finally… internet

Wow! it's been so long since I last posted, but we have been very busy moving, unpacking, painting, shelving, wallpapering, shopping, etc that I didn't really mind not having the internet connected. It forced me to get lots done…

So we are so so so loving our new home. It's lovely not to have to deal with real estate agents and land lords anymore. We can do what we like to our house :)

We haven't had many issues. Just small things to put on our three month fix list.

Things I have been up too…
I have been ripping out silly ventilated shelving in the pantry and installing timber shelves. Wallpapered a wall (my first, and last). Building flat packs, painting walls inside and outside, installing the plantation shutters. Heaps of stuff and heaps more to go…

• Electrician to finish installing lights (after I seal the render). 
• Hubby to do the gardens with the help of a wonderful friend. 
• Replace some furniture that doesn't fit i.e. dining table. 
• Make the curtains.
• French pave the alfresco with silver travertine. 
• Get outside timber gates installed and paint them white.

I haven't started the boys rooms… It will seriously be never ending while I still enjoy DIYing :)

Anyway, enough talk. Here are a few pics for those who have been asking :)

 kitchen

 living room  (curtains will go on the door)

 wall paper in entryway (don't mind little miss I have to be in every photo)

 Main bedroom shutters (sorry didn't bother fixing the bed)

I am really happy with the quality of the plantation shutters through iseek blinds.
I measured and installed all of the plantation shutters in the house. But… I made one stupid expensive mistake. I switched the main bathroom measurements around on the order form in a rush and so the shutters fitted perfectly (the wrong way). Now I have to wait till after Christmas for the shutters to be re made. The boys still have to wait for total privacy :(

The front is now painted and rendered.

Unfortunately most of our buffalo grass is dead. It's going on the list!

Ensuit

Okay, just one of Typography (the cat that is)

Practical Completion Inspection (PCI)

This morning hubby and I has our PCI appointment with our Site Supervisor (SS).

Just like to say our splash back now looks soooo noise :)

The appliances are in and it's all looking sweet ;)

We are very excited it's all coming along so well. There are not too many things to fix up. Just some paint touch up's, few dents in the range-hood flue that will need replacing, a few floor boards are scratched and need replacing, timber to seal the sides of the front and back doors, some silicone sealing, front and back yard levelled better, and a few other bits and pieces but nothing too major.

We have been so happy with Mark our SS. It's nice to have someone who is both laid back yet onto everything you ask for, and happy to please. It certainly makes the building experience much more pleasant.

Our solicitors are still waiting on MJH solicitors to contact them regarding settlement. They sure are leaving it to the last minute, I really hope we are on track for getting our keys in two days time!

I didn't take any pics today as there was things on the bench from the painters etc. So it wasn't looking heaps pretty. I will take some nice shots when they handover the keys :)

Nearly there…

quick update

Here are a fews pics…

Well they have certainly decided to replace the splash back! ?

I wonder if this is up to standard with leaving the cupboards on and only replacing the gyprock around them?

 I changed some of the ugly handles with some nice black ones. I still need to do the draws with pull handles but need a drill for that job :)

Totally hate the scotia around all the kitchen cupboards and kick-boards. Not sure what I can do about it now :(

waiting…

Well I'm back after a long overdue update.

We were supposed to hear on the 1st August that our Occupation Certificate had been received, but that didn't happen.

After we get the certificate it should be another 2 weeks till handover.

Today we went to show a friend the outside assuming the house would be all locked up for the weekend but the back door was not locked so we were able to go in… YAY!

There are a few issues we noticed.

…WARNING Whinging!…

* Subway splash back tiles are two different shades of white, and the returns are not done.

* Gaps around doors, skirting, under sink.

* Doors sticking.

* A big concern for me is that where the grate is in our backyard, the yard is not level. It makes that corner of an already tidy yard unusable. I will certainly be wanting the retaining wall to continue up in that corner so our yard is flat just like everyone else's!

* The front yard was dug up to fix a blockage in the sewer line, but now the ground is uneven. I would also like the front yard levelled better!

* The two light battens either side of the garage door are too low. Don't know if they can raise them at this stage. But the lights we have chosen will look so stupid at that hight!

* Towel rail in main bathroom is too high.

* Letterbox needs changing to white.

* Fly-screens not on.

* Lots of paining to finish.

Thats about it for now with the whining ;)

Things that have been done are…

* Bamboo floor-boards that I LOVE! But I can already see how much dust/dirt they show up :0

* Carpets that I don't love :( they are heaps darker grey than I was expecting. But oh well.

* Side pavers and pebbles done. (Will need to seriously get rid of those pebbles because my boys will touch them ALL-THE-TIME)

* Clothes line in.

* French doors are looking AMAZABALLS with the windows in them cleaned :)

* Drive way is now sprayed. I imagined the texture to be heaps more rough but I'm pleasantly surprised it isn't. Also not 100% liking the colour but I think with the choice range we had to go from it was the best match to our house. We can't tell how well it will go until the render and painting is done, but at the moment the driveway is looking a bit too peachy :(

* Grass is down, but already looking half dead. I think in another 3 weeks it will look really dead :(

Think thats about all. I met one of our lovely neighbours :) and another one today. Praise God for lovely neighbours - YAY!

We also have had some fun purchasing some things for the home (between packing) such as the home theatre goodies, $$ curtain fabric, cushions, and other things. It's all getting a wee bit exciting :)

Here are some pics from today…

 the drain/yard issue

 the gap at door

See the two tile colours!!!

under kitchen sink gap

Main bathroom (towel rail too high)

our beautiful french doors :) 

Grey carpet in C's room 

Laundry 

looking down the hallway

looking up the hallway 

 dining/lounge room/kitchen area

same from another angle 

home theatre room/guest bedroom

clothes-line and small child

driveway colour 

outside lights too low :(

lights to go out the front
(black ones to go out the back)

side of house 

front yard not very level

 this is the door for the curtains

and these are the curtains I've ordered :)

This photo is from the very amazing house at The Sunny Side Up Blog.

One day I will get timber french alfresco doors ;)

about 4 weeks to go!

Our site supervisor told me we are about 4 weeks out!

Arrrr, better get sorting, packing etc…

I am totally and completely unorganised :0

kitchen/lounge/dining

 garage door with correct panels

air-con installed

photos

Hubby and I snuck in last night to get some pics of things.
Didn't look as good as during the day though.
I'm not loving the wall colour :(
Maybe later down the track I will re-paint, but it's okay in the mean time.

Things are happenin'

I went for a drive to the house today. I haven't been in a few weeks. Lots has been happening.
Unfortunately my camera's battery ran out when I was there so I only got a few shots in :(

They were laying the driveway and installing cupboard shelving while I inspected their progress :)

Also the walls and doors have been painted and the tiles are done in the bathrooms and laundry!!!

It seems like it's all happening quickly now!

Here are the few shots I managed to get today…

driveway being levelled 

I have no idea what these posts are for as I thought we were getting a colour bond fence between the houses? It looks like it's going to be a mini retaining wall?