Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Retrojan Love



I'm absolutely in love with the furniture on this website and they haven't even launched yet!! Go check out Retrojan's Pinterest page  - awesome retro and vintage furniture. I can't wait until they launch their online shop (I think it's going to be an online shop). I'd love this chair for the reading nook at the top of the stairs. I love the colour and shape.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Signed. Sealed. Delivered!


Finalised and signed off on the contract and variations with the builder tonight. Nervous and super excited all at the same time. It's been such a long, long journey, it almost doesn't seem real.

There was so much documentation, but I went through it with a fine tooth comb and stuck sticky notes ALL over it with questions and clarifications for the builder. He's very patient with me.

Demolition is scheduled in the next few weeks and building shortly after.

I find myself getting excited at random times about little things, like having coffee in the morning around the breakfast bar or having my family from up north stay in the guest room for Christmas. A few events have already been booked in - baby showers, movie nights.

Very excited!!

Monday, July 16, 2012

Exterior Paint

Original image courtesy of Adenbrook Homes

This is very similar to how the house will look. I've scribbled out the bit on the right as it's a narrow lot home.

I love how the timber looks on the window and door frames, but alas I will be having aluminium windows.

I don't know what colours to paint the house. I would like a clean and fresh white, but I'm not sure whether it will be a bit too stark and stand out like a beacon, and perhaps I should consider a darker trim for a bit of a contrast?

Only the pillars on the garage will be render, the top part of the house will be timber weatherboards. I've also considered perhaps a light grey main, with white trim.

Thoughts?

Friday, July 13, 2012

Demolition Update


Since the flood I've just come to expect delays and obstacles. Nothing has really gone to plan, even though it gets there eventually. So this week has been a really pleasant surprise.

The builder's pole was installed within 2 days and the demolition application processed and approved in 3 days. There was a chance that Energex would also want an extra 2 weeks to set up traffic control control, but today they rang to say it wasn't necessary and the electricity line would be disconnected and tied to the builder's pole by 19th July.

It's not that everything was done quickly, it was that everything was done when it said it would be done. Definitely gives me some faith for the rest of the build.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Demolition Angst

Hmmmm...the high of bargaining my demolition down has worn off when you realise how much you have to organise. I understand now why builders charge a flat $20K to do a demolition when they probably get it for $12K. There's so much running around they probably only end up coming out even if they took into account their time.

For the demolition itself you need to have demolition approval. It's not really something you can do yourself, so I've engaged an external building certifying company that can do the certification and the approval. I don't really know how that works (self-certification??), but they were recommended by my Town Planner and I did compare pricing and they were competitive.

But then you also have to organise sewer disconnection and power disconnection. With the power I thought it was just about ringing Origin and disconnecting the power, but you have to arrange for the line to be physically moved to a temporary builder's pole. Of course it's never that simple, one company does the builder's pole (installation, rent and removal costs) and Energex has to do the physical line removal. AND, if you're on a slightly busier road like I am, they need traffic control so it takes EVEN longer to organise!! Argh. More delays.

The thing I found the WEIRDEST was that companies that do temporary power poles seem to also do temporary toilet hire. Bizarre. I didn't really want a "Hire a Dunny" sign on my property for the next 6 months. So I've chosen a company with a more discreet name. It's $80 more expensive over the 6 months, but I'm not worries. Note for companies - name does matter!

The sewer disconnection I'm still struggling with. The plumber told me I had to put forms in, so I went to Council and they told me the plumber had to put the forms in. I still have yet to get to the bottom of it.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Pendant Lamp in the Bathroom


I've been thinking about a pendant lamp for the main bathroom. I've seen chandeliers in bathrooms before, but that would be a bit too much. I like this one though. It's sweet, not too much. It's just from Ikea. I was thinking over the freestanding bath, over one ends. Thoughts?

Friday, July 6, 2012

Drainage Plan


I had to order a drainage plan from the Council to submit to the certifier approving the demolition. I thought it would just be a case of applying online, I thought everything was online these days?

The Call Centre put me through to the plumbing department who sent me a scan (??) of their credit card form, which I had to fax back. The middle 8 numbers of the credit card section was blacked out for security reasons, and they said they would call me to get the numbers.

Firstly, I can't believe they didn't have the form online to at least download, to save them scanning/faxing/emailing it. Secondly, I can't believe they didn't have online ordering or payment facilities. Thirdly, I had to REQUEST to have it sent back on email - they wanted to fax it. I don't have a fax machine...does anyone these days?

Anyway, they said it would take half and hour to an hour and when it came back I realised it was because they literally had to go and get it and scan it!


OMG and this is what it looked like!! So...simple? I was hand drawn and dated in 1968! There's no reference to neighbours, measurements, anything. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I thought it might be a little more complex than this.

Bathroom Love


I'm so in love with this bathroom! These are actually timber look tiles from Crosby Tiles in Perth.  I think it looks amazing, especially the tiles on the walls. I want to do something similar.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

The Original Mood Board (Before Pinterest)


I had to file some papers away today and I came across my original mood board. Well, folder more like it. I started this when the flood first happened and since then I've started Pinterest to journal all the things I would love in the new house, so this has been a little neglected.

There's something nice about a tangible folder like this, something you can flick through, put pages in, separate into folders, it's very tactile.

I have a massive pile of Home Beautiful, Real Living, House & Garden and Vogue Living to go through and fill up my folder with. Maybe something to do this weekend.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Bathroom Tapware and Basins

I've started doing all my research for the fittings and fixtures now that I have a budget. I've chosen the basin and tapware for the bathroom vanities.


I love this combination. It's the Caroma Leda Vasque Inset Basin with the Caroma Liano Bath Mixer with Straight Outlet. The basin retails for $299 but I can get it for $236 and the mixer is RRP $552 and I can get it for $315.

I'm getting all the bathroom and kitchen fittings from Caroma, which I think is a good brand and thanks to the Decorating Forum, I know they have to be WELS rated or they won't be covered by insurance if they flood. (Hmmm....flood....). I had been looking on the internet on eBay and Graysonline, and although this might be very slightly more expensive, I'd rather pay the extra for peace of mind. It's still within my budget.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

The Facade


This is the facade that the house is based on. There's a few minor changes - there will be a about a 4 step staircase up to the front door because of flood requirements. And there won't be a hip on the portico roof, it'll be flat.

I haven't thought about colours yet, but I actually like the ones that are here. I was thinking of more Hamptons style, but I'm worried all white might look a bit stark?

I'm also not sure whether we'll be able to have the wire balustrading on the front balcony, apparently there has been a change in regulations, so we're waiting to hear back on whether it will still be within code.


I've also added some storage in the garage and the top floor front facade will now be timber instead of render.

Originally, the Council wanted me to raise the garage to 1.6metres above natural ground level...which is ridiculous. Luckily we have come to a more reasonable alternative. There will still need to be some fill put in, but I won't have to put a lift in to get the car into the garage now ;-).