State of the Renovation
It has taken us two months and cost us nearly $25 000 USD to refurbish our new appartment near Nanpu Bridge in Shanghai. The project has not yet finished, but this is what we will get for our money.
- Design and project management
- Complete gutting and rebuild
- New plumbing and electric wiring
- New bathroom and kitchen
- New bed
- Fitted walk-in wardrobe
- Underfloor central heating
- Double glazed windows
- Wooden laminated floors
- Fridge freezer, washing machine, upright air conditioner and mini oven
- Digital light projector and television
- New front door
If I was still living in the UK, it is inconceivable that I would ever be able to pay to refurbish a new home in its entirety within such a short time. It would have cost us at least $100 000 USD to employ a team to carry out the same work. The cost of living is so high in the UK that it is common for people to live in their new house and decorate it in increments. I used to spend my holidays decorating rooms. It took me two years to refurbish six rooms and then I left for China, eventually selling up.
We have continued to live in our rented appartment until the project is finished. We hope to have at least a couple of weeks for the smell of paint and solvents to ease before we move in. Last weekend, the team had not yet started painting so I was a little concerned that our moving date would have to be rescheduled.
We also need to get ready. There is still a lot to buy and get ready, although we are both very busy with our working lives. Everything is happening at once, but the process is exciting. I am sure we will figure it out.We got the building team to strip the ten year old appartment into a shell and rebuild it so it is new inside. Below, you can see some slideshows at various stages during the renovation. I will update this periodically as I get to see the project edge closer and closer towards completion.
Empty House Before Renovation
July: Gut the House
August: Making the Shell
September: Taking Shape
Mid October: End in Sight