Sunday, April 7, 2013

Lights, Contracts, Action!


Woohoo, I'm finally back, with a new computer and some real, actual renovation news. We have been talking with our builder for months, he is a country boy who works on his word and a handshake. We like that about him, but we really, really like having a completed, signed contract. It has taken a few weeks to finalise all the details and trim a few costs ( like painting the exterior of the house) in order for us to be within budget, but this week we locked it all in. Betsy, it seems, will just have to remain her unseemly shade of dirty cornflour blue for a while longer.


The plans have gone off to the certifier and the surveyors have been to confirm the boundaries, leaving white posts and pink tags, that to me just wave and say "renovation is actually happening" every time I use the driveway. After vacillating over whether to stay here through the build or move out, we finally made the decision to move. While the bulk of the work is at the rear of the house, with new windows to be installed and asbestos to be removed in several other areas, not to mention the lack of a kitchen or laundry for a minimum of two months, we decided that the costs of a rental house were probably cheaper than divorce and division of assets.

So for the last two months I have been trawling rental properties in the hope of finding one close to home that would offer us a shorter than standard six month lease. A few popped up here and there but they were only for three months, and the timeline did not match our plans. I was starting to fret slightly, when the school-drop-off-mum-network kicked in, and it seemed that one of the mothers at school had a neighbour who had an old friend from playgroup who lived in our suburb and was planning a few months travelling around Australia with their kids. Leaving exactly when we would need to move out. With a high set house with lots of storage and tolerance towards tenants with a cat. So with immense gratitude for this incredible serendipity, we signed a contract yesterday and it seems to all actually be going ahead.

And what about the lights? Well about a month ago while attempting to complete several years of overdue tax we took a break and went for a drive to look at lighting options. As we need fans in nearly all the rooms, the bulk of the lighting will be provided  by downlights. We already had pendants for the kitchen, we just needed to find two pendant lights for the entry foyer and the hallway. As with most other decisions we each had a few options but couldn't actually agree and also both lights needed to work well together as one room flows into the other. Suddenly we were driving past a window with this light and we screeched to a stop.


The one bonus of disagreeing with your husband on ninety eight percent of possibilities means that when something falls into that magical two percent bracket where you both like it, you just buy it on the spot. And choose the plain white one for the hallway. Four weeks to go folks.

18 comments:

  1. So exciting Me! Can't wait to see all of you plans coming together xo

    ReplyDelete
  2. We have never had anything in writing from our builder and yes it is a bit of trust thing. Cograts on the housesit, that is a great result. We are building a 'house' to move into while we build it was all so hard! My husband and I also disagree on virtually everything around our build http://subversivedomestic.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/wip.html - I know where you are coming from!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love the hallway light choice! I've never seen anything like it. So exciting to see everything fall into place for you! Xo

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have light shade envy! Glad everything coming together.....so exciting! :) x

    ReplyDelete
  5. LOVE the shade - it's the perfect mix of modern and retro x

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the lights!
    So exciting!

    I must admit I always get a bit jealous when I walk around the neighbourhood and see the surveyor's flags...not to mention the scaffolding and finished extensions!
    But then I think someday it will be my turn! I just hope that some day is soon!

    ReplyDelete
  7. That light is stunning!!! Oh to do a really truly hard core big complete reno. We disagree on all the aesthetics but I have been less bothered of late. If it gets done I don't care about the details so much. I can't imagine Betsy anything but blue but I guess one day she'll need big girl clothes to match her new look.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have just fallen in love with your light x

    ReplyDelete
  9. I think the rental idea is perfect - i wish we had done that but back in July we were under the false impression we would be finished by November and would cope! Still the end is in sight and the beginning is in sight for you! I have had a nightmare over light fittings as we havent found any we like and have bare lightbulbs and the last owners still up in some places! Might I be so bold as to ask about the make of these gorgeous items?

    ReplyDelete
  10. So happy that is a ll coming together. and oh my the lights you have chosen are just stunning. and so your style too.
    x

    ReplyDelete
  11. The lamp is totally gorgeous. I love it, i really do. It's so great that you found a rental that fits your needs so well! I'm looking forward to seeing more photos so I can be jealous and lust over your amazing kitchen area. :-) xx

    ReplyDelete
  12. Nice light!! And so good that work is about to begin. Yippee! xx

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is all very exciting Mel! Let the Reno's begin!!! The light fitting is fantastic. Mel x

    ReplyDelete
  14. Isn't it wonderful how things fall into place at the 11th hour? Best of luck with your temporary move - look forward to seeing your reno pics. (Nice pendant btw.) xx

    ReplyDelete
  15. Ooh sounds so exciting, how lovely everything is falling into place. Love the light.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love the light shade, it looks very retro.

    ReplyDelete
  17. That light is gorgeous! Always excited to hear the word reno! I’m really interested in renovation/home decor because I work for a social media site that’s all about houses/homes in AU http://www.housenet.com.au/. In fact, we are about to release an online renovation tool soon. You might be interested in trying something lik this.
    Cheers, Karen

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love your comment about the 2% that you both like, so true for me too, it does feel good when you agree though, doesn't it.. and those lights, awesome indeed, who are they by? katie x

    ReplyDelete