Wrought Iron Balastrading for the balcony we didnt have!

We signed our contract on 13th April and guess what? We got a balcony which we did not ask for. So here's another dilemma. Should we keep it or leave it as a Juliet balastrade ( French window style) as originally asked for..

So, we have some more options..... sometimes I don't know if its a good thing; during the colour appointment, we were given the standard - and I dont want it looking like a jailbird house so am getting these options to put through. I think ( the builder is putting this in with a timber hand rail) and I am not too sure about this but David thinks it might work. So we might be going along these lines - to be cont'd - after full disccusion. and costs of course.

Asian is the best.

That's the one! We eventually worked out to go for the daring... or its me, I want a frenchy cottagey look rather than a white kitchen that half of Melbourne has ( from what I seen on sites) so am picking Asian Sand. The casearstone top ( I thought might clash) but it turned out ok when I went to the gallery and had a look. See pic.

Kitchen Cabinet Choices.. nooo..

After dwelling on the colours for the kitchen, I've decided that I cannot leave with the colours picked so we change a few elements.. splashback to a darker colour. almost brown, called Goanna Grey on Glass. Also, decided to streamline colours and go for a dark splashback and light cabinet doors and dark tiles, that sort of look.

HOWEVER.... I am split between picking a white ( Alabaster Lustre) which is not pure white but more creamy than paper, & has gloss or a French style look of Asian Sand - see pic - the sample on the left is Asian Sand Vs. Alabaster. Hmmm... tough one, I must say that the Alabaster would look FANTASTIC against the dark splashback. BUT. I have googled and found that everyone's modern kitchen ( 90%) posted have white kitchens too!

I dont want another white kitchen and decided to be more adventurous, and having found no display home to look at Asian Sand, I am once again not sure.

Another element that I have added is a waterfall edge to my island bench. This means that the benchtops would line itself all the way down ( hence the name, waterfall edge) to the floor. In this case, in my opinion, if it look bad, a good part of it would be covered so its not that obvious anyway. That extra piece of stone cost me $650! ( non functional) and David was not very sure that it would add anything to the house. It's fingers crossed till we sign the contract - cuz only then we will know the final figure and know if this is what we need to cut back.... hmm. the joys of unsureity. More for the house now means less for nice furniture.... what a trade-off; which is better........questions, questions and more questions.

Thats the timber door option that we went for... with rice paper glass, and similar glass treatments for the sidelight. Can't wait to open this door to our new home!

Colour Selection DONE!

Its all done! The colour process is now firmed! See above- we will be going for the dark coloured bricks against the off -white motar. Stoneware render and Sambuca roof. To top it up, we will be going for a timber door with 4 panes of "Ricepaper" glass.

These are the colours for our vanity benches in the toilets and baths. A light pearl dust benchtop and loft oak cabinet doors.

Now for the kitchen area: I am a little doubtful on the dark brown splashback in hindsight, but oh well, guess it will be DIFFERENT...

And the compliment the warm tones, the brown carpet that we have upgraded one category up.

Other things include the stair baulstrate that we initially had as horizontal ones but didnt think that Daniel might be exercising this climbing skills on that one and we spent a significant amt changing it to vertical ones, which is worth it!

We ended the whole colour & electrical appointment at 6.15pm and was totally out of it by then, a great way to spend my birthday! At least I got to eat my chicken rice for dinner that night!

Lousy Organiser for a Builder ... Great Start

Yes, I 've been told Simonds stuff up and they have arleady - at STEP 1. the colour appointment blunder, lets call it.

We've rec'd a call in early Jan booking us for the 29th of Jan - and on the 25th of Jan, another call has been made to cancel, reason being, OH, the customer service lady shouldnt have rang you anway, the paperwork is not in yet - do you know who she was? I had momentarily forgotten but when the caller gave her name, it was her!! I was quite upset due to the fact that it was not easy trying to get Daniel baby sat for a longer period of time during the day and Dave and I have to work around our work schedules. No remorse and even after calling them to push it through, I had to call on Wed, 3.30pm to find out for myself ( no calls from them)to see if its on but its not. it was just a No, and thats it- Are u going to compensate for my childcare, No we dont do that- I wonder, What DO YOU DO if you cant even get simple paperwork right???

And now what, no follow up date to refix the appointment - DISAPPOINTMENT guys, something so easy, but yet too hard for a large organisation like Simonds. Yes, not on my recommeded list of builders!

Still Dirt!

Back of the land

Frontage

Here is where our new home will stand in time to come - at the moment, its all dirt and they are trying to build a road. Nothing much happening but interesting to see how it comes together soon - they said Land will be titled in March so things will start happening then I hope.