Showing posts with label copacabana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label copacabana. Show all posts

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

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

29.3.15

GONE before you could say "for sale"!

Some wonderful clients, who are now firm friends, recently placed their Copacabana holiday home reluctantly on the market. David built the house a few years ago and we feel privileged to have had the opportunity to also work with them on two other projects. They are marvelous entertainers and we have enjoyed their generous hospitality at this property many times. 

The rear of the three storey property. Top deck with Vergola roof.
I thought it would be appropriate to post the home on the blog for those interested in having a peep at a truly beautiful beach home. For those in the market for such a home, designed with flexibility to cater for permanent residency, holiday letting or as a personal retreat, I am sorry to advise that it has sold.


 It was always, all about THAT view! And no, these pictures are not doctored; that sunset is regularly enjoyed! (Ticks to the photographer who has captured all its beauty!)
How do I know? Because we have the same view from the rear of La Hacienda!


Here are some more images to taunt potential buyers with what they have missed out on....
One week on the market! Sometimes its pertinent to make haste...


 And, yes...there's a pool! The sweetest plunge design with a glass front wall, no less! So proud of my hubby for integrating it so well within the fabric of the building.



Here's what the agent had to say:

Panoramic Elegance
Ideally located in Copacabanas dress circle with level street entry is this 3 year young architecturally significant beach house basking in sunlight throughout, all while enjoying grandstand views of the beach, lagoon, headlands and even Sydney in the distance.
A cutting edge design over three levels with entertaining in mind, the main living area is an open plan concept spilling out towards the undercover entertaining area with electronic vergola ideal for climate control.
Design features include detailed stonework to the entry and pool deck and beautiful limed oak floors throughout the living areas.
The central open plan kitchen offers induction cooking, Miele appliances, a large island bench made with Caesar stone benches and walk in pantry.
Other features include:
-4 large bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 powder room, 2 living areas
-3 expansive entertaining decks
-Fully tiled glass edged plunge pool with solar heating and automatic salt water chlorinator
-Outdoor hot and cold pool deck shower ideal for when you get home from the beach
-Multi zone ducted reverse cycle air conditioning
-Main bedroom and ensuite with extensive views
-3 large storage
-Solar hot water with gas back up, security alarm, rear lane access
-Landscaped low maintenance flowering native gardens
-22,000 litre rain water tank supplying 3 WCs and gardens
-Double remote access garage, satellite Foxtel 
 

I posted about the entry of this house when it was being constructed HERE. It's a reminder of what we had planned for our own home but we unfortunately had to compromise. Poohey. 
So happy to see a great idea fleshed out though for someone else!!


Magnificent!
(If I do say so myself. *cough*)

 Want to see more? Plans, extra pics and full description can be seen HERE.

Congratulation to our wonderful friends too, Y and S!


x KL

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

19.8.13

the weekend, summer wardrobes and my looming 50!




After fishing all day and perfect weather all weekend, we concluded Sunday's R & R with a visit to neighbouring MacMaster's Beach.
 The sky put on a superb light show, (iPhone pic to illustrate above!)  the ice-creams were divine and we were able to 'spot' our house along the ridge at Copacabana!

The temperature here has felt more spring-like of late and I'm tempted to buy a few new season items.


I lived in Kaftan's last summer and am loving my transeasonal, light-weight silk shirt (top right). 
Camilla have released their new season designs and I'm coveting their Jaguar print. 
Um-ing and ah-ing over another long sleeved shirt or the full length kaftan style (perhaps appropriate for my imminent 50th birthday dinner?)
They're pretty exy so I want to get allot of wear from the garment...which leads me to the shirt but long sleeves in summer???
 If it came in a short kaftan style it would be a no brain-er! 
Aghhhhh!

x KL

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

23.5.13

Life

Considering J wasn't having a birthday 'party' this year, (we host one every second year; a cost containment strategy I started as a single Mum many years ago) his 11th birthday has managed to span a week with two cakes and a fun trip with a few mates to see Star Trek Into Darkness with lunch at a local pizzeria.


Mum and Dad have decided to zhush the family home which is 50 years young. New kitchen bathroom, flooring, paint and storage. Exciting! I'll have to get their permission, but hopefully will be able to share the before and afters... Decision 1: Limed Oak Flooring!
*drool*


 Here, the  s l o w  progress continues.... David has finished painting the ceilings in the main bedroom and installed doors, skirting and architraves whilst I've been playing around with some on-line wardrobe planning programmes.

 Is it cold where you are? Winter has hit the Central Coast of Australia with a vengeance today. I'm happily wearing my new boots and living in comfy jeggings (long tunic jumper on top of course!)


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!

30.4.12

Colour crush: 'Hermes' Orange


 I'm still in love with my black and white decorating scheme but I find I'm being drawn to colour lately too. Rather than bold swathes of it, I'm attracted to small highlights here and there in accessories and small objects. This week's favourite is what I'd call
'Hermes' Orange.







 I bought two of these orange and black lacquer boxes (the medium and large size seen below and which are also featured in the first picture on this post), intending them to pick up the orange hue in my David Bromley Butterfly throw. 



When I pulled the throw out of storage to compare the colours I got a rude shock! I'd forgotten I'd swapped the throw above for the more muted one below! Bugger! 
(I blogged about them Here, here and here)



And I also swapped my initial purchase of 'The Boys In Boat' (above) to the flower one below which features yellow, not orange. Double damn! Don't you hate wrong decisions!?


 Anyhoo, back into storage they've all gone. I'm going to spend some time making an inventory of what I've already purchased for the finished house to prevent 'oop's' like this one!
Maybe the  'Hermes' orange boxes will be a minor feature in the study!
What do you think? Would you use this colour?

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!

20.11.11

Sea Mist

This is a picture that I snapped at Copacabana Beach yesterday at 11 am. It shows a heavy, dense fog drifting in from the sea. It looks so very eerie; J was waiting for a ghostly pirate galleon to sail in any minute!

According to Alex Krisman, a meteorologist at Weatherzone, the fog was the result of warm moist winds being drawn across cold air and condensing. Cool water temperatures had made the fog thicker and delayed its being burnt off. 

This morning it came back and at midday our cliff side house was still shrouded in thick mist. At least we weren't sweltering in the heat, and there's no need for air conditioning either!

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend!

 x KL

Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment; I love receiving feedback! It helps me get to know you too!

18.10.11

Finally; some sunshine!

Copacabana Beach on Monday
 What a beautiful weekend!!!! Saturday working on house and we had a soccer team picnic on Sunday at The Haven, Terrigal. We had just divine weather for it. I snapped this on Monday at our local beach (One minute from our place) which I drive past every day on my way to school drop off. No wonder my little man would rather stay home than attend school!
F.Y.I. my nails are still perfect! I'm SOOO converted!
What did you do this weekend?

x KL