Making new rooms in the old Manor House

OK, I know I say this, every time I put a new post on, that I am going to start posting regularly, but then life takes over and I realise weeks have passed.

We have just been so busy, especially with visitors, which is amazing. We have had so many friends and family visiting and even got our granddaughter here for part of the summer holidays.

But here is our latest update.

When we first bought the house there was an internal staircase (or there were some rotten infested pieces of wood that pretended to be a staircase!).

These stairs came out in a small room in the upstairs apartment (the removal of those will be a great post!). But we decided we did not need internal stairs on this renovation as the upstairs apartment will be fully independent and this little room could be removed and turned into a small dining area and the larger room will be the living room.

It is not quite finished yet, the floors still need some more work, but the wooden ceilings and the walls have been repaired. We have kept the old window openings as these make a great feature (as long as people using the bathroom remember not to open them!)

But here is the transformation:

renovating an old manor house, Portugal. — Time to clean up before we start

Replacing old electrics in Portugal — All the electrics had been installed surface mounted and looked dreadful

Installing new windows. Renovating an Old Manor House. Portugal — Work begins on repairing the ceilings so that the fantastic wooden pattern can be retained

removing-a-staircase — The stairs are being removed

Removing an old stair case. Renovation of an old manor house in Portugal — The hole for the stairs is boarded over

Though now the door is kept locked as there is a 4 metre drop on the other side and we want to keep us safe but also the cat who has started to use that window to go out, I’m sure he would be fine and not fall through, but I’m not taking any chances. but as this was such a quick job, it doesn´t take long to attach the new floorboards to the joists and we have another room in the house — The little room has a floor now and I have an office

Time to remove the wall. Luckily we have managed to save the old door and frame and any one who realises where they end up will get brownie points!) — Time to remove the wall. Luckily we have managed to save the old door and frame and any one who realises where they end up will get brownie points!

With the wall gone, we realise we can now have a separate eating area

The area looks so different now. we also feel the drainpipe that comes through the room makes a special feature — The area looks so different now. We also feel the drainpipe that comes through the room makes a special feature

old-manor-house-portugal copy — The new living room in the upstair apartment

As we said, it is not fully finished, the wood work needs some extra work. But we are nearly there.

If you feel tempted to try a renovation yourself, there are lots of properties in Portugal that require renovation and are still very competitively priced.

If you are on a viewing trip or considering buying or just holidaying in Portugal, take a look at Portugalholidays4u.com for the perfect holiday accommodation