Tanika & Bella

 

 Just for a break from the house stuff....Two of my favourite girls

 

Living room lounge 

The dining area -or at least where I think what was intended to be the dining area. Having the dining table here though seemed to leave a big area between the lounge and the kitchen, which we weren't really sure what to do with, so we decided to use that space for the dining table, and the 'dining area' as the kids play area (as below)

 

Front entry - early 2011

 

Early 2011

 

Bella in the front lounge/media room (it's looking a bit sparse here) 

 

Looking in from front entrance

Main living area. Dining to the right, and you can just see through to the front lounge, which they actually call a media room, though calling it that would make me feel that I should be holding press conferences in there. Anyway, it used to be where we watched movies, but has slowly turned into Michaela's own lounge, so she seems to think, as it's directly across from her bedroom 

 

Kitchen

 

 Excuse the daggy safety gates - toddlers.....

Actually, I've replaced the safety gate in the foreground with one that matches the one in the background, and they look quite good (for safety gates). 

Kitchen -early January 2011

 Kitchen (obviously). Very happy with everything: color, design - it all works well. And I love our Samsung fridge :)

Fog & Flood

 

Foggy morning - view from our house 

Flood, June 2011 - view from our house

 

Not that much difference between the two shots. The view is normally just a valley with a river barely visible in the distance

Ensuite- 25th December 2010

 

Ensuite 

Our bedroom

 

Our bedroom, looking into ensuite 

Moving in -25th December, 2010

 

Yay, I finally worked out how to upload photos from an iPad. This is from the first day we move in, which was on Christmas Day 2010. Handover was on the 23rd December, which was exactly 16 weeks from when work began. We were told by Perry Homes that it would take 14-16 weeks from start to finish, so they were spot on. We'd heard/read about so many stories of people building where handover occurred much later than expected, but thankfully that didn't happen in our case. 

This photo is looking from the hallway, near our bedroom, out to the main living area and kitchen. I think that's Tanika in the shot. Tiles are all dirty from us traipsing through the place all day.

I'll upload some more shots later today, now that I know how!

 

Untitled

 Just trying to work out how to post through 'Blogsy'

Two days til handover (hopefully)

Yes, handover is supposedly going to be Thursday morning. Very exciting. It all depends on the bank though, whether we get the final payment in time. I have everything crossed, as if it's not Thursday, we will have to wait until the 17th of January, which is when Perry's opens up again following the Christmas break. I couldn't stand to spend most of the school holidays in this tiny 2 bedroom unit - I am so over it - especially when I know our home is ready and waiting for us. We have carpet being installed Thursday afternoon, and our fridge on Friday, so here's hoping we have the keys to let them in. When we started building, the supervisor gave us a rough time frame of 14 - 16 weeks for completion. Well, it's 16 weeks exactly on Thursday, so that's pretty good I reakon. It was touch and go for a while there, as to whether it would be finished before Christmas, but they came through in the end. Even with a change of supervisor, things kept moving. Now it's just up to the bank.....Will update soon

The girls' bedroom cupboards

Each of the girls room have mirrored robes, which thankfully should put a stop to the fighting over the mirror. We're getting the carpets put in ourselves Thursday afternoon (after handover Thursday morning - touch wood)

Bella in the kitchen sink

Ensuite

I like that the ensuite is quite large (after all it had to fir our spa in), and that it has its own seperate toilet (which you can't see in this shot). Basin and vanity are quite boring I suppose in comparisant to what's around these days, but I don't mind them

Ensuite shower

The girls shower is very much the same. I love the recess. We had one put in our old bathroom shower and think they are well worth the bit of extra money/fiddling around

Ensuite shutters

These shutters are just above the spa and look into our bedroom (you know what I mean). I love them.

Our 'bargain' spa

We bought this spa cheap ($500) as it was the display model, and were going to install it in our old house when we were thinking of renovating. We brought it to this house though, but had to have it installed ourselves (Perry's didn't want to do it as it didn't have it's own levelling frame - or whatever its called). $1000 later, and its installed. So our bargain spa which was reduced from $1500 to $500, ended up costing us $1500 anyway. Never mind, all will be forgiven when I have my first spa in it, I'm sure.

Dining 'room'

From living room towards front door

I'm posting one pic at a time as internet connection is so crappy here, it drops in and out and I lose it all.

Kitchen benchtops (Essa Stone in French Nougart) and splashback

The benchtops and the splashback compliment each other quite nicely (in my opinion anyway)

Kitchen finished - 16th December 2010

Quite pleased with the kitchen. The tiles on the splashback aren't as dark as they appear in the photo.

Door with handle (and a very cute baby) 14th December 2010

Gararge door and driveway done - 10th (?) December 2010

What a difference a garage door and driveway make, eh?

Our Bella Baby

So far........2nd December 2010

Well, we're getting there. When I ask "Can we still expect to be in by Christmas?" I get something along the lines of "We'll definitely try". The other day I was asked by the BS "Would it be the end of the Earth if you weren't in by Christmas?", to which my reply was that of course it wouldn't be the end of the Earth (I'm not THAT over-dramatic) but that I WOULD be dissapointed. Actually that just might be an understatement.

Still waiting on kitchen benches, which I was told today may possibly be held up until January sometime, which would of course stop us moving in. The BS is trying to source another one urgently though, so we'll see how we go. Fingers crossed.

Speaking of BS, we have a new one, as the one we had is on leave until early January. Incidentally, I didn't know about this until I tried to call him with a couple of queries. Hmmmm... Anyway, not going to complain too much at this stage as long as job keeps moving forward at a good pace. The novelty of living in a cosy 2 bedroom unit has worn off. Tomorrow we have the concreter coming to do the driveway/paths etc, then on the weekend the painters will be here. Apparently they come as a big team from Sydney and will have the job done in 3 days. I have to try to catch them to make sure the stain for the gables and front door match the garage - bad look otherwise. Tiler went home sick today, so that won't be finished til next week.

All in all, looking good so far. Fingers crossed it continues

Wrong basins -22nd November 2010

Took me a couple of walks through the house til I realised the basins in the ensuite and main bathroom had two holes too many (we are having flickmixers throughout).

Front door-November 2010

Should be nice when it's stained and has the proper door handle (which is polished chrome and a much more stylish design).

Family/Living Room - 22nd November

Kitchen so far - 22nd November 2010

House with gables November 2010

Frame complete, windows in - 1st October 2010

Well, only 9 days since starting the frame, it's complete and the windows have been put in. I wasn't sure about the window colour at first. Originally they were going to be a dark grey, but then I was so worried they would look blue-grey, that I chose to go 'Silver-grey'. I say "I" chose as at the time, Mike was happy to leave those things up to me (and so he should). In true Mike style though, he now doubts my colour choice! Honestly though, he has NO idea so it doesn't really matter - when will he get that?? I happen to be very happy with the colour :)

Roof almost complete - 28th September 2010

Thank God the builders had gone by the time I drove past today - feel like a bit of a stalker when i take pictures while they're there

Two days later - 24th September 2010

Amazing what can get done in two days. Frame is almost finished. Shame its now the weekend

End of first day - 22nd September

Building has commenced!! 22nd September 2010

Slab laid! 17th Sept 2010

Twelve days later....

We returned from Melbourne today (hello to any of you if you happen to drop by xx), and of course had to drive past the block to see what had gone on in our absence. Excuse my ignorance, but there are lots of pipes sticking out of the ground which I was thinking was plumbing (?), but could very well be something to do with electricity - must ask Mike...
Also huge piles of gravel about

Last pic (for that day anyway)

By the end of the day, land was levelled and fence put up

Later that day......

Couldn't help but go back later that day and see what they were up to

Yay! Work has begun!

On August 19th, I received a pleasantly surprising phonecall from the BS (building supervisor for those not in the know) telling me site work had commenced. I drove straight there of course and took this pic.

Better pic of our view from the front

Finally, an update

It's been so long since my last post - I knew I'd be hopeless at keeping this thing up to date. Well things have been moving along, slowly but steadily. Council approval took about 4-5 weeks, the Construction Certificate (which Perry's did seperately - not sure if this is always the case), took another week or so. Then we had to wait for the bank to give the 'authority to commence', where they make sure all the insurances etc are in order before they give the final go-ahead. That took two and a half weeks! We received a call from our Sales Consultant, Lyn, today to let us know that all the orders for our materials are complete, and we are all ready to go. Just waiting on a call from the building supervisor to arrange a meet-up with him. Lyn (who has been great btw) estimates work will start on our land either this coming week or next week. Oooo, exciting times ahead....
(Pic is an updated shot of Nik & Bella)

Kitchen colour scheme

A - splashback (some random chocolate colour)
B - floor tiles (some random 'latte' colour)
C - cupboards (Laminex 'Parchment' colour, though will be 2pak)
D - kickborads (Formica 'Brushed Pewter')
E - walls (Dulux 'China White')
F - doors/skirting boards (Dulux 'Natural White')
E - ceiling (Dulux - 'White on White')

Benchtops will be EssaStone in French Nougat (couldn't get a sample)

Bathroom colour scheme

A - wall/shower tiles(very large and white - that's all I know)
B - vanities (Laminex 'White')
C - benchtops (Laminex 'Pure Mineralstone' in Diammond Gloss finish)
D - floor tiles (random latte colour)
E - feature tiles (will run horizontally in a vertical line up a wall of shower)

Both main bathroom and ensuite will have the same colour scheme

Waiting on council

I rang council last Monday (7th June), just to ensure they had our application and to ask how long it would probably take to be approved. At first I was told there was no application lodged for the address I gave. After explaining that I was told by the builder that our application was lodged a week ago, she had another look, and - what do you know - they "just arrived in the mail this morning". Okay, whatever, we're kind of at the mercy of the council at the moment, so I'm hardly going to make waves. I even paid our rates early for the first time in ages, just in case. Anyway, while waiting on council, I'm going to attempt to provide entertainment in the way of a video of Bella (the only one who would agree to be filmed), in her Jolly Jumper, dancing to The Wiggles. I really hope it doesn't come out sideways, as I can't seem to rotate it on my computer

Bella and me

Changes to pictured facade

Our house will look a bit different to the one pictured at the top of this. We've extended the portico (to take advantage of our gorgeous view) and incorporated another gable to balance the look a bit more. Colours of course will be different too, and gables will have stained western red cedar.