Week 13 - Mirrors, Shower Screen, Flooring

This week was all about flooring.  Most of it has been installed and the carpet underlay is down in the two minor bedrooms and little hallway between those and the main bathroom.  The OCD in me really wants to get in and wipe the dust off those new floors - it's killing me!

Kitchen

Hallway

Master

Home Theatre

Guest Bedroom

Study

When the foreman contacted me on Tuesday, he said the mirrors and shower screens would be installed next week, but I was pleasantly surprised to see they were already up today.

Master Mirror Wardrobe Doors

Bathroom Mirror and Shower Screen

Ensuite Shower

I noticed the shelves were installed in the pantry and the door handle had been installed.  I told hubby this morning, "We could live in there as is."  The fact that there are shelves in the pantry really means we're at the tail end of the build.

Pantry

And speaking of doors, now that the deadlock and door handle have been installed on the front door, I'm less upset about the height of the original hole.  It looks nice.

Front Door with Proper Handle and Deadbolt

The foreman had also mentioned that another coat of render would be applied to the garage surround.  It needs at least one more coat, but I'm happy so far.

Front of House

The search for a fencer continues.  I think they're mostly very lazy.  Even worse, I have a request that's complicating it slightly.  I would like a plinth under the fence, so there is no space between the bottom of the Colorbond and the ground.  I noticed my back neighbour has done one, post original installation.  That makes me very happy.  Notice the huge gap under my side neighbour's back fence:

Gap Under Neighbour's Fence

I'm not really sure what else is left to do in the house, with exception to the carpet.  The junction boxes need to be set up where our exterior lights will be.  Three on the front, one on the back, one outside the laundry room, one in the alfresco area.  Aside from that, we chose to put front landscaping in the package so that will need to be done along with the driveway and mailbox.

Landscape Plan

Colori Coloured Driveway Concrete in "Stone" Colour

Dulux White Duck is the colour of the render on the garage surround and this is our mail box that will also be in that colour.

Dulux White Duck

Very much looking forward to next week.  It's getting very very real.

"What sort of sap doesn't know by now that picture perfect beauty is all done with smoke and mirrors anyway?" - Julie Burchill

Week 12 - Final Electrics & Plumbing, Garage Door & Fences

I had a good idea of what to expect when we arrived this morning - the tub, sinks and showers should be installed.  The outlets should be fixed and light fittings should be up.  I also had a feeling they would start rendering the garage surround, which they have.  It'll be great after a second coat.

What I didn't expect was the temp fencing and portaloo to be gone - that is a sure sign that we are very close to wrapping up!  If my calculations are correct, we're in the homestretch with about 4 weeks left.  I was also surprised to see our garage door had been installed - when we arrived this morning, it was open.  I didn't dare try to shut the door, but when Phizer went by a few hours later and it was down.

No Temp Fencing or Portaloo!

Garage mechanism

Door down

I was disappointed to see they've had to cut out some bricks behind the ensuite.  I assume there has been a plumbing problem of some sort - I'll ask my Client Liaison Coordinator tomorrow.  I'm hoping they can fix that up so you can't tell.

On our first tour around the house, before I started taking photos, Phizer noticed the tradesmen next door had their extensions plugged into our meter box! I switched the power and called out "HELLO?" into the house.  No answer, so I unplugged the extensions and threw them back on their property.  I started to make my way to the front of their fencing, to get their foreman's phone number, which is always posted on a construction site.  One guy comes out, looking at me like I was crazy.  I said, "Why are you using our power?"  He replied, "Whatever.  It's just power."  I said, "Is that your answer?  That's it?"  He plugged his extensions into THEIR OWN box, which was a bit further for him to walk, from the garage as it was on the other side of the house, and he went back inside.  At this point, I called his foreman and said I don't want it happening again.  Here are pics of the little deviant's truck, in case I need them later.

 

Very happy to see our showers have been put in.  They aren't the ones we were shown in the showroom, which had a fixed vertical rail, but they are the ones on our contract.  I vaguely remember Phizer being concerned with height.  I'm happy about that, as I will be able to hang a shower caddy.  I was having trouble figuring out where I'd put all my shower lotions and potions, as HBC does not build shower niches (something to do with waterproofing problems).

Ensuite Sink & Toilet

My shower through my dirty window!

Bathroom Shower & Sink

Bathtub and tapware

Laundry Trough, Tap and Faucet

My beautiful Caesarstone bench top and sink!

I really tried to capture a pic of the heating vents on the ceiling, but I couldn't get a good angle with the camera, where I wasn't capturing more of a reflection of myself in the windows than of what I was actually taking a picture of.  I did manage, however, to get a pic of how they leave the light fixtures.  A relief actually - I was expecting light bulbs hanging from the ceiling.

Lighting Fixtures

The fixture over the sink will be replaced by a Rise and Fall 2 Light Glass pendant.  The fixture between the sink and the stove will replaced by a few downlights or some very inconspicuous spotlights.

Rise and Fall 2 Glass Light Pendant

While the inside seems to be under control, I really need fencing to be organised.  Parks Edge Design Guidelines (the estate's rules) state that I need to have 1800mm (6 feet in the old) Colorbond fencing in Teatree.  I don't mind that idea - it keeps things uniform and prevents eyesores that are less than forgiving of some people's eclectic taste.  I will also need to add a timber base to that fencing, to make sure my animals stay in and other animals stay out.  Something like this:

Colorbond Fence with Sleeper Base

One fencer suggested a Merbau Slat Gate, which I've been authorised by Parks Edge to use, so that will a nice background for the landscaping we'll be putting in as a last stage.  This is a Merbau Slat Gate next to a cream Colorbond fence (mine will be Teatree, as above):

Merbau Slat Gate on Colorbond Fence

It's been quite difficult to get fence quotes - to the point that I've put Phizer on the job, as I'm losing patience.  Unfortunately, he's not having much luck either.  He was meant to meet someone at the property for a measure and quote today - the guy never showed up.  On a positive note, if he wouldn't have gone back, I wouldn't have seen a pic of my garage door closed.  That being said, looks like I'll have to get back on the job if I want a fence up before we move in, so the dogs can at least go out to pee!  "Patience is a virtue," someone once told me.  To that, I say "Tall fences make good neighbours."

"Success is like death.  The more successful you become, the higher the houses in the hills get and the higher the fences get."
- Kevin Spacey

Week 11 - Paint and Tiles Almost Done!

This week saw the near completion of the paint and tiles.  Paint is a very contentious issue for me; I felt the builders were trying to pull a fast one on me, when they first slipped in that the walls, skirting boards and architraves would all be painted the same colour - Mouse.  I do love Mouse, but for the walls only; trim should be white.  When I asked them to rectify what I thought was surely an error, I was told it would cost nearly $1400 to have white trim with Mouse walls.  Nearly half of that was to do an extra coat, that would be required with the white I chose.  The balance was to pay the painters extra, for having a contrasting colour to work around.

The white they suggested only needed 2 coats, but it was a very cool white (which I found in the blue section of paint chips at the hardware store).  I stuck to my guns and got the white I wanted on the trim; they got the white they wanted on the walls. That was the best compromise the manager and I could come to, but I'm happy with that. You might notice the contrast in the pics - their white almost looks like a pale grey!  So glad I didn't let them get away with it. I don't mind painting latex paint on walls; but I do mind painting oil based paint on trim!  I will take advantage of being able to highlight difference rooms' nuances, by painting rooms with slightly varying colours and tones.  

There is a rule of thumb that says you're about 4-6 weeks from the end of construction once you're at tile stage.  They started tiles last week and are almost done, so we're right on track for a 16 week finish.  I was locked out again today, but at least it was a sunny day so I could take my time to try and get the best shots possible, considering my vantage point.

My Beautiful Front Door Painted in Dune

The Door From the Inside

Floor ,Wall and Tub Surround Tiles

Rich Dark Tiles on Floor / Double Shower

Shower Wall and Master Door from Ensuite

Master Bedroom Double Doors

Mushroom Tiles Splashback

Week 11 Wrap Up Video - Around the Neighbourhood

"Life is a great big canvas; throw all the paint you can at it."

- Danny Kaye

Week 10 - Invoiced for Fix Stage

Fixing Stage Completed on July 3rd.  From our HIA contract, that is "the stage when all internal cladding, architraves, skirting, doors, built-in shelves, baths, basins, troughs, sinks, cabinets and cupboards of a home are fitted and fixed in position."  The next stage is the last one - Completion.  We're very close to the end, which is almost a bit sad.

The painters were in on Thursday, which was ahead of schedule - great!  Except that was the day my blind guy was coming by to do a final check-measure for the plantation shutters, but couldn't because the window frames were wet - boo!  So he will be back on Tuesday.  I can expect my shutters to be installed anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks after then, depending who you believe.

Unfortunately, as expected, I have finally been locked out.  Worse than that, I couldn't even peer through the windows, because the painters have protected them with some kind of rice-paper-esque cover, which prevented me from seeing inside, but I did get a peek through the front window.

Absolutely horrible photo, but I'm happy to report that even though it's raining cats and dogs, the concrete on the Home Theatre room floor was dry.  I had reported the issue to my Client Liaison Coordinator and she reported back that the bricks had been power-washed and the water wasn't from a leak, but from the spray from the power wash.  As you can imagine, I didn't like that answer, but it seems to be fine now.

Instead, of update pics, I will show you some of the plans I have for decorating.  Firstly, the front room with all of the windows (aka "the Home Theatre") will not be a home theatre at all.  It will be a landing space immediately upon entering the house, where my indoor plants will thrive (hopefully).  As a tribute to my grandmother, I want to feature this print of the lighthouse at Peggy's Cove Nova Scotia (where Grandma was born), by a photographer named Art Wolfe, front and center in the room.

We will have coffee oak floors in that room and I've bought a cotton edged jute rug to ground the space.  A while back, we bought the Belle Jardiniere cushion from Provincial Home Living which will be one of the cushions to go on the White Ektorp sofa from IKEA.  The dogs won't be allowed at this end of the house, but if for some reason they get through, the sofa comes with a washable cover.

 

I have also fallen in love with a print of downtown Montreal, by a photographer named Alan Copson.  The SunLife Building features prominently, where both my mum and I worked at the Bank of Montreal.  I will always think of her when I see this print.  Because of that, I want to put it in a place I will see often - I have a few options I'm thinking about.

We bought a few cushions from H&M, to go on the recliner set (Nelson from Furniture Trader) in the back lounge room.  The colour of the sofa is a bit off in the pic, but you get the idea.  It's my new favourite colour -"greige" (an inexplicable mix of grey and beige).  I just have to slowly start a collection of neutral coloured cushions with different textures to nest everything together.

Unfortunately, there is no Wrap Up video this week, as I couldn't see much at all and anything outside was dreadful as we're experiencing such a heavy rainfall.  I need to see inside before I sign off on the invoice, so hopefully I will have more pics for you this week.

"I want to make sure I'm not a dilettante.  Decorating has been a passion all my life.  I love it."

- Christina Saralegui