I am happy to report that we've put a deposit down for the Plantation Shutters I discussed last time. I have a feeling that front room will be my most favourite room of the house! I am now waiting for a call back from the blind company, to arrange a check-measure, as our windowsills are now up and that's what they needed to double-check the exact measurements.
We were able to get in the house today, which I didn't expect. Nearly all of the doors are up! Our front door, the door between the house and the garage and the door between the garage and the back yard are aqua! They will be painted to match my Colorbond garage door and windowsills, which are Dune. I was surprised by the doorknob they've put on my door; it's the wrong one and it's too high. I now see it's more than likely a temporary knob, where the deadbolt will be. The doorknob will go lower, but I'm not sure I'm happy about the height of the deadbolt - it should be closer to the center, shouldn't it? I'll have to suss this out and maybe ask a few people on the building / renovation forum I use.
Colorbond Dune
Right Door and Proper Height for Locks
Wrong Doorknob
Deadbolt
Right Doorknob
More importantly, the west facing window in the front room is leaking and I'm not sure where from. I'm happy we had really bad weather today or I might not have spotted it. I will be bringing this to the Site Supervisor's attention right away.
Leaking Window in Theatre Room
The one set of doors I really want to see up are the double-doors for the Master Bedroom. Hopefully we'll see those on, next week.
2 of These Doors to Open to the Master
Please enjoy this week's Wrap Up Video.
"We keep moving forward, opening new doors and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."
I left work early today to meet a salesman from a custom made furnishings company, to organise a measure and quote for Plantation Shutters, very similar to these:
Plantation Shutters
for this room:
Theatre Room Porch Window
Theatre Room Front and West Side Windows
I took advantage of having time alone to take some pics and enjoy what will most likely be my last time in the house for quite some time. I've had a really good look at the kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinets and bench tops. I also saw they delivered my laundry trough, door frames and doors. I spoke to the foreman today and he says getting the doors on is the next step.
Cooking Nook
Oven and Stove Cavities
Sink, Dishwasher and Microwave Cavities
10cm Added Height to Benchtops for Tall Owners!
The kitchen really is the castle itself. This is where we spend our happiest moments and where we find joy in being a family.
- Mario Batali
Cutlery Tray
Very much looking forward to seeing the finished result of the higher counter top height. We had them raise it by 10cm, so it will be 1m high plus 2cm thick Caesarstone benches. Can't wait!
We're officially locked out of the house, which I expected. This week, they continued to work on the plaster. They also installed the kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinets / counters. Much to our delight, we also noticed the solar panels which heat our hot water tank were also installed. This week, because an internal wrap up video was impossible, we went to Casey Fields to show you what we have at the end of our road.
Kitchen From Back Window
Kitchen Cabinetry from Kitchen Window
Bathroom Cabinet and Benchtop
Hot Water Solar Panels
Wrap Up Video - Week 8
It's really kind of cool to have solar panels on your roof.
This week was all about plastering, which is all but done. There are just a few cornices in the study that need to be finished off. Next, our cabinetry will be installed in the kitchen and bathrooms. Then the painters, then the tilers. Once the tilers are done, I'm told from others who have built that we're about 4 to 6 weeks away from completion. We were billed for Lock Up Stage last week, so I think this might be the last update from the inside until we're very close to the end of the build.
Kitchen
Living Room
Through to Dining Room
Toilet and Bathroom
Bath Waterproofing Plaster
Sink and Shower Waterproofing
Theatre Room
Porch from Garage
Week 7's Wrap Up Video!
Visual storytelling, of one kind or another, has been around since cavemen were drawing on walls.
From the outside, there hasn't been too much change. On the inside, however, the insulation has been installed and the rough electrical seems to be nearly complete. Plasterboard has been delivered, so that's the next step, hopefully not too far from now.
Insulation to garage wall on right.
Insulation to front room.
Plasterboard delivered
Muddy Timberlands
My hiking boots which I keep on cheap coir mats in the back of the car - I quickly change into these when I get to the house for an "inspection". I leave them in the car so I'm always ready for a visit! The plastic scrapers are for grout and plaster, but they work well to get the worse of the mud off.
Truffle Brick and Lava Stone Tile
We had chosen this tile for our front porch quite a while ago. The builders are contracted to leave a concrete porch only, so the tile work will be done after handover. Yesterday, we took advantage of an End of Financial Year Sale at Beaumont Tiles, which saved us a nice sum. This is the tile with a piece of brick we "borrowed" from - well - ourselves. I also put up a pic of the back of the house (which has wiring between the windows for a light) up against Beaumont Tiles' pic of the tile from their site, to get a better idea of how the juxtaposition will work. The veining is very similar to the colour of the brick.
Please enjoy Week 6 Wrap Up Video. For some reason, I got ahead of myself and was referring to this as Week 7. In fact, we area starting Week 7 tomorrow.
Electric communication will never be a substitute for the face of someone who, with their soul, encourages another person to be brave and true.
To think a week ago the roof tiles were going up, a lot has happened this week. The bricks are on, rough plumbing is mapped out, heating unit is in the roof space and the ducts are laid out, door frames are on to external doors. Looks like we're just about ready for lock up stage!
Front of House
Porch Wall
NBN High Speed Internet Wiring
Gas Heating Unit in Roof Space
Heat Ducts
Ensuite Pocket Door Frame
Internal Door to Garage
Rough Plumbing and Tub Frame in Main Bathroom
WEEK 5 Wrap Up Video:
Winter is a season of recovery and preparation.
- Paul Theroux
