just another few thousand bricks

The extension feels like a (windowless, roofless) room. It's amazing getting a real sense of how the space feels, although I am sure my perception will continually change. Some days the space seems big, other days I worry it's too small. Its so hard to relate to an empty cube!

The gap in the photograph above will be filled with bi fold glass doors that open onto a decked area, and then ultimately the back garden. The back garden will obviously need some work, given that at the moment it is a big puddle of mud with rubbish all over it.

The photograph below shows the doorway which will open to our courtyard.

balcony

After literally 18 months of begging Theo to pull down the balcony on Saturday afternoon I was greeted with my wish. Theo had two carpenters here and suddenly decided to declare the balcony an OH&S risk (the side panels were literally about to fall off onto our doorstep below) and dwn it came (to a captive audience of people lining up waiting to vote across the street.) I am sure the now exposed lime green walls are being admired by all and sundry.

bricks and beams

I've been a bit slack posting photos and then all of a sudden today we have some bricks and beams and bearers (and almost some temporary floors!)

I love having a better sense of the space we'll be working with in the extension. I'm even thinking of breaking out the sidewalk chalk and marking out where the kitchen will sit, and a proposed couch location. The boys are out there at the moment putting down some chipboard so we can walk around and play house. Exciting!

Concrete

Last week, after hours of George's digging, we were finally ready to pour the concrete that will be the base of the footings for the back extension.

I really like the KEEP OUT sign. Very homely. Martha Stewart would be proud.

In case you've never seen a concrete pump in action, here's a little video for you.

Next will be the bricklayer and I have a feeling that kind of work will be exciting to see. To me bricks mean that something is really happening. Like walls.

In other news I am trying to track down a person or company who restores old staircases. Any Sydney recommendations would be appreciated.