Kitchen refurb - phase 1

Our house has undergone some transformations in its 100-year history, and in common with many houses of the period one of the most popular was the amalgamation of the original (tiny!) scullery kitchen with the morning room to make a single large kitchen space.

The previous occupiers had also added patio doors at the far end, leaving the original scullery door on the side of the house intact. As you can see, this greatly reduces the usability of the space especially if, like us, you never use the side entrance. Phase 1 of our kitchen refurb (and selected not just because it is the simplest and easiest first step, but also because it's the cheapest) is therefore to brick up this unused door and take the opportunity also to replace the original window with a warmer and less draughty double-glazed unit.

Outside, the step will be removed and the bricks matched as closely to the original as possible. Our builder already told us he'd been unable to find enough reclaimed brick for the job, so they won't be a very good colour match to start with, but at least they're the same type, so over time they will gradually acquire the same hue, and apart from that they're the correct style and size, so we're OK from a building regs/aesthetic point of view.

The plan is to brick up the outer skin first before the door is removed, so the house will remain secure at all times, and work starts tomorrow! Yay!

We've already prepped the inside as far as possible - removing everything from the vicinity of the door, knick-knacks from the sill, and other kitcheny type things. It's amazing how bare the kitchen looks with just these few things moved away (and how much bigger!). Gives us an early idea how much more usable space there will be when the cooker is eventually moved and the whole corner is installed with cupboards and worktop. Luxury!