Week 12, Day 85 - Cabinetry Installed

Surprisingly, heaps of work was completed today, surprisingly given Melbourne's 35 degree day.

The decorative capping has been installed around the windows to the front of the house, we can't recall what colour we chose for them, so we're guessing that they will be the same as the windows which is Surfmist.

Most of the cabinetry was installed today, and I must say, I am totally wrapped with the island bench in the kitchen.  Yes, it's massive, but no, it's not too big.  An awesome work bench!

Don't ask what Wil is doing here, boys will be boys!

Some of the architraves and internal doors have been hung, and the electrician has also cut out the powerpoints and light switches and pulled through the leads for the ceiling lights. 

Ensuite Vanity

Master Bedroom window

Dining area double slider

Activity Room cupboards

Laundry cabinet - a full length bench will go along that side

Bathroom

Week 12, Day 84 - Cabinetry Delivered

The cabinetry for the kitchen, laundry, ensuite, bathroom and powder room was delivered today.  Now this really does make it feel like things are taking shape!

Seeing it in the flesh gives a much better idea of the size of the kitchen, and it looks like we're not going to be short on cupboard space!  One thing I am totally wrapped to be having is the island bench.  It was well worth the extra costs as it is going to provide such an enormous amount of bench space (ask anyone in the family who has seen me cook why this is important!!).  Instead of the standard one, we opted for a very large rectangular style with two huge rear cupboards, backing on to the "working" side which houses the dishwasher, cutlery drawer and sink-cupboard.  We will also be able to use it as a place to sit with a coffee, as the bench top has quite an overhang.

To re-cap what we have chosen for the kitchen, we've gone for a Crystal Gloss finish in Polar White (bright white), with square edged chrome handles.  The bench tops will be Caesar Stone in Ice Snow.

The ensuite, bathroom, laundry and powder room are a Natural Laminex finish in Polar White.  Bench tops for ensuite and bathroom will be Caesar Stone in Ice Snow.  Benchtops in laundry and powder room will be Natural Laminex in Polar White.

Caesar Stone - Ice Snow

Handles - 10 & 12

Kitchen - Overhead Cupboards 

Kitchen - Base Cupboards for Island Bench

Kitchen - Bases and Pot Drawers

Ensuite Cabinets

Laundry Cabinet 

Week 12, Day 82 - We got rendered!

We were a little surprised to see that the house was getting rendered today, and also just a little bit surprised to see that it looked very green as it was going on.  A little bit if panic set in (only with me, although I knew as with any surface, it dries a different colour), which quickly disappeared after it began to dry over the day.  It appears quite close to the natural colour of the hebel, which is good as we really liked the look of it against the colour of the roof.

The render colour we chose was Dulux - Pipe Clay, which looks quite grey here, but is a cool, creamy-beige.

The end of last week saw the plastering finished, with all of the cornices installed and paint prep completed.  I won't bore you with dozens of photos, just a few with the cornices installed.

Scott spoke with the SS today, who has mentioned that the kitchen will most likely be installed on Monday, and the painting will be done next week!  This is just a LITTLE bit exciting!  Woo hoo, we're on the down hill now - I think :)

Wiring ready for up/down lights at portico

Rear doors of the rumpus room

Dining area

Looking back into the main living area from the rumpus room

Kitchen 

Week 11, Day 75 - Lock-Up complete - we're sailing through!

Well, it's amazing how things can change so much in a matter of hours!!!

The plasterers arrived mid morning on Monday to begin work.  We snuck a look just after 1pm, thinking that there may be one or two rooms plastered, only to find every room in the house with plaster sheets at least half way up the walls.  We returned later that evening to find that they had installed all walls and ceiling plaster throughout the whole house!  I guess it brings some truth to the saying 'many hands make light work' given there was a bus load of people working today!!!

Once again, it's changed the feel of the house, with some rooms appearing quite a bit smaller, while the main living areas and garage/studio feel really big!  No doubt it will all feel different again once the walls and ceiling have been painted and things "open-up" once again.

These photos are all over the place, as I don't know how to rearrange them!!!

Rumpus Room

Looking back into the main living area from the rumpus room

Double sliding doors of dining area 

Kitchen before the fridge cavity had been plastered

Lounge room / Office Space

Looking back towards the front door

Entry way, looking to main living areas

Studio Space, rear door opening

Main bathroom 

Standing at the kitchen island bench location,
looking to dining & family rooms
(rumpus room is the one with the void & door way)

Master bedroom window

Looking into the ensuite from the master bedroom,
walk-in robe to the left

Kitchen looking into walk-in pantry & fridge cavity.
Photo taken from roughly where the island bench will be

Studio Space with Powder Room & Entry to the House

Week 10, Day 67 - Almost at Lock-Up

The first of the hebel panels were installed on Friday, with today (Tuesday) seeing the last of them put up.  The guys sealed the gaps and tidied them up a bit, so I wonder if this means it will be rendered soon or if it's one of the last things that will be done.  We're trying to determine if the colour of the hebel is very similar to the actual render colour that we've chosen, which is Dulux "Pipe Clay".  It looks like it to us when we compare it to the render sample at Houpeton Interiors, but doesn't look like the colour chip we have.

Pipe Clay
digital swatch from Dulux website

The external doors have also been installed, along with their locks.  It's so nice to have doors that close smoothly!!  We've been chatting a bit with the lock-up carpenter, who is a lovely man. He's been so particular with getting everything straight and has given us a few pointers for the polishing of the floors, such as making sure the fixing carpenter (if he doesn't come back) doesn't trim the bottom of the doors, archs and skirting boards and leave the standard 5mm gap.  This is what's generally done to allow for floor coverings, but given we aren't adding any to the living areas, we don't want a gap between the skirting and the floor.

The bathhob, internal cavity sliders, heater, along with electrical wiring has also been installed, and the insulation has been put in place around the external walls of the house.  Scott also added some of the wrap and batts to the garage as it will be used as a studio instead of a garage.  I think my nagging got the better of him, so it was quickly put up by him and my dad one night.  We did get our SS's permission to do so!!!

Here are the photos from last weeks happenings, and also today.

Front Door

Bath-hob in the main bathroom

The kids checking out the front door - read: busting to get home! 

Looking into the portico from the front of the garage/studio

Looking at the rear access door of the garage/studio,
the dining area double slider is on the left 

Rear rumpus room double slider and the back of the house 

Retaining wall has finally been started

The ensuite and master bedroom windows at the front of the house

Arty-view of the portico :)