resolutions...

Wishing you a Happy 2013 and 
success with your new year's resolutions!

I'm going to re-hash last years list....

and add just one....

x KL

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this year...

A synopsis of the major events in 2012 for our family. 

I printed this collage of images and popped them into frames and posted them to family and friends as our Christmas cards this year. I really liked the effect and it was much more personal and informative than store bought cards. 

I'm looking forward to 2013 with great optimism.

. 

x KL

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this week....

 David has been busy (yup, you guessed it!) plastering upstairs whilst the rest of us have played with Tilly, taken delivery of a new car, eaten our weight in Christmas fare and generally lazed about.

This year has flown by so fast....it's quite incredible to only have a few days left of 2012!

The tricky upstairs hall area is sheeted now. In the pictures above you can see the small linen cupboard, my 'shoe' cupboard inside the main bedroom doorway and another light well that allows natural northern light into this area. I wanted to paint the hall end in Dulux Domino, the dark charcoal colour I've used elsewhere but the strip of wall continuing up into the light slot might look odd. Funny how I didn't foresee this before sheeting. 

I tried this rendering below (picture taken at night so no light from window) and think it looks OK? The wall on the right was to be the same dark colour. ? Opinions?

Whatyabeenupto?

x KL

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Tilly

We have taken delivery of a little girl Moodle, Tilly for some friends who are away on holiday. Due to Cyclone Evan, their trip to Fiji was pushed back a few days and we get to baby sit till Sunday. J is totally in love. I'll let you know how I feel after tonight, this being Tilly's first night away from her mum.

x KL

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DETAILING: Powder Room

Here are the plans for the upper level powder room which will also function as J's bathroom as it is next to his bedroom. His room is finished with the exception of carpet, desk and bookshelves. I have posted about it before HERE.

The layout for the powder room changed radically from those in the original design as I wiggled walls and doors in the hall in order to create a small linen cupboard which I had forgotten to include. There is one downstairs but to have one on this level will be practical. Luckily the rearrangement meant we gained views of Copacabana Beach from the window. Yay!

On a lucky shopping trip I scored the W.C and fittings for this room for only a few hundred dollars (detailed HERE) and we have some marble for the floor (heated) and one wall that was rescued from a skip! Matt white 600 x 300 mm vitrified wall tiles will finish the room.

Below left is the inspirational picture for this room. I also added a bulkhead over the vanity to accommodate a niche that will hide the roller blind and will include a drawer in the custom made vanity for storage.

The other swishy detail added to this room, which I'm very proud of, is a light well over the shower and W.C. I pinched the idea from The Westin Hotel, Sydney and there will be a LED light strip secreted in the slot too for evening illumination. As this room faces South, it is a very successful way of gaining an abundance of natural Northern light into what could have potentially been, a dark cave.

That concludes the detailing posts for the upper level. The lower two levels are semi complete and where we currently inhabitate. 

Should I continue posts like this of these rooms or do you find them boring as bat sh*t? 

Be honest!

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!

the day after the night before....

Hope you're Christmas Day had few disasters, or if they did, were blog worthy!

My lips are sealed.
 

x KL

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Yup...still getting plastered!

Main Bedroom totally gyprocked yesterday. Yay!

Davey's definitely going to be on 'the good list'! 

Moi? 

 I must've misheard the 'lets get plastered' directive. Ooops!

As it is Christmas Eve though, I'd like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all my readers who have made my little blog such a worthwhile and enjoyable experience for me. I hope you and your families have a joyous Christmas.....

.....and pity the poor builder's child who might accidentally peep the scene above. Ho Ho Ho!

Merry Christmas!

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!

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!

h e l l o.......peace....joy? Where are you?

David has told me he invited all his tradies to our house this afternoon for Christmas drinks. I've just made myself that cuppa above before I tackle this:

Eeeeek!!!! In my dreams I would be having this instead:

 

But because I'm not Melinda from Georgica Pond my house doesn't look like this: 

Tea's finished, better put my skates on...Baa Humbug.

 

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!

Today

We did a wee bit more gyprock'n this weekend. (alas 'the tuckshop arms' see little improvement!)

The underside of the lounge room cove is complete and David popped a fluro in to see the effect. Am a tad disappointed (Shhhh....) as I thought the light would gradually fade / diffuse from bright to light over a greater area. Perhaps 'warm' white LED's will give a different effect? Can't wait to get the vertical planes done now!

The Nest Leaver's returned to visit and everyone, except hard-working daughter # 2, A and Moi went off to the movies. I thought I'd knock over the last of the shopping list. 

Hilarious. What was I thinking? 

All that remotely came close to my shopping trolley were bandaids for my blistered feet and this snow dome which was not for sale. ? Thank God, I'm not a Kleptomaniac!

My hubby's many things but a flower giver, he is not. When I do receive flowers it makes an impact... J gave these to me via my Brother-in-law after a day addressing my departed Aunt's belongings. There were some for Nana and my sister too. Perfect. A little sunshine in my home. 

Most thoughtful gift...EVER. 

Thank you.

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!

Bits 'n Bobs

I love the 'help yourself' drink canisters popping up everywhere. Of course the most stunning ones are only available in the U.S and cruelly, they are also the cheapest! I looked into shipping this one here and the postage was three times the item cost. Yikes! Little Kate Spade handbags (leopard one above) are more easy to justify purchasing, particularly when on sale. Yippee!

Hows your Christmas preparation going? I wrapped presents yesterday. Still have two people to purchase for. Dad and Daughter No. 2. They're hard this year. I'm still struggling with a lack of Christmas Spirit. Hope it finds me soon!

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!

damn...

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!

DETAILING: Lounge Room

The detailing for the lounge room has been the easiest so far. This room is located at the top of the stairs on the top level and has great ocean views through to Norah Head Lighthouse.  The picture below was taken from this room when H.M.A.S Adelaide was scuttled off Avoca Beach in 2011.

We've mostly stayed to original plans here, as seen below.

I've roughly added some red lines to show where we've dropped the ceiling height around the perimeter of the room in order to create cove lighting which I've mentioned before HERE. The stair hallway ceiling has been dropped even further to delineate that space and to link the heights is the other rooms on this level.

We've decided to install a customised Ecosmart Fire rather than gas (gotta love un-installing stuff! LOL!) and add a built-in bookcase to the LHS which was posted about HERE but I'll re-post the piccies again below. My attempt at a rendering, left. Bookcase inspiration, right.
I'm going to build the bookcase just shy of the end wall to create a niche into which the curtains can be drawn so when they're open, they don't obscure the window. That's the concept, anyway. LOL!

Poor Davey has already built the framing for a solid gyprock handrail for the stairwell but I've changed my mind and now want frameless glass to match the proposed exterior handrails. Eeeek! Here's an inspirational pic:

  I've found it hard to find an image that reflects our situation where the staircase is flanked by flooring either side on the upper level. I think glass will work well here because of the large expanse of wall behind the stairs which can be viewed from the lounge area and is perfect for art. Perhaps something like this:

Vivienne Westwood Union Jack wallpaper

I ordered this awhile ago from the UK and posted about my excitement HERE, and was planning to put it in J's bedroom but after spying this image, may relocate that treasured purchase! These will be exciting decisions to make! Can't wait!!!
 

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!

Hubby really hit the roof this weekend!

I don't think there would be many people who would celebrate when their spouse 'hit the roof' but, with a builder husband, the term takes on a different meaning!

We were extremely fortunate to have borrowed our Plasterer's sheet lifter so this weekend David and I exhausted ourselves getting the final gyprock ceiling sheets up. No simple task with 6 metre long sheets and a lounge ceiling height of 3.6 metres!

Clockwise from top left, we have now installed the dining room, main bedroom, main bedroom ensuite and stairwell / hall ceilings. With every muscle screaming (I AM NOT exaggerating!), we also sheeted the highest part of the lounge room as seen below. Thank God that job is behind us!

Apart from sheeting the cove section of the lounge room ceiling, we're now up to the walls which are relatively easy and, with only a few large expanses, less of a weight strain! At just under the big 50 age mark, I doubt David or I will ever do this ourselves, again.

x KL

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Making a Curtain Call

I once thought that window coverings were something to consider after you moved in and you were sick to death of sheets stapled to architraves. Ummm...definitely not.

Achieving a beautifully finished room always starts at the design stage and this house, our current project is no exception. 

Due to the ocean views, we maximised the glazing and in order to best utilise cooling breezes, chose functional louvre windows. This decision eliminated the option of having Plantation Shutters (Boo Hoo!) which left me with blinds and curtains as window coverings.

I love the 's' track system for curtains. Here's my inspiration:

Downstairs, I have installed simple roller blinds in the bedrooms, with the intention of having the sheer installed over them later. Blinds will be hung in the family room in due course. I planned for  ceiling pelmets to hide the header where blinds will be used alone, which will look neater when completed.

Upstairs, the same will be done; a combination of blinds and / or sheers where daytime privacy may be required. The open plan formal lounge / dining area though has provided me with a headache due to the varying ceiling heights. I have two options here. The red line indicates the track position, the yellow circle a curve bend in the track.

Pros and Cons:

The pictures above TOP,  illustrate the further possibility of adding a pelmet  to hide ugly brackets in option one. Though this still creates a dust shelf! The pictures above BOTTOM, show the difference between ceiling and wall mounted tracking.

I ADORE the room below where the curtains fall from the ceiling. It's similar in shape to my room but I wonder if the ceiling height change would look odd???

(Love the pendant too. Can anyone identify it?)

All your thoughts, as always, are very gratefully received!!!!

 

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!

A BUILDING ADDRESS BOOK

 A BUILDING ADDRESS BOOK

Useful Links for Information, Goods and Services

This post will be added to and easily accessed via the link in My Current Project, right

BUILDING:

DRW Constructions Pty Ltd:  Best Builder on the N.S.W. Central Coast in my humble opinion! New residences, renovations, commercial and custom concrete pools.

Planit Kitchens: Superior service, quality and design. Their large showroom worth a visit. Located at Erina on the Central Coast of N.S.W.

My Shower Grate Shop: Custom Designed Stainless Steel Shower Grates. Fast delivery Australia wide. Online store.

Pure Ventilation:  Specialist in Ventilation supply Australia wide. Great information. Online store.

EcoSmart: Bioethanol Fireplaces. Inside & Outdoor, Modern & Traditional. Can custom size.

Axolotl:  The pioneer of innovative and creative metal, concrete and glass products. Specifically for high end surface technology.

Reece: Easy to use online bathroom planner and excellent inspiration galleries. Good prices. 


HOMEWARES:
 
Peter's Of Kensington: Shop big homeware brands at bargain prices. Online store. Sign up for their Daily Deals to recieve basement deals straight to your inbox!

Top 3 by design: An ever evolving collection of the best of design. Physical & online store.

Hard to Find:  A one stop shop of curated 'finds' for every area of your home. Online store.

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!

A Hot & Steamy Solution: getting ventilation right

Removing steam and moisture from bathrooms and laundries is an important consideration in any build. The exhausts we fitted in the downstairs bathrooms are totally insufficient so we did some research before buying the upstairs models. (And we're going to need to replace those downstairs) We discovered an Australian online company called Pure Ventilation that provided the easiest  "How to Choose an exhaust Fan" information, and they have an online store. We ordered Thursday night and accepted delivery Friday afternoon. The exhaust was installed this morning and the ceiling sheeting continues. Yippee!!!!

Adequate ventilation requires an understanding of the room's capacity (or airflow). To do this, calculate the area of the room you wish to install the ceiling exhaust fan (Length x Width x Height). Then multiply this number by the number of air changes required (approximately 10 for a standalone toilet and 15 for a shower.) Use this cubic metre capacity to choosing an appropriate exhaust unit.

Discoveries like this make getting it right so much easier. I think I'll start a 'Links' page, compiling some great sources we've discovered. 

Have a great Weekend!

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!

The travelers return!

Tonight my middle daughter A, (in red jacket) boards for home from Japan! Yay!!!!

On Wednesday, The nest leavers, S (in black coat) & M (the long haired boy) return with M's mate Q. Snitched these pics from their Facebook pages, he he! Amazing the technology that allows us to view near instant pics and have free mobile conversations (Viber) with children on the other side of the world!

Thought you'd enjoy these pics Nana!

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!

We have a winner!

Congratulations 

to Natalie from In The Night Sky who was the winner of the gorgeous Charlie Brown Candle.

Please let me know your address Natalie so I can pop it in the post Monday!

 Thank you to everyone who entered and welcome to my new followers too!

Whilst New South Wales has been sweltering in a heatwave, we have fared extremely well due to onshore breezes. David worked at a client's home a few suburbs away in 42 degree heat whilst I updated the girl's and our bedlinen in comfortable 24 degrees! 

And

 HOT OFF THE PRESS:

The ceilings are all insulated and sheeting has begun!!!

Woo Hoo!!!!

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!