Showing posts with label decisions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label decisions. Show all posts

31.8.15

Bubbles...

I am so excited!

Two bedrooms upstairs (our main and J's), the playroom and lower guest bedroom are being carpeted on Wednesday! This had hinged on the timber flooring being laid in the halls adjacent to those rooms, which is what David did today!.


Yesterday we finalised little bits and pieces in the main bedroom en suite in anticipation of the 'big move' upstairs after years of living in only the lower portion of the house.

Heated Towel Rails and shelves for pretty bibs 'n bobs!
Whoop! Whoop!

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that I've been unpacking some treasures and purchases from eons ago too. It all feels a bit Christmass-y to be honest! LOL!

The first thing I'd like to do after Wednesday is to have a bubble bath in our freestanding tub...
which made me realise that I have nowhere to rest my celebratory glass of Verve!
Eeeek! How on earth could I have overlooked an item of such importance ? !

Sooo...although it wont materialise before Wednesday, THE bubbly resting spot / table / stool has been on my immediate hit-list!
Here are my (seriously whittled down), main contenders:

L to R: Warren Platner Side Table, Metallic Grande Drum, Mark Tuckey Egg-cup stool, Marcel Wanders Stone Stool, Bamileke stool.
And below are some inspirational images of similar stools / tables like these in situ:




More delicious decisions! (In the interim, a box will suffice!)
But bring on the Bubbles!

x KL

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24.8.15

Detailing: The Cabana

"At the Copa, Copa-cabana!"

It's funny to be detailing The Cabana. At Copacabana...
It is actually a patio / veranda area that is partially covered by the overhanging dining room above.
When we initially applied to council to build, we had some difficulties with our floorspace ratio, until we renamed this deck area a 'cabana'. Problem solved. It's all in a name...


I've mentally divided this area into four zones:
1: The pool. 2: The pool deck. 3: The Cabana and 4: The deck.

The pool zone will have the pool...duh! and a high wall to the left for privacy. I wanted the wall to be dry stacked stone but slate tiles are the fiscal compromise.

I wanted Alpine Dry-stacked stone (above)                                 The budget determined Lichen Split slate tiling...

 I'm planning a bridge / deck area at the end too; something like the Pinterest image below, but simpler...


The pool will have travertine coping which we've already bought and can be seen below:
 

We had the pool form work done a few years ago but illness delayed the concrete pour. Now the steel is too rusted so we need to remove it and start again. Ooops!


An expensive mistake! Hopefully this will happen next month so we'll be swimming by summer! The front wall will be solid masonry with a slither of glass on top so we gain swimming privacy without losing the view when dining. Something like this:


The pool will have a nifty little beach area too, similar to the image below.


We would prefer to tile the pool interior but pebblecrete might be more money wise. That decision is still being debated! If I had no restrictions, I'd tile the pool with slate al-la-bali-style!


The pool deck is to the right of the pool. Both areas are isolated from the cabana and house by a combination of solid walling and frameless glass.

 
 I added the solid walling (shown on the plan in red) to create a niche into which the BBQ can sit.
 I'm planning on inserting a patch of faux grass to soften and break up the large expanses of travertine tiling.

I'm currently 'playing' with cute little faux grass samples
As there are no garden beds on this level (All this area sits on top of the Garage / storerooms) the grass will add some much needed green too!


Above is my all time favourite example of how beautiful faux lawn can look!

I have purchased a lounge for this area too.

My bargain Myer Vue Sunlounge!
The Cabana itself is covered by the top storey of the house. The three big stacking doors between it and the family room retract completely into a wall allowing unfettered access between areas. The television is easily viewed from outside if required. The laundry / kitchenette / bar room opens onto the cabana, via bi fold windows. and the bench top will run through to outside creating the 'bar'.

via Pinterest
 I've just ordered the joinery (Whoop whoop!) and these stools for this area:

There is also a mini bar fridge, accessible cabana side, for refreshments when the bartender is having a dip! LOL! The area will be furnished with one of our existing day beds, a dining table and chairs. (I'm thinking the chairs will need to be replaced...)

We have two day beds to choose from. Images above are of our last home.
The flooring in this area, as elsewhere, is French pattern Travertine which has just been completed.

Half way and ungrouted. All the Cabana floor is finished now!
 I'd like to add just one or two big pots with statement plants. Simple and contemporary. So far, the only really BIG planters I've found are  w a y  out of my budget (try $4K!) so not sure if I'll achieve this!


The deck is a small area providing the laundry with access to the rear clothes drying area and guests access to an externally located bathroom when wet from the pool. 

The deck off the Laundry / Pool W.C.
Finished Pool W.C.
We have decided to screen this area from the Cabana to create a windbreak from the South. (Shown in red on plan above) Copacabana is notoriously windy with most of the gusts coming from the South. As we face North, we are well protected by the house's bulk but this opening was creating a wind-tunnel that needed to be addressed. We'll use timber to match the lower bar area.

the completed bar front
Well, that's this area detailed. There was a myriad of decisions in this zone alone and I'm really looking forward to seeing it all come together. Rain is forecast for this week so that will slow us down but then we'll be full steam ahead again!

x KL

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You are very welcome and encouraged to comment, I love receiving feedback!

23.8.15

Come on baby, light my fire...

 The time has come to turn our attention to our lounge room, proposed fireplace.

Our choice back HERE was for an Ecosmart, Bio ethanol Fireplace
When we designed the house, we knew we wanted a fireplace to be the focal point of the main lounge.
 I was keen to have a room without a television...somewhere for adult entertaining with no black-box in sight! (Televisions are installed in the playroom / snug and family rooms). 

We initially installed gas fittings, anticipating a gas insert but after seeing the Ecosmart display at a Grand Designs Show, we were swayed by this new, clean fuel and visually more substantial option.
The room is large so the scale was, in my opinion, perfect
Fast forward to this year (The Year of The House!) and we have spent the last few months designing our custom made fire box and obtaining bio ethanol burner costs. Those quotes, now in hand, have almost tripled since we first entertained this option, as more information about bio ethanol use has become available with its increased adoption.  Many commercial establishments, and early adopters, are now removing theirs due to high fuel prices and health concerns relating to the lack of flues. 
Long story - short? We were back to the 'drawing board'....


With the fireplace surround already framed and gyprocked to accommodate a 2 metre firebox, without major re-hashing, we had very limited options:

Lopi Linear: 1550 mm wide


Real Flame Simplicity: 1800 mm wide

Jetmaster Horizon: 2000mm wide
To be honest, the Real Flame was my preferred choice. 
The representative met me on site (the only one to do so) and was extremely professional. I loved the product, the variety of options and the overall look of this fire compared to rivals. This company even do a 3300 mm version. W O W! And money-wise it was a very close call.
But balancing the look I wanted with size (width) and budget had me ordering the Jetmaster Horizon Lowline Inbuilt in the 2000mm wide option (I customised the log / coals feature)


I've ordered a 'frameless' version so we can square-set the plaster up to the firebox. 
It's not a deep nor as high as we'd wanted but for our budget, and the pre-built wall cavity, still creates the grand focal point we initially desired. It has a one month lead time which is also pretty good too...


Above is how I hope it will look...

P R O G R E S S !


x KL

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

1.8.15

Year of the house: July Update




So...., here is the latest #YOTH15 update for Sea-Spray #2: 

 JULY
Custom entertainment unit for playroom ordered.
Rendering is now 98% complete!
David painting the rear of the house as I type....


Tiling of two top external decks complete!


 The largest top deck area is waterproofed, screed-ed and sealed ready for tiling Monday.


Bath installed in Main Bedroom en suite
Stone top for WIR dressing table delivered, but still to be installed.


 The custom joinery robe for the Guest bedroom has been ordered.
Obtaining quotations for the lounge room fireplace. Scary. Very, very scary!
 Kitchen and Laundry joiner decided upon. Waiting for 3D drawing before finalising design.
Obtaining quotations for Stone Walling features...

I've also bought a few more decor bits 'n pieces for the house which I'll post soon!

Hooray for progress!!!!!


Renovating? Building? Got some House Projects to complete?
Join in! #YOTH15
(also on instagram of course!) 

Missed the progress? Catch up here: 
February / March
January / February


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

11.7.15

pondering product possibilites....

With progress here gathering pace, I've turned my attention to the joinery proposed for the kitchen, laundry, playroom, office and lounge. In doing so, I stumbled across an impressive new product (well, new to me!) called Maximum. It is a pressed porcelain product available in generous panel sizes which is both light weight and resilient. The range includes finishes resembling wood, concrete and marble in several surface options.


Marmi Calacatta is my favourite in a matt finish. The large sheets are absolutely stunning. There are four print variations and bookend options too ensuring little repeat even when sheeting walls. It is very cost effective compared to real stone and its light weight and practicality make it a very flexible product.


 I'm totally hooked but need to examine further a few concerns such as its suitability as a bench top and possible 'chipability', given it's essentially a 6 mm tile.
Here's some lust worthy in-situ pics from the Maximum website:







 At the very least, I think I've found my kitchen splash back material! 


x KL

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

3.7.15

Year of The House: update

Half way through the year, we remain committed to our January pledge to action some major progress at La Hacienda.
And I probably should stop calling it that, as there is nothing remotely Mexican about the house.
When we bought here, the existing house (now demolished) was called Sea-Spray and we kept the house-name sign to restore and re-badge the new build...
 
Sea-Spray #1!

So...., here's the latest #YOTH15 update for Sea-Spray #2: 

 JUNE
 Continued to seek quotations for joinery...
J's bathroom / powder room, shower screen and mirror installed.


 P.C.s fitted to J's bathroom / powder room. Room complete! YAY!
David & I tiled our main bedroom en suite walls. *pats self!*
Custom shaving cabinet and vanity installed to main bedroom en suite.
Main bedroom en suite, Shower screen, niche shelving, W.C door and mirror ordered and installed.


Rendering quotes received and one accepted.
Scaffolding erected to rear of house.


Electrician installed data points throughout house.
Decided on, and ordered carpet. 6-9 week lead time! WTF!?

Cavalier Bremworth Inscape and Verve: in Slate, Carpets
Main bed wardrobe fit out complete. Yippee!!!!

 
Bath installed to Main Bedroom En suite.
Joinery quote received for custom entertainment unit for playroom.
Rendering starts and coat one complete!


Finally found a new tiler!

ON A ROLL......!!!!

Renovating? Building? Got some House Projects to complete?
Join in! #YOTH15
(also on instagram of course!) 

Missed the progress? Catch up here:
February / March
January / February



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