Hi all.

Just wondering if anyone has anything they'd like me to ask our Interior Designer? She's awesome and does all of our displays so she has loads of knowledge about decorating and furnishing a home.

I'd really appreciate your input - I'm doing the Q&A next week and she will be answering all your questions, so let me know!

Feel free to head over to our Facebook page and post your question there, or just reply to this post.

Vans - I have your storage Q from a while ago that is on my list.

Thanks!

Jemima.

Been a bit MIA...hardly had a chance to turn the computer on!!!

So a fair bit happened this week!

Will show you pics from Wednesday first!
Was lucky enough to arrive onsite for a sticky through the windows and the supervisor was there...so was able to go in!
And got to see this!

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Love the size of my big pot drawers! The one at the bottom is just the normal size pot drawer!

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Had a good chat with the supervisor, and he is organising for tiler meeting on Wednesday arvo...but still haven't heard anything...hope it happens!

Friday after work I popped by and again was lucky to have a tradie working...the cabinet maker in! He was setting up lights as he had to finish that night.

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Love our ensuite cupboards...we have gone from a tiny medicine cabinet in our old home, to this house where we rent with 2 cupboards, to my new one with 4! can't wait!

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Love the sink!
I was very unsure of the Antarctic Stone benchtop, I love the platinum micro and wanted it throughout, but it didn't quite suit the feature tile. Now it is in, I love it! I wish we had put it in the main bathroom too! Even though it is exactly the same as the little sample piece, it just doesn't do it justice!

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In the right spot now!

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Unfortunately the laundry cupboards are the wrong colour. This is smokey sappelle which is in the bath/ensuite. In the laundry we are supposed to have licorice linea, same as kitchen.

The other problem we had was the bathroom benchtop was cut, but they cut the hole for the wrong basin. so we need to have another one cut with the right basin hole.
Cabinet maker said it is already ordered and he will let them know about the laundry colour.

That brings us to today. Had to take hubby over to look through the windows. To our surprise, more tradies in! All the screeding is getting done in the bathroom and laundry.

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Just checking if a wine bottle will fit. It won't laying down Thought it would be deeper, there is room to have it deeper, but for whatever reason, it is quite shallow.
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Love my island bench.

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So supervisor said that it is normally 8 weeks from tiler...but I don't know why it would take this long. The hard stand is going in this week, and then it will take 3 weeks to order garage doors. Tiler is in monday/tuesday for all the waterproofing..tiler meeting wednesday (cross fingers) and then he will start thursday (he had 3 assistants there today, and NOT him...so if they all do the tiling, it should be finished quite quickly!
Then I don't know what comes next...electrical fit out?
Door/door frame gloss painting is last (i know that), and the paving and appliances...
So if anyone knows what happens after tiling, would love to know!
And hopefully it doesn't take 8 weeks!!!

I am loving the way everything is coming together. Absolutely love the colours of all the cupboards! Very very happy!

Yay! How exciting! I've been a bit MIA too, mostly because not much is happening on site (ie. Nothing is!)

I love the licorice linea in the kitchen!! Would love to have pot draws like that too!! I'm having one pot draw and a bunch of cupboards.

I do love the bathroom sink and what I can see of the bench top. Can't wait to see pictures of the "full reveal"

Good luck with the tiling meeting

After tiling there are the basic electrical/data fit-offs and installation of all of the extras (bench tops, shower screens, plumbing fixtures, etc), as well as external things such as the installation of a gas meter so that they can put your HWS in, garage doors, etc.

After that comes your site clean and and any major fix-ups that are already noted as being required by your SS - then the inspection phase begins with lots of different things to inspect and certify (plumbing, electricals, fit and finish, etc). The real delays stem from the touch-ups that are required after the inspections that have been done - just hope nothing has been seriously stuffed up. When carpeted areas are deemed to be ok then the carpet will be laid - don't expect that to be done right after the tiling/site clean.

Any extras such as fencing, concreting of driveway, etc will be done during this time as well.

A time line of 8 weeks sound just about right to me - it's not as if they will be having the tradies filing in one after another on a daily basis and there will be the inevitable minor delays, but there is also a lot still left to do and there's a lot of inspecting and touching up that you might not think about looking at the house right now that will need to be done.

Thanks CMHamilton...
I still think 8 weeks is a long time...as we are doing the main tiling (including laundry) and carpeting ourselves...as well as painting.
Benchtops are already installed, minus one which is to be replaced. Only one shower screen to go in, and some of the plumbing fixtures are already in
Fencing is done by the estate, not the builder so that is up to us when we call them to get it done (as soon as we know handover date we will be calling!).

Will look forward to all the plumbing and electrical to be fitted...and meet the electrician so we can see if he will install all our lighting afterwards, at a decent price!

Hoping we continue to discover all the fix ups as they occur and they get fixed straight away, rather then only spotting them at PCI and having to wait for them to be fixed! I am hoping for a 6 week turnaround...not 8! I hate renting and hate the extra expense and just want to be in my house!!! As does everyone!

So far we have been incredibly lucky with our tradies...they have actually come straight after one another! I thought we would be delayed waiting and waiting for things to arrive...but thankfully, that hasn't happened either...and touch wood it doesn't!

Caz have you got an expected start date?
Our pot drawers were part of a free upgrade package. in our island bench we were supposed to have cupboards and cutlery drawers.
The pot drawers were supposed to be under the wall oven.
But then we upgraded the wall oven to a double, so didn't leave room for 4 pot drawers. So one stayed and 3 went over to the island bench, and we were supposed to have a cupboard in the middle. Our prestart consultant suggested we make the drawers bigger, and get rid of the cupboard altogether...best thing we did I think! The extra width looks fabulous! And it was at NO extra cost! gotta love that!

Forgot to mention...a huge thanks to Jemima for my voucher for a spa treatment!
It was a lovely surprise, and I enjoyed making the video...even though I didn't win, it was fun to do and it is something to keep forever!

The inspections and fix-ups I'm referring to are done before PCI by the builder - you're further along than you intimated in your post above and given that you're doing the flooring yourselves 6 weeks looks like a realistic number.

As the the fix-ups themselves, well there are bound to be a bunch of small things here and there that need attention but most builders tends to get the relevant tradie in to fix a list of things all at once, not come to fix each and every little thing they notice right after is is noted (contractors just don't work that way nor should we expect them to).

Still 6 weeks does sound like a reasonable number, but be prepared for 8 weeks and be happy if it is sooner.

Glad you had a lovely holiday vans!. So sorry to hear about your cat. Your photos look great!!! Love the bathroom basins it looks like you must be getting close to keys now!. Have you called the landscaper yet or started plans for the front?. We just had the driveway done this week yay!. Have you noticed the landscaping surrounding the park?. They finished it off this week, looking green and lovely .

They have to have some gap behild overhead on top of fridge for ventilation.

So exciting Vans, it looks brilliant!!!
I LOVE your kitchen, it looks like somewhere beautiful to do baking for your H1 friends only, of course....
Well done on the free upgrade package.....pot drawers are a MUST!
Fingers crossed the time flies by and you're in within the 6 weeks....I get the frustration of renting, all you want is your beautiful new home!!
xo

I hope you will enjoy something lovely at the spa - very well deserved.

Love seeing how your home is coming on so much - it's looking fab.

Jemima.

Thanks for replies!

The cupboard above the fridge recess has about a 45cm gap from the wall to the back of the cupboard...I thought this was a little excessive for ventilation, but I am no expert by all means!!! It only needs an extra 5cm to the cupboard and the wine bottles would fit PERFECT!

Liss_ie, we won't ring the landscaper until we know when our handover is. We might even wait a little, live there a few weeks to get more of a feel of what we want! we are also thinking we might put in our planter boxes, or retaining wall for the tiny slope at the front we have...so will need some time to do that before the landscapers come!
I saw your driveway today, and the extra bit of your pathway put in..looks great! i can't wait to see ours go down!

cmhamilton, I have discovered that each builder (and sometimes build) have a different sequence for doing things! So what happens first in one build, might be the 5th thing on another build's list! So I realise now that it is almost impossible to know what comes next!!!

So yesterday, we saw a painted door!
I think it just finishes it off!
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We were hoping to have tiler meeting tomorrow. we haven't heard anything at all for this.. I know it is because the tiles have not turned up, but since we were expecting it tomorrow, it would have been nice to have an email to say, "sorry but there is a delay in the delivery"

Majorly disappointed as if they do arrive soon, hubby and I both work thurs/fri and we get home late...then we both work monday, same thing...so next free day is tuesday afternoon....and then of course we have easter next weekend, so they probably wouldnt finish tiling by the friday public holiday!
Looks like 8 weeks is looking closer to the mark
I keep reminding myself it is quality not speed...but we have so far had BOTH! and I liked it like that!
Yes I want my cake and I must eat it too!!!

I love the front door, Vans! What colour is it?
Hehehe....you make that cake work hard!!

I love your kitchen colours!

Now I am reconsidering going light over dark!

The front door is woodland grey, same as the roof/gutters. We were starting to think we should have gone with caribou, same as the dark render, but glad we stuck with woodland grey as if we get a security screen (i am sure we will) the frame will be woodland grey, so match in..can't get a caribou frame!

Thanks Jennifer for the kitchen compliment! We love the dark! We couldn't have white...we drink way too much coffee and red wine...and they are sure to leave the marks and ruin that gorgeous crisp white look!

Your front door is the same as our and in the same colour! You have great taste


Sent from my iPhone so please excuse my spelling mist cakes

I ordered some samples for blinds from blindsonline on Sunday night. got them today! Great samples! And so quick to arrive!
Although nothing like the colours displayed! Glad I got samples.
I haven't worked out costings or even sizes that I need yet, thinking I may need to get a couple custom made but hopefully some (most) will be ready made.

I am thinking of going with panel glides for the back windows and sliding doors, dual roller blinds for the front windows (bedrooms) and kitchen, and just normal block blinds for the side windows.
Hubby wants venetians, but I hate cleaning them. I think since I am the one that cleans, I should get the say! I would also like to have block out curtains in all bedrooms as well, but at a later date (especially the main bedroom!).
Now to choose a colour. Really not sure whether to go light, mid brown (with grey tones) or dark browns (with grey tones).
Our carpets are dark, tiles are light. Walls will be light too.
Any ideas?
Here is a not great photo of the colours I am looking at. I won't be ordering them until we move in anyway, but want some ideas!
The top 3 are block out, the bottom light one is the light filter for the dual blind, but that colour is available in block out too, so could still have that as the main one.
Or are the 3 dark ones still too dark and i need to go lighter again?
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And our hardstand!
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oooooh so smooth and shiny!

i am a crazy coffee drinker... my kitchen will have a "coffee nook" which whilst i already have a nespresso, i am thinking of getting a lavazza modo mia as i can get it in PURPLE! and DP wouldn't let me have purple cupboards....

hehehe

the samples from blinds warehouse look great! i like the one in the middle on the top... it could be the photo or my computer but the one on the left looks slightly pink

i think have the middle blockout with the lighter light filter one

are you planning on just blinds or dressing the openings with curtains later? I personally prefer a lighter wall with medium dark blind if that makes sense?

I'm with Jennifer, I like the middle one as well. We will have light walls and moderately dark brown carpets, but will be going with a dark brown curtain over the top of the day/night roller blinds. I think that colour would be a nice middle-of-the-ground tone.

And as the one who cleans (me as well), you get final say!!!

Regarding your space above the fridge that you aren't happy with. Looking at the depth of your fridge recess I think the fridge will come past it a little bit. So if you put a wine holder on the shelf and the bottle sticks out a bit that will be to your advantage when reaching over the fridge. So don't be sad I think it will work out as you planned.

Thanks for responses on blinds...the middle one is my favourite i think too. The one on the left isn't as pink as it looks in the picture, but considering we are going for grey browns, it is quite a red brown. I say I think for the middle, because I think that and the light one look gorgeous together and I am sure go nicely with our carpets and definitely our tiles. But the colour is very similar to the colour we have in our rental, and I look at it and I don't like them!
So I am thinking I might need a lighter colour? But I just don't know!!!

grumblebum54 (love the name by the way, I have been a grumble bum for this week, but tiredness and work related, not house!)...I went and checked our measurements on the fridge and the recess after reading your post, I was sure we had made sure the fridge will fit. And yes it does fit with no over hang. It is 10cm deeper then our current house where we rent, and if anything will hang over it will be part of our fridge door handle. Since hubby is 6foot6, having the wine bottles over hang, he will have a bruised head, or I will lose my wine! I can handle the first, but DEFINITELY NOT the latter!

So what has happened this week?!!!
Well. my client liaison officer has moved on. Didn't find out from her, but I don't expect any form of professionalism from her. I found out via mail from the new CLO. More then I got from the old one, so happier already with the new one, but at the same time I would have liked a phonecall. The very first one I had called me, mailed me, called me, mailed me when she was assigned to me and then reassigned. Just professional. The last one I got nothing from when she was assigned, and nothing from when she was reassigned. And I got half for this one. I wonder what will happen when I get my next one? They don't seem to last long in this job...what could be the reason??!

At the house...we were hoping to have the tiler meeting on Wednesday, as per correspondance with SS. Heard nothing from CLO (we now know why, she has moved on and we are nobodies but anyway!!!), no tiles arrived, UNTIL Thursday!
Had a look through windows and boxes of tiles!
As I was leaving (at 6pm) the tilers turned up!!! but i was exhausted after work, so didn't bother going in the house with them!
Tonight after work went over, and tilers there! They are hard workers!
So today they had done all the waterproofing.
So now waiting to see how communication is with the new CLO (crossing fingers!) and she can arrange a suitable time for our tiler meeting. I would love to have our tiles done by Easter, but somehow, I think not!

But all in all, it looks good, tiles (that I saw in limited light) look fantastic, and I love my house more and more!
Also met new neighbours. they are building diagonally opposite us, and are at plate height. Their house if flying up! They seem nice.
So so far I have met 2 neighbours in person (opposite) and they are lovely, 1 "neighbour" on the same street on line and yeah I guess she seems nice (LOL ) and one "neighbour" who lives close by on line and yep, another alrighter so I am VERY happy with the neighbourhood!

Should go to bed...early rise tomorrow for some crazy running training thingy I have. why do I commit myself to these early mornign fitness things on a weekend???