow ...

Couldn't get your link to work, but Googled for "M&S Padstow Kitchen" and found what you were suggesting. I was slightly confused by "Padstow 2-Door Larder Unit Putty". Just couldn't think what a Putty might be - 'til I realised it was the colour

I'll run it past her with kitchen-sign-off-authority at some point ...

 

[Hobden]

As Ivor says, there is also very little demand for dark wood furniture at present.

Having recently picked up a dark mahogany dresser for £15 from eBay (which was originally over £1000 new) - I would definitely go for the secondhand freestanding option if possible.

To be honest, not sure we like it either! Though I wonder if one could strip it and paint it a lighter colour?

 

[Bogart]

Arrgh. The beginnings of destruction, flat, level, in the interests of creating a modern interior.
Fitted kitchen. The builder's default option.
Units.
Huh.
Pah.
Mumble.


Doom-monger :lol: Periodicity that"s a good term. My place is over 400 years old so can you suggest what period in its history I should aim for? If one was not to do anything to modernise it
I would be rather cold ie not even a roof!

 

[a twig]

As Ivor says, there is also very little demand for dark wood furniture at present.

Having recently picked up a dark mahogany dresser for £15 from eBay (which was originally over £1000 new) - I would definitely go for the secondhand freestanding option if possible.

To be honest, not sure we like it either! Though I wonder if one could strip it and paint it a lighter colour?

Sorry, that was what I meant, it can be stripped/painted/upcycled...

 

[88v8]

My place is over 400 years old so can you suggest what period in its history I should aim for? If one was not to do anything to modernise it
I would be rather cold ie not even a roof!

Haha.
Penners used to take that line when I grumbled about new light switches and fittings.

Perhaps it's just me. I see no point in living in an old house and modernising it. Flat, insulated, all character erased. Some people should buy a new house, and put up some plastic beams.

Kitchens, I made cupboards for our previous house. The were built-in. Lord, I knew no better. But no 'units'.
We've all been thoroughly brainwashed by the kitchens industry over the last 50 years.

That freestanding jobby I nearly linked to, that's new. Me, I'd go for old. Freestanding stuff was still being made in the 50s.
It doesn't have to be purpose-made kitchen stuff. As Flyfisher said, there's lots of brown furniture available. Lovely French oak cupboards for peanuts. Antiques shops, or eBay.
You could put worktop on it to make it more robust, with suitably dark laminate.
And the nice thing, if you want to change something, you can. Easy. And it doesn't all have to match.
And when you move house you can take it with you.

Partly, I'm jealous. No room to swing a cat in our kitchen. And it's sort of done, with elm cupboards that were made in the early 70s, and I don't think I have the energy to pull it apart and do it again. and with a ceiling less than 6ft, not much scope, really.

Generic search Oak cupboard....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Arts-and-Crafts-Bookcase-Cupboard-/182369716665?hash=item2a761509b9:g:Z7kAAOSwHMJYPHKP

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Delightful-Oak-Cupboard-shelves-carved-Ship-Detail-Edwardian-Boys-bedroom-/192039280492?hash=item2cb66edf6c:g:xc4AAOSwal5YMucy

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-Oak-Livery-Food-Cupboard-dated-1663-Charles-II-/132017197245?hash=item1ebcd690bd:gXwAAOSw5cNYMbgc

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-large-Gothic-Georgian-18C-oak-court-cupboard-sideboard-coffer-/302151142069?hash=item46599c8ab5:g:qbQAAOSwyQtVgcI4

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-Victorian-C1900-oak-housekeepers-kitchen-larder-cupboard-on-chest-/291956250123?hash=item43f9f2d60b:g:m1IAAOSwvgdW11kp

Kitchen cupboard....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-metal-kitchen-cupboard-40s-50s-larder-unit-dresser-house-proud-/142190669169?hash=item211b396d71:g:73cAAOSw5cNYODVV

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lovely-Original-Rustic-Antique-Victorian-Housekeepers-Kitchen-Cupboard-Dresser-/162262049806?hash=item25c792640e:g:0M0AAOSwA3dYFkf6

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Very-old-kitchen-cupboard-unit-1930s-40s-/192036375172?hash=item2cb6428a84:g:KMYAAOSwzaJX4agq

And if you have room, this is incredible

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUPERB-FRENCH-OAK-SIDEBOARD-BOOKCASE-IN-LOUIS-XV-STYLE-/122246171114?hash=item1c767089ea:g:2FYAAOSwB09YPKHN

On and on

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-French-Sideboad-Server-Topped-With-Marble-/112219546306?hash=item1a20ce62c2:g:12UAAOSw4GVYM2Au

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Imposing-Antique-French-Ornately-Carved-Oak-Breton-Sideboard-Buffet-Dresser-/222329094097?hash=item33c3d8bfd1:g:WDoAAOSwdzVXwKGN

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Beautiful-Carved-Oak-French-Dresser-Sideboard-Display-Cabinet-Green-Man-/381864486553?hash=item58e8e5a699:g:g-4AAOSwB09YOxnz

Some incredible bargains. Those last two are like the sideboard we had in our library, and still have here in our cottage but now in two parts.

Ivor

 

[Bogart]

There is a lot of money to be made in old french furniture if you have the time and inclination. Having recently returned from living in France and seeing the trend there of lets go to IKEA the amount of second hand old furniture is enormous most times at giveaway prices, certainly compared to UK prices. On the negative side a lot is very heavy and very dark which does not appeal to me at all.

 

[JoceAndChris]

I don't see a problem with filling the eaves in Bogart, if that will benefit your storage space! I'm sure it's draughty anyway without that. And I agree with livias' post on attaching the door frame too.

There's brown furniture and brown furniture! You can't lump it all in together! :lol: I really really couldn't live with the 1960s Tudor oak and I'm not sure about the French 1970s Tudor oak either. Not even painted! I think every piece of furniture needs to be carefully considered for the space and has to fit in terms of age appropriateness, size, purpose and colour! You can't just consider the thing in itself but the relationship between that piece and every other! I can't be mellow about this! :lol:

Here's my latest purchase, it's Lady Killearn's Regency cabinet in rosewood with brass inlay. The room awaits the right sofa ( not the cream Laura Ashley one) and a rosewood tea table in the bay. This is why my house will take 30 years!

And by the way that's Casein distemper and it's worth every scrap of the effort!

 

[plasticpigeon]

I've filled my house with dark furniture, but there is no space left, I need a bigger house for all the nice stuff available.

 

[Bogart]

There's brown furniture and brown furniture! You can't lump it all in together! :lol: I really really couldn't live with the 1960s Tudor oak and I'm not sure about the French 1970s Tudor oak either. Not even painted! I think every piece of furniture needs to be carefully considered for the space and has to fit in terms of age appropriateness, size, purpose and colour! You can't just consider the thing in itself but the relationship between that piece and every other! I can't be mellow about this! :lol:

Could not agree more a piece of furniture has to appeal and "look right" in its setting. When we retuned from France we had no furniture whatsoever. Have been in the property now some 10 weeks and so far have obtained 2 tub chairs from the British Heart Foundation, it could be a while before the place looks "furnished"

 

[mims&pip]

Have to agree that all brown furniture is not the same

We've been collecting Arts & Crafts/Art Nouveau furniture and other complimentary pieces for some 12 years, starting out when we lived in our 'big' house in Hants. It was my favourite style from my student days (mid-late '80s) but back then I could only afford cheap Art Deco bits and bobs - including an amazing petrol blue three piece suite found in a Portsmouth junk shop, that sadly I later swapped for a pair of rather manky chesterfields - and we really only progressed to Arts & Crafts/Nouveau after my discovery of ebay :wink:

Almost all of our furniture is either antique, vintage or just plain shabby, the main exception being a John Lewis sofa......oh, and Pip has a couple of ikea desks in the office!

None of it is typical 'brown' furniture though - although that might just be me seeing it through rose-tinted specs, lol, and I know many people think the styles are ugly! None of it was particularly inexpensive either - I recall a visitor to our Hampshire house remarking that "you can pick up some really cheap furniture on ebay" as he eyed a piece we'd paid £2500 for :shock:

I've added some piccies of our favourite piece, affectionately known as Arthur (after Arthur Lasenby Liberty as he has his original Liberty label!), including one showing the fabulous (imho!) enamelled detail......

Joce, I love Lady Killearn's Regency cabinet - a stunning addition to your beautiful room! I especially love your gorgeous wallpaper

Mims x

 

[mims&pip]

Meant to add, on the subject of sofas......

We have a few antique/vintage examples - including a now ancient knole in the kitchen that our dogs have claimed as their own :roll: However, whilst the original sofas do complete the look amongst the rest of our 'old stuff', I have to confess that the John Lewis sofa upholstery is far more comfortable than the horsehair of the originals :lol:

Sadly the fabric of the green Art Nouveau sofa above has seen better days, but we love the wonderful high back - great in draughty old houses like this - and the fantastic curved shape! This was one of our less expensive purchases - just £200 plus the cost to courier down from Scotland :wink:

The small sofa has gorgeous applique work in typical Arts & Crafts style. The pink fabric wouldn't have been my first choice, but I just couldn't resist that appliqué work!

Mims x