rumour has it

That there are secret readers of this blog who have commented to Rahul about the lack of recent posts. This is my fault for two reasons:

1. I write the posts (or in this case don't write the posts) and


2. I decided we should move the window in the bathroom (after our original DA was approved.)

The whole window move requires a new DA, at the cost of $1000, coupled with a new 'advertising period' and council approval process. It also has an annoying flow on effect in that we can't get our plans certified or get a construction certificate, which quite obviously means no construction.

Two things are evident when you look at the sketched plan I've posted here.

The first is that I clearly learned nothing during my year of studying architecture because the drawing is total crap and I can't even remember where the toilet goes.

The second is that moving the window was a good idea. In its original location it would have been right in the middle of the vanity, exactly where you'd expect a mirror to go, which is quite frankly weird. In its new location it's at the end of the bathtub which is infinitely better and I'm already looking forward to luxuriating in the tub whilst looking out the window at the sky.

While we've waited for the approval from council I've done my best to update the blog with pretty pictures of my decorative escapades, but I realise that this isn't quite as exciting (or macho!) as dramatic pictures of walls being torn down and depictions of us living in squalor. I promise that the furniture and curtain postings will soon draw to a close and we'll have some more excitement soon.

i call that a city view

landing

I love having a big landing at the top of the stairs, even more since my excellent ebay console table score (eighty bucks! Go ebay, GO!)

retro bargains

So the south end of King Street in Newtown is a treasure trove for people obsessed with finding retro goodies. Like these West Germany ceramic vases I bought today. God knows where I am going to keep all my retro purchases. A restored 1900ish terrace house is so not compatible with 60s and 70s interiors. The attic?

clash

Headline in today's Sydney Morning Herald: Deadly clash over Sydney renovation: hammer attack 'self defence'

According to the article 'Mr D and Mr J had disagreed about the quality of renovation work the handyman had been contracted to carry out at the home, and the victim had refused to pay for the work.'

Um, pretty extreme way to resolve a disupte with your tradies, and a method that is certainly not part of the Owner Builder Certificate curriculum.

And here I was thinking that buying and renovating a house was an indication that we were entering a new era of being boring grownupish people. At least now I know there's the potential to turn all Underbelly if things get too dull.

crusty old stairs

When we moved into the house the stairs were covered in a worn synthetic persian stair runner rip off. Which we then quite literally ripped off, leaving the stairs looking like this:

Normally we don't keep hammers on the stairs though. Bearing in mind that at the top of the stairs there are new polished brushbox floors, and that new boards will eventually be laid at the bottom of the stairs, we have a dilemma about what to do with the old staircase.

We very quickly ruled out the 'rip it out and replace with new' option because the old staircase is beautiful (if you squint a bit and try and blur your eyes to hide the weird nicotine stained paint.)

Actual options:
Polish the stairs and strip back and repaint the balustrade, and somehow make some kind of dividing ridge on each step where the polish and paint meet
Strip and repaint the balustrade and then cover the steps with a stair runner

I have been a bit dubious about the stair runner idea but this morning I noticed that Desire to Inspire have posted a series of images of well done stair runners and some of them are lovely. Like these: