Progress update

Hooray things have started to take shape this week with plenty of tradies on site... Some for good and some for not so good reasons unfortunately! 

The good: we have roof frames and they are absolutely humungous! They have even started to extend the frame out to where our old pergola sat and you can just feel how magnificent the space is going to be when it's done. So grand! 

For the bad: an accidental spill of concrete down our laundry pipes has resulted in our cabinetry being ripped up and floor jackhammered to get to the source! What a disaster! We have a hose running onto the lawn just so we can use the washing machine and our builder is left wondering which of the tradies is going to foot the bill. Whoops! 

Here's some pics and I will throw one in of the cladding that's being used to finish it off. Amazing! Can't wait. 

Yes we are using black cladding with raw cedar bifolds and a feature stone wall just like in this picture. Stunning! 💚

Progress update and mood boarding!

We have more progress! Actually, we have a mess that's what we have... Mess everywhere ha ha! It's been a busy couple of weeks at our place with our god sons visiting from Melbourne, our huge gum tree being removed from the backyard, demolition being completed, and the rebuild beginning. 

The weather wasn't in our favor for the first week of demolition and our site turned into a mud pit. Our poor contractors were out there in the slush and rain jackhammering up concrete, digging trenches and putting together frames. Then we had the team from Mr Stumpy turn up to cut down a giant dead gumtree from the back corner of our block. Lucky they were strapped into their harnesses because the wind was ripping through them up there. 

So next stage is framing and trusses and while we wait for that we are putting together some mood boards for the kitchen and ensuite to help with selections. Our theme is contemporary with natural elements. I've taken some inspiration from becmarksthespot blog and custom homes Instagram pics. 

This is what we have come up with... 

White Stone benchtops, 

Natural timber feature doors paired with white cabinets and black back panels

Dark timber floors. 

Layout similar to this with the sink under the bifold windows to the right. I like how the cabinetry elongates both length and height. The bulk head really finishes this space and of course I get my three seater breakfast bar! Let's hope it's possible. 

I'd like to do a green wall filled with herbs and I've seen some really cool indoor hanging displays that I would love to incorporate. If you have seen some at reasonable prices let me know where I can get my hands on them!

xx

It's really happening

One thing that's shocked me this week is the realization that we are actually doing this renovation. It's all good to plan it but it's quite confronting and even a little bit scary when it actually happens for real. Knocking down our house means there's no turning back and whilst I know I should be excited, I guess it's just a bit scary to think "are we doing the right thing?" "Can we afford this", "was this the right decision?" .. Because let's face it, there is certainly no turning back now! 

Half our house has been demolished! Here's a few little pics of the progress this week. 

It's all in the plan

If you are as much of a fan as I am of reality TV shows like house rules & the block, you would know that the key elements of success are: planning & design. I am beginning to know how the contestants felt at the beginning of each new challenge having to plan every single detail from positions of power points to the layout & style of furniture. 

I guess it wasn't so difficult for us in our last home as the layout was pretty simple.. There was only one wall for the TV to go on, so that's where the TV went. But what do you do when you have multiple walls to choose from, and expensive custom built furniture that is no longer custom built for your new home? How do you decide what type of dining room table and chairs you want and whether it will look best this way or that way.. When all I have to work with is a concrete slab! 

The debate will be whether we get it right or have a massive design fail. Hang on, I mean it's not like we have two famously experienced judges coming around to critique us but, doesn't everyone want one of those houses that looks like it's straight out of a mag? Home Beautiful me up, I'm a fan of that mag too and the app is really good if you haven't downloaded it yet, do it. 

So anyway we did have a win by mapping out our kitchen last night with a bunch of chalk; and managed to work it out so that we utilize 80% of the cabinets that we already have. It seems a waste to just buy a new one when the one we have is only 18 months old, and I love it! There's nothing better than a good deep kitchen drawer! Anyway, let's see what the cabinet maker thinks of our ideas before we get too excited. 

Time to get the creative cap on for the rest of this house! 

Demolition Week

So it's school holidays time and what better way for my hubby to spend it than by starting our demo. We got a list from our builder of what to do and where to start, and my husband has been "GO" ever since! He has ripped up the floors, knocked out the laundry & bedroom walls and even taken down the 60sqm pergola! 

A big thanks to my brother and step dad for coming and helping with all the manual labour, I wouldn't have been any use with my bad back and so we couldn't have done it without them. 

Also if you are doing a renovation yourself I highly recommend doing the demo yourself. Not only can you save in labour costs but you can make some money back by selling off whatever you remove (if you do it properly). We have sold our gas heater, old cupboards, floor coverings, windows, doors and we even have some beautiful cornices and skirtings that can be recycled. Any money you can get in your pocket is better than it going in the skip! We used gumtree to list our stuff and so far we've sold 90% of it. 

My handy hubby also put up a barricade and a door to block off the work zone from the functional space in the house. He may not have a trade but he most definitely is a tradie at heart! 

Here's some pics of all his hard work: 

Blocked off from the hallway but still gives us access when we need it. 

Interior walls stripped back to frames. Ceiling to come down next. 

Back of the house after the pergola came down. You can see the frames through the windows where the renovation will happen. 

Recap on Stage 1

Well our Rumpus room and new laundry are complete! What a transformation! Thanks to Residence Building Group. 

Exterior of Rumpus room before the renovation

Interior of rumpus room before the renovation 

During the renovation, stripped back to bare bones

External of completed rumpus room

Completed external

Completed internal

Completed internal

Stage 2

So it's been a while since I last checked in and things have been moving along nicely in the world. Our home has had the pleasure of many tradies, with lots more to come in upcoming weeks with the commencement of Stage 2 of our transformation. It's had it's ups and downs but we are finally on the move to start getting stuck in with the sledge hammer in the old laundry and spare bedroom. There's not too much demo work we can do here since it's pretty much a shell anyway but we are still looking forward to it! We are trying to achieve a relocation of our kitchen and create an open plan lounge & dining area.  Here's the space we are ready to demo which will have a new roof and transform into the open plan lounge room. 

Goodbye pink loo! I will not miss you. 

This is the laundry that has already been replaced in our new rumpus room.