Nice one Cyril. Impressive.
I've found that if you show the trades you're willing and able , decent folk help you out..
In our last place we didn't have a kitchen&lounge for 6 months. 
The "new" one is unlikely to be finished until I win the lotto. 
fwiw , I also believe the warm air convection created by a radiator under a window works fine - blinds though , rad. not covered.