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.

OMG, OMG, Oh my God!

OMG, Hunter, the rock star tiler, was back to finish his work.   He managed to complete our ensuite after finally getting the Baroque wallpaper feature tile.  Thinking maybe I should have used more of the feature, but then again, less is more.  My ensuite is sooo big.  Didn't realize and couldn't really tell until now that the painting and tiling is done.

Shower niche still has to be tiled.

Mirrors to be installed after painting

Speaking of painting, met with the painting supervisor, Rob and he advised that his team will be starting the next two coats of paint on Monday and should be finished with all painting, including the outdoor painting by the end of next week.
The carpenter, Wayne was back this week as well.  He was finishing the architraves and the skirting boards so the painter can continue with his work.  My bedroom door has finally been hung.  When I chose it I was a bit concerned about how it would look but now I'm so glad I chose this door.  It's made up of two shades of wood and will look great when it's varnished.  Will also look really nice with our dark wooden floors.

Now onto the best part, OMG, my kitchen bench top was finally installed on Monday, Night Sky Caesarstone.  Always liked this colour from the first time I saw it and was determined to use it in my kitchen.  It compliments the kitchen cupboards quite well, I think.  The installation of the bench top means that Hunter could finish the splash back tiling.  OMG, OMG it looks amazing.  I love it when a plan comes together.  Really happy with the end result.  The stainless steel appliances should finish everything off quite well.

changing kickboards to stainless steel

Love the large island bench 

Hunter is due back on Friday to finish the grouting and all the shower niches with the feature tiles.  Every time I  look at these pictures I just want to wipe down my kitchen cupboards and clean my bathrooms.  

These walls are smokin'

Another day, another step closer.  What a beautiful day in Sydney today. The weather was magical and I dragged Ben out of bed for an early start to our day.  Didn't want to waste a minute of the sunshine.  Drove over to the house and surprise surprise, there was work going on.  We didn't expect to see anyone at the house on a Saturday.  We knew that the tiler was due back on Monday, hope he gets the mosaic and more tiles he needs to complete the main bathroom.  We actually thought that everything else would have to wait until the tiler was finished.
Well, the painter was there doing the first coat of paint.  He told us that they call the first coat, the "show coat" as it reveals any blemishes and defects that the plasterers will have to fix later.  He was expecting to finish the "show coat" by this afternoon.  Then the walls will be sanded and checked before the next coat of paint was applied.  Now, this must mean that the end is near!  We chose Bristol "White Smoke" in low sheen on all our walls.  This should offset our dark floors nicely.  The skirting boards, architraves, eaves and doors are all been painted the same colour but in the gloss finish.  The ceilings and cornices will be white. Some rooms will have feature walls done after hand over.

Kitchen painted

Family Room

Master Bedroom painted

Furthermore, the plasterers were there to neaten up all the joints between the cornices.

Also noticed that the gas has been connected.  Wow, soon we'll be "cooking with gas!"