Framing completed.

Took Charlie to the park (such a beautiful day today) and returned to a finished frame. Con was right Tony doesn't muck around.

View from the kitchen window.

North facing windows

Stacker door opening.

First frame goes up.

The first frame goes up and suddenly our extension has gone all 3 dimensional. I can get a real sense of height now. With 3 metre ceilings the wall feels like it goes up and up.

Yep, that's a floor!

Finally I am able to walk on every inch of our extension. And as predicted it feels bigger again. I feel silly now worrying the end result might not be big enough - it is more than ample.

Builders are working on the frame next, so will have some more photos shortly.

Under flooring is done

Today all the joists and bearers were laid (just don't ask me which are the joists and which are the bearers). It appeared to be quite a big job as the builders were head down and deep in thought rather than their normal chatty selves.

One of the more interesting aspects of renovating is having your perception changed, then changed and finally changed again. When holes are dug and foundations laid everything feels smaller than you imagined. However, once out of the ground space appears to get bigger and bigger. Today everything looks bigger than yesterday, but I know it can't be. Weird I know.

Stumps and more bricks

Today, we saw the stumps go in out the back and brick work started on our WIR / Ensuite.

Tomorrow, joists and underflooring! Can't wait to stand in our new family/kitchen room.

Note the board behind the bricks (up the top) so we don't accidentally drop mortar on next doors garden, car, driveway.

From the back

Hallway light of my dreams

Anyone who moves into a new house or renovates an old one knows how hard it is to find "just the right" sofa, cushions, lights etc etc. I mean, there is a whole profession (Interior design) dedicated to helping people find "just the right" whatever.

Two months ago I finally found the hallway light I've been looking for for years. I first spotted it on an interior designers website a while back, then as luck would have it, I found it in the 'Inside Out' (August edition) magazine.

My excitement was very short lived once I saw the ridiculous price tag that comes with it. The Moooi 'Emperor' pendant light by Neri and Hu can be mine for a mere $1765...

Therefore, if anyone spots a light that looks a little like the Moooi 'Emperor' pendant light by Neri and Hu but costs $300 or under, please please let me know *sigh*

Finally, action at the station!

Well it's all happening today!

After almost a week of no activity my enthusiasm was beginning to wane a bit. It was nice waking up each morning to a hive of busy worker bees (builders that is) outside in the garden. It's not nearly as much fun living in a work site when no work is happening.

Anyway, that was yesterday. Today we have 6 men on site - 3 brickies and 3 builders. The last of the big delivery trucks have been and gone this morning, we now have all the wood needed for framing and flooring and the sand and cement are here ready to go.

Here is a fun bricklaying fact for you. 'White sand' is actually yellow, and 'yellow sand' is in fact orange! Who knew..

Brickies preparing for the build.

Yellow 'white sand'

Charlie and Con.

11.30am

Footings finished...

Bricks are on site.

Not a whole lot has happened since Thursday, foundations needed a few days to dry and settle.

Of course much has been happening behind the scenes though. Bricks have been matched, purchased and delivered. Apparently we were very lucky to get these reclaimed red clinkers, as they are much in demand.

I'm glad we are not using new bricks, as I've always loved a shabbier reclaimed look and new bricks on an almost 90 year old house don't really look the part. I'm told they will wash up and blend well, but hey I'm not too fussed about it.

Brickies booked in for Wednesday. Windows and doors ordered. Sand, lime and whatever else is needed is suppose to be here tomorrow at 7.30am.

Looking forward to a busy day tomorrow with a bit more to report hopefully.

On another note, we have almost decided on appliances. Just deciding on sink and oven(s) - that's right one or two!

Revised kitchen thoughts

I cannot stop thinking about our kitchen. Mostly because there is so damn much to think about. Where should the cutlery drawers go, near the dishwasher or stove? What side do we need the fridge door to open, left or right? What size fridge is really enough? Where do you put the microwave, or rather where can I hide a microwave?

Then of course there is the daunting decision of appliances. Is that expensive European one really worth that extra $1000? What's the deal with sinks, why is that one $250 and that one $2,100? If you ask 10 different people be prepared for 10 different answers.

I honestly wish there were only 5 models:
- way too expensive
- more than I wanted to pay but worth the bit extra
- affordable and good value
- cheap and cheerful
- fell off a back of a truck rubbish

A couple of months ago we thought we had it all sorted, as we held up a picture from one of my many magazines and said "We'll have that kitchen please, done." Then Con pointed out to us a few days ago that we won't actually be able to open the fridge door wide enough to remove the trays if we locate it there.

The window behind my sink suddenly looks wrong now the sink sits oddly off to one side to make room for the dishwasher. How did I miss this stuff?

After much soul searching I now believe we (or more accurately "I") messed it up because I was trying to be too clever with the design. Tried too hard to inject a bit of "Wow" that I tripped over "get the basics right" and fell flat on my face.

Therefore, I have since picked myself up. Taken a deep breath and started again. I have tried to par things back to a more basic layout. Hopefully allowing us a bit more room and flexibility with the real actual fitout. Only time will tell.

Concrete poured.

The pouring of the concrete only took 15 - 20mins, however the preparation involved before the concrete arrived was quite a task. The holes had to be 1 metre down (which is a long way down). Sure, the excavator did a lot of that work, however due to our sandy soil the sides kept caving back in creating wider and not deeper holes. In the end Con, George and Evan had to get in and do the last 30cm by hand.

The surveyor arrived checked the depth was correct and all was in order. Evan worked out how much concrete would be required and an hour later it was here ready to go. Evan was spot on with his estimation, just enough concrete arrived no extra. Con was delighted!

The actual pouring doesn't take long.

Awaiting steel reinforcement

Charlie all dressed up in builder attire today. Can you get a child sized toolbelt?

Final Plans (minus changes)

Here are the real final plans (the ones we have a permit for). Somehow I have managed to make even more changes to this. The more I look at the plans (and trust me I have looked and looked and looked) little things start to jump out as needing to be changed.

Note, the dimensions look a bit out with the front of the house. While our current bathroom is quite small it's not postage stamp small (as shown below)! More the same size as the laundry.

Plus the following changes:

* Bifold doors will be replaced with sliding doors (possibly stacker doors)

* Still rethinking the windows in the kitchen. Windows are being ordered this afternoon so I need to make the final decision today.

* Kitchen layout has been reworked with fridge on same wall as pantry and oven to go under the stove to economise space.

* Kitchen island dimensions are not finalised. Not sure whether to go 1.2m(depth) x 2.3m(width) or 1.5m(depth) x 2.1m(width). Fortunately have a bit of time before that decision needs to be made.

Excavation

"To make an omelette you need to crack a few eggs" were David's parting words to me this morning. Well, one hell of alot of eggs have been cracked since he left.

Con sawing through the concrete

Digging..(note I still had a garden at this point.)

Boo Hoo - my garden is buried alive.

Done....

Con explained that this part (along with the concrete) is the worst part. Much can go wrong, holes can cave in, pipes can be broken, one false move with the machinery and existing buildings, fences, you name it can be damaged. "If we can get out of the ground with no major problems, the rest is easy." he explained.

We will all be holding our breath.

Demolition - The carnage has began

Goodbye garden - Hello mess!

Around 6.30am they arrived, by 8.30 this was the scene...

Note the hornets nest above the window. Fortunately it was empty.

Now, where the hell is that skip!

Open plan on a budget!

By 9.30am

By 1.30am

A few before photos