Brynteg (as seen in the sales advert) 
The lounge 
The kitchen/diner taken from the kitchen 
The kitchen/diner taken from the dining room 
The utility room 
The bathroom 
The downstairs bedroom 
The upstairs bedroom 
The main bedroom 
The side of Brynteg & Annexe front 
The Annexe 
The Annexe bathroom 
The Annexe living room 
The Annexe bedroom 
Brynteg from the road 
The front garden from the driveway 
The back garden from the entrance 
The back garden from the bottom looking towards the cottage. 
The back garden near the sheds 
The back garden view from what will become the Summer House
In May 2017, Mark and I embarked on a new adventure by purchasing Brynteg. The sale was finalized in August, and with the keys in hand, our renovation journey began. The first focus between August and September was on tidying up the field at the back of the cottage. By the end of September, we had started removing plaster from the internal walls. We began with the demolition of the kitchen.
The demolition of the kitchen units.
October saw us clearing the utility room and removing the old oil boiler that was beyond repair. We demolished the redundant chimney above the dining room in November to prepare for the new roof. As December brought poor weather conditions, we shifted our efforts indoors. We continued to remove plaster from the internal walls. We accumulated rubbish in the lounge. This included an old electric fire, plaster, a fridge, and a boiler.
The first major work done to the cottage was repairing the roof.
By February 2019, we had stripped all the plaster from the cottage’s internal walls. In April, we hired a stonemason who worked on the upstairs joining wall for about two weeks before inexplicably stopping. He left his materials and tools behind, neither charging us nor returning. Instead of hiring another stonemason, we decided to point the walls ourselves.
June 2019 was a productive month. We converted a window in the black shed into double doors for the ride-on mower. We began renovating the annexe so we could live in it while the cottage was renovated. We moved the shower plumbing from the annexe to the caravan. By November, the annexe’s living area window was transformed into patio doors. We also installed a new front door. December saw the installation of new water supply and waste pipes. Supply pipes for the underfloor heating were also installed throughout the cottage and annexe. For more information on the annexe renovations, click here.
The beginning of 2020 was marked by digging the cottage floor 50 cm deep to install underfloor heating. We found a collection of beer bottles. There was also a glass jar from when the extension was originally built. In August, we returned to Anglesey after being away due to the COVID-19 lockdown. We tidied the garden, which had grown over four months. The underfloor heating was installed in October, and the first phase of electrics in the annexe was completed. The annexe also received a new roof.
Throughout 2021, we focused on getting the annexe ready for living. This included installing insulation and plasterboards on the internal walls. We also tiled the floor and carpeted the bedroom. Additionally, the kitchen and bathroom were installed. We painted the walls and furnished the space. Sadly, just as we moved into the annexe in November, we lost both of our beloved dogs. They passed away 10 days apart. One died from a seizure, and the other from a broken heart and kidney failure.
Our renovation journey at Brynteg has been a blend of hard work, unexpected discoveries, and heartfelt moments. As we continue to restore and transform our home, we hold onto the memories of our loyal companions. We also savour the satisfaction of each completed milestone.
