Category: Our First Home

I tried to find a “Before” picture of this aspect of the house, but I don’t seem to have one!

There used to be a garden bed here, but without constant watering the plants failed to thrive. It was completely undercover from the verandah roof and never benefited from the rain, plus I couldn’t justify watering it everyday just to keep the plants alive . . . So we dug it up!

And . . . After two days of seriously hard yakka, we have a “Zen Zone”!

We used some leftover recycled railway sleepers (which were ridiculously heavy) and dug each one in individually, to achieve a flat and usable surface! This new space is situated directly out our bedroom door and is shaded in the morning and late afternoon.

PERFECTION!

Not pictured is a beautiful wind chime I received for Christmas, which suits this space so well and adds the most blissfully meditative sounds to an already very relaxing space.

I have ordered a second hanging chair to go where the sun lounger is, so Max and I can literally “hang out” together in our new Zen Zone!  >.<

Max’s parents are currently renovating a granny flat/unit on their property and in doing so have been clearing out an adjoining shed.

We have been popping in from time to time to check out their progress, lend a hand and admire the amazing views from the lounge room window . . .

On one of these visits, we were sorting through some old items in the shed and stumbled upon some treasures that once belonged to Max’s Norwegian Grandmother, affectionately known as ‘Special’.

Amongst the treasures were a vintage pair of Norwegian wooden skis! What a find! As Max’s parents had no need for them and didn’t want to see them go back into the shed to collect dust for another 10+ years, we were offered them!!

They are now proudly displayed in our dining/living room, adding a little something ‘special’ to our home. We feel very lucky to be able to give them a new life and to have saved them from the shed!

They are in remarkably good condition for their age and only required a wipe over with a damp cloth, before being mounted on our wall.

#Scandinavianinterior

 

There was a veggie garden in the yard when we bought the property, along the south side of the yard, under a nectarine tree and in the shade of a massive ironbark tree . . . Interesting location if you ask me.

After a couple of unsuccessful veggie garden growing attempts, I decided to re-position the existing garden bed to a more accessible and sun/rain friendly location.

I have planted thyme, basil, rosemary, oregano, mint and two tomato plants. I am going to buy some strawberry plants this week. . .

So far so good!!

The past few months have been a tad bit hectic . . . I have been working full-time (and then some) as the business I work for was closing down and we have been trying to clear out as much stock as possible, with massive discounts/sales etc. So work has been absolutely manic, meaning our renovations at home have taken a back seat.

But much to my bosses (and my) surprise and delight, someone has bought the business at the LAST MINUTE! Phew!

I have been asked to stay on under the new management, so I get to keep my job and continue doing what I love! YAY!

As my boss was sorting though old shop stock, she came upon a beautiful large timber mirror. She couldn’t remember how old it was, when she may have bought it, or what is was for . . . ! But she decided to gift it to ME!

The mirror was a dark timber, which didn’t really suit our decor . . . So of course I painted it white! It looks great against the charcoal bricks in the dining room and we love it!

A roasty-toasty addition to our backyard! Fire pit funtimes, just in time for winter . . .

*Note to self: Buy more marshmallows!

After spending our first winter in our new home without any heating (apart from electric bar heaters we dragged from room to room) and then our second winter with heating only in the lounge and dining room at the front of the house . . . We decided to install a second split system in the kitchen. This new heater/aircon services not only the kitchen, but also the two guest bedrooms, bathroom and master bedroom at the rear of the house.

Much warmth, very YAY!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Our avocado pit plants and herbs are much happier with the warmer climate in the kitchen!

If you are interested in the delicious sourdough book, you can buy it here!

 

When we purchased our home, the east facing wall featured a delightfully hideous awning and two conifer trees . . . See Below!

Not quite Max or my taste!

Though, look how lush the lawn looked! (The past month of no rain has sucked our lawn dry!)

Our shade solution!

Ornamental grapes + trellis = SHADE!

Max and I designed and constructed the trellis and planted two ornamental grape plants.  It’s not perfect and a wee bit wonky, but we love it! Hopefully in 18 months we will have full, leafy coverage and be able to benefit from the shade protection and lovely greenery!

I still need to paint the timber and plant a few ground coverage plants, but for now we are both very happy with the results.

* The grape on the left has already grown up to the timber beam! Grow my precious, GROW!

As Max and I are still on a mission to eradicate ALL ugly red bricks from this house, we recently finished painting the brick pillar/under-bench wall in the kitchen!

We still need to change the splashback tiles, kitchen bench top and paint the rest of the walls in the kitchen . . . But the red brick is GONE!

It wouldn’t really feel like home without some of our favourite appliances: Kitchenaid Toaster, Kitchenaid Stand Mixer, Kitchenaid Kettle (ours is black, sensing a theme with brand loyalty!), Breville Grinder & Breville Infuser Espresso machine because coffee is life!

See below for before and afters.

BEFORE:

DURING:

AFTER:

Though our renovation progress is slow and not much has changed over the past few months, we are enjoying the journey and it is very rewarding seeing our visions come to life.

Last Saturday, Max was at work and I was bored . . . So I decided to change around our bedroom and install a hanging curtain/bead head/room divider/thingy!

I have had the idea in my mind since we first moved in, but wasn’t sure of how to execute it or if it would even work!  On Saturday I realised, I actually had all the items I needed – without having to go purchase anything! WIN!

– The curtains were left over from our wedding (Used in the Timbertop Chapel).

– The dowel rod was left over from the construction of the clothing racks.

– The hooks were recycled from another project.

Our bed was facing out across our backyard, looking out over our neighbour Ken’s garden. Which was lovely, but not very private. It also meant there was restricted space on either side of the bed due to the fireplace and door out to the backyard.

I spun the bed sideways to look out the left window, into our garden, therefore maximising the width of the room and using the hanging curtain/bedhead to hide the gas fireplace (no longer working) and create a divider from our “wardrobe.”

See below images for the new layout!

 

I did it! I bit the bullet and got all artyfarty!!

In doing so, I got paint on my hands, legs, hair, floor of the garage . . . But most of all on the canvas! The last canvas I painted was well over 8 years ago, so it felt good to be back at it.

See below images of it hanging in our lounge room!

Max and I are planning on making a black frame to go around it. We have purchased the timber, but now to find time to construct it!