Firstly one has to make a decision where one goes with these type of refurbish projects: -
Are you going to “fully restore”? Are you going to modernise? Or are you going to fix it for your own use.... Kinda, that’s the three options one has.
With this project, unfortunately, the two top doors, have been damaged, (the panelite has been damaged), and the chances of me getting matching doors / pattern are slim to none, so restoring to original is pretty much out of the question.
Also, with a “fully restore” objective, one has to de-construct and re-build from scratch, fixing all the things along the way..
So taking into consideration that
(1) My skills are not that great and
(2) the damage to the doors, “fully restoring” would be just about imposable,
(3) Judging by the way it was constructed, It's not an upmarket piece, So, again, why go to all the effort of "fully restore" ? to I’m going the option of just refurbishing it for my own use..
Having made THAT decision, I’ve tackled it and I’ve finished scrubbing the unit out... Gosh was it in a toestand! Sugar-soap and Scotch-brite was all that seemed to work....
SURPRISE! We can’t get Vim! None to be had! Anywhere... Checkers / P&P / the Greek corner shop.... NOTHING!! Wonder what’s going on there??
Another big problem was that the bottom floor panel was “bulged” (I got it like that) probably the unit got wet and was not attended to.....
So I had a look and it seemed to be the masonite bottom, so I took a deep breath and cut it out with an angle grinder, and using hammer and chisel, took the whole masonite bottom out.
Underneath are pine planks and one short plank was thick at one end, so I used a flappy-disc on the grinder and blended it to the rest, then filled with wood filler.
So that was a win.
Then the two top damaged doors I’ve filled the holes with fibreglass, and I’ll sand that down flush with the surface, The idea is to paint and decorate them nicely using a strip of stick-on vinal that’s got a nice pattern.
But the jury is still out on the two top doors, here are my options: -
(1) Leave them off completely,
(2) Fix the damage, paint just the 2 doors and leave the others as is,
(3) Paint all the doors to match.
what would you chaps do?
I’ve kind of figured the history of the cupboard, basing it on candle burn marks under the upper lip...
It comes from JHB South, as I got it at the rubbish dump there, so I think it was originally in the kitchen of one of the older Semi-detached houses, then it got moved to the servant’s quarters and left the for a long time, (that’s where it got the damage & candle burns) Then I assume the servant’s quarters was upgraded and the unit chucked out.
Fiberglass repair
Prepped for fiberglassing
The short plank that was thick on the R side causing bulging of the masonite bottom (which was waterlogged anyway)
FINALLY WASHED & PREPPED FOR PAINTING
The bottom door: - The hinge on one side pulled out of the frame, so I'll drill the screw holes out, glue a piece of dowel into the drilled out hole then re-drill for the screw holes.
The blue open door: - The hinges are loose on the door side, which is the panelite, and I can't fix that, so I'm planning on using pop-rivitts on all the hinges to keep it looking all the same. If the rivit fouls the frame, I might have to peen the rivit flat on the inside I'll see.....
The 4 panes of glass for the centre: - there are 2 for the top and 2 for the middle. Gottem, but I don't need anything, they slide lekker, so that's that.
Handles: - only got 3 original handles, so I'm going to make handles from pieces of 50 - 70 gumpole, cut to about 100mm long & screw them on from the inside, I'm not keen on fancy type handles and the gumpole ones will carry through the "theme" I'm following on refurbishing my whole cottage.
Hi J actually part of a much bigger project
I think I may have posted that I'm busy completely renovating my cottage, this come after 7 years of not actually knowing which direction to go, and as I'm living in the cottage, how to do it.
Do I move out and pay rent?....... Does not make sense...
I've mumbled about putting up a big tent in the yard and moving into that... Anyhow, I've finally got "rigting" and have tackled the project full on, nogal with me living in the space.
During the lockdown, I spent the whole time at my cottage in Brits, And I came to the realisation that I'm really content & at peace there, especially with the way it's built, IE Wooden structure, Gum poles and just rustic and basic....
That gave me direction with my place in JHB, and I'm running with that. Rustic, planking & gumpole as the main theme..
Fortunately I'm not one for moving things around in my space.... Once it's there I leave it be... Also, I really, really don't want a big space to live in... Been there, done that.... I'm so content with smaller spaces, I've even given up the notion of utilising the room that's attached to my space.
Don't want it... It can stay a store-room...
So, I've done my sleep area, built a walk in wardrobe, sorted out my sitting area (where I love to listen to classic music) & desk - come- eating plac,
Now I'm busy with my kitchen area - And so, I bring this post full circle to my kitchen unit.
After that it's my bathroom....
Here is a picture of my sitting area...
That ship..... As a young boy, I was an avid reader... I consumed anything I cold get my hand on... Hardy boys / Jock of the Bushveldt / Lord of the rings / how & why magazines / Bollie (the blue bunny? .. yes that too.... Nancy drew / famous five / Enid Blyton... Simply everything.
In that mix, I was absolutely bessoted with the story of "The mutiny on the Bounty, and the three related stories that happened...
That ship is a scale model of the Bounty, and is memories of a much happier time when I was a young boy.... It's one of very few happy links I have.
The same goes for the banana rocking chair.....At toddler age, the pride and joy of my mother's loung was 4 of those rocking chair, and one of my daily chores was to wipe the dust off the legs...
Those were happy times.....
So the thing I have give me great comfort...
Anyhow, here is a pic of my efforts... thus far
That reflects your…
That reflects your personality perfectly Warren, and your Cottage is exactly what I expected it to be. All items are unique, love the crochet piece on the chair.
Thanks Neef....
BTW it's called an antimacassa...
It's purpose is to keep the material of chairs & couches clean...
hehehe nooooo, crothering is not one of my "things", and they are as scarce as hen's teeth, so when I see them at charity shops I buy... I'd hate to think what they cost new....
U het me bemoedig om nog n paar photo's te plaas dankie...
Don't people want to do business or what?
So back to this project...
It's time to re-start this, so I'll get stuck in this weekend, I've been doing "how I'm gonna do this" planning each evening since Monday, and have a good plan come Saturday & Sunday.
But here is the thing: - Over the last 7 or so years, I've been hoarding anything and everything that I thought I might use. Now that I have direction and am well into the project, I want to start getting shot of stuff that I won't be using.
Now I really want to support the small guy....
Do you know, I've approached 2 different places, both newly started up selling junk from their yards to come to the house & look if they are interested, even to "take on consignment" IE make a list of a load, agree on a price for the load - take - sell - then pay me the agreed amount so that cash-flow blah blah blah....
Nothing... not even a call....
My neighbour had a plummer.... alled him over to quote to move my geyser, and move my washbasin a bit..... Came over gave me a quote Guarranteed hew would call............. ZIP.... Nothing.....
What the heck? 
Anyhow Neef, my cottage is a mess right now, I've got tools & scroefies & all sorts of stuff in boxes / packets and milk crates all over the place from where I left off when I got sick, and I'm living in the mess as well but I'll keep to promise & post pics as it get's sorted....
The retro kitchen units painted & moved in but is still unfinished (Thank you C19) but I have to leave that for now & finish up my "cook-nook" so that I can move stuff off the unit and carry on....
It's a pain, but at the end of the day 1000% cheaper than moving out, paying rent for a flat and doing the refreshing... So..... That's life..... Live in a mess for a while....
BTW Neef & Sarel.... I've made shelving for part of my collection of small camp cookers & stoves.... Both that Optimus R8 you gave me and the Trangia Sarel gave me are the star of the display....
They are so precious to me, I'm not going to use them...
many thanks to you & Sarel promise to do photo's
Gaan groot Warren
Ek sien jou hande staan vir niks verkeert nie Warren geniet die houtwerk
No camping? no problem! renovating my sticks and bricks
<Sticks and bricks> American slang for house / fixed dwelling>
So just to refresh: - Fixing up my cottage has been a 7 year journey, that went wrong from the start and has been wobbling along for the 7 years, and only got direction after, and because of lockdown.
Since then, this adventure <including my month long adventure with COVED19> and has really come a very long way, including comming to the realisation that I actually don't want the big room that's connected - happy with a smaller space, much like a very big camp-out rustic cabin, and that's exactly what I've been aiming for.
It's been quite a challenging adventure, With time limited to <mostly> only Sunday and a few Sat. afternoons, and having to live in the space while renovating, has ment that a some things have had to remain "not quite finished" until I can get back to them.
So far I've mostly done: - These are just "fun" names in my "remember" list....
AREA 51 - where I sleep
LOST & FOUND - My walk in wardrobe, which surprised the hell out of me because I can actuallget dressed there....
KOS-KAS - My antique kitchen unit
THE OFFICE: - Willem Brits will understand this one.... In Brits there is a roadside bar called The office.... They do a passable burger, but it's a play on "where are you off to?"- the office.... NE!
OK so it's my office & dining table <phoo already done>
THE COOK-NOOK - a kitchenette <Going to put my 12v camping freezer, deep cycle & trickle charger so if eishkom.....
And now I'm starting on WISHY-WASHY..... My bathroom.....
I've also contracted someone to take away all the freebie "just incase I'll need it" stuff I collected during the last 7 years, so the 3 huge heap's are, week by week, getting a bit smaller as well.
NICE!
So finally I'm preparing to do the bathroom, and this week the geyser get's moved out of the bathroom, the hand basin's getting moved sideways which will give me space to fit a bath.
But wait & see HOW I fit a bath in a tiny space.....
In keeping with my theme, I'm using raw pallet planks & gumpoles on one of the walls, but am also going to put corrugated roofsheeting on the wall on the other side...
Quite chuffed. That blooming geyser's been a thorn in my side for 7 years....
My Motto: - Whatever you do in life, have fun with it....
Well Warren, sre you going…
Well Warren, sre you going to surprise us with a standing up (really) bath😂
But wait & see HOW I fit a bath in a tiny space.....
Pulling your leg👍
Laat loop Warren
Gaan groot met jou projekte ou Warren ja dis lekke om te sien as jy klaar is dis jou eie hande werk
Well Warren, sre you going… …
Well Warren, sre you going…
Well Warren, sre you going to surprise us with a standing up (really) bath😂
But wait & see HOW I fit a bath in a tiny space.....
Hi Johann
Agga nee man, you stole my thunder!
PRESIES !
I only want to use the bath now & again, 99 % I shower. So I'm going to hinge the head side of the bath on the back wall of the shower, and drop it down to rest on the ledge in the front of the shower.... The shower is well big enough both length & breadth to accomodate a "upright bath"
Hehehehehehehe..... Iet's nuuts ne!
Warren, it's because I know…
Warren, it's because I know you as one who will invent some practical way of doing things.😀
Tiny space living....Got this far
It's darn tricky living in a space that you are trying to fix up, one you have to shure that when you run out of time, you have got to a point where you have done enough that everything you took out of a particular space can go back in, so the you can "live" for another week, so better your "individual job-targets" are smaller than too big, or you wil be left in a mess.
I had planned to do a lot in my bathroom, but the blooming plummer could not get the geyser off the wall. I see his problem, there is a hell of a lot of expanding foam that, for some reason has been put in between the geyser and the wall which has to be dug out, and he is fully booked until Saturday...
So he temprorarly moved my basin <needed to be moved for my bath> and will get back on Saturday, which stuffs up my "going camping plans"... but that's how these things go...
So what I'm doing is doing something to a usable point, leaving off, and will come back to it second time round.
Part of this project is to be able to carry on without muncipal services, they have become so erratic and unpredictable that it's impossable to know what the heck you are comming home to every day.
MOSTLY.... <not always> it's for 24H that we either don't have water or electricity, so my target is backup for 24H
To this end, I've arranged to have 25L of water on tap in my kitchenette, Coupled my Waco compressor fridge & freezer to both 12V & 22oac so that I dont loose my stuff again.
I've also refurbished a 2 plate gas stove stove cabinet so that I can cook & heat on gas... Took me the best part of a Saturday afternoon to completely strip it & get to the jets which were completely blocked. Anyhow, Still got to paint it But is works just fine.
I've also bought a couple of those re-chargable globes and will put them up, and, once I get inot my batroom I'll set up a camping style submersable pump & collapsing bucket...
So, that's water / cooking & heating / refridgeration / and bathing sorted.... Toilet is a bucket & swimming pool
THE PLAN
The goal with this refresh, is to go completely rustic, I don't want it to look like a house, it must have the feel of a "kothuis" and I have got this far with my little kitchen, which is only there for the odd meal, breakfast, coffee & snacks....
Think it's a bit over the top for that but no-matter...
Overview
That "box"on the top is a very old Pepsi crate that's going to become my spice rack, after I've gone over it with Wooddock...
Overview
I've been collecting stuff for for years, and one of those "things" is that gorgous little Fuchs 2 plate stove & oven.
The "counter" is an imboya dining-room table, that I've put 2 800mm x800mm floor tiles on the top... Loose so that I don't bugger up the bloody nice table...
My 25L water container with a tap is behind the stove & oven, just move the stove out of the way and slide it forward so that the tap is over the edge of the counter
Bar fridge & 12V waco fridge - freezer under the counter.
Behind the freezer, is a 100A deep cycle battery and a charger, so that if Eishkom stopps, the freezer will automatically switch over to 12v
How I access the freezer or remove it if I want to use it in th Landy. A trolly that I found at the flea-market that's exactly the same size as the freezer.
Coffee & breakfast station on my gas stove cabinet...
All of the "stuff"on the top I just put on the counter to access the 2 burner stove under the wood top. Off the side is a drop down counter for extra counter space if I need it
Off the side is a drop down counter for extra counter space if I need it.. Soos julle kan sien, dis al donker en ek werk nog....
Here it is working....
MICRO & SMALL cooker display
On the other side I ran 2 shelves for my collection of hiking / micro - camping cookers. and thereis the Optimus-R8 The Neef so very kindly sent me... That's one of the three jewls in my collection... The other 2 are the Trangia that Sarel also very kindle let me have, and a brand new Globetrotter with 2 unused 90g cannisters, which are now unobtainable... (julle ou toppies sal ken van)
but more about this collection at a future date...
Môre Warren. Is die jou…
Môre Warren. Is die jou naweekhuis kombuis? Mense maar dit is propvol, en baie interesant.
More Neef Nee, hierdie is…
More Neef
Nee, hierdie is my “kothuisie – kombuis ” by my huis in Johannesburg.....
Now you know why...
When my son asks me "are you alright"... I get terribly nervous....
They do most of the cooking.... 
The truth of the matter is I have enouth "stuff" from the knives and forks in the draw to the lounge suites....that I've accumulated over the years to have fully furnished the house, my weekend home, my cottage at the house and still have a store-room full
This is kinda how it is.... How the hell did I manage to land up with not one, not two but three dishwashing machines ? HUH?
Stupid goed.....Kant gordyne.... You have no idea how many curtains I have.... It ludecrous
Comes from all that way back since I was around 20.....
Hate to have to do an inventory.....
Its a collection of "stuff" spanning 2 flats / 3 houses <my house in Emmarentia was bough "lock stock and barrel"> / 1 park home / and this house....
I've been on the fence for the last 7 years about my cottage at the house, what am I going to do with it? Where am I going to stay if I do a complete modernisation re-furbish and on and on...
During that time I collected anything & everything that I could lay my hands on "just in-case I'm going to need it"... from toilet seats & toilets to washing lines...
I fitted a really fancy toilet seat last night that came out of the wood-work in my store-room...
So now I can chuck the other 4 or 5 I've got....
But now that I've got direction I have a pretty good idea of what I'm not going to keep and I'm helpig two..... rather simple but very nice Africaans father & son <son is 32 & has 2 kids>, retrenched from the "security-industry" and are trying to get something going by selling "stuff" from their yard in Alberton...... They have already shipped 4 bakkie loads. Kinda prices I'm charging are R10 - 20 and only a few thing for R50 and the dumb-stuff for free....
So yes, I'm trimming down......... and fast...
EXCEPT........ That Microwave in the pic? brand new as of yesterday, The one it's replacing doesn't turn..... Works but won't do the roundy-roundy thing.... For R700 bucks? I aint fixing', they can have it for R20.......
Took me 7 years to dig my hole...... The target is to fill it in by December....
It's also known as "hoarding"
It's also known as "hoarding"
You won't have a problem with mice, no space for them
Rats & mice? Not with Scruffy around....
Our house is on a slope, below the house behind. By law, we have to take their water run of.
Some previous owner built a swimming pool at the back. To stop the water run-off going into the pool, they dug a diversion trench, put in a pipe and closed the trench.
The end of the pipe is right next to the door of my tiny-house.
I’ve never seen any water coming through there in 7 years, but non-the-less mice & rats “think” it’s a handy way of moving around....
Hehehe Scruffy soon found this out, and it seems she can hear them coming... She stands just above the end of the pipe, ears cocked looking at the end of the pipe, and a soon as missus-mouse appears
SNAP! And another one bites the dust...
I don’t think hoarding J, I’m happy to let stuff go... For example, The plumber replaced my basin with a bigger one, with Cobra taps that I got at the rubbish dump for ... Probably R20 absolutely nothing wrong with it!
Knowing that in all likely-hood I would replace my basin I grabbed it..... Been lying around for a hell of a long time, got put in on Friday...
So too with shower doors / a toilet / toilet cisterns / flexible waste pipe connectors / and on an on.... 7 years is a long time to collect “what you think you’re going to use”....
Remember, originally I was to incorporate the big room built onto the side as well, and originally had plans of building a complete new bathroom... Since then my Ideas have come in line with my needs but up to this point, I actually did not have a clue of what I was going to do..
So now I'm letting that lot go at about what I paid for it..... The rest of the "good stuff" I'll move through facebook marketplace... And a fair lot I'm planning on donating to "onse Winkle, a Solideriteit welfare charity that supports destitute Africkaans people....
Seems like that's a worthwhile charity...... My community....
Of hoe se jy?
Kombuis bietjie in-gewey vanmore
So I actually used my new kitchen this morning, and cooked up some breakfast using my new microwave...
2 microwaved "fried" eggs on toast, with margerene then salt & pepper on the toast & a mug of tea.... <not supposed to have coffee........ suiker probleem>.
Got my microwave settings almost right, eggs just needed another 30 seconds, now I know.
So the set-up workswell for me..... Nogal "efficient" alles bydehand.
So I'm <mostly> not totally reliant on eishkom and city water....
It happened again on Monday night... Boom! no power..... No warning, no schedule, just switched off..... 
....Came back on again about an hour later, but it's bloody frustrating & worrying, especially for the food in the fridge & freezer, you never know if it's a quick outage or "do you schlep everything across town to "ouma"......
PHOCKIT !
Refridgeration: - My 50L Waeco camping freezer is connected to my 100A deep cycle and a trickle charger, working 110 %
Cooking & heating: - 2 plate gas burner - kassie, and cookstuff for gas.... Really glad to have fixed that
Water: - I have 25L of water with a tap on hand & 50L backup in the store-room,
Toilet: - A bucket and water from the swimming pool - here is a trick, fill the cistern. Pouring the water intot he toilet, it does not "swirl" properly and wash everything down
Lighting: - Bought 2 LED re-chargable globes, just need to make a "jimple" charging point, don't want to be changing lightbulbs....
Shower and wash: - This is next. going to get one of those 12v submersable pumps & shower kits from Outdoor warehouse, my spare big kettle which is at my retreat, I've already laid out the cable from my 12V deep cycle to the top of my shower & got a bucket.
SIDAAR! lockdown se dingis! Camping in the middle of the city!
Nice job so far Warren,…
Nice job so far Warren, looking forward to the end product.