Tiles are almost complete

I went past the house last night because I got home a little before dusk.

The main floor, bathroom floors and front porch are all done. As for the bathroom walls I'm pretty sure they will be complete today.

The main floor looks fantastic. Light and airy which is what I wanted. They did look a little greyer than expected (I put that down to the light at dusk). The straight pattern looks good, even though I really wanted diagonal with a border to begin with, I am very happy with the result. The stairs(the main reason for the straight pattern) look really good too.

I could only see the bathroom floors from a distance but they looked OK from where I stood. Again a bit darker but that dusk light probably had a lot to do with it.

The front porch looks a bit lighter than I remember but suits the brick and internal tile(that butt up to them) well. They will look nice with a plant stand I have my eye on. Gray wicker.

I wish I could get in and take some photos it's so exciting. I have a front porch pic but from my phone so I'll hold off posting until I can get "real" pics.

Footnote: will someone please tell me how to spell grey/gray in the right context.Yikes!

Tile chosen

I chose a new tile. I don't like it quite as much as I liked the original tile selected but thems the breaks. I'm sure once it is in I will like it. Here is a photo.

The little piece of tile at teh top was the original tile chosen. Then below are the feature tile and the new bathroom and laundry floor tile. Last is the main floor tile(showing them together).

Double Edged Sword

Our tiler called me this morning with bad news. The tile we chose for the bathroom and laundry floor will not be available again in time for our build. Damn it. I have to go and select another on Friday.



tile chosen...sadly the stock won't be ready in time.





we might have to go with the similar tile that I liked to begin with. shown here next to our main floor tile.

 He said that they are starting our job on Friday so he will get the guys to start with the main floor and do the bathroom next week. Huh starting this Friday! That's one week ahead of schedule. Sad about the tile, well not sad but bummed and thrilled they are starting ahead of time.

We also finally got the tile quote after waiting weeks and weeks. We decided to ditch the feature tiles from the kitchen and front porch. I wasn't sold on the kitchen tile after thinking about it long and hard over many weeks. Probably a good thing he took so long. And as an added bonus I don't have to try and keep those mosaics clean now. Well the grout in between them. I don't feel like cleaning mould, grease or grime off tiny tiles for the rest of my life. And the porch tiles...huh, were marble and cost $580 odd dollars for less than a square meter. Forget that.

ditched!

Lots of progress in a week

In the one week since M's birthday they have:

• finished the gyprock 
• added cornice
• stairs finished
• added the roller doors
• added the front door
• we are at lock up
• added internal doors
• added architrave and skirtings
• started to paint architraves and skirtings
• done the first cot on the ceiling
• water proofing has gone down as well in the wet areas as the floor level and colour are different now.

This is just the stuff we can see.

We are so excited and it is coming along so well. I wonder what this week will unfold.

Sunday 12.6.11 just taking shape. Photos below took place over the week.

Internal doors. LOVE them! You can see architrave and cornice installed.

Front door and door handle

overall view of house

Roller doors...and yes this is the colour they will remain. Surf Mist.

We had our landscaper visit the site on the weekend. He knows what to do now and will send us the quote. I'm not looking forward to that. The retaining wall cost is freaking me out. Hopefully I over budgeted.

I had an appointment with our kitchen company on Friday. The layout and colours are locked in and it will be ready for install on 7.7.11. The stone mason will call me after they do that for discussion on the joins and sink position.

The tiler starts on 30.6.11 so I guess they have ten days to paint. So far it looks fab. No internal photos of course. I plan to take some when the stone mason and I meet.

Chloe's Bedroom Inspiration

So I am going to do her bedroom very similar in style to her nursery but add layers that you can't use for a baby. I'm not sure if I will paint her a pink wall this time or go with the turquoise like before. I will definitely use her things again as she has so many wonderful bibs and bobs.

This was her nursery - I'll paint a feature wall either this colour or...

or this colour...we also have this bed for her

I got her this rose print quilt. It's gorgeous.

pottery barn print

I love this painted amoire. The room is gorgeous just gorgeous. I like it all.

I love this. I found this little inspiration the other day. I was planning a similar wall. I have already have a bird cage decal, a C for Chloe, canvases and prints, I was also thinking of framing a small cardigan or something from her infancy in a shadow box.  

I want this pot from Ikea and I have been collecting bunnies for Chloe each Easter so I have a bunny to use like this too.  I love bunnies.

I also have two prints of little asian girls in kimonos that I plan to use. I have string lights with white roses. I have a pink floating shelf to go up. I would also like to buy a silhouette of a little girl to frame, maybe like above. I can't wait to do her room again. I get to do a playroom as well which is so exciting. I will post inspiration for that soon.

Kitchen tid bits I like

Great bar stools

galvanised flower pots

chalk board in ornate frame

overhead lighting

knife tidy for drawer

juicy red apple print

cake stand

chair pad for those bar stools

extendable dining table - not techincally kitchen but almost 

foot stool to get to those hightened kitchen cupboards

black rail for hanging a few utensils and such

Inspired by Moline

Moline from Flickr has lived in several countries with her husband and three kids. Each time she creates a beautiful family home. Most of these pics are from the latest home in Seoul.

I would love to adapt some of her ideas. I love how she juxtaposes old and ornate with modern and inexpenisve. This is my favorite of her homes as it is light and airy.

day bed

drink anyone

Blue and white

Kiddy table in kitchen

love this dining space

bedroom modern and vintage

kids reading nook

craft room

little girls bed...sweeeet

Kitchen Fancy

So as I have posted before we are going to have a white on white kitchen. Owwwww I have a dilemma. I'm thinking of changing to black and white!

Seems most of my "dream" kitchen pics are of white doors with black stone tops. I changed to white on white at some point, not sure when. I do love black and white. Our final kicthen appointment is on Friday. Decisions...

Maybe I should stick with the white on white. Our new kicthen is modern. T white on white is works well. I can accesorise with any colours I like and it will be light and airy. I will love the white on white. I just like the classic black and white too.

Dream kitchen with wood panelling, inset doors, glass cabinets, black stone tops and high end fixtures.





Another version of my dream kicthen. With white benches.





Just looking at the bottom cabinetry and counter colours out kitchen will be similar to this. Modern, straight lines no details.

I really like this little kitchen above. Can I cottage this up without the panelling. Beachify it (yes beachify). Can I make this a little new england-ish. Maybe with some inexpensive details.

Thinking Garden



So we like these cobble stones for a path. M likes this colour for "something different".



 I like the colour but I think the grey suits better. It still has that touch of brown which does match perfectly with the brick. On the cream and grey you can see the individual pavers more which I don't like.

 

I love this for a striking border.

And I love the soft daisies for the front garden. They do well with the natives and will take the harsh sun.

 I saw this urn water feature on sale. It's nice and would go well. Not a bad price either.

It's very similar to the one we had at our last house.  M DIYed this one for a steal re-using an urn we already had. It was fantastic especially once the plants grew around it. Sorry for the small pic.

But we think we want something more like this in our new house. A wall water feature.

Not these colours of course. Without the gigantic water spout.

 

More like this with the water trickling down creating a nice ambiance. We want fish in the bottom. They would appreciate less turbulance in the water as well. We are also thinking about pulling out our best Jamie Durie and DIYing it.

Won't that be fun!

Gyprock is almost done!

Hard to see in the photos but it is nearly all done just the cornice left to do which they are probably doing today. This is what the whole house looks like.


down pipes and meter box (not their final colour)