The Big Blue and Yellow Store

The builder is making great progress on the build, the tiler is done, the painter has started, the flooring guys are booked so more decisions to be made, this time about window coverings and light shades, just so I know what I want when the time comes and I don't delay things with faffing about.

To try and keep cost from spiralling out of control as the build comes to an end I have limited myself to selecting these items from the big blue and yellow box otherwise know as Ikea.

I paid them a visit after my site visit this week so in line with my clean light bright choices so far, this is what I am thinking of;

For the 3 big windows in the living / dining area, simple curtains,

In the two smaller bedrooms, white roman blinds,

And in the master bedroom which is also at the front of the house a layered treatment to provide a little more privacy, with either roller blind or the honeycomb type with curtains, in a similar style to the living area.

I haven't decided yet if I want something for the window in the kitchen, if I do it will be either of the two above on its own.


























As for lighting, we have already specified the pendant lights over the island bench and the feature light over the dining area with down lights for the rest of the living area, I just need to find shades for the bedrooms, but not hanging pendant lights which most of the nicer shades seem to be designed for.

This style came in a couple of different sizes which might work and so it is the winner so far, the weaving around the edges should work with the hanging "nest" style over the dining area,

However one of these might tie in with the frosted glass over the kitchen benches,

So I think the final decision will have to wait until the rest of the lights are installed, I will then have to make a snap final judgment.

How about you any preferences with my options?

AAxx

Progress Update IV

After all of the delays with Council the builders have been fantastic making up for lost time.

The external brick work and roof went on before Christmas, like my site boots?

And the internal walls were lined, the kitchen and bathroom has gone in, all in the couple of weeks they have been back onsite.

Over the next couple of weeks the tiling, painting and final internal fit out will be completed!!!

AA xoxo

Progress Update III

The sustained good weather in Sydney has meant that the builders have been able to be on site and stay on site. Yay!! Happy dance!!

So after the slab went down the frame went up
 

The roof tiles went on

And currently the bricks are going on

We are not 100% convinced we made the right decision in regards to the bricks but they do look better the more that go on. If worst comes to worst and we are not happy once everything is finished we can always render the entire thing.

Now we just need to sort out the earthworks in the rear yard while we still have access. Keeping my fingers crossed  that the neighbors on that side are holding off for some reason so we don't have to rush things over the holiday season.

AA xx

Progress Update

I got very excited a few weeks go about the idea that we were actually making progress in council.
Unfortunately it turns  out that I was being delusional.

AA xx

NB; Development applications normally take up to 8 weeks total.

Property Update….

Taking advantage to another gorgeous Sydney winters day we took the pups out to the land to have a look at the progress made on the neighbouring lots.

Progress….

After 11 weeks our file has finally been allocated to an assessing officer, the next step is for them to review and approve our plans, so fingers crossed it should be out of council in the next few weeks.

Yay!!!!

AA x

The Heart of a Home

They do say that kitchens and bathrooms sell houses. This means that these two areas have the potential to completely blow out budgets. But the same as the rest of the house we had quite strong ideas of what  we wanted before meeting with the builder.

design-crisis.com house tour -jeff and jasons 

decorpad.com

ninawilliamsinteriors.com

stevesblindsandwallpaper.com

We wanted  clean white spaces with charcoal for depth and contrast, Caesar stone bench tops, pendant lights over the kitchen bench, glass splash back in the kitchen; so much easier to clean than tiles! Super functional sink, lots of storage. Subway tiles in the ensuite bathroom, but we weren't sure if we wanted the same tiles in both the bathroom as the laundry.

Green.......

Frangipani Tree

One of the things about building a new home is that  although you start with a block of dirt and you end up with a home.
To make it feel like a home, and as a requirement of council so that new developments become more established, you have to landscape the site, and for better or worse Liverpool council has a strong preference for native vegetation.

How do you choose?

After making the purchase, unlike buying a house, the fun really starts, you need to start making big decisions and relatively quickly. Who are you going to build with? Single storey, double story, or split level? Where on the land? Do you want to have room for a pool?

Finally.......

We have been looking at getting on to the property rollacoster for a while now, but with the moving and the holidays and the everything else it was taking longer that expected.

When we finally started looking seriously in Sydney it was just as the market took off. A property in Erko which we thought went for too much at auction looked a real bargin when a similar property went for $200,000 more a couple of weeks later.

I really didn't want to look this far out, or build, but with the crazy prices we needed to look at other options and this kind of made sense. More space, for the dogs, for my shoes, for us.

A collegue of my partner suggested we look at the development they has just purchased in. Even thought that didn't work out we found a suitable little block in a nearby development. 

http://voyagerpointlandforsale.com.au 

It still doesn't quite feel real yet, I can't believe we got it, it only was a few weeks between spotting it and the land release date. Somehow we received a phone call to put down the deposit when the other purchasers had been on the wait list for up to six months.

What really sold me on the site was the protected nature reserve across the road which runs down to the river about a kilometer away, beautiful bush views that can't be built out.

So now beings the great adventure, the first steps towards the great Aussie dream, our own home.

AA x