Kitchen Selection

This is a close up of the splashback tile.

Thought that we might add some detail and share our chosen selections for the kitchen. For the cupboards we were very tame and safe and chose all of the cupboards in a white polyurethene, which is shiny for those that didn't know. We are hoping that the polyurethene will be easier to clean. The doors are plain with no bevilles or engravings. They will have plain stainless steel handles that will be square form with no edges to get caught on. In our last home D1 ran past our pot drawer and her school uniform hooked the handle and she came back face first into the cupboard. She had a very bad black eye after that. Mum wanted horizontal handles so she could hang a tea towel or hand towel if needed, but Dad said to keep them vertical so Mum could not hang tea towels where they should not be hung! Dad won that debate!

So for our benchtop we have chosen a Ceasarstone benchtop in Linen. This is a very light coffee colour. It is very pale with a slight sandy fleck. It is hard to describe but there are no large aggregates or sparkles to it, just very neutral.

We didn't want the kitchen to be too drab but the large items are all neutral colours to match the neutral couloured floor tiles called Parkland Ash Smooth Parchment Cirrus. They are 600 x 600 tiles.

This is the floor tile and the splashback tile, together with the Lustrous elm laminate. They are different but because they are far away from each other they look very similar and match well.

We have a breakfast bar so we chose a wood grain type laminate for under this breakfast bar and on the side of it. We chose a grey brown colour called "Lustrous Elm". It is very "funky and is a bit "out there' for us! It is a bit retro  with a modern twist. Having three children we were certain that there was no way that under that bench was going to be kept dirt free with 6 little hooves kicking it every time they sat there for breakfast. This laminate will disguise the scuff marks we hope.

The whole kitchen has brushed stainless kick boards along the floor which gives it a lift and makes it look a bit "fancier" so to speak.

Above our kitchen sink there are big windows that are stacker windows. So when we are entertaining in the alfresco area we can open them right up and Dad can pass all of the salads and desserts he has made straight out the window while mum drinks beer, talks about footy and turns sausages on the BBQ outside! Then when everyone has finished eating you can pass the dishes back in the window to the sink!!Oh sorry ....I was just daydreaming then! But you get the drift!



These are the windows we will get out to the alfresco. Would love to have that cute little deck too....but hopefully that will be where the pool goes. Just waiting for our lotto win!.

For our splashback we tossed up all of the different materials that could be used. Love the look of glass and love stainless steel, but practicality wise these would not work well as we are messy cooks!! Especially with three young masterchefs in the making wanting to help with the bamix. So in the end we chose some beautiful tiles for our splashback that are large 600 x 300 tiles. They are called Linear Brown Vertical. We have seen them used around baths and as a splashback since we chose them and are really happy with our choice. Along the wall we will have a special feature tile which is the same tile but it has a flower motif embellished on it. The flowers are textured and the feel is like sand but the look is like salt crystals. You have to see them in real life to appreciate them.

This is our splash back tile. The whole length are the plain tile then there will be one of the above floral feature tiles.

The kitchen appliances are all stainless steel and Mum will finally have a dishwasher that you can plug in. She will still keep the old one she married as back up though and D1 and D2 have been practicing as stand ins too! Dad is looking forward to having nice soft hands that are not so dried out from the dish detergent.

So that covers the kitchen...next is the bathroom.

Over and Out!



If there's time for Leaning there is time for Cleaning!

Apologies for the corny quote...just watched Packed to the Rafters!

The back view of the finished bricking. Cladding will go above the alfresco. Just need roof tiles to set it off!!!!

The top storey bricked

Received an email this morning from our lovely neighbours to say that our bricks were being cleaned! How exciting...especially as we don't have any roof tiles, fascia, gutters or eaves. Everyone else seemed to get those first then their bricks cleaned.We are definitely not complaining as it means that something is still happening on site and the build is progressing! Hooray!

Mum and Dad both visit the house after work and noticed that the majority of the top storey has been cleaned and some of the bottom. We LOVE our brick choice and the bricks look even better cleaned!!
There is also the fascia and other colorbond items that have been delivered so hopefully there will be some more happening tomorrow!

Mum has a flex tomorrow so can go and visit to check on progress.

A close up of the cleaned bricks.

What do you think?

The bricks have been cleaned on the left, but not yet around the garage. The nice orange brick is what will be rendered! Just for those who may think that was Mums "bright" and creative choice. The orange is where Mum wants her Alligator Alley Green.

Bricking Completed! What is next?

This week was full steam ahead! We had piles of bricks delivered and tradies were working everyday this week. They were troopers!! Dad drove past today and thought that today looked like it would be completion day!Confirmation was in an email when Mum and Dad got home from work this afternoon.
Invoice for bricking received via email! How is that for efficiency? Thank goodness for that trusty invoice otherwise we would have no idea what was happening with our build! Lucky we are local and not living interstate as the communication is just not happening, so the drive bys are keeping us in the loop as well as messages and updates from our lovely neighbours!

We will have to make contact soon though as we have not done our electrical plan yet! There may even be a conversation and an update?

D1 and D2 have been talking about how they want to be builders and designers and that "they know" how to build a house ..and "they know" that the eaves and tiles are coming soon!! and that "they know" what eaves are?? I think Mum and Dad must be talking about it too often!! We think that is great that they are taking an interest. if you mention driving past now they get excited as they can see it all progressing. Whereas before they would slump in their seats and ask "do we have to"? They are getting up to speed on the lingo and are pointing out other houses and commenting on their stages and colour choices.

We are renting from Family members at the moment and still living out of boxes as there was too much to unpack and repack. So basically we are not really settled..or don't feel like we are! Our rental is affectionately referred to by us as "the Dump". Mainly beacuse it has boxes and furniture stored in every room. Lets just say that the house we are in is not ticking all of the boxes mainly due to size and so every minute delaying our build is just keeping us in limbo for longer! We only have one bathroom, which proves very chaotic with 4 girls and hairdos each morning around the mirror. We think that may be why Dad is losing his hair and Mum's is turning greyer.There are major renovations going on here and it is adding fuel to the "hurry up and build our new house" fire!!



This is the "fancy' bathroom the 5 of us are sharing at the rental...now do you see why we need the builders to hurry up?

 So it may be coming across that we are not happy with our build but we are ..we just wish there was more communication so we could be more appreciative of each stage of building and its expected timeframe. Then we would know what to expect rather than just comparing our build to the others going on in the neighbourhood. There is another two storey house close by that had their frames go up after our bricks had started. They are finished bricking now as they had about 8 brick layers each day!! Yet we had 3, 4 tops! But we think that the supply of bricks may have been a problem...but that is just a guess?



Dreaming of this times two and a half!!


We got our free plants from Council FreePlant Giveaway last Saturday and saw lots of other Pondsies getting theirs too. On a drive around on Saturday afternoon there were many people out planting their plants too.

We have a busy weekend ahead! Friday Mum has a Body Shop Party, and is working on Saturday. Dad is taking the girls to Hawkesbury Races for a Fun day out with Family and Friends. Hawkesbury Races is a fantastic relaxing day for the family and you do not even have to be interested in the races! What a great way to enjoy the start of Spring!
http://www.hawkesburyraceclub.com.au/hawkesbury/Location.asp

Sunday is Mums Soccer Grandfinal, D1's 11th Birthday and Fathers Day.

So Happy Fathers Day to all of the Dads!!!!

This Dad has three wishes:
* a new tiled roof
* a well behaved 11 year old who does everything he says from now on!!!
*a soccer grandfinal win for his wife (happy wife....happy life!)

Over and out!