Almost done!

Some pics of the new ensuite bathroom! Sorry for the delay in updates, but this project has been dragging. We're almost there - just taps, water and some paint - should be done by the 23 Dec - bringing to an end 7 months of renovating!

En Suite entrance and basin: The basin will stand above a hard piece of wood with taps and spout just above it. The bath will have about 20cm tiled area around it and the taps for it will be built into the wall at the foot of the bath - this as a result of nowhere else easily accessible to reach them! If they were in front of the bath one would have to ascend stairs and stretch across it on all fours to reach - an odd position to be in. The doors will be installed this week, and the fittings completed. I imagine we're anpother two weeks away from completion. I will update more frequently from now on.

New En Suite Bathroom: The last of the first set of renovations! Apologies for not having updated for so long, but I took a break and went abroad. The ceiling of this new bathroom also took some time to set. Front left hand corner will be a free standing basin; beneath the window the bath will be built in and raised enough to have three steps to get into it - flanked on either end by a wall. The walls will separate it from the basin area, and the shower at the top. The shower will be open - no glass, just a sloped floor. Above the basin and shower are skylights. Top right where the water pipes come in will be a toilet. Once all the fittings are done the wall on the right, leading to the bedroom, will be completely removed. Where I'm standing will be sliding wooden doors.

Bathroom complete - next, the en suite starts. It'll be less masculine than the current one, more round with softer shapes, better tiles, and marble mosaic.

The central window I was most excited about - being able to watch tv from the kitchen :-)

Kitchen - Almost complete - just the extractor. Shelves are great, but a little high, so a step ladder is necessary. Chairs make the kitchen social

Lounge - Finally, the plasma is up on the wall and the sound is connected.

The lounge - couches in, cushions out, art on the walls - taking shape

Front entrance - complete with lights, furniture and Bunny!

En Suite - this wall and window will be knocked out - the last of the walls to go :-) - and lead into a bathroom with shower.

Main bedroom - this isn't the best setup - but laying things out anticipating the new bathroom...

Main bedroom - finally, a couch, clothing, a lazy-assed tv setup and a bed!

Study - where I'm working now.

Guest bedroom - ready for anyone who needs a place to stay :-)

Bathroom - tiling almost done, shower to be inserted and fittings to be added. Unfortunately the new geyser isn't yet working - the plumber and electrician will look at it today. The detail I'm most happy with is the mosaic...

Kitchen - the oven and plumbing should be sorted out over the next two or three days - just waiting on the tiler to finish up. The kitchen will get the mosaic as the bathroom...

Boxes - a familiar site to all - the double bind: excitement at finding all your stuff vs the reality that you keep far too much crap.

Cottage - Justin is more than comfortable with his new setup and i'm thrilled to have a spot for all my parents and family hand-me-downs :-)

Kitchen granite is added, tiling begins, and the gas hob is working - because of all the dust from tiling the lounge furniture is still wrapped and sealed

The patio is tiled, the tables and chairs and umbrella and braai - bring on spring!

The entrance hall finally loses the echo that has been creeping us out - sounds in the house are so much more diffused with the addition of everything.

Having furniture arrive after 2 months and renovations is very strange - I can't believe I own half the things I do - you forget about so much and become quite accustomed to a rudimentary way of life.

Moving in! Finally I get my furniture out of storage. Have been thinking of redoing the entrance patio - but right now, happier to just settle for a bit - and start welcoming all of you to the house!

En Suite Starts! Bricks, doors and cement has arrived and building on the new bathroom begins. The sliding door go where the steps currently are, and the window in the background will be on the left wall.

Kitchen Progress since June 21

Entrance progress since June 21

Patio Lounge Kitchen Progress since June21

Poor electrician fell through the ceiling - he's ok.

First Accident - ceiling fall

New En Suite to start - 2 months!

Pool Tiling

Patio Tiling

Tiling starts - the cottage is being tiled with the same bathroom/entrance/kitchen tile, creating the impression its part of the house.

Passageway Tiling

Cottage - a view into the kitchen and bedroom, both of whihc are being tiled too. The only area not being tiled is the bathroom - which will need a renovation at some stage.

8 Weeks Down! Getting there...

The view from the main bedroom. Finally, without the walls blocking the view of the most lush part of the garden.

Kitchen - looking out onto the lounge. A plasma will be installed above the fireplace, hence the piping - which will be sealed soon. The idea is to have a wireless look. Hopefully the extractor, which will hang from the kitchen ceiling, roughly in line with the lamp in the lounge (which has since been removed, and replaced with spots), will not block the view too much.

Kitchen installation begins! Monday 7 Aug has been the most hectic day since we started bashing down the walls - the builders, electricians, kitchen installers and tilers arrived simultaneously! The kitchen units still require granite measurements, which will take another 3-4 days, so I don't imagine the kitchen will be ready to cook food until next week Friday - the 19th Aug.

Tiling the toilet. Once the toilet and bathroom are tiled, the plumber comes back and I'll finally have a decent bathroom - the cottage bathroom doesn't cater for two.

Tiling begins! I chose the tile based on its rectangular dimensions (300x600), and have laid them in line with the length of the wood. I have used the same tile throughout the house - from the entrance to the cottage and cottage kitchen, to the main bathroom, toilet and kitchen.

Garden View... Jeffrey and I have been cutting branches to create a more open feel to the pool. Previous owners tried to block the view of the maid's quarters and house.

Looking straight ahead you can see right through to the cottage kitchen.

The new patio - a view from the pool. The idea is to have an area that is linked by the lounge and kitchen. In summer this will probably be the most active area of the house.

Building a Patio! The existing patio was about 2x6metres, not nearly wide enough for garden furniture and umbrella.

Entrance and passageway is ready to be tiled. Once tiling starts, I can establish how long before my furniture can come out of storage. The door Houston is looking towards is what used to be the cottage- the tiling will continue into the cottage, making it more a part of the house.

And I'm comfortable in the main bedroom :-)

Justin's comfortable in the cottage - we have a kitchen, a bathroom, and basic luxuries - like a fridge and microwave, tv and playstation!

I'm still deciding if I want to build the new bathroom now, or wait. I'm tired of breaking down walls - but not sure I feel like coming back to this in a year. The builder has said we can construct the new bathroom, and once done, then we can knock the bedroom wall down. I'll think about it this week...