My Barn Conversion

A review at the start of 2012 of my use of Christopher Alexanders design patterns at the barn.

Continued from Part 1 & Part 2… With the main structure safe and solid it was time to add some finishing touches. I’d wanted the bed to have it’s own lighting so went for LED strip lights from the ‘large blue Swedish chain store’. Two packs of four lights for a total of eight providedContinue reading Cabin bed build ~ part 3, finishing touches

I must apologise if you’ve emailed me over the last few months. I know of a least one email (asking for some proper vital statistics related to the barn), that has disappeared down the drain hole of my spam filter. Communications with blog readers has become ever more difficult – the commercialisation of the AkismetContinue reading Apologies to anyone who may have emailed me…

Continued from Part 1… I was lucky when it came to fitting the cupboard doors under the bed as I’d sized the frame and the doors to fit and for once the plans and reality closely resembled one-another. With hinges fixed to the doors, they quickly and relatively easily screwed onto the frame. I thenContinue reading Cabin bed build ~ part 2

Update on building progress during July 2011…

I’m really rubbish at self promotion and promotion of this blog… one thread of evidence to that statement is that I’ve been on Twitter for a couple of years now, but have neglected to mention it here. I have stuck a Twitter link up on the header but never provided any explanation, so to putContinue reading Twitter @barnconversion

I don’t really talk about project management on this blog. I prefer to focus on my fumbling attempts at labouring, carpentry, landscape gardening and so on. But having decided against an architect and / or project manager way back at the start of converting the barn I’ve taken on the project management (above and beyondContinue reading Planning and control tools – Remember the milk

On the Vitsoe website is a list of ‘ten principles of good design’, that are as good a list of design principles as I’ve found.

Christmas affords me sometime to be able to read, eat and drink. Cookery books allow all three, albeit two of them in the abstract unless augmented. Rick Stein is a favourite and I loved this quote from his latest book ‘Spain’. It conveys a sense of home and belonging that most of us seek. TowardsContinue reading The people belong to the house