29.6.13

Size Matters...

David and I have been building / renovating for quite some time
As David's reputation as a builder has grown, so has the size and value of the projects he undertakes both professionally, and for us personally.

So how challenging can a small project be?

As I am quickly discovering...very!


Generous spaces usually allow several options for lay-out, style, fixtures and colour. Not so the small space. Every centimetre has to prove it's worth and vie for position; functionality must take precedence over aesthetics. This often translates to one 'best' layout and flows through similarly to other design elements which become decided through practical elimination rather than by choice.

Add to such a project brief a limited budget, catering for the special physical needs of the client and the emotional attachment of said project being for a friend or family member, and the challenges increase exponentially!

Eons ago, I worked for a furniture manufacturer & retailer who taught me a valuable lesson in relativity. Regardless of the size of a table for example, the workmanship was the same in the construction of the 'expensive bits' (mortise & tenon joints, hand turned legs) and therefor the cost of  any additional length to the tabletop was relatively minor. Half the size is not half the value and so too a small house is more expensive than a large one on a per square metre ratio, regardless of whether building new or renovating.

 The Terrigal Project provided many challenges such as these which were successfully addressed. (The full project conclusion can be seen HERE) My own parent's house is our current project and as my childhood home it's as emotionally charged as they get!

 Small house = Big design challenges!

Stay tuned!

x KL

Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment, I love receiving feedback!

25.6.13

The Renovator's Rulebook

 As my parents embark on the renovation of their 50 year old home, I found this 'rule book' and thought it too good not to share with them and you! Enjoy!



The Renovator's Rulebook

Rule 1: Any drop of paint, released at ladder height will hit the one gap in your plastic sheeting.
Rule 2: Any step made backwards off a ladder will be into an open can of paint.

Rule 3: The only fabric you can bear the sight of will be the most expensive one in the shop. Ordering it will involve a three-month wait.
Rule 4: The marital argument over whether to choose the ''Calypso Blue'' or the ''Ocean Breeze'' for the kitchen cupboards will rise in intensity according to the degree to which the two colours are indistinguishable.
Rule 5: The marital argument over whether to choose the ''Calico Breeze'' or the ''Desert Sands'' will be just as astonishing, which is surprising since both are identical shades of what used to be called ''off-white''.


Rule 6: The builder's initial estimate should be seen as a work of fiction so rich and imaginative that it could be entered in the Booker Prize for Fiction.
Rule 7: It's not true that the builder will never turn up. In fact, he'll turn up on day one, at precisely the time promised, whereupon he will disconnect your plumbing, remove a section of your roof, then disappear for six months.
Rule 8: Cans of paint come in quantities of one litre, four litres or 12 litres, while all Australian bedrooms are constructed to require quantities of 1.2 or 4.2 or 12.2 litres. This means there is no Australian shed without a three-metre stack of old paint tins.


Rule 9: Every Australian man, when buying methylated spirits for a cleaning job, is required to say to the guy serving: ''Have you got any cold ones?'’
Rule 10: Every Australian man when using a G-clamp is required to say: ''It's just one of my many vices.''
Rule 11: Every Australian man when using a stud-finder before drilling a hole for a picture hook, is required to hold the device against his own body and when the bulb lights up say: ''Pretty accurate, eh?''


Rule 12: All hardware items have strange Yorkshire-sounding names such as nondles, blurgins and grogans. This is to provide entertainment to people who work in hardware stores.
Rule 13: The builder will never listen to the radio station you listen to yourself: if you like Alan Jones, he'll be on Classic FM; if you like Classic FM, he'll be on Triple M. Oh, and he likes it loud.
Rule 14: Important decisions are always made by the builder during the five minutes you are away from the site, including the decision to knock a hole for a window in the wrong wall and to pebblecrete the heritage-listed sandstone facade.


Rule 15: The height at which you place the door handles will seem a matter of enormous importance for the three days during which it's an issue but will then never again enter your mind.
Rule 16: Cement dust, released by a builder at the far end of your backyard, will find its way into your underwear drawer by means still not understood by science.
Rule 17: The dollar figure - ''our absolute limit'' - mentioned on the first day you walked into the architect's office will become a shameful secret, never again mentioned by either side.
 Rule 18: The tool you need is always missing.
Rule 19: Telephone calls always come when you are atop a ladder with a loaded paint-roller. They are always a wrong number.
Rule 20: When working with electricity it's crucial to make sure you have everything you need. These comprise: an insulated screwdriver, a pair of wire cutters, life insurance.
Rule 21: The rubbish skip must by law be supplied by a company with a bad pun in its name, such as ''Skip the Tip'', ''Hop, Skip and Dump'' or ''Where'syourbin''.

Rule 22: If you live in Paddington or Balmain you are required to paint at least one surface in the colour ''Hog's Bristle''.
Rule 23: If you live in Turramurra or Haberfield, you are required to paint at least one surface in the colour ''Brunswick Green''.
Rule 24: If the whole room shrinks in hot weather, you've used too much wood filler.
Rule 25: Any improvement will make everything else look worse. ''If only we could get a new couch,'' you say, but once you heave the glorious purchase into place, your eye will be drawn to the carpet, which used to look fine but now, with a brand-new couch sitting on it, appears to suffer from a medical condition. You then re carpet at which point your eye is attracted to the wall, which used to look fine but now …

Still want to go ahead? 
Now that's what I call courage!.


x KL

 Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment, I love receiving feedback!

Thank GOD they're not suggesting it's child D.I.Y!



We are very big on Do It Yourself here. Which is probably understandable given that my darling husband is a builder however I am a bit of a DIY-er too; even before I met David, I donned an old tee and painted my house; inside and out...I installed timber blinds, made-over stuff and changed drawer handles, taps and washers. (OK, Dad might've helped a bit with those last two...)
I would encourage anyone to have-a-go if they felt confident and were a handy 'type'. The thing is, know your limits! (I paid a professional painter to do all my ceilings!) The plethora of DIY home renovating shows on telle, and their popularity, tell us we are a country keen for dollar stretching home improvement. BUT, they often don't show the 'behind the scenes' tradie assistance and give the impression that all renovating can be achieved by anybody with mammoth effort, little sleep and in a short time - frame. It's T.V people!

SO, why the rant?
 David and I were a wee taken a-back by an innocent looking one-hour workshop advert at Bunnings titled "How to seal and waterproof wet areas"

Um....you employ a LICENCED, QUALIFIED trades person who will provide you with a certificate of compliance and therefor warranty. Last time I checked, you can't DIY one of those yourself. 

(In NSW for example you need (1) Completion of CPC31411 Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing OR (2) Completion of one of the following qualifications: CPC31408 Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing. BCG31403 Certificate III in Waterproofing (General Construction). Qualification 90464 Certificate III in General Construction (Waterproofing), TAFE course #8126.)

"Waterproofing of wet areas, such as
shower recesses, has consistently been
among the most commonly reccurring
Category One (major) building defect.
Homeowner complaints about defective
waterproofing are consistently in the top
ten received by the Building Services
Authority (BSA)."
       www.bsa.qld.gov.au

TIP: Waterproofing needs to be completed by a qualified waterproofing professional, otherwise warranties & insurance will not cover it – if you're buying an older home with a new bathroom ask for the certificate of compliance / warranty or beware!

 I'm off my soap box now. Bye-Bye!


x KL 

 Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment, I love receiving feedback!

24.6.13

Round Mirrors

Is it just me, or do you sometimes get 'fixated' with one thing and breathe, dream and look for it obsessively? Eeeek...hope I'm not over-sharing!
Well, I'm currently enamoured with round mirrors.
And not just any ol' circular version, but one with a whopping strap suspending it off the wall!


I have had a soft spot for mirrors these shapes before, and used them in our previous house in the main bathroom and the guest room, as seen below.


In the last house, I had a recurring round theme to reference the pool shape which I posted about HERE previously. In this current project though, there are more linear horizontal lines and I think a few, strategically placed round shapes will add a bit of visual movement.

The mirror I'm obsessing about now was a popular mid-century decorative piece designed by Jacques Adnet for Hermes. The simple round mirror is wrapped in leather and hangs from a leather strap secured by three metal belt buckles, imitating the sleek look of equestrian hardware.







*sigh*

I know an authentic piece will be unattainable but I hope I can to 're-create' the look. Perhaps in the entry foyer?
Sort of like this arrangement.


Thoughts? 
Do you have anything specific you're focused on?


x KL

Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment, I love receiving feedback!

20.6.13

'twas not meant to be... *sob*

 After much internal debating and long drawn out discussions with friends and Davey, we decided that the Carrara Marble bench top I found and shared with you HERE, was a go-er IF, upon inspection, we liked its markings / colouration. 
A mini - crane was organised to lift it from it's slumber and .... O.M.G. 

 It broke.

 In two places!



 To consider this as viable, I had to mentally 'get my head round' the concept of a smaller island.
 I did
I needed to accept the positioning of the sinks, in the island. 
I had.
Re-designing the front and sides of the island to accommodate this bench top was most challenging.
I succeeded to the point of considering the modified design as advantageous.
 
 And it broke.

 In two places!

And the colour, pattern and honed finish were perfect.

BUT....I didn't cry. (Probably shock...) 

Some things are just not meant to be and after our huge loss last week...
...it's all O.K and in perspective.

x KL

 Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment, I love receiving feedback!

17.6.13

whales



The annual northern migration of whales has started with the first pods being seen along much of the Sydney coast. Every day last week we were lucky to have spotted them as they moved past us at Copacabana. With binoculars at the ready, it's one of the best treats we experience living here.
And it doesn't matter one jot that the house is half-finished! LOL!

x KL 

Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment, I love receiving feedback!

16.6.13

7 days



It's been very flat around here after the sad passing of David's father
J has been sick with a terrible flu and ear infection, so we've been hanging close to home most days.
Today provided magnificent weather so we spent a few hours soaking up the sunshine at Terrigal, enjoying a hearty winter lunch. I think it was just what we needed.

I've been spending time at home helping my Mum and Dad with their renovation plans. So far we have nutted out the bathroom and kitchen layouts via email and one mammoth four hour phone call!. We went to visit A in her new apartment last week and I realised that the space-saving solution to the location of Mum & Dad's microwave was in one of the snaps I had taken! Serendipity!

I have to make a decision this week about our kitchen benchtop material too. I've scored a Honed Carrara Marble benchtop. It will cost $500 for re-polishing and re-cutting new sink holes only. It's not the most beautiful piece of marble nor the extra big size I was planning but at this low cost, I'm VERY tempted! Thoughts?

Snapped (LOL) up the toothy croc skull from Harold's Curiosity Cabinet. L.O.V.E! 
 And updated J's bed linen, yet again! I think this is my fave so far... 
I tried my hand at concocting a recipe-less, retrolicious Nachos too and it was yummy! So pleased with myself!

In housey news....the main bathroom vanity is in! I'm thrilled with my choice of white for the top (Ceasarstone Snow) and cabinet (Dulux White on White - satin finish) and also my last minute decision to delete the second bowl to allow greater storage both on and under the bench. The mirrors have been ordered too so we are now close to finishing this room. Hooray!


My blog make-over is just about complete I think....any suggestions are always welcome!
Unfortunately I 'lost' my blog roll so if you're missing let me know so I can add you back!

Looking forward to your comments about the benchtop!

x KL

Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment, I love receiving feedback!

12.6.13

In Our Hearts



We thought of you with love today,
But that is nothing new.
We thought about you yesterday.
And days before that too.
We think of you in silence.
We often speak your name.
Now all we have is memories.
And your picture in a frame.
Your memory is our keepsake.
With which we’ll never part.
God has you in his keeping.
We have you in our heart.


Rest In Peace Raymond.
13. 5. 29 - 9. 6. 13


x KL


10.6.13

A new mantra?




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!

8.6.13

Shopping

  I'm loving the end of financial year sales this year. I've nabbed some practical as well as more frivolous items at greatly reduced prices, whilst also eliminating a few 'wish list' items!


Of course new-season items aren't reduced, like the stunning Camilla top but saving elsewhere balances out the cost. He he!


Online shopping has never been so easy and I also love that the blogging community is so generous in sharing shopping 'finds'. Two items I've recently purchased (No.s 4 & 6) are thanks to Katrina's savvy eye! (Katrina from the Block)

Below are my latest purchase deets:

1: Newly released Florence Broadhurst Ikeda Bath Towels. The white is sold out in most stores. I got mine from David Jones online.
2, 3. & 7. Cushions from Adairs online. So love the baby pink and the Elk is perfect for a winter lounge. 30 - 35 % off R.R!
4. Katrina posted about framing this fun Typo Tea towel HERE. Imitation being the greatest form of flattery, I intend to do the same.*wink*
5, 9, 12, 18 & 19. Country Road has great bargains atm. 50 % off specified items with an additional 25% off everything and free shipping for VIP card holders! Wooh Hoo!
6. Katrina also posted about this gorgeous Etsy chevron ironing board cover just when I needed it. It took awhile to arrive but is superbly made and thickly padded.
8.  Remember w a a a y back HERE when I bought these Jonathan Adler candles from his store and shipped them via my U.S postal forwarding service ? Well, good old Peter's of Kensington sells them now! At a sale price and low shipping cost! The Muse Blanc scent is divine!
11. Had to buy my new fave Isabel Marant-look boots (posted about HERE) in black now they're half price! (And my last season CR hurt my feet. Can feet get fat? Eeeek!) Get yours from Wanted too!
13. A 'good' silver tea pot has been on my wish-list for a decade or more. After bidding and being outbid for a year on numerous Robur Perfect Tea Pots on Ebay I finally won one! And it lives up to it's name! LOL!
14. I have a 'thing' for cloche's atm. EVERYTHING looks more wondrous under one! This is my latest, found half price at my local One World retail outlet at Erina.
15. Bone Inlay. Tray. Black & White. On Sale. Online. 5 ticks for Hard To Find!
16. Something for my boy. He's sick and it's limited Edition Camo.... EB Games.

 Bought anything at the EOFY sales? 
I think it's a good thing I'm restricted to home now with a sick child. 
I just need to avoid the internet.....he he!


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!

5.6.13

remembering



After the very sad passing away of my Aunt Mary, Mum, my sister and I had the unenviable task of sorting through her precious belongings. It was a difficult and emotionally draining experience.

Now, a few months on, I have a few mementos scattered throughout our home. They don't all fit in in terms of decor styling but each somehow contributes to this house feeling more like a home. And of course each time my eyes rest on one, I remember. With lots and lots of love.


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!

3.6.13

The Festival of Fifty continues....



We stayed in Sydney on the weekend and caught up with family to continue David's 50th Birthday celebrations! We dined at Criniti's, Darling Harbour where we were treated to spectacular fireworks and a light display as part of VIVID, a Sydney light festival.
And a visit to a nice hotel (Sheraton on The Park) wouldn't be complete without some decor snaps!
We loved this standard lamp and I noticed we have the same skirting boards! 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!