e t e r n a l i c o n s: October 2012

31.10.12

HOUSE PLANS

I am so humbled by the number of comments I received regarding my proposed kitchen. Thank you so much everyone! What a fabulous untapped resource you all are!!!

I've realised that asking for advice when I've only given you half the information is a bit stupid though. Duh!

So to make things a bit more transparent in the future, here's some more deets:

The house is spread over three levels (we currently live on the ground floor only) and the kitchen is located on the top. The drawings aren't flashy; I did them...but luckily that didn't bother Council! The individual room layout details have changed significantly from those above too!

There are some limited views to the south over Copacabana Beach from the top level and glorious views to the north over the ocean and the coast from Winnie Bay to Norah Head light house. These are seen from the ground floor too.

As we slowly complete each area we have added or subtracted details.

Many are budget related, others are structural. The vast majority are practical or aesthetic!

For example:

The sliding stacker doors were deleted from the playroom (original plan above) and a single door added for deck access. That west facing wall of glass would have created a hot box! It made furnishing the room easier too.

I posted pics of the finished playroom HERE an eternity ago!

I also swapped the internal cavity doors to the playroom for a square opening. This gave me more wall space for art (which is in short supply) and saved moolah too!

David decided to add Solar hot water to the house and it's location on the roof required greater structural support. I decided I didn't want to walk up the stairs and see the kitchen floor crud side on, nor did I want to see cooking from the formal lounge so screening this created the additional roof support and screening in one swoop. And more wall space for art!

Sooooo....the kitchen area now looks like this; the fridge is plumbed and in situ (though can be pushed further back) and the whole area waiting for joinery (currently filled with stored 'stuff', like the dishwasher, out of warranty now, in that big carton!)

The rear kitchen wall with 'splasback' window

LHS of kitchen where fridge is 'hidden'!

View from proposed kitchen island over dining room and David and his 'temporary' office!

I hope this post clarifies the direction we are heading at a snail's pace!

I might post a quick series of room plans showing the changes we've made and pop the latest and most up-to-date plans / progress in a separate 'Current Project' list on the right sidebar. It'll make an easy reference for me too!!! LOL!

x KL

Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment. I love receiving feedback! I also love watching a new pretty picture box added to my followers - would love you to join me so I can get to know you too!

30.10.12

today

I had a busy but productive day today.

I drove to Sydney to collect my 'pod' chair,

popped into Ikea for some print frames for a planned arty project

and visited Mum and Dad too.

Brought home an old aluminium table and chair set that I'm (*cough* - David) is repainting for the Nest leavers. Made it back for the 3 pm school pick up via a mega fast food shop! Whew!

Thank God for BBQ chickens and salad packs!

x KL

29.10.12

WARNING: Extreme Vacuuming

No....poor old Davey hasn't gone mad....he's being creative with removing a gazillion paint flakes off Nana's lawn after prepping an aluminium table for re painting. Wish he was as handy in the house with that contraption!

Please feel free to print to show your husbands what some men do on their weekends....

Somehow I don't think Extreme Vacuuming will take off as a men's sport!

x KL

26.10.12

More Kitchen Decisions....

I have these wonderful 3D renderings of our proposed kitchen to share thanks to B, from B is Building a House. She so patiently drew them for me even after we discovered (several times) that the measurements I was supplying her were incorrect. Oooops!

It has been a fascinating experience. I'm pretty good as 'visualising' a space but to see it drawn accurately and to scale is something else! The kitchen window is smaller than I perceived it to be, as is the open appliance area. David dislikes my 'hidden' desk area and the island is significantly shorter in length. Eeeek!

The up stand idea has been definitely eliminated, however the sink location is still undecided.

And I'm being strongly swayed towards providing some at-island seating thanks to your wonderful suggestions and feedback.

So much more to still consider!

Thank you again B for your generous time in compiling these illustrations for us!

x KL

A spot of shopping...

With Christmas less than 9 weeks away, I took yesterday to strike more items off my shopping list.
I've ordered a white hanging 'Egg' chair for the house, bought a beautiful silk Caftan for the party season and decided on my decorating 'theme'. Silver, Turquoise and White!
I made a start on a gift basket for a baby shower in November and have pre-ordered a few new release games to eliminate the difficult boys. Phew!

I don't know about you, but I feel much calmer when I don't have a big 'to do' list.

I have to sincerely thank Natalie from In The Night Sky too for suggesting PicMonkey as a means of collaging photos. If you are having difficulty like I was, give it a try. So simple!
I popped a pic of the beautiful floral arrangement that my middle child received from her new BF in to the collage above too - because I can!!! LOL!

The gorgeous B from B is Building a House has generously compiled several 3D pictures of our proposed kitchen for me, which I'll post tomorrow.
I feel ever so grateful for these clever Bloggy friends!

x KL

24.10.12

A Technical Question....

So I found the Picjointer App on my phone and can now post multiple pictures in one frame.

Woo Hoo. And I discovered yesterday (half-way through the post!) that I can change the frame of the collage to black, to better suit my blog background. Double Woo Hoo.

The question is :

How do I create these collages on my computer without using my current, non techie way?

Currently I email pictures to myself, open email on my phone and download the images. Then I upload pics to the Picjointer App and email back to myself. Back on the P.C, I open and download new emailed joined pics and then go to blogger and upload to blog. Whew!

Please tell me there's an easier method ? !

x KL

23.10.12

Kitchen Island Debate. Yes or No?

After the near purchase at Grand Designs posted HERE, I've been mentally debating with myself about my realistic kitchen island options.

Option 1: Standard island with or without sink

Option 2: Screened island with sink

The Floorplan:

The Kitchen will be located in a 7000 x 3000 mm space

The Facts:

There is a 3400 mm 'splashback' (ADDENDUM: 4000 mm! Oops!) window where the 'Sink ?' and 'Cooktop' are marked on plan. The sink position is flexible. Currently we've got plumbing to the island area but David can have it relocated to be in line with the cook top on the back bench relatively easily. But then, do I move the dishwasher back too or leave it in the island? The cook top can be where marked on plan or centred if the sink stays in island. I do not want stools in front of the island.

The only dinning area in our home will be directly in front of this island and I don't want guests seeing dirty dishes stacked here so the style of island will determine the sink location. I've been weighing in favour of the upstand for awhile now, eliminating the need for the plumbing relocation but the photos above, found recently on Ideas To Steal have me re-thinking.

The photos above are of a bar in Helsinki and for the first time, I think I've found pictures so similar to my vision but have illustrated what I don't want. Interesting. The photo's below illustrate the two possible choices for the island (though mine won't be as long as these)

Have you got a sink in an island?

What are your thoughts about screened islands?

Can a sink and dishwasher be on opposite sides of a galley?
Any input, ideas and suggestions will be gratefully received!

x KL

21.10.12

Another little project....

J had back - to - back birthday parties today so David and I had a lovely lunch together and then a wander around Domayne. I showed him the coffee table that I'm so enamoured with and he has promised to make me one!

I designed a custom study desk for our last home (seen above) which I was really pleased with. It remained in the house when we sold it and it was a very cost-effective option for its size.

I've had these dining tables stored in a "LOVE" file for a few years. They are from Coco Republic and David feels he can replicate the Domayne coffee table top in reclaimed English Oak Parquetry to look similar to these. He thought $799 for a 'palette timber' top was excessive. Eeeek!

Anyhooo....I'm going to get my coffee table; but better and cheaper. Score!

I'm starting the steel design specs tomorrow.

x KL

20.10.12

Holy Sheet!

The sun is shining, the whales are leaping and the remaining Gyprock has finally arrived!!!!

Woo Hoo!

I've made a few changes to our main bedroom in terms of functionality and am adding a cavity sliding door to the 'shoe' cupboard for ease of access so, before we start sheeting, this needs to be installed. The wiring is done and David's making some changes to the design of the box gutter to avoid a any further catastrophe like HERE.

It may not seem exciting to many but for me it feels like Christmas!

x KL

19.10.12

A spot of shopping...

Stuck at home with a sick little boy, I've struck a few Christmas gifts off my list by shopping online.

Again, Peter's of Kensington provided lots of inspiration and easy shopping!

Georg Jensen Coasters, Issey Miyake Perfume, Stanley Rogers Cutlery and Swarovki Ornament.

And I spent my $50 Country Road gift voucher on these:

Lucite picture frame and Cori Nutshell Coasters from Country Road

I've bought Dymock's gift vouchers for the nephews; they're all big boys now (at uni) and I hate to give something that will be sent to Vinnies by Boxing Day.

David is proving difficult this year....any good 'man' gift ideas out there?

x KL

18.10.12

Did you laugh? Did you?

I spotted the above picture on Pinterest and had a giggle. Then I saw the news and saw Julia doing this.....

Or maybe she was 'planking'?

Again!

I may or may not have had a 10 minute good ol' belly laugh.

She might not be my political cup-of-tea but Hells Bells -I felt sorry for her (after I caught my breath).

If you can't walk in heels Julia, wear flats!
I can hear the boys discussing concreting that glass ceiling!

I'm starting a collection to buy her some Mary Jane's and Scholl's Heel Grips. Whatchathink?

Cinderella, she is definitely not.

Oh, and please don't think I'm mean...

I know the embarrassment of doing the same. On my own. Which no-one saw....but boy did they hear me cackling like a Hyena!

x KL

...back to normal here

After my Fantasmagorical day, normality has rudely returned.

I haven't won Oz Lotto.

David's Intense Physiotherapy involves me 'massaging' his shoulders for 10 minutes every night.

David's Intense Physiotherapy involves me 'massaging' his shoulders for 10 minutes every night.

David's Intense Physiotherapy involves me 'massaging' his shoulders for 10 minutes every night.

(I needed to hear it thrice so gave you the same courtesy)

J's dislike of homework has returned with a vengeance, even with a pen licence.

Ditto his attitude to showering.

I've spent my found $20 on liquid paper.

I saw a massive snake today. It stopped traffic! I did not have my camera or my phone with me!

The pump motor died. We now have one flushable toilet out of three.

The bank deducted the extra $100 from my bank account. David reckons I hit the wrong button.

P l e a s e ! ! !

I'll be off then, to be friends with the cask again.

(And massage David's cruddy shoulders. *Humph*)

x KL

16.10.12

O.M.G!

Hot off Table Tonic blog; too shocking not to share!

x KL

A Fantasmagorical Day!

Ever had a day where everything is just good, happy and nice?

I was blessed with one of these rare wonders yesterday!

It wasn't about everything being perfect... (I forgot to get onions and capsicum for the dinner dish I'd planned) but somehow it didn't matter.

Here is my list of wondrous stuff that kept my heart singing all day....

1. I woke up without a headache from drinking some sort of surgical sterilizing agent they call 'cask wine' which David thought looked good, as it was "on special".

2. I appear to have avoided the need for dialysis even though I may or may not have consumed a large portion of said liquid whilst watching not one, but two Jaws movie re-runs! AS you do. EEEK!

3. Got J to school on time. This is miraculous as a) I woke up at 8 am. b) school starts at 8:30 and c) we live 20 minutes away from school. Do the maths. And he had breakfast. And an ironed uniform.

4. I made it to school and home without anyone knowing I was in my PJ's. Shhhh!

5. I won a Strawberry Margarita O.P.I. Giveaway from B, B is building a house (If you haven't peeped her blog before....go on...now's the time!) Digit Make-Over here I come!

6. 94 minutes were well spent catching up with a girlfriend. It was a mobile to mobile call but...wait-for-it....it didn't drop out. Not once! I was at home being a sloth but she travelled from Terrigal to Surry Hills! And we're both with Vodafone!!!! W.T.F?

7. I saw three whales! Tail slapping!!! From the en suite! (OK, to be honest this was on Sunday but it's close enough to count here, eh?)

8. Giulia from Something Gorgeous posted her Prawn Risotto dish. Thank you. We had it for dinner. Minus the capsicum (I forgot to buy one) so I added Pelligrini tomatoes. Yummy!

Giulias dish LHS, my interpretation RHS!

9. On the school pick up run all traffic was stationary, in both directions on busy Avoca Drive. Laughed out loud watching a burly concretor get out of his van to assist the stragglers up the gutter.

10. Having planned to visit our local lookout on the way home, I just happened to have my camera with me to get the shot above!

11. I saw daughter No. 2. It may have been fleeting....she needed a shower and freshly laundered clothes before heading out again with new BF, but she's alive!!!! Yay!

12. David doesn't need his arms sewn on! We've been investigating shoulder reconstruction but his Orthopedic Surgeon concludes this can be delayed with intense Physiotherapy. Woo Hoo!

13. The local lookouts have been revamped and I can see our house from one of them now! J & I paid a visit after school looking for more whales...spied our place from a new angle, instead!

14. J got his 'pen licence'. Finally. He had renewed focus for his homework (at least for today)

15. Received a $50 Country Road Gift voucher in the mail. Apparently I am now a V.I.P. and get free delivery on online purchases too!

And it went on.....and on.....(can you hear Katrina singing....?)

Didn't get any bills today.

J had a shower, as soon as asked, without complaint.

The broken pump was fixed with a $2 washer.
Got $150 from an ATM when I wanted $50. (I'm sure the bank will find me!)

Was invited to High Tea next Wednesday with some Mum's from school.

I didn't get shonked on Etsy; the skull arrived!

The Glamourzons etc are visiting Sydney in December for a family catch-up.

My deceased friend's hubby has 'met someone'; is rejoining life.

I hit 60 'followers'! (God bless you Sam)

I sold my too heavy Oroton bag on eBay.

Got an unprompted kiss, squeeze & 'love you Mum' from J.
Found $20 in a disused purse.

I forgot onions for the risotto but actually needed shallots - which I had!

Ever had a day like this?

Bloody Fantasmagorical!

I also bought a lottery ticket for tonight's Oz lotto.

If it wins there will be no cask wine - promise!

x KL

15.10.12

Display areas in bathrooms

When I was compiling yesterday's long winded post, I came across many magnificent bathroom images that featured areas specifically designed to display towels, candles and decor accents.

I thought I'd share some of them with you.