Contract signed and deposit paid - Is it really going to happen?

Well last weekend we signed the contract. This weekend we paid the deposit. Plans are with the surveyor awaiting approval of permit. Commencement is about to take place any day now. Still can't believe it is happening.

On another note ceasarstone have released some new colours. They look a bit more like marble than their usual granite look. Need to get down and see them in the flesh!

Fingers crossed the permit goes ok.

Tiles - chosen and paid in full.

We did it! Today we chose and purchased our tiles.

We initially thought about staying with the same theme as our other bathroom renovated 4 years ago, thinking a bit of continuity would be good. However as we were no longer able to source that particular tile our only option was to go with something similar - but not the same. And while the "something similar" was ok, it would always be a compromise on what I really wanted. So in short - to hell with "something similar".

Besides that was 4 years ago, my tastes have moved on since then!

So here it is:

Sandstone Grey 30 x 60cm - Floor and feature wall tile.

Here it is used as an allover floor and wall tile.

Floor only.

We plan to team it with a plain 30x60cm matt white porcelain tile, a bit like this.

So there you have it. Tiles sorted! No going back now!

Mourning the loss of my backyard.

It's offical, the build is going to start around October the 12th (a mere two weeks away). And while we are super excited at the prospect of what this will bring, I still cannot help but look out at my glorious backyard and grieve at the forth coming mess and disturbance that is about to take place. After removing a few trees to enable the build to happen, the backyard has never looked better. It's green, it's spacious, it's spring time. I really hope we don't ruin things forever.

Callistmon Hedge progress (Callistemon Eureka)

The new great wall.

It's finished. The wall of next doors garage. We first heard of this wall around 2 years ago, at the time it was planned to go in front of our sunroom windows - something we were not happy about to say the least. Fortunately for us, the council were not happy about it either as it did not comply with the building regulations.

So to cut a long story short, the wall location has been changed (it's now a legal distance away from our north facing windows) and building commenced a couple of weeks ago. This long awaited wall has finally arrived and to be honest I quite like it!

It is rather imposing though and feels very high (although it's only about 290cm) but I think it will help soften the noise of approaching trains and provide us with lots of privacy which is lovely.

I look forward to seeing how we can incorporate it into our backyard and make it like a courtyard feature. Hopefully in the end it will be a win win situation for everyone.

New Kitchen thoughts

After trying for quite some time to inspire David into going with a more classic meets contemporary styled kitchen I have given up. I was hoping once he saw Dale and Sophie's kitchen from 'The block' he would relent. I was wrong.

So, here is our latest thoughts on the kitchen. I like the simplicity of the design and think it would work quite well in the space. Of course I don't think we will have anything like the actual budget this kitchen required. However it's always nice to have something to aspire towards.

I should add that we aim to put the sink on the back wall central to the window splashback as I like the idea of a sink free island. I've done a little research into our granite benchtops, looks like the next step is to head down to the stonemasons and pick out a slab. Exciting stuff!

A complete 360º

Well well. What can I say. As it turns out we cannot afford to build upstairs and renovate downstairs after all. Well, not without saving for another 2 or 3 years. So we have made the decision to abandon our second story plans in favour of extending and renovating the ground floor plan only. Yes, this is what we were thinking a good 2years ago - I know.

I'm actually really pleased with this decision. I was always nervous about building a second story extension onto what I consider a pleasingly proportioned californian bungalow. What if it turned our lovely little house into a not-so-lovely ill proportioned towering monstrosity (second story additions work best when the roof ridge line is parallel not perpendicular to the street)? We could never go back.

It does however mean living with a 3 bedroom rather than 4 bedroom house, and giving up more backyard than we would have liked, but ultimately we believe this to be the best solution given the funds we have at present.

I am currently getting these plans drafted up a.s.a.p. in order to get our permits as quickly as possible.

We have been consulting with builders and getting ball park quotes. It would appear the above plans are much more doable for us. However choosing a builder is a little more difficult.

But we think we have made a decision. God let it be a good one.

Change is bitter and sweet.

Much has happened since I last posted on this blog. As I sit here typing this post I find it hard to articulate the emotional roller coaster this last month has brought.

On the 24.6.2012 (Last Sunday) my wonderful Nanna Olga passed away changing my family's life forever. She was always a consistent and large presence in our family - a quiet wallflower she was not. It has been difficult processing just how life will go on without her - but of course it does.

Nanna, Charlie and I

The decline in her health happened suddenly and within a short 8 weeks she was no longer with us. She kept her warmth, humour and sharp mind till the very end. Words cannot explain how grateful I am to have had her in my life and how her absolute love and adoration positively affected my life.

Thankyou Nan, I will love you forever. xx