Mad Monday

Do you ever have one of those mornings that just seems to get a bit mad?? I'm sure you have, and what else can you do but take a deep breath, laugh and crack open the red wine.

We are right in the part of our build where we (I ) need to make choices about the fixtures and fittings and although I realistically have had ages to plan for them, I really wasn't aware of the schedule of when they were all needed. I was completely unorganised  this morning our plumber turned up and casually mentioned that he needed our bathroom tapware and mixers today (this is where you picture me doing a panicked screammy face)

This was followed by a rushed dash out the door with the two small fries, in the rain to the nearest Reece plumbing centre where the plumber was also going. The plan here was that we would be putting the tapware on his trade account so we got the trade discount... This was the Reece plumbing centre that happened to NOT have any bathroom tapware....

Back out to the car in the RAIN and a drive across town to the main showroom in Osborne park. It wasn't supposed to be more than a quick trip around the corner so I was completely caught out without any car snacks for the kiddos. Ally was not impressed and screamed most of the way.

Over at Reece I picked out the tapware, shower and mixers I wanted they were gorgeous and was feeling pretty good about it until the shop assistant mentions it's a 7-10 day wait for the products I wanted (and this is where you picture me doing my panicky crying face) 

F....M.....L (pardon my French)

They had an alternative tap and mixer set that fit our needs in stock scattered across a few different stores but I just wasn't feeling it. It was more expensive than the one I wanted and not as pretty so I thought I might chance Masters and have a look what they have in stock.

How to entertain a three year old in the bathroom shop? Give her official shower testing duties of course

A baby screaming car ride later we were back on our side of town at masters looking at the tapware. It wasn't much in terms of the style we are going for (apparently basins with taps from the wall are not popular around these parts) but the good news is that they did have some that I can happily live with and they worked out cheaper than the Reece ones I didn't really like so I'm calling it a semi win. The hubs is also happy I didn't spend up as much as I could have.

In the end the plumber didn't get round to fitting the mixers today

F.ML....

On a more positive note, our roof is on, most of our walls are up AND I got to meet with a lovely interior designer today I was recommended via Maya from House Nerd. Not that I think I struggle to find things l like but sometimes I do struggle to put it all together in a cohesive way as I like so many things and so many different styles. Plus I was completely unsure about how to tile our bathroom and not make it look cheesy or like a boring display home.. 

Jo-Anne is perth based and you can find her HERE... I decided to go with her for after seeing her own beautiful abode and knowing she was a mum of young children she would completely "get it" in terms of practicality and functionality.

I'm excited to see what she comes up with and has already made some great suggestions that have my head buzzing with ideas.

If you skimmed all the stuff I just wrote because it wasn't funny/ good or interesting enough for you in the very least take note of the important (possibly obvious) lesson I have learnt today.....

If you are building or renovating your home,

make sure all the fixtures and fittings are purchased well in advance......

Maybe not before you put a concrete pad or stumps down but the sooner you decide on the fixtures and fittings and you have them in your hot little hands the more likely you are to avoid the situation I endured in the car today.

With another week down and a new one just beginning this is what our build looks like right now...

Doesn't it look cool?!! That window to the left is where our dining room will be and the open area to the right will all be stacking doors onto an alfresco area. The far inside black doorway you can see is the original French doors to the old part of the house.

Oh and the finished house wont be blue in case your wondering that's just the cladding..

Dani x

Project owner build- a lot can happen in a week

There hasn't been a whole lot of updates lately on our build because there hasn't been a whole lot going on. With the exception of some serious algae growth on the setdown areas for our bathroom and laundry. Yep it's been a long and frustrating few months waiting for things to start back up again.

That was until last week when we got the call at last our structural steel was finally ready! I'm a bit of a internet shopper junkie so I love the excitement of expecting a postal delivery quite a lot but it all pales in comparison to this special delivery. 

Like a super dork I was out there running about and taking photos to capture the momentous occasion. 

And then again a few days later when we were ready to bring our steel frames onto site

I am a little embarrassed about how many photos I have of this from every possible angle, like I said I was feeling excited..

Last Friday this is how it looked out the back

I have never been one to miss a cheesey portrait opportunity...

And today it's looking like this..

We went down the path of prefabricated framing that was built to our specifications and met the engineering requirements so it is pretty much one giant mechano set complete with instructions. 

A bit of Lots of messing around with measurements and levels to make sure everything is square and in the right place and some re-cutting and re-jigging of some parts that didn't quite work but otherwise it's gone together pretty nicely. 

After the pad went down we had the expected panic of the it's too small moment but with the wall frames up you certainly get a better idea of the space and I think it's pretty much perfect for our needs now I can visualise it better with the frames in place.

I think our idea of a modern take on the old skillion roof is coming off pretty well, the high line windows are designed to let lots of natural north facing light in and I think it's going to be quite beautiful. I can't wait to see this once the plaster is up and the windows are in. I found this image on the net last week and felt super excited as this is pretty much how it's all going to look (with different styling) but the overall structure is very similar.

Image via temple and Webster blog HERE.

I am completely amazed at how fast the skeleton has gone up and how hard the hubs has worked to do it.

We are also so very grateful for having some AMAZING family and friends who have given up their free time to help us out. There is no way that the hubs could have done it without them. Not only have we had our awesome dads to help us we have had people we only just met, friends who have up their time off to help, a friend who spent his last days before flying away on a year long trip, a friend who drove forever to get here, another who is a building machine who has been amazing, we even had our building designers hubs help out when they came to take some progress shots (how's that for service?!)

I am really looking forward to having all our helpers over for a big celebration once it's all complete. I'll cook in our new kitchen and we will casually lounge in our new alfresco and admire a job well done

Next jobs to do on the list are 

Blue board (cement fibre cladding) and insulation on the external walls

roofing

pre wire and plumbing

The hubs will be doing the pre-wire as he's a qualified electrician and will be getting help in for the cladding all the other jobs will be contracted out to the specialists.

Coming up in the next few weeks I'll have some updates on our progress, an interview with a very cute owner builder couple and some furniture up cycling make sure you check back!

Dani xo