The removalists arrived yesterday morning at 9am ... and carried out all the big pieces of furniture to the garage. It only took them 20 minutes, but something I couldn't do by myself! They were even nice and didn't charge me the minimum 4 hours I was told I would have to pay, they just charged me for the time they travelled and carried.
Note to self: move furniture more often ... what was behind it was sooooo revolting!! Under the fridge was seriously disgusting ... mice had obviously lived there quite a bit (safe from the cats)!!!! The rest was just icky dust. And it became more obvious why the house is cold ... I can see outside from between the floors and the walls ... brrr!! Will be so nice once it is fixed up and less airy.
On Tuesday I went down to the Grays Home Renovator Auctions ... didn't really buy anything, but found it fascinating. I've really wanted a fancy new fridge to go in the fancy new kitchen ... but could't justify one as the ones I want are expensive (ice maker maybe?!) and my current fridge works perfectly fine. Down there .. a massive Maytag fridge went for $900 .. new price would be around $5,000! So maybe a new fridge could be closer than I thought.
I managed to nearly complete all I'd planned for packing up by dark ... the builder had come through earlier in the day and said I didn't need to be out of the kitchen until after the weekend ... so I'll leave that pleasant task until then. Though the fridge is now living in the study (my new little kitchen/living/dining/ everything combined). Bit weird to get my breakfast by cereal in the kitchen then milk from the study.
I really wanted the place nice and quiet by the time I brought the cats back from the stables ... it is traumatic enough for them without me bustling around and acting stressed. By dark the floors were semicleaned, mess was moved away (I have a car load to go to the tip - it wasn't open yesterday). Little cats came into the house ... wandered around crying ... their favourite spots in the window gone, furniture in the wrong rooms ... nothing the way it was. Amazing how well they settle once you put them in front of a heater though!!
Today is the day I want to finalise the order for the ensuite fittings ... will probably order the showerhead from somewhere else as they couldn't match the price I'd found.
Builder was also having a whinge about the delay caused by the architect ... they are waiting on the septic permit which should have been done weeks ago. He also desperately needs that ensuite window. I finally got hold of the architect in the afternoon ... took three attempts to get the window in the right place (I'm not great with my left and right ... but I'm not the one making the mistakes!). I still haven't seen the finalised plan ... there was one more move involved! The vanity is bigger than I thought ... but I think I'll be grateful for the storage space.
The laundry hasn't come off yet ... Monday is now the new smash and crash day. I hope they set up my washing machine before then ... but it looks like I should play washer-woman on the weekend and wash anything I can find, in case there is a delay until they fit it in the other shed.
House is very echoey and odd with no furniture.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Weekend update
Two posts today - because I've been so busy I haven't had a chance to update the blog!!
What a weekend! It is amazing what you can do living on a block of chocolate and a pack of jaffa cakes!! The house is nneeeaarrrllly completely packed. Just those final small things that just don't seem to belong in any particular box.
I went to finally pull down the doors on the garage late on Saturday, after moving out lots of things, only to find that the doors did NOT stay down. Good to know they lift easily, but staying down is slight important too. I knew they hadn't installed the remote systems (because there is no electricity there yet) but I had assumed that they had made the closeable. Nope!
I rang the builder and he suggested weighting down the doors .... which was a good idea in theory ... quite difficult when you've got on one to help you. That dog of mine ... I excuse the puppy because she is young, but the older one ... you'd think he should have just been able to hold the door whilst I pushed blocks into place!! After a couple of attempts I finally got it standing on a step ladder to pull the door down, then holding onto the ridges (no handles) whilst moving bricks on to the bottom with my foot.
Much as packing up is exhausting, it is full of surprises and memories. I found lots of things that made me laugh, some that made me dance around the house being silly and then there are the sad memories of people past. It all has to go in the box or the bin. I'm hoping the recycle bin truck is REALLY strong this week ... I threw out tonnes of magazines and they are so heavy!
The builder stopped by on Saturday and we went through a couple of things ... I'd been sticky beaking at the frames out on the lawn ... I've got the wall to the kitchen and so much more. Very interesting to see how it will pan out in actual size ... laying flat on the ground they all look so short, but I took my measuring tape out, and they are fine. I was trying to work out the length of my kitchen bench (it's gonna be huge!) but part of that wall was missing - after having a bit of a heart attack at thinking it was over a metre less than I thought! I also measured up the height of the kitchen window - to find that if I have my kitchen bench at 900, plus a 100 splashback for the bench, then ... the window was going to be in the wrong place. Builder was happy to change it - it is a great thing about being here as it builds, better to pick up a window a little bit off now before it is installed.
We're still having issues with placing the new septic system ... I'm still refusing to have my garden dug up! I know there is an alternative - they're just going to have to do that. As part of it going where I want, they are going to have to take off the laundry from the back of the house to run the pipes. Doesn't make that much difference to me other than that is where the cat trays are, and I really didn't want to move them until the new ensuite is up and they get access to their enclosure again.
We're STILL waiting on the architect to come up with the ensuite window - it looks like I'll be living with a boarded up window for a while , not very pleasant.
Nearly finalised the order of fittings for the ensuite - just need a MUCH cheaper heated towel rail. I chose a smaller one than they had on their website - and it turned out to be more expensive! It is in a tricky spot so I'm trying for as small as possible. Most of them also look so modern, which just doesn't work with the rest of the house. The curved ones, a little better look, are, of course, more expensive. It will be so exciting when the order is done.
What a weekend! It is amazing what you can do living on a block of chocolate and a pack of jaffa cakes!! The house is nneeeaarrrllly completely packed. Just those final small things that just don't seem to belong in any particular box.
I went to finally pull down the doors on the garage late on Saturday, after moving out lots of things, only to find that the doors did NOT stay down. Good to know they lift easily, but staying down is slight important too. I knew they hadn't installed the remote systems (because there is no electricity there yet) but I had assumed that they had made the closeable. Nope!
I rang the builder and he suggested weighting down the doors .... which was a good idea in theory ... quite difficult when you've got on one to help you. That dog of mine ... I excuse the puppy because she is young, but the older one ... you'd think he should have just been able to hold the door whilst I pushed blocks into place!! After a couple of attempts I finally got it standing on a step ladder to pull the door down, then holding onto the ridges (no handles) whilst moving bricks on to the bottom with my foot.
Much as packing up is exhausting, it is full of surprises and memories. I found lots of things that made me laugh, some that made me dance around the house being silly and then there are the sad memories of people past. It all has to go in the box or the bin. I'm hoping the recycle bin truck is REALLY strong this week ... I threw out tonnes of magazines and they are so heavy!
The builder stopped by on Saturday and we went through a couple of things ... I'd been sticky beaking at the frames out on the lawn ... I've got the wall to the kitchen and so much more. Very interesting to see how it will pan out in actual size ... laying flat on the ground they all look so short, but I took my measuring tape out, and they are fine. I was trying to work out the length of my kitchen bench (it's gonna be huge!) but part of that wall was missing - after having a bit of a heart attack at thinking it was over a metre less than I thought! I also measured up the height of the kitchen window - to find that if I have my kitchen bench at 900, plus a 100 splashback for the bench, then ... the window was going to be in the wrong place. Builder was happy to change it - it is a great thing about being here as it builds, better to pick up a window a little bit off now before it is installed.
We're still having issues with placing the new septic system ... I'm still refusing to have my garden dug up! I know there is an alternative - they're just going to have to do that. As part of it going where I want, they are going to have to take off the laundry from the back of the house to run the pipes. Doesn't make that much difference to me other than that is where the cat trays are, and I really didn't want to move them until the new ensuite is up and they get access to their enclosure again.
We're STILL waiting on the architect to come up with the ensuite window - it looks like I'll be living with a boarded up window for a while , not very pleasant.
Nearly finalised the order of fittings for the ensuite - just need a MUCH cheaper heated towel rail. I chose a smaller one than they had on their website - and it turned out to be more expensive! It is in a tricky spot so I'm trying for as small as possible. Most of them also look so modern, which just doesn't work with the rest of the house. The curved ones, a little better look, are, of course, more expensive. It will be so exciting when the order is done.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Garage concrete is done
Came home to find the veranda completely off and the garage concrete done. Luckily dried enough that little doggies playing on it didn't really make marks!
Still remaining is power and water - the power might be the last to go in, which is a bit of a pain as it means no remote doors, no lights and no easy place for my washing machine.
Builder and I are both trying to chase the ensuite layout from the architect so he can finalise window etc ... that window is just going to have to be boarded up - apparently all the rest are ordered, except this one which is needed first!!
I've been given the push on making ensuite fitting decisions - the builder needs some measurements on the toilet that will go in the ensuite - now to decide on THAT toilet (I really don't want to make that decision!).
We're going to start getting in kitchen quotes - so I'll just await that heart attack ... I mean, if I know a scary scary price is coming, maybe I can work out a way to lessen the blow? eg. "well, at least it is under $50K" !!!!!
Another potential hiccup ... apparently SOMEONE forgot to put in the specs that the floor for the kitchen is going to be floorboards ... not quite sure what impact this is going to have ... but it is going to have some impact. Builder had been working on it being concrete (?!) ... and I might not know much about building, but I've got an idea that there might be a titchy price difference between concrete and floorboards!!! :-)
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
My mind is whirring - ensuite and design things!
So I'm looking through websites trying to find the right toilet (I always knew this decision was going to be one of the hardest - I mean really ... how are you going to know until it is too late and you're trying it out!!). The toilets I'm considering are all over the budgetted amount (but what isn't - unless I went cheap everything!) ... no idea how to choose finally!
Two I'm considering:
http://www.burdens.com.au/productdetails.html?pid=12&itemid=499
http://www.carseldinebathroom.com.au/featured-products/14-v-a-b-omnia-pro-toilet-suite
Not much price difference between the two that I've found from one place.
These are the taps I THINK I've chosen for the ensuite: http://www.dorf.com.au/default.asp?page=prod_view&p=2675.04 ... the final decision will only been known when I've actually bought the things!! Which will probably be only when the builder gives me no more fluffing around time.
I've been watching this blog - and I love these designers: http://desiretoinspire.blogspot.com/2009/05/skelton-harris-interiors.html (the black fire place kitchen shot - gorgeous!!! LOVE that shelf above the kitchen bench - oh, that's right, I'm getting one of those!!! :-) ) ... and the feel of this designer: http://desiretoinspire.blogspot.com/2009/05/david-kaplan.html
I seem to struggle to find images like those websites, in magazines - they all seem to be modern minimalism ... completely cleared kitchen benches etc - as if that EVER happens in a normal home!!
Two I'm considering:
http://www.burdens.com.au/productdetails.html?pid=12&itemid=499
http://www.carseldinebathroom.com.au/featured-products/14-v-a-b-omnia-pro-toilet-suite
Not much price difference between the two that I've found from one place.
These are the taps I THINK I've chosen for the ensuite: http://www.dorf.com.au/default.asp?page=prod_view&p=2675.04 ... the final decision will only been known when I've actually bought the things!! Which will probably be only when the builder gives me no more fluffing around time.
I've been watching this blog - and I love these designers: http://desiretoinspire.blogspot.com/2009/05/skelton-harris-interiors.html (the black fire place kitchen shot - gorgeous!!! LOVE that shelf above the kitchen bench - oh, that's right, I'm getting one of those!!! :-) ) ... and the feel of this designer: http://desiretoinspire.blogspot.com/2009/05/david-kaplan.html
I seem to struggle to find images like those websites, in magazines - they all seem to be modern minimalism ... completely cleared kitchen benches etc - as if that EVER happens in a normal home!!
HUGE update!
Yesterday I was home as I wasn't feeling great - and I got to see lots happening ... luckily I wasn't so sick that I had to spend the day in bed in my PJs ... if I get that sick, I think I'm going to have to go to a friend's house, it would be very unpleasant to spend the day there with people around whilst feeling like crap!!
I'd made myself get up, showered and dressed before 7am ... which turned out to be the right thing to do ... 10 past 7 and in rolled the first lot of tradesmen! They were preparing the garage for the concrete which is arriving today! I have asked they close the doors on the garage once the concrete is down - I don't want doggie foot prints all through it when I let the dogs out tonight, even though it would be quite cute!
Later in the day the soil people came through with surveying equipment.
The builders (one of whom is called Bob - poor guy! maybe another profession would have caused less amusement?!) have begun on frames ... I checked what was written on them ... so far I have a pantry wall, a laundry wall and a toilet door way!! Interesting - I just assumed the first frames would be be for the ensuite, but they've started on the back part of the house. The builder said they'll have all the frames ready to go, and they'll just go up in a couple of days once the back is ready.
The builders (one of whom is called Bob - poor guy! maybe another profession would have caused less amusement?!) have begun on frames ... I checked what was written on them ... so far I have a pantry wall, a laundry wall and a toilet door way!! Interesting - I just assumed the first frames would be be for the ensuite, but they've started on the back part of the house. The builder said they'll have all the frames ready to go, and they'll just go up in a couple of days once the back is ready.
They also started removing the veranda ... big holes ... and I've now realised I didn't really get a proper before photo of them! Too late now! The rest will be gone by the time I get home tonight.
The main builder called me last night - we've got some issues with the placement of the septic tank ... they've suggested my front garden! Which WONT be happening! There will have to be another solution! I'm a crap gardener, but I don't need an ugly thing sitting right in the middle of my garden (let alone them digging up the rest of the poor thing ... it has only just survived summer!).
He also told me that I'll be able to move things into the garage over the weekend ... so that's my weekend set ... got to find boxes quickly now! He said they will probably pull out the kitchen cabinets by the end of next week ... bye bye kitchen :-( ... I will miss my cooking!! (I made yummy nutty chocolate biscuits for the builders yesterday).
He also told me that I'll be able to move things into the garage over the weekend ... so that's my weekend set ... got to find boxes quickly now! He said they will probably pull out the kitchen cabinets by the end of next week ... bye bye kitchen :-( ... I will miss my cooking!! (I made yummy nutty chocolate biscuits for the builders yesterday).
We're waiting on the architect to finalise the plans for the ensuite - the builder can't order the window until these are done. I've got steam coming out my ears over the plans for the ensuite ... the architect decided to remove a component because it was "awkward" ... so he'll have to be putting it back in ... the awkward bit is there for a very good reason!! We also seem to have issues communicating about the window - I think my vanity is about at knee height at the moment - that window is just going to have to get a whole lot smaller. So this is my first grump over the building process - I'm sure there will be more to come!!
When I got home from work on Monday night I found my little dog missing from her enclosure ... I screamed for her and heard a tiny yelp ... she was INSIDE the house!! Apparently she'd got out again (from the hole created by the builders when the garage went it) and had been running around ... they'd gone into the house and they said she went in so they left her there ... noice ... you can imagine the clean up I came home to!! I'm very glad she was at least safe - and she didn't do too much damage in the house, I only lost one item of clothing to being chewed and she chose the bathroom as her toilet spot - so at least not the carpet!! The builders fixed up the hole yesterday - but I think she might just dig again.
Monday, May 18, 2009
My aim for the weekend was to finalise the ensuite colours - I really want to be prepared when the builder needs my decision on the tiles. I know how my life gets and if the stores are only open from 8-12 on a Saturday, and I can't get there, then trying to fit in tile shopping is impossible!
I drove up to Bendigo to meet up with an interior designer from MakeYourHouseAHome. She had previously come to my house for a short visit and photo taking ... and boy had she done a huge amount of work since then. I was very excited to walk in to see a table laid out with swatches of materials, tiles, paint colours and so much more!
We went through each part of the house and I've walked away with nearly all the colours planned out for the entire house. I was just aiming to get the ensuite done!
The only remaining colour is the wall colour for most of the house. The one she had selected I liked, but once we'd changed the kitchen doors, it made the colour look really pink!! We picked out some alternatives, but need to see them in larger swatches before making that final decision.
I'm sticking with a lot of whites ... pretty boring but I figured the colours will come from what else is put in the room. Lots of Antique White USA!
Once we'd done most of the decisions we went through a tile and carpet store. I absolutely loved the idea of going shopping with someone who could keep all those colours in their head and have an understanding of how they would all go together. I just can't imagine them as anything beyond small swatches ... not walls etc! For the ensuite we had decided on a dark warm brown/grey floor tile and cream walls. The first tile store had nothing and it was decided I'd have to go alone to Melbourne tile stores (eek!), but then they suggested another local tile store we could visit on the way home.
So the very helpful interior designer came with me! Once again, we couldn't find the tile we wanted for the floor ... so a slight change in plans ... we're now going to go matching walls/floors in cream - and use a dramatic bathmat to add a colour on the floor. It makes that colour scheme very plain, but I'm quite happy with the idea of accessorising. We found a nice cream tile - that came in the right size and had both a polished version for the walls and a matt version for the floor.
I drove up to Bendigo to meet up with an interior designer from MakeYourHouseAHome. She had previously come to my house for a short visit and photo taking ... and boy had she done a huge amount of work since then. I was very excited to walk in to see a table laid out with swatches of materials, tiles, paint colours and so much more!
We went through each part of the house and I've walked away with nearly all the colours planned out for the entire house. I was just aiming to get the ensuite done!
The only remaining colour is the wall colour for most of the house. The one she had selected I liked, but once we'd changed the kitchen doors, it made the colour look really pink!! We picked out some alternatives, but need to see them in larger swatches before making that final decision.
I'm sticking with a lot of whites ... pretty boring but I figured the colours will come from what else is put in the room. Lots of Antique White USA!
Once we'd done most of the decisions we went through a tile and carpet store. I absolutely loved the idea of going shopping with someone who could keep all those colours in their head and have an understanding of how they would all go together. I just can't imagine them as anything beyond small swatches ... not walls etc! For the ensuite we had decided on a dark warm brown/grey floor tile and cream walls. The first tile store had nothing and it was decided I'd have to go alone to Melbourne tile stores (eek!), but then they suggested another local tile store we could visit on the way home.
So the very helpful interior designer came with me! Once again, we couldn't find the tile we wanted for the floor ... so a slight change in plans ... we're now going to go matching walls/floors in cream - and use a dramatic bathmat to add a colour on the floor. It makes that colour scheme very plain, but I'm quite happy with the idea of accessorising. We found a nice cream tile - that came in the right size and had both a polished version for the walls and a matt version for the floor.
Dining room colour scheme - existing chair with paint colours - the green is the walls, the white the skirtings/architraves/ceiling, the material is the window seat cushion
Laundy tiles in comparison to kitchen tiles - the laundry one is, maybe, appropriately called "Donkey Brown"!!!!
Decisions made!! I went to sleep very happy!!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Think I've discovered the cause of the delay
Spoke with the architect this morning about the ensuite plans ... and he let me know they're currently waiting on soil test results ... which would explain why no concrete in the garage has been laid nor any other developments!
I did discover a slight issue with plans for the rest of the house - the doors have been placed too close to the walls to account for the old style architraves I'll have (to match the exisiting ones). Which could reduce the amount of space for my kitchen bench (every mm counts!).
We've also identified something that was missing from the plans - which is a variation in the concrete for the kitchen, as it is having floor boards (but the plans are as though they were for tiles/carpet - I would have ended up with weird floor levels). Luckily this has been discovered before anything was poured!!
Apparently my energy rating has been submitted and come back (didn't even know there had to be one) ... the house got 5 1/2 stars! Yay (I assume that is a yay ... at least it didn't fail ... I really know nothing about it ... might go look it up!!).
I did discover a slight issue with plans for the rest of the house - the doors have been placed too close to the walls to account for the old style architraves I'll have (to match the exisiting ones). Which could reduce the amount of space for my kitchen bench (every mm counts!).
We've also identified something that was missing from the plans - which is a variation in the concrete for the kitchen, as it is having floor boards (but the plans are as though they were for tiles/carpet - I would have ended up with weird floor levels). Luckily this has been discovered before anything was poured!!
Apparently my energy rating has been submitted and come back (didn't even know there had to be one) ... the house got 5 1/2 stars! Yay (I assume that is a yay ... at least it didn't fail ... I really know nothing about it ... might go look it up!!).
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
No news is "good" news?
Nothing happening - the builder did warn that not much would happen last week ... and he was right! A couple more piles of things ... but otherwise, no changes.
Delays at this stage are easy for me (I'm not camping in the house yet!) but I do worry about how long it will all take! We've got nice weather at the moment too ... I'm quite sure the drought will break when the back of the house is taken off and I have half a roof!!!! We need the rain so I'll just have to drip and be happy!
I've been doing some ensuite planning - selecting taps etc and confirming the layout. Waiting on the architect to get back to me with new drawings. One of the most urgent decisions will be the ensuite window - as that needs to be ordered.
Delays at this stage are easy for me (I'm not camping in the house yet!) but I do worry about how long it will all take! We've got nice weather at the moment too ... I'm quite sure the drought will break when the back of the house is taken off and I have half a roof!!!! We need the rain so I'll just have to drip and be happy!
I've been doing some ensuite planning - selecting taps etc and confirming the layout. Waiting on the architect to get back to me with new drawings. One of the most urgent decisions will be the ensuite window - as that needs to be ordered.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
The roof, the roof, the roof is ... ON!
The garage has a roof! Just needs concrete and it will be all done.
(did have another photo actually showing the roof - but camera seems to have had a hissy and the file size is 0!)
New piles of things have arrived elsewhere on site ... still no idea what they're for!!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
The garage is getting smaller
No photo from yesterday's developments as I left early - the garage now has windows, doors and some gutters!! No roof yet ... but they've said they will be finished in a day or so.
Interestingly enough, over the weekend, the garage shrank. Obviously not in actual size but in my perception of it!! It now doesn't look so massive and blocking. I must be getting used to it already.
I'm going to have to work out a way to get the roller doors down as there will be no power for a while, there is no way I can reach them.
New piles of "stuff" arrived yesterday - no idea what they're for (also a bit hard to determine in the dark) ... I think they are starting to make frames this week, so maybe associated with that.
One thing I'd really like to have organised is some shelving for the garage, once the slab is down. I've got most of the large furniture items to store in there when the extension is pulled down, plus boxes of books and crap. Shelves would be helpful!
And just to prove how "blonde" I can be ... was looking at the whirly vent thingie which is in its box, wondering why it hasn't been installed yet - then realised ... umm ... they might need the roof on to install it!! oops!
Interestingly enough, over the weekend, the garage shrank. Obviously not in actual size but in my perception of it!! It now doesn't look so massive and blocking. I must be getting used to it already.
I'm going to have to work out a way to get the roller doors down as there will be no power for a while, there is no way I can reach them.
New piles of "stuff" arrived yesterday - no idea what they're for (also a bit hard to determine in the dark) ... I think they are starting to make frames this week, so maybe associated with that.
One thing I'd really like to have organised is some shelving for the garage, once the slab is down. I've got most of the large furniture items to store in there when the extension is pulled down, plus boxes of books and crap. Shelves would be helpful!
And just to prove how "blonde" I can be ... was looking at the whirly vent thingie which is in its box, wondering why it hasn't been installed yet - then realised ... umm ... they might need the roof on to install it!! oops!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Walls on the garage
It is beginning to feel very closed in! Having walls on the garage has made me realise how used I am to being able to move easily around the house, I didn't quite get the concept in my mind - of what a whopping great big garage would do to the feel of the place! So where before I'm used to looking through, it now looks at a wall!!
Roller doors are in - though I've realised when speaking with the builder the other day, they wont be having any electricity to them for a while! I hope they can go up and down manually!
Speaking with my good friend who's nearly finished her renovation *waves* it totally freaks me out how much she knows about finishes and brushed chrome and warranties and ... I just have nooooo idea! I need to attend "Renovation 101" and learn how to differentiate between chromes!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)