The lights are on, but no one's home!

We are electrified.  Someone kindly put globes in the light points so when we went by tonight, we didn't need our torch as we could just flick a switch. Very convenient.  Here are some pictures of the house tonight.

Princess S's room

Entry and Hallway

Main Bathroom

Butlers Pantry

Noticed that our front door has been stained as well now.  The painter told me he had the ideal colour to match the timber beam and he was right, it really looks good and does match perfectly.

The stuff up by the electrician with the broken splash back tiles has also been rectified today, thanks to the fantastic tiler Hunter.  I was worried about how he was going to remove the cracked tiles and it seems he managed to do a perfect job.

Before

After

He also fixed the tiles behind the toilets, as the plumber had to crack these tiles to install the toilets flush to the wall.

We hope the next step is the installation of the shower screens,  shelving to the butler's pantry, installation of the mirrors and the big clean up prior to the PCI.  Our driveway is due to start this week, weather permitting.  Come on SS, give us a PCI date.

It's a Celebration!

Today's my birthday and I have been celebrating all day.  So much happened so far this week at the house with the plumbing and electrical fit out completed.  The doors have had the locks installed and it means we really can't get in now.  We have to ring the SS or sneak in when a tradie is working on the house.  Here are some pictures of the fittings so far.

Toilet roll holders

Towel rail in main bathroom

Towel rail in ensuite

IXL tastics in both bathrooms

Alfresco gas fitting

Mixer tap in ensuite

Door handles 

Power point to island bench

Alarm control panel

Ducted vacuum outlet

Just a bit annoyed with the electrician though.  When I went over there today noticed that they attempted to cut the kitchen splash back tile to fit the power point but cracked it instead.  Phoned the SS and asked if he can ensure that this is fixed.  He assured me that he has arranged for the tiler to return and fix the cracked tile.  I hope he means that it will be removed and replaced with a new tile. Furthermore, the plumber had to break the skirting tiles in the toilets to install the toilets which have to fit flush against the wall.  If you look at the picture below closely you'll notice the broken tiles behind the toilet.  The SS assures me he has already organised this to be fixed as well.  Lets see what happens.

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With the driveway booked in for next week there doesn't seem much more left for Eden Brae to do except the cleaning of course.   It would have just made my day if the SS called with a PCI date today.  Will just wait in anticipation....

Like chalk and cheese!

On Saturday I had two quotes for shutters.  Well, it was truly an eye opening experience and quite hilarious when I think about it now.
Jay, from Bosetti arrived on time and was very professional and organised.  He showed me a sample of the shutters and blinds that he could supply.   He asked us what we required and advised us on what the best options for our windows would be.  He then measured all the windows so that he could give us a precise costing.  I was very impressed with the quality of his shutters and since receiving his quote, I am quite happy with the price as well.



However, on the other end of the scale I asked Eshutters for a quote as well.  The consultants arrived with a sample that at first glance looked very inferior in quality compared to the Bosetti sample.  In fact the sample was dirty and scratched.  They proceeded to measure the windows but I could tell there was no precision or attention to detail.  The price they quoted was almost the same as Bosetti's and this line almost made me faint, "I won't guarantee that you will be happy with the shutters  but I can guarantee that it's cheap".  I think he told me that about 4 times and each time it made things so much clearer for me.  I knew I was definitely NOT going to use Eshutters.  In fact when they left, Princess S and I had a good laugh.  She said it looked cheap, felt cheap and was presented cheaply.
So, I guess you know who I'll be going with...

Taps, toilets and a....bathtub?

The plumbing fit out has been completed at the house today.  All the toilets and taps have been installed.  I really like the goose neck tap on my island bench.

 I chose the acqua sink mixer for the butlers pantry.

All the vanities have the Irwell Pin lever basin mixers

Showers have been fitted with Irwell Invigra Hand Held shower and rail and pin lever mixers.

These are the toilets that we let Ben choose, it's the one thing he was allowed to have some input on.   Gallery Leonardo wall faced, soft close toilets were fitted to all the toilets.

We even had a bath tub delivered today, even though we're buying our own freestanding bath and getting it installed after handover.  Nice of them, but no thanks.

The guy from Stegbar was also at the house today to measure for the mirrors, showers and shelving.  Fitting of these things should be done within 10 days.

Picasso visited my house...

...and what a good job he did.  The painting of our house has been finished.  It's looking good.  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Media room doors painted

My picture alcoves all painted

Family room painted

Master Bedroom doors stained and varnished

Pantry doors painted

Bulkhead complete and painted

The exterior of the house has been finished as well.  The rendered portion was painted to match the garage door, paperbark.  The wooden beam was painted to match the front door.

Front of the house painted, site cleaned

Finally met with our SS , Stephen yesterday and he told us that the plumbing and electrical fit out is due next week.  The driveway is booked in for the week of the 19/07.  He still won't say when he expects the PCI, hope it's soon.

Today I had a busy morning meeting with a few suppliers for shutter quotations and probably the final quote for the wardrobes.  I have the fence quotes done now so I will be forwarding those to the neighbours next week to get their approval.  Hoping we can have the fences done soon after we move in.

In New York and Paris!

The carpenter Wayne finally finished the architraves and skirtings on Monday.  The plasterers were back today to complete the bulkheads in the kitchen and the master bedroom.  They also  fixed the blemishes in the gyprock  and sanded down all the walls.  This meant that the painter Rob and his team could continue with the painting of  our house.  They will be applying two coats of  Taubmans living proof silk in White Smoke and also painting 3 walls in Princess S's room in Handsome Hue, which is similiar to the tiffany blue.  She is using the  Brooklyn Bridge mural in black and white on one entire wall in her room.  She'll also have mirrored sliding wardrobe doors.  I have arranged for the wardrobe suppliers to come out and quote for the wardrobes to the 3 bedrooms and for the fit out of my walk in robe.

Last week I bought a few things for Princess A's room.  She's chosen a black and white Parisian theme for her room.  Bought her a large framed black and white poster of the Eiffel Tower for one of her walls.  She wants some inspirational quotation decals on the other wall.

Will be adding some cushions for her bed in shades of pink and black.  Her wardrobe doors will be white opaque.  Bring on the end of the week when painting is all done. 

Friday Frenzy!

So much happening at the house today.  Ben went over early this morning, while I was still asleep, recovering from the flu.  He came back around lunch time to report that the solar panels for the solar electricity has been installed.  The control box was installed to our internal garage wall.

The tiler, Hunter and his side kick where back to finish the shower niches and grout all the tiling.  Very impressed with the end result on the main bathroom.  The workmanship of the Di Lorenzo tilers is of a very high standard.  They make up for the small stuff ups that Di Lorenzo make.

Close up of shower niche

Mirrors yet to be installed

The carpenter Wayne was busy installing all the doors and architraves.  He is trying to finish by Monday, so that the painter can start without any delay.  Luckily Ben told Wayne that we were getting the bamboo floors done after handover.  He adjusted the doors to allow for only a 22mm gap, normally they are hung with a 30cm gap to allow for carpet.  

Cavity sliding media room doors
will be painted gloss White Smoke

Pantry door , to be painted gloss White Smoke

So good to see more progress at the house.  We see every little thing as a step forward.  Just happy that things are still moving along nicely.