The Evolution of the Lounge

 28th September 2015: The Lounge 

The lounge is done!  So pleased with the eclectic vibe that it has - a fusion of wood/gold and cream that is warm and inviting!  Just have to replace the curtain rails which have decided they have had it! 

19th November 2014

A momentous day where our electrician came in to connect the electricity up in the lounge.  FINALLY!  The chandelier newly checked, cleaned and buffed looks sparkling with its new candle light bulbs! 

The room has acted as our garage for the last year or so - therefore the last task to do is to empty the room of the tools, paint and gib board out! Give it a good dust and vacuum; pop a bottle of champagne and celebrate the completion of this our third renovated room.

24 May 2014

Our thanks go to Alice and Pierre from France for painting the ceilings and walls of our lounge!  They did an amazing job!

You need to zoom in to see the tiny bay trees!!  The larger ones at the garden shhop were too tall and spindly and we want to promote good bushy trees to make a hedge - so have to wait!! :)

Paint Colours
Walls:  Resene Quarter Parchment
Ceiling:  Resene Alabaster

12 April 2014
Time for plastering finally.  Les put in some hard labour getting this done for us at his usual high quality! :)

The Electrics get a Facelift

We thought we should get the electrics checked when the lounge was getting stripped of its old linings.  The fusebox in the hall was also of a concern as it stuck out a lot so we have had it replaced with a brand new system. 

The new system has modern switches  and includes  RCD safety switches so there will be no chance of getting electrocuted or faulty wiring causing a fire.

EcoCity Electricians Limited
Tom Wood - Registered Electrician
09 8250558
021 501 933
tomwood.electrician@gmail.com

The Pink Room Renovations

Emily's bedroom was the coldest room upstairs due to no insulation and being on the colder side of the house.  Therefore it was important to fix this room first!  Our friend Karl Goodwin put in the Pink Batts fixed the gibboard in this room. We purposely kept the walls to original - in other words there are no straight walls!  :) One of the things we wanted to avoid was the 'new house' look and lose the character and feel of the very old house that we love so much.

A built in wardrobe has also been installed so that clothes and belongings can be stored away!


Before

Next

 



During

 

After

This room was the brightest hot pink you could imagine!  Emily loved it - and so did I!  It was brave, vibrant and cheerful!!    However we are going to go for boring and paint this room an antique white.  This way we can use this room for our international students and will be able to  change the soft furnishings to suit either a boy or girl!  I can make the soft furnishings exciting!  :)

The White Pointer "white with hint of grey" was OK - but a little cold and impersonal. (Note:  Double White Pointer is what the rest of the house is in now - and as it has more yellow in it - making it greige - it is a lot warmer.)  So we chose another colour - one that can be prettied up for a girl and made masculine using black and blue for any boys that may use the room!

Resene Chill Out (G92-038-108)
Zylone Sheen

Much better - Louis and Elise painted the walls.

The Secret Garden

29 December 2013

Almost finished - just need to get a larger table and six chairs and plant a border of plants around the garden.  We will paint the garden shed black to make it disappear into the background.

27 December 2013
We were getting sick of having to weed the upper garden so it was time to take action and get the next stage of the Secret Garden done!  Compacting the earth in readiness for putting down the weedmat and shells made all the difference - the ground felt more solid!  Great another job done....can't wait for the shells to be delivered!

Compacting the earth!



Weedmat laid



The star jasmine has been planted along the fence line - which will provide lovely fragrance as we eat breakfast in the in the dappled morning sun. 

Next step - painting the shed charcoal grey to make it blend into the garden area...


September 2013
The back garden has long been an area which we have felt has not been utilized as much as it could have been. Catching the morning sun, this area will be a lovely space to have breakfast and relaxing cups of tea in the sunshine on a nice outdoor table and chair set.  The  mature tree provides the perfect green shade umbrella and a place to hang tea lights for romantic BBQ dining.  I am wanting to create a secret garden effect - informal, rambling and relaxing.  The two lemon trees on each side of the steps leading to the area will be shaped into an archway which will reveal the area.

Inspiration
I am inspired by the courtyard at "Columbus Cafe" in Onehunga.  It looks very French like.  Daisys, lavender, and even has the same type of tree we have.

GroundCover
We have chosen to continue with the existing shell/stone mix of the existing pathways as the roots of the tree will not damage this effect.  ( A large root has broken a concrete step which tells me it is better to work with nature than against it.)

Planting
A border garden of lavender will go along the retaining wall this will soften the lines and also provide a natural boundary stopping people from going over the edge of the wall.  I will need to find a variety that withstands the shade - or find an alternative plant that enjoys the shade.  The boundary fence has a star jasmine growing - we will purchase more to replace the ferns which were there before.  They provide a lovely fragrance and have white flowers in the summer.

HRV System

14th July 2014
It was time to change the filters to the HRV in January - but baulked at the $420.00 to get all three filters changed by the HRV company we purchased the system from.  Further to a lot of research I came across this reputable company who you can get the filters from for $75 each with tape included (be sure to remind the receptionist to give you the tape - she forgot to include it but couriered it free to us).  There are good instructions  on the box - so we got the filters for a fraction of the price.  This company was also recommended by the Consumer Magazine and that is good enough for me!
PHONE: 0800 481 999, 17 Kawana Street, Northcote
http://www.filtercorp.biz/home-ventilation.html



17 January 2012
The ducts of the attic are all over the place - loop de looped and there seemed to be twice as much of it than actually needed taking up lots of room. Phoned HRV and asked them to come in and attach the ducts to the ceiling of the attic as our storage space was being wasted. They coming tomorrow at 1pm.

Insulation

Installed Greenstuff Blanket R2.9 insulation into upstairs and kitchen area of house. Contract No. CA10403

CoolnHeat (www.coolnheat.co.nz)
P O Box 35730
Royal Oak, Auckland
Phone: 271 3177
Contact: Kevin

HRV - Vent Group Limited

We are having the HRV installed tommorrow - I am so excited!

We have opted for the most efficient model - the Phoenix 6 which comprises of three fans rather than just two just to make sure all the greeblies are vanquished!

It will help make our home a dryer home and protect the wood and fixings of the house structure. The mould in the house we get now on some walls in the house will be eradicated.

Not only that the HRV ventilation system and filter is aproved to be part of the Sensitive Choice programme which helps those people who suffer from respiratory illness and Asthma.

HRV
PHONE 3567244 (Patrick)