A building update

So where are we at?

The slab is poured, the steel has gone up though we haven't seen it yet, the timber frames are in pre-fabrication, the windows have been ordered and the pool is still under discussion (a few warmer days might help).

And with that, the block, and this blog, are on Christmas break until something interesting happens again.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Here's my Christmas list

#1 - The white Christmas returns to the Northen Hemisphere where it belongs.

#2 - That one, only one, of the big retailers orders enough strings of clear Christmas lights so that when I make up my mind that, yes, I will finally buy some for my tree this year (usually around mid-December), they have not already sold out everywhere.

#3 - A couple of Jardan Archie chairs for my new house

#4 - To be a relaxed, care-free, encouraging Mother not at all bothered by children's dodgy decorating skills when making gingerbread houses tomorrow.

#5 - A lovely Christmas day with some spiritual nourishment, great food, laughs with family, a game or two, some performances by my nieces and a spot of backyard cricket......hey, this one might even come true!

House drawings #5 - study nook

This is one of my favourite parts of the house design. The kids have this study nook in the hallway outside their bedrooms. It's 3 metres long so has ample space for them all to spread out. As for the grown-ups? Well, he gets a separate studio, she gets a bit of the kitchen bench.

Anyone need a builder?

The new sign for verde residential hot off the press and straight onto the fence.

He comes highly recommended!

Now you really could land a plane on it

The missing link in the slab, otherwise known as the carport, was poured this week.
So starting this end we have the separate studio, carport then house proper. You can also sort of see the greying of the slab in the areas that have been burnished (i.e. not the carport). It still needs to dry off fully and have another sand and seal then that will be our floor surface!

House drawings #4 - Downstairs bedrooms

Three bedrooms downstairs = one for the boy, one for the girls and one for the tree-planting guests.

Some Christmas craftiness in the Huddart household

Distribution of responsibilities for Christmas stars: all individuals responsible for fabric selection for own star, Mother responsible for sewing, children in charge of stuffing and button choices. Mother responsible for rearrangement of children's fabric and button choices when children are tucked up safely in bed.

House drawings #3 - Bathroom

Heading down the hallway we have windows to the left and a separate toilet with carefully selected loo, next to family bathroom on the right. There is also a laundry before the bathroom but I skipped that.

House drawings #2 - entry & living areas

Welcome, do come in... First up is the entry which includes stairs up to the master bed. On the other side of the entry wall is the lounge followed by play/family with a small wall and large sliding door between, then there will bebuilt-in cupboards and bookshelves on the far wall. The steps down to the meals are from the family room section. There are large windows all the way along the North wall, looking down the block (loads of natural light!). I think I'd like to move in right now!

House drawings #1 - kitchen

Given tthe fun I had doing my garden drawings last week plus the fact there is nothing actually happening at the block this week, I thought I might take you on a walk through the house. Plus it makes me feel a bit like I'm producing a Grand Designs episode!

Today, kitchen & meals:

That's kitchen down the far end and meals up this end. Come...eat...enjoy!

Flexing our green credentials #1

What a beautiful expanse of thermal mass!

Not only will this burnished slab be our floor surface (except for carpeted bedrooms and tiled bathrooms), it will keep the temperature more constant in Winter by soaking up the sunshine during the day and releasing it's warmth all night. It is also an environmental concrete mix which has 40 % recycled content replacing the cement content. This is a good thing!

And if all else fails and the builder goes bankrupt, it can be used for cricket:

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

On our sodden visit on the weekend it was not just our feet sinking into the mud. As I gazed around the wetness, I felt a slight sinking feeling about the time and effort that will be forthcoming in order to turn evident quagmires into future and productive purposes It seemed worth recording for posterity the future plans for the different areas to make the looking back after a year or two (or three or five) all the more rewarding. Starting at the top of the block we have olives along the fence and a path winding through the citrus grove around to the back of the house... ... for a lovely view of the pool - maybe! To the left is circular permaculture vegetable garden with chookhouse in the centre. More detailed plans of this design do exist but I may be too embarassed to post them here. Finally, looking to the bottom of the block (North) we have orchard to the left and grassy area to the right followed by cricket pitch/bowling green/footy oval/future tennis court (!) which leads to a native area right at the bottom with big tall eucalypts blocking the view of a few less attractive sheds. It will be done, with a lot of effort on our part and hopefully some helpers too (family! friends!.....hello?........hello?)

Decorating wishlist #3 - I still call Australia home

I saw this one in a magazine which is a little less cool than finding it myself at a groovy market.
I still like it though. It's from Bold & Noble in the UK.