Homeless!

Turns out my insurance company are laughing at the fact that I want to move in during this 'open plan' phase of construction - should something terrible happen, as a result of there being no lockable or front doors, they won't pay out. So now all my belongings will go into storage for a month; i'll be living with friends (thanks Gary and Leeanne!), and hopefully, i'll be able to move in closer towards the end of July.
I'll continue to update the blog during this period though.

Progress after 1 week!

This kitchen wall will be knocked out to make way for a new door, opening out onto the pool area.

The driveway. The facade has been removed - but the paving is to stay for at least another year. The garage at the top is to become a room in the cottage. The wall to the right will be levelled - I just needed to get the permission of the only neighbour I've met to date - Melanie.

Bathroom renovations begin - removing all the tiles and existing features

Maid's quarters- There are currently two rooms and a separate loo and shower. The wall between the rooms will be removed; the current garage will be incorperated into the cottage; and the bathroom/shower will be opened into the rooms. Margaret is very exited about her new spot.

The pool, looking onto the lounge. The idea is to create new marbelite, and to retile the entire area around the pool, onto the lounge patio.

The 'Zen' area. The french doors will open onto this area - which have a breakfast table and khoi pond

Kitchen wall looking towards the lounge. Again, the walls to be knocked out. The major issue here is which way to knock the walls out towards - from the lounge inwards jeopardises the granite in the kitchen, and from the kitchen outwards, the floorboards in the lounge :-S The stove will eventually be replaced by a gas stove - this property has a direct gas pipe from the municipality.

The kitchen, facing the dining room. The cupboards have been removed and the wall will be knocked out from waist height, up to the height of the door. The granite tops and shelves will be kept for now, and above the new openings chrome shelves will be installed.

To the left of the entrance hall - the flatlet. The window is being closed. The front door top left will also be removed. A new roof will be inserted over this entire area and the floor will be tiled.

The new entrance hall being built. The foundations are being laid, and should be complete by Thursday, as where I'm standing in the pic, will be the new front doors. To the right of the wall, the en-suite bathroom will follow, in the next phase of renovations.

This is the dining room sans the cupboards - and the wonderfully hidden strips of amazing wallpaper beneath. The floor will need to be matched with new tiles from the new entrance hall. The wall to the left will be reduced to rubble.

From the lounge, looking at the kitchen walls. These walls will be demolished on Monday am, making the kitchen/dining/lounge area open plan.

Garage Postponed!

I've decided against building the garage now as council has not approved the submitted plans yet. The garage is also tricky because it requires removing the entire driveway's paving, cutting down a number of trees, laying foundations, breaking the wall down - and then remaining in this state for at least 3-4 weeks. Simply put, I'd have no gate, and no driveway for at least a month!
With so much happening inside, its actually a relief.
I will have more pics of the doors on the weekend - they were installed today.
Thanks for all the messages of encouragment I've received!

There go the Garage doors! The intention here is to remove the garage, the facade of the house, and in a few weeks the driveway will go to. I intend to make all the paving you see here lush green garden.

Lounge, looking in from the pool area. The hole in the opposite wall will also get new sliding doors, and eventually open onto a khoi pond/zen garden :-) yeah yeah, kitsch i know.

Lounge, looking over the pool. This area will get folding french doors.

Looking down the driveway - the water feature had to go - it collected rainwater for the garden :-l

Renovations Start!

The Entrance facade comes down. The front doors will be installed at the top step, and the entrance area will be incorporated into the house, with a new roof.

22 April 2005 - Looking into the Lounge and Kitchen, from the pool

22 April 2005 - The Lounge, looking out onto the pool (The house was built in 1941. Not much has changed since...)

22 April 2005 - Garage, looking in the direction of the driveway

22 April 2005 - Entrance

Sold!

22 April 2005 - Driveway and Garage

Welcome to my new home!

Hi All,

Finally found an event in my life I'd like to blog - the renovations of my new house. These are expected to go on for at least 8-10 weeks so hopefully all goes well.
Busy figuring out how to upload pics and then will start posting a series of before/during/after shots.
I move in on the 30 June, so lots to take care of before then.

Thanks
Robin