The Evolution of Home

When we brought our home two years ago, I signed the contract before I had even been inside the house. The market was near the bottom and houses were moving quickly. I trusted my husband when he said it was what we had been looking for. High set, timber floors, big yard, room for a studio underneath - practical if not pretty, in the suburb we had brought our first house in. Perfect!

I remember feeling teary the first time I walked around the property. And not in a good way. My anxiety rose as I followed the pest and building inspector around, while my heart sunk a little lower with each new problem he pointed out. We had been looking for a renovation project - a new kitchen and bathroom, carpet to rip up and floors to polish. But a new roof, gutters and ceiling? Asbestos? Besides the hundred other small complaints that had added up in an unloved rental property? Did I mention I was pregnant with Emerson? Still, it was a great decision and one I have never regretted.

And here we are, two years later. Much has changed. Not only did we replace the roof and gutters, we added whirley birds, insulation and solar panels. Not only did we pay to have the asbestos removed in the eaves, bathroom and shed, we replaced all of the above. We ripped up the carpet and had the floor polished. We painted every surface. We replaced lights, knocked out walls, dumped the old fusty curtains and lived with sheets until we could afford new curtains. We built veggies patches, added a water tank, replaced the rotting wooden fence, removed several palm trees and one all mighty tree from the middle of the yard that was too close to the house for comfort. Recently we replaced the kitchen. 

Then last week our new lounge room furniture arrived. Despite this being the third house we have brought. Despite being thirty one years old. Despite having been married for ten years and having two children. Buying a lounge suite made me feel strangely like an adult. It's a very 'adult' sort of thing to do. I felt the same way when I first saw our finished kitchen, like, I'm a grown up now. I wonder if that feeling ever completely fades? I hope not.

Before

Then - our coffee table and tv cabinet, which were all we could afford in our early days together, and our brown leather couch

Now - our new lounge, coffee and lamp table, and tv cabinet (from Oz Design, which I happened to pop in to one day after a trip to Spotlight.)

We have long spoken of replacing our tv cabinet, but this is the first one we have both seen and just loved. Love the Tasmanian oak and the fact that it is made in Australia, and love those very 60's legs. (My husband is also loving his new television.)

Two vintage single chairs, a couple more light fittings, a few cushions, a print or two on the walls and our lounge room will be 'done'. Or as 'done' as these things ever are...

Ta-dah! Our new kitchen

Before

After

As promised, photos of our new kitchen! A new light fitting or two, a blind, a few stools and our kitchen will be 'done'. But I think we are close enough to calling it finished that I couldn't resist sharing the before and afters. 

I am really loving our new kitchen. It came together just as I imagined and is such a lovely place to work. We looked at several options and decided on a custom built kitchen with routed, painted doors, white appliances and white stone bench tops. Dave was a little concerned with how an all white kitchen would look. It has long been a dream of mine and thankfully he trusted my judgement, as now he loves it. He put his own stamp on it by way of choosing the sink and tap wear, as he works in the plumbing industry. (Both pieces seemed enormous until they were in the space! Now I am loving the large double bowl sink and the tap wear.) 

How far our house has come in the almost two years we have called it home. It feels like it is really all coming together now that the kitchen is (almost) complete.

Home sweet home.

Kitchen Progress

1. Cabinets in and plastering in progress, 2. Doors and drawers on and a make shift bench top from chip board, 3. Hello kitchen island bench (and our old microwave), 4. Stone bench tops!, 5. Subway tiles in progress, 5. Grouting completed!

The past couple of weeks it feels as if our lives have revolved around having our kitchen renovated. From leaving the house with the kids for a week while the demolition and installation of the cabinets took place, to living in the house for a week with two children and no kitchen. From washing the dishes in a bowl in the bathroom sink (which then clogged!), to only being able to cook in an electric fry pan. From keeping the children out from under the feet of the tradesmen, to cleaning up after said tradesmen. 

I can honestly say I underestimated how disruptive and stressful this period would be. Thankfully it was well and truly worth it. There are still a few finishing touches to be made - a few handles to be attached, a few electrical fittings to be completed, the sink waste to be attached, a new blind, some open shelves, a plate rack, stools for the island, floor boards touched up where the old cabinets were - but the big things are done. And very soon I will be cooking, baking and jam making in my new, lovely, white, dream kitchen. Hooray!

And while it may not interest anyone else but me, I will be posting images for prosperity in the least, once the kitchen is all finished.

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1. Progress in the kitchen - the cabinets are in, the electrical and plastering has now been done, next week the doors and stone bench tops will be fitted - Hooray!

2. The cutest kitchen helper - out of the frying pan and in to the pot?

3. A wonderful visit to Threads and More's new abode at Indooroopilly, where I scored these magazines for $5 each - so much lovely yarn too

4. Waste not, want not - sharing the Rosella love with friends who make jam - can't wait to make jam in my new kitchen!

5. The little shoe monster strikes again

6. First slippers for the shoe monster

7. Going 'home' - twenty five years later

8. Always time for tea - especially when partaking in an op-shopping adventure with two children

Our days are a little strange as we live without a kitchen and live with the white plaster dust of renovating. (I'd forgotten about that white dust.) There are dishes on the bathroom sink, a toaster on the tv cabinet and tradies coming and going as progress is made. It's an exciting sort of mess to live in, full of promise. I am excited at the prospect of getting to know my new kitchen and unpacking my collections. Finding a home for the plates, glasses and vases. I think a little kitchen party will be in order once it is complete.

Tonight though I am looking forward to book club - lovely ladies, a great book and a glass or two of wine (of course.)

What are your plans this Friday evening?

Going away

Packing the girl: hand knits, overalls, vintage dresses, tights and onesies.

Packing the boy: stripes, Star Wars and Soccer boots.

Packing the Mama: knitting, camera, books, stripes, embroidery.

My two little ones have followed me from room to room this morning as I fold clothes, gather bits and pieces and pack our ports. Packing is exciting business. Next, to finish packing up the kitchen. At present all the cupboards are empty save half the pantry, the dining table is covered in glass and crockery and I'm waiting on a few more boxes. 

Today will be the last time I see my old peach kitchen. The little ones and I are leaving Dada at home to demolish and supervise, and we shall come home to a new kitchen (sans stone bench top, which will be installed a week later.) In the meantime we three are staying with family, well out of the way of the construction zone.

Did I mention that I am super excited about my new kitchen! An all white kitchen in fact. A dream come true.

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The shop will stay open as normal, as I am taking my pieces and packaging box with me. 

(Long) Weekending

Before shot here.

Before shot here.

Things to do...

Paint over purple closet doors

Give in to temptation and paint nursery furniture white

Sand, stain and varnish hand rail

Buy new fittings and hang handrail

Install 99 cent ebay light in dining room

Replace door hinges and stoppers

Hang closet doors

Go shopping all alone while children sleep

Order door knobs (top left)

Thank sister for all her help

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(I shall be back again this evening to draw the lovely Gretchenmist prints giveaway.)

Nursery Progress

The renovations on the house have continued quietly in the background, though it has been some time since I mentioned them or updated the House Tour page on my blog.

We've had new sliding doors installed leading out from the lounge and the master bedroom to the front deck. The old glass doors were quite worn, the locks were suspicious and the doors themselves kept slipping off their runners. Also, the fittings wouldn't allow for the addition of a sliding screen door. And in Summer in Queensland, fly screens are a must in my books. So along with the new doors, we have new screens made with marine grade steel mesh to deter kitty claws. Which is working to a degree. The builders have also installed the new eaves around the entire outside of the house. The original eaves had to be removed as they contained asbestos. We had all the asbestos removed at once (back in August?) and the poor house has been eave-less this whole time. Money is always the major factor when renovating.

There have also been the annoying jobs, like possum proofing the garage (twice. Possums are determined little things!) and re-hanging the shelves in my studio, as the special wall plugs and screws that were supposed to be able to hold the weight of the shelves and books were failing. The shelves are re-hung, but the books have been moved and a lighter display will replace them.

There has been progress in Emerson's room too since the last update. She is still sleeping in her bassinet in our room but she is fast outgrowing it.

Looking in to her room now.

Looking in to her room when we brought the house.

Still loving this thrifted $2 light fitting.

The little green chair is a Cohen addition. He brought it in from his room to 'help' at change time.

Dave installed this Ribba picture ledge for me on the weekend. Now to search for some sweet thrifty decorations to adorn it. I've been looking at some inspiration that I shall have to share with you too.

The room still needs a rug of some kind and blinds on the windows to further block out the light. I am tempted to paint that little three tiered shelf and the change table white. And like the rest of the house, the skirting board still needs painting. I ran out of time when the rest of the painting was being done because the floor was due to be sanded. Now with two little ones, moving everything to paint the skirting boards through out the house is going to be an interesting challenge!

We have a long weekend in these parts this weekend, and a list of renovations planned for it. Expect another up date soon.

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Another item has been crossed off our long list of renovations. Tree lopping is complete. Despite starting a little veggie patch in one corner, we were yet to really start on the yard, having concentrated on the house instead. Before we could turn some of our plans into reality we needed to remove the neglected, unwanted and problem trees, giving us a clean slate to build upon. 

The past two days the tree loppers have been hard at work. Gone now are seven huge palm trees and their clusters of nuts. (I've never been a fan of palms, especially when they are taking up perfectly good space that could be used from a more productive plant, like a blueberry.) Gone too the pine tree out the front that had grown so tall and difficult, between two sets of power lines. And gone, the beautiful tree in our back yard that was sadly just too big and too close to the house for comfort. It's such a shame. It was a lovely tree, better suited to a paddock or a park than a suburban yard. Especially given it's habit of first shedding all it's leaves and then shedding all it's bark and dropping large branches. The grass, the gutters, the neighbours pool, none shall miss it I'm afraid. Thankfully the timber from the trunk and branches has been saved for a friend on property with a wood burning fire.

Not without drama, one wrong cut sent a large branch into the neighbours fence, though thankfully it has since been fixed. Sadly, a few stray branches also swiped at my little veggie patch, laying low my corn and tomato plants. I'm yet to fully inspect the damage. Though I'm hoping a little extra love and care will recover some of my first crop.

The yard has been transformed by the removal of the trees and have left us with space and light to begin slowly transforming the space, adding more veggie gardens, a chicken house, a shed, a water tank etc. As well as new trees and shrubs that are more appropriate for the size of our yard. A decision not to be made lightly in light of the cost of making the wrong choice!

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New sofa approval

Today's thrifty finds

Cohen's self portrait with hair

Book club reading

Yesterday I was stood on our back deck, overlooking the work going on below, as palm trees are cut down and carted away to make way for fruit trees. I found myself lost in thought regarding our plans and dreams and how far we have come this past year. Last year selling our house to move away from the coast and closer to the City was just a dream. As was overcoming my thyroid problems and becoming pregnant, or buying a high set house with a big yard and room for a studio underneath. Together Dave and I have traversed many obstacles. We worked hard. We stay focused. We supported each other. And now, here we are, living those dreams.

We are shaping this house into our home. Renovating, nesting, building. Planning on investing in solar panels and water tanks. Creating a garden for vegetables, herbs, fruit trees and chickens, so that we can live closer to nature, be in tune with our seasons and teach our children the same. I've made a connection with a lot of bloggers lately who are of a similar frame of mind. Who wish to slow down, spend less, live intentionally and appreciate more fully all that they have. It seems to be a reaction to a number of things. Our imprint on the environment, work/life balance, the cost of living, our dreams for our children's futures, to name but a few. I'm incredibly inspired by the likes of Rhonda, Kate, Amanda and Tania.

Already Cohen recognises basil and picks and eats it as we wander around the garden. Something I couldn't do until I was in my 20's. Living at the coast I felt I was in a sort of limbo, now I feel more purpose. I feel more at home and I am excited about the future. And in two months we shall be welcoming a new member to our family for which I am unimaginably grateful. 

I look forward to welcoming more change.
What are you looking forward to?

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Photographs of our newly completed polished wooden floors aren't up there in the excitement stakes for many I know*. Probably polishing floors isn't that exciting either. Though a bird breaking into the house and pooping all over the second coat of varnish did get all our hearts racing for a little while. 

What polished floors do mean though is that we are finally moving in! Even though the skirting boards need painting, even though we still have no eaves, even though the bathroom doesn't have a door, I couldn't care in the least. Those things will come. The truck has been packed and is on the way to the house as I type. So if you will excuse me, I have boxes to unpack!

I shall be back, hopefully with more exciting photos than those above, once the internet connection has been transferred over to the new house. 

*But honestly, the floor has come up well, don't you think?