Internal tiling, carpet and appliances

After finishing work today, I met Ben at the house where he was waiting for the National Broadband Network (NBN) guy to arrive and hook up the wiring for our internet connection.

It's the first time we've been in the house in about two weeks so there were a lot of exciting changes to see that we've only been able to glimpse through the windows during recent visits.

The flooring is now completed with the installation of the living area/kitchen/hallway tiling and the carpet in the rumpus room and bedrooms.

 

 

I'm so happy with how the colours have turned out and how it's all come together now that we're so close to completion and handover.

 

The bathrooms are almost done, just waiting on the installation of the doorhandles and towel rails.

   

 

And our Westinghouse kitchen appliances have arrived and been partially installed. They were part of our Luxe Inclusions. We've bought a matching fridge (currently sitting in the middle of our lounge room) to go with them.

 

After snapping some photos and while I waited for Ben who was finishing off helping the NBN guy, I discovered and took full advantage of the late afternoon winter sun streaming through our mater bedroom window and lay down for a nap. I guarantee this will be one of the cats favourite places in winter!

 

Next week after a few more bits and pieces have been completed, we're scheduled for a final walk-through. Then it's just a matter of having the bank release the rest of the funds, some final paperwork, and we'll be in!

I'm kicking myself over some small things I wish I had of thought of during the design process though, like having a sliding door to the main bathroom. But I have lots of long term plans to rectify some of those and make the place even better.

And now, last of all, here's the laundry sink!



Sneak peak of the tiling

With the house at lock up stage, and no tradies on site, we weren't able to get in and get a good look at the tiling, other than a sneak peak through the window.

 

Not long to go now!

 

Driveway

Just needs a bit of a tidy up...

 

Outdoor tiling, fly screens and the beginnings of a driveway

First thing I noticed today was the driveway area had been excavated, ready to be laid next week. Our site manager has arranged for us to have a little entry path off the side of the driveway leading to the front door as well.

 

 

The tilers have started (finally) although they have only laid the external porch and al freco tiles so far. Our site manager arranged for them to tile down over the edge of the front porch to finish it off nicely.

 

     

 



 

 

The only other development is the installation of most of the flyscreens. Just waiting on the stacker door screens now.

 

     

 

 

Blinds, more lights and mirrors

This morning, Ben and I met our Site Superviser at the house for a walk through appointment the man from the blind company to measure up all the windows.

Unfortunately we hit a few snags. First, the stacker doors in the living area butt up against the pantry doors but don't have any inset for the blinds to hung in, which means if we were to hang blinds at standard height they'd restrict the opening of the pantry, pretty much completely! Unfortunately this was overlooked during the design phase of the build. The other drama was the large window in the lounge, 3.0 metres wide - which is just too wide for a single roll of roller blinds and meaning we either had to have two, with a gap in the middle (with no frame behind it to make it unobtrusive) or have three sets of blinds so the gaps over the two frames but meaning the prices is jacked up a lot seeing as its three rolls instead of one! We may end up just getting vertical blinds for the lounge and rumpus room windows and just having the roller for the stacker door.... luckily they can be made in the same fabric so it won't look strange. We're getting a quote for both so will have to wait and see which option is more feasible.

I went with a very neutral, pale grey/white colour called 'Passive' from the Hunter Douglas 'Quay' Fabric range of blockout blinds. In the bedrooms, we'll have a double layer of privacy screening (semi-transparent), in 'White / White Pearl', on the roller blinds to allow light but maintain privacy.

Whilst there, we checked out some new additions to the place. The down lights around the house and the heat/fan lights in the bathrooms have gone in, as well as the mirror in the main bathroom and the drum pendant for the rumpus room (that I dropped off to the electrician on Monday).

All that's left of the electrical now are the appliances, the heating/cooling control panel, and ACTEW finally turning the power on!

   

 

 The house was absolutely freezing while we were there. However I discovered the two kids rooms (aka guest rooms if you ask Ben) get amazing sun in the morning and are so nice and warm!

 

The tiler was meant to be in on Monday to do the living areas, but that didn't happen. They've been given the official 'hurry up' though so should be done by the end of the week, and the carpet is scheduled for the next few days as well.

 

 

 

The driveway guy turned up while we were on site and mapped out the outline of the driveway ready to be excavated this afternoon for pouring tomorrow. And last of all, here's a snap of my awesome red front door!

 

 

Electrical, shower screens, garage and more

The end is in sight!

I went past the house after work today and checked out this week's progress. The electrician was on site - in the process of installing all of the power outlets and light switches. The down lights and alarm have been put in as well as the majority of the other light fittings in the bedrooms and garage. We're still waiting on one replacement light for a bedroom as well as the drum pendant for the rumpus room.

  

The bathroom screens are in, still covered in little cork padding dots, but looking good. 

The mirror has appeared in the ensuite as well (but not the main bathroom). After the minor height dilemma it has turned out just right so long as I don't get any taller! The builder just has to fix the holes in the plasterboard below - where it was previously attached. Not sure if they'll patch it or just add some more tiles over the top...  

The plastic is off the Caesarstone bench tops in the bathrooms as well so I could get a good look at those, and I'm very happy!

Although I noticed the fluorescent lights in the garage had been installed on the way in, I somehow didn't notice the garage was finally there (rolled up) until I was about to leave! I got the electrician to lower it for me so I could snap a few pictures. It looks so crisp and white.