Ensuite - a window and doorway

Got home to find a window and a doorway from the ensuite into the house. Very exciting that they've "broken through" ... it will be interesting to see what they achieve this week.

Window is smaller than I was expecting - I suppose by the end of this process I'll have a better concept of what something looks like on paper compared to how it will turn out - will be too late by then though!

Ensuite going up fast!

Now I even have some external weatherboards put on!

That would be a puppy in the shower:

And a puppy going out near the toilet:

Not too much longer until they break through into the rest of the house I would think.

Was good being home yesterday (apart from the large amount of tissues I went through) ... so much easier dealing with the builder on site - with us both looking at the plans and knowing what we're both talking about. And ... we're both still having issues getting the electrical plans out of the architect. Though, the builder did let me know I've got my oven for another two weeks - apparently the others working on site would protest if it was taken out earlier ;-) - I'd better keep baking for them. Hope it will provide a little incentive for the new oven to go in faster!

Though the builder did say that they are running 2 months behind - not surprising since the permits were 2 months late due to a certain architect!!

The big water tank I want to get looks like it will fit in the space I wanted for it ... I'll put the order in over the next couple of days.

When I get home tonight I assume there will be even more weatherboards on ... plus the temporary vanity is arriving today, and I'm picking up my taps! The taps I've only seen on websites - couldn't find a place with them on display ... so I'm REALLY hoping I made the right choice!!

I stood IN my ensuite

Got home in daylight yesterday and found frames up for the ensuite. I can actually stand IN my ensuite and see where the shower is (oops ... looks a bit small), where the vanity and toilet will go. I've been worried about the internal roof height ... but depending how much they have to put on for layers (plaster board I assume) it seems higher than I thought ... oh ... just realised I didn't think to include the influence of the floor going in as well! It is definitely light and airy - well ... until the walls go on!!

Looking towards the shower

Looking towards the toilet

Home today because I've got a nasty cold - can only hope it is swine flu and I wont have to worry about getting that!! Today's baking for the builders were some sweet and salty peanut cookies (Nigella Lawson - Domestic Goddess) ... I sprinkled extra sea salt on top ... and I timed them really well as they came out of the oven just as the builders started their morning tea. Given the progress ... I think my oven will be gone next week ... I'll have to get inventive with non-baked things.

First slab

They managed to put down the first slab yesterday - for the ensuite! It did pour with rain late in the afternoon, so I hope that doesn't effect it.

Have had to make a compromise on the vanity - getting a fairly ordinary one temporarily for the ensuite, and then will move that to the main bathroom. Going to have to do something to take focus off it when it moves, as it is very uninspiring! It does mean I'll end up with the vanity I want in the ensuite - which is the one I'll see every day and use more.

Currently trying to organise the split system airconditioner for the bedroom - whilst that wall is off I figure it is better that it gets installed (and when I move back into that room - waarrrmmmttthhhh!!!). Quite a variation in price on the same unit - but most seem able to install it next week. I've been advised that Daikin are the way to go, as it can cope with the below zero temperatures we have.

I'm looking forward to next week - I think I'll get to see frames up and an actual room.

A new wall!

Building permits all approved - so already some major changes ... they've put down the mesh for the ensuite concrete, possibly laying it today or tomorrow - depending on weather I assume - thunderstorms forecast for today!

Got home last night ... to find a new wall inside!! They've blocked off my living room in anticipation of the destruction! Some before and during photos ...

Looking from the living room:

Also ordered my tank and pump today. The internet is so helpful! Company was saying they were giving me the pump at cost price - so I google a bit ... find two different companies advertising for $150 less ... so the original company go below those prices! I'm happy, as they've already dropped the price on the tank as well. Hopefully the tank should take about 2 weeks ... and then finally, I can think about taking my horses off the bore water (which has been tested and shown to have very high levels of heavy metals).

Yay - permits ... finally!

In the mailbox when I got home ... the septic permit! Which means ... building permit ... which means ... full steam ahead!!!! YAY!! Very pleased that it has come through ... only about 2 months late ... so add that on to the expected completion date ... and ... I suppose the builder could claim an extension from 22 August to 22 October. Ugh!

Since they've got the permit ... now we have plumbing for the ensuite! Closest in the photo is shower, then vanity then toilet. I wonder when the concrete will be laid?

I've been looking at kitchen sinks ... found one close to what I think might work with the taps etc ... architect's budget is $300 ... sink I found .... $2,800 .... hmmmm ... I think I'll keep looking!

Today's puzzle - tiles for ensuite - which direction?

Not quite sure which way to ask the tiles to be laid in the ensuite ... not sure I should rely upon a tiler's advice (I'm sure they know which way is EASIER ... but maybe not the most attractive way!!)

Horizontal? or ... Vertical?

Small space ... odd angled roof ... low roof height ... ?????

Ensuite frames and diggings

When speaking with the builder last week, he said that the frames for the ensuite were done, just waiting on that #&^%# building permit. Well ... I'd looked at the frames out on the lawn and there weren't any new ones ... so I figured maybe there was a bit of miscommunication. On the weekend (in actual daylight!) I found them!!! In the garage!!

People keep asking me if the old part of the house is being restumped ... this photo might explain why it isn't being restumped - because there aren't any stumps to start with!!! To the left of new piece of concrete the builders have put in, is an old piece of wood; then on the right are the bricks the house is resting on ... not much clearance under there!Here's the outline of the ensuite ... just waiting on concrete /plumbing etc! Maybe this week?

Below is my present to myself (not that a major house renovation and new kitchen aren't present enough!) ... I saw it at a garden shop near Castlemaine on the weekend. Many years ago I visited the same shop and saw a weathervane I LOVED ... I didn't buy it ... and I have regretted it ever since (of course, I've never seen anything like it again!). I dropped in on my way to Castlemaine, saw this gorgeous thing and thought "no, I shouldn't buy anything until the house is closer to completion" ... got to Castlemaine (yay, found handles for my ensuite vanity) and remembered the years of regret over the last thing I loved from there ... so on the way home I bought it!!
It is made out of a recycled oil drum - from Haiti ... yet to decide where it will live ... was considering in the kitchen over the oven mantle ... or maybe in the outside courtyard ... ????

Hot showers are such wonderful things!

Obviously this house renovation is going to make me appreciate the simple things in life ... hot showers!! ahhhh!!! The builder organised for the electrician to check out the hot water heater ... yay ... it isn't dead!! Just a blown thingamagigiy element thing ... all fixed! Phew! Looks like the hot water system has a little bit more time in it.

Builder has come up with a new idea for the ensuite/bathroom timing issue - which just happens to be my old idea ... shhhh! They are going back to the original plan - build the ensuite first ... no outside bathroom for me! It will require a day or so when I might have to find alternative bathroom arrangements - as they'll completely construct the ensuite, but not be able to connect it to the new septic until they destroy the lean-to part of the house. They can have everything installed etc, just not connected ... which should mean minimal distruption to me! What a clever idea!

Last night I got home to find they're ready to lay the concrete for the ensuite ... and the builder has said it should only take two weeks for it to be entirely tiled etc - better stop putting off those final decisions on heated towel rails and showerheads!

People keep asking me if it is freezing cold in my house at the moment ... interestingly it is not too bad. Before it was nearly impossible to heat my living area ... but now I'm only living in two rooms (two of the bedrooms) they are pretty easy to heat and keep warm. It's actually probably warmer than last winter!

Long weekends can be so unpleasant!

I'm quite glad the long weekend is over ... I couldn't take more stress! The most exciting part was having smoke coming out of the hot water heater ... I think it's dead. I knew it was old (over 20 yrs) but was hoping it would last for at least one move during the building process. I'd resigned myself to thinking that there was a fair chance I'd have to buy a new one with the new extension ... but it wasn't supposed to blow up before they've even knocked the old part of the house down!

Thank goodness for lovely neighbours with nice showers ... I do have another hot water system at an outside shed, but it is complete unworkable to have a shower with (the nice neighbours really don't need to be tortured THAT much!).

The builder was over on Monday - trying to do the sell job on the portable ensuite idea. I said not unless he built me a heated walkway between the house and the portable thing ......... ummm ... perhaps I should have kept my mouth shut. He's now proposing closing off the front veranda and sticking it at the end of that ... my heated walkway! I suppose I could just cope with it .. he says it would only be for a couple of weeks ;-) .... I'm not quite that gullible!! I know a couple of weeks really means a couple of months!

The big hold up at the moment ... it that they still don't have a building permit ... they can't get a building permit until they get a septic permit, they can't get the septic permit because the architect too so long to put it in ... it could be another 3 weeks!! grumble grumble

Builder said they can't touch anything more because they've pushed the boundaries of what they can do. The garage was done on a separate permit so that's OK, the veranda they could work on because it is exsiting ... but they are at a standstill until they can get the building permit. Apparently everyone is lined up ready to go ... just waiting!

Outside bathroom - in winter?! no way!

I had a feeeeeliingg that the builder was working up to this, I just had that niggling suspicion from the way I've seen things being done outside ... and yup ... today I got the phone call ... would I mind if they did it ALL at once vs the stages (as set out in the contract)?!!

The ensuite was to be completed first, then the rest of the back (with existing bathroom etc) taken off. Meaning I could live in the house with no major problems (can cope without a kitchen but not a bathroom), cats could have their outside enclosure for THEIR toilet access. All happy and nice-ish for me!

It was all discussed early on - all OKed ... I knew it was harder for them to do it that way ... but everyone in the planning stage was all happy about it. "No problems" ... and if the builder was Australian I'm sure there would have been a "she'll be right love"!!

He's going to come and discuss it again over the weekend ... but I can't see that a weekend with thunderstorms forecast, is going to help me change my mind. He's trying to sell me on one of those all in one portable ensuites - in the garage ... but I am NOT going to walk 20m to the toilet, in the dark, rain and mud, dodging building and holes - when it is 5 degC or less outside! Fair enough if it wasn't discussed before, fair enough if it wasn't specifically stated in the contract ... I'm being as flexible as I can about everything else ... but I'm not flexing on this!

As for progress on site: came home last night to discover the lawn ripped up ... which I've been expecting and don't really care about. The drive way is all mud too! They had the excavator in to clear the site - would love to know what this actually looks like, but I couldn't see anything in the dark in the morning or night. They also covered up the exposed wall from the day before with plastic (phew - was a bit worried about the wood getting wet).

Hopefully on the weekend I should be able to get some new photos ... and I'll be able to walk out the area of where it is all going. I still haven't quite got in my head how far out it is extending.

Ensuite has STARTED!

Got home last night to find the side of my house off ... the ensuite has officially started!! This part of the wall is in the worst condition of all the old section of the house ... the wood has rotted away in parts - though seeing it revealed, it is actually in much better condition than I thought!

My bedroom is the otherside of the wall (hence why the ensuite is going there!) ... and I decided last night that sleeping with a thin layer of lining boards between me and the rainy outside world wasn't a good plan. Apart from the dirt etc that had come out of the walls whilst they were removing the weatherboards. So the little creatures were a bit upset last night - though one cat really doesn't mind where she sleeps, as long as the electric blanket is on HOT!

The ensuite ends where they've taken the boards off up to the window - but doesn't start right at the front (but that is where the worst rot is). Need to get out with my measuring tape to really understand where it is going, as the reinforcing posts don't quite make sense from where I thought the door was going.

Pantry plans - first attempt

Rather than starting off with vague ideas to give to the architect, I decided I'd have a play at creating the plans for my pantry. I googled and discovered someone else's fantastic plans ... and found out they used a free program called SketchUp. I've been playing for the last two weeks or so (on the train to work) and I think I've sort of worked some of it out. I still can't really work out how to change sizes of sections - but it sort of looks like a pantry!! (click on the images to see a bigger size)

No idea if I've really got the proportions right - and I had to guess the actual size of the pantry from the plans (because it wasn't very clear). So it is more a conceptual view vs actual plan. I had to sink the person through the floor to make their height a bit more like mine!

Happy to receive all feedback and good/bad ideas from your pantry experiences!!

Poor mouse is wondering where the kitchen went!

So there has been a mouse in my kitchen for the last couple of weeks ... the cats have had great fun trying to get it out (they probably brought it in in the first place, entertainment when bored whilst I'm at work). After last night, mousie is going to be wondering where the kitchen went!! Totally cleared out! Nothing to find at all!! A mouse could hardly expect that the nice kitchen they've taken up residence in, would disappear in an afternoon.

(OK, so maybe a good clean out would have been just as much help as a new kitchen!! And I did take the messy photo when it was truly awful!! Just so I could remember how I sometimes lived!)

I'm a bit surprised I actually managed it ... it seemed an unending job - MORE cupboards full of stuff, and this is from a tiny kitchen. Imagine what I'll be able to keep in my new BIG kitchen!!! At least in the new kitchen things will be on display more, so no back of cupboard hiding of things. I still think I could live off my cupboards for weeks. I was quite strict in what I threw out - anything that wasn't going to be used and would be past its use-by date within a couple of months - in the bin! I probably could have been even stricter - but it was hard to throw out things that were still good. When it all goes back into the new kitchen, I'll throw them then.

Amazing to believe that next time I have a kitchen it will have a stunning stove, a huge pantry, zillions of draws and a purdy kitchen bench! It's only a couple of months away!!

I'll have to keep reminding myself of that, as I live in my spare bedroom! I think I'm going to miss the kitchen sink the most. I'm not a great washer-upper-er ... and if it is that much harder to do and I've only got the bathroom basin, that's going to be VERY unpleasant. Might have to be very slack and use plastics and throw occasionally!

Last week the architect finally got the ensuite plans complete ... here they are! Not quite sure where I'm going to find the minature towel rail on the plan!! Especially since I'll need to fit in a light switch there as well.