Day 41

I can officially refer to this as day 41 (even though it is a Saturday) since there is a team of tilers here today.  All the tiling should be complete by Monday.  It has been a big week this week.  The roof lights and patio doors are finally in.  The ceiling boards are up in the patio.  On Monday they will skim the ceiling and put the cornices up in preparation to paint.  

So, last week I was going to tell you about the bathroom.  This little room has given us the biggest headache.  The first problem being it is little.  The second problem being my big ideas.  Well, I think they are totally realistic but it seems to be causing one small problem after the other.  Here it is as it looked last week:

You can see how small the room is.  The photo below was taken after the bath and the Geberit system went in.  We had to build that small wall to accommodate the Geberit. Seems like a silly thing to do as we are trying to make the room appear more spacious but hopefully the desired effect will be achieved.

And here it is starting to take shape.  The wall tiles were cut down to even pieces to cover the wall which is housing the Geberit system.  I tormented myself over whether or not we should use that stainless steel trim detail for days as the tiler seemed a little hesitant about how neatly it would come together.  The tiles are not grouted yet but I think it is going to look good.    

The vanity is still an issue.  We had a great carpenter who was able to do the job within our budget but due to a family crisis he had to cancel all his current jobs.  After what feels like hundreds of quotes, opinions and disappointments we have decided to go with a engineered stone top with kiaat veneer doors and drawers.  The basin is rather large and the vanity is just over 1,6 meters long.  Yes, in that small space!  We are going to have to be a little more patient over the bathroom renovation.

Patience is something we seem to be running short of this week.

Day After Day 35

I can't exactly call it day 36 since it is not officially a working day.  It is however, the first opportunity I have had to post what is happening in our home.

This week started badly.  On Monday I had to call the kitchen company and ask them to delay the installation until Tuesday because in my opinion the kitchen was not ready. The tiler and the electrician were meant to have worked last Saturday but nobody pitched so Monday came around and the kitchen tiles were not grouted and the electrical issues were not dealt with.  It was also pouring with rain and I could only imagine that it was going to be chaos if the kitchen company arrived and needed to start building units inside while the tiler was finishing off the tiling and grouting.  The plumber was also meant to arrive to install the Geberit system. 

On Tuesday the kitchen company arrived on schedule and started to assemble our kitchen.  Now, this was the part I was looking forward to the most ...  seeing it all start coming together, at last.  It is far from finished but I love it already.  Final measurements were taken for the Hanstone tops and hopefully they will be installed within 2 weeks.  

I like the addition of those top cupboards above the fridge and sink.  Now if I could just convince Mr. Money Bags that we really need a sleek new stainless steel fridge and dishwasher!

There was a small hiccup in the kitchen which I only noticed on Wednesday when the cabinets started getting fixed. The short "island" was extending into the dining area a lot more than before and while this made the kitchen bigger it stole place from the dining area.  Luckily the kitchen company and the installer were both very accommodating and together they made a plan.  The drawers next to the oven have all been sent back to the factory to be made smaller (luckily they were longer than standard) and the "island" depth has been adapted.  The counter tops were not effected as the final measurements were only done on Thursday so they will be cut accordingly. Be warned, this could have been a potential disaster (for me anyway).  When you sign your contract with the kitchen company check the floor plan diagram very carefully.  I only looked at the design drawings (see below) and never thought to check measurements.

I was so caught up in finialising the finishes and position of drawers, etc and it never occured to me to scrutinize the detailed plan.  Normally, I go over evry little detail with a fine combed tooth but ...  It was a easy mistake to have made.  

Other elements of the renovation have been less than rewarding this week.  The plumber never arrived on Monday, or Tuesday and by Wednesday we were feeling a little frustrated.  After a conversation with the builder another plumber was appointed and work in the bathroom is also underway.  Just as well since I have big plans for that small room.  More about that later.

Day 30

It is all happening now.  I am feeling a little delerious with all the mess and noise even though we are now pratically camping in our home.

Right now, the tilers are here and have started laying the floor tile.  The priority is to get the kitchen done as the new kitchen is being installed on Monday.  I need to make a decision and purchase an extractor fan this weekend.  Now as much as I love shopping this does not really appeal to me.  I find extractor fans pretty ugly actually.  I have narrowed it down to 3 choices based more on functionality than looks to be honest.  

At this point I think it will be fan number 3.  How did I decide?  Very easily.  Price!  This product is manufactured locally and offers great performance at an excellent price (I hope).  It is also agood clean and simple design.

My largest dilemma right now is our bathroom vanity.  The carpenter who was going to make our solid wooden vanity phoned on Wednesday to say that he had an emergency family situation and he could no longer do the vanity.  They have already begun work in the bathroom and I am now under pressure to find someone reliable to make the vanity.  It is completely stressing me out.  Also, I wanted the basin to be positioned directly opposite the toilet pan so that there was counter space left to the one side and now I am having doubts about the design as the plumber and builder both agree that it is going to be very tight.  The basin is failrly large and rectangular and I think it will look funny in the centre of the vanity.  This silly and simple decision has been giving me nightmares and I need to make a decision today as they want to complete the plumbing in the bathroom.  If only the bathroom were a little bigger!

Day ?

My day-to-day week-to week account of our home renovation seems well on it's way to becoming a month-to-month account at this rate.  Not much happened over this past week.  Some preparation was done on Monday and Tuesday for the roof to go on but otherwise the builders have been on another job for the rest of the week.  In all fairness, I agreed to it as they are waiting for doors, roof sheets, etc.  Lots of waiting involved!  I have to keep telling myself to be patient and that it will all start coming together fast and furiously.  Mmmm.

So, our kitchen is coming out on Tuesday so that the walls, floors, electrical and plumbing can be sorted out in time for our new kitchen installation.  I don't think I have ever been more excited about all the mess, noise and distruption we are about to face. Here are some pictures of our current kitchen:

This is the view from our open plan dining area.  As you can see, the kitchen is not very big so we are pretty limited as to the layout and major changes.  I am not a fan of faux wood finishes and absolutely hate those postform kitchen tops with a passion.

For now, all of the current appliances are going back into the new kitchen.  As much as I long for a sleek new fridge with water dispenser and a new oven, we decided to spend the entire kitchen budget on the best finishes we could afford.  The last photograph really captures the "true essence" of our current kitchen.  

I can't wait for the "After" photos.  All of the base units are being made in kiaat.  I love this hardwood and we chose it to go with the solid pieces which we had made a few year ago and which we both still love.  

The top units are mostly finished a soft satin touch white duco. There are 2 aluminium framed doors with sandblasted toughened glass fronts and the kickplates will be alumium.  I am struggling to make a decision on the wall tiles and splashback.  We have had quotes for a white solid glass splashback behind the extractor fan.  I would love to have these splashbacks on all the walls but ... it is not in our budget.  Famous last words.