The Promise of the Party Hall

I love a good hall. They're the first thing to greet you every time you come home. The last thing you see when you leave. It's where the 'last-minute check-because-I-think-I-brushed-my-hair-but-I-can't-be-sure' mirror hangs before you step out into the world. It's where the copious and ever increasing piles of 'stuff' lives.

I mean, just a quick spot check of my hall reveals coats; (enough to clothe a small third world country) shoes; (as before) abandoned school paraphernalia, numerous dog leads; abandoned and muddy dog coats; slippers (never matching pairs) ; and an inexplicable number of empty cheese string wrappers (yes I'm the kind of slummy mummy who lets her kids eat that rubbish, but they love them so x)

So anyways, despite the dubious state of Hunningtons I was impressed by the hall straight away. I remember thinking 'Oooooh - this could BE something!' It's a large space with pannelled walls and a beamed ceiling. Light comes in through an East facing bay window and a gorgeous stained glass window on the south wall.

I immediately imagined the parties we would host here. I pictured disco balls and a cool bar trolley like this one. I pictured the grand piano and house concerts happening where cool up-and-coming artists would play; and where all our witty friends (when we found some) would hang their coats and sashay into the dining room. I imagined floating down the staircase in ball gowns and sequins or tap dancing down the treads in the style of Fred and Ginger. (Not that I can tap dance, but still. Not the point.)

Yes - this was a Hall where dreams came true and perfect lives were lived out.

But to reach these heady heights of glamour, first there was a LOT of work to do. As the house had been divided into flats there were several partition walls that needed to be taken out so we could reveal the original hall in all its glory. Cue the photos:

The partition wall on the right needed to GO

See how the partition wall cut right through the panelling? And let's not even talk about the electrics. Oh boy!

Here's the same wall from the other side. So weird!

Here's a few more pics for you, so you get the gist. Cold colours, weird walls, but potential potential potential!

Anyway, here comes the 'fun' bit. Demolition!

And the hallway is starting to appear....

Some walls down, one left to go...

And then the walls came tumbling down...

And the light flooded in...

So tra la la. The bones of the hall are exposed once more. I'm not dusting off any ball gowns yet, (and believe me, there's a LOT of dust!) but hopefully it won't be too long till there's sashaying, music and merriment in this space.

But no cheese string wrappers.

I'll keep ya posted x