Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Silver linings, sunshine and a lucky find- Reno Day 38


Can you believe it has only been six weeks and already Betsy is showing off her long blonde tresses, I mean trusses? Finally late last week the sun shone down and some serious roof action could happen. All the rafters are up for the new deck roof and if the sunshine holds this week the old roof will be peeled away and the new gable will be joined into the old roof.


Of course to take these photos meant getting over my significant issue with heights  to climb some very wobbly scaffolding and then balance precariously at the top. Not so much enjoying the  looking down part. Or the idea of climbing back up there to paint the fascia board later this week.


The other exciting change was seeing the oversized hole for the kitchen window splashback. The window will be about 3/4 the size of this hole in both height and length, and the light it lets it is fantastic.


Meanwhile there was a silver  lining to the laundry window issue from a few weeks back. After realizing there was no way to fit the louvres above the back door, it also became apparent that placing  windows above the door would have given us a first rate view of the angled ceiling of the landing and also limited air flow.

So, some minor changes were made and the laundry window adjacent to the back door was changed from a fixed panel to louvres. And then I realized that there was no good reason not to add a new high window on the external wall of the laundry that would let in a lot more light. ( I am slightly obsessed with sunlight, the more the better). So, with my first ( and hopefully, only) variation, we added a new window.


Now, what about those uninspired front doors? Not quite so ugly from the inside but with only louvres and  security screens on the upper panels they were also fantastic for either  blocking the light or letting in cold drafts. 


Well, I have been scouring the demolition yards for the last two years looking for leadlight double entrance doors from around Betsy's vintage in the thirties art deco style. As bungalow style queenslanders are a relative rarity in Brisbane I wasn't really holding much hope of finding as set of doors in the size we needed here  in our own backyard. 

And then we were down at our local demolition yard discussing selling some of our old doors when I noticed that they had opened up a new annexe off the side of the usual shed. With a neon "OPEN" sign beckoning me over. And sure enough, tucked away in the back corner were these beauties, in the exact size of our front doors.


Apparently they came from another Queenslander house that was undergoing a renovation but originally may have come from an old furniture store owned by the Marrs family in Fortitude Valley. Now if we can just salvage the original wind up door bell and transfer it over I will be a very happy girl. Sunshine predicted all week, so fingers and toes crossed for a new roof.


33 comments:

  1. Wow! She's a gunna be big! Looking great, and what a top find getting those doors. Did you find a solution to the different floor levels?

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    1. Yes, we decided to raise the floor in the laundry and family rooms and have a step down in just the doorways of the end two rooms of the granny flat space.

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  2. Omg those doors are amazing!!! And the house us looking great xxx

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  3. Those doors are spectacular...and in such amazing condition. I don't see even one tiny crack.

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  4. That is some serious structure! So impressive! Betsy must be beside herself with excitement!
    And those doors are perfect...what a great find!

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  5. Beautiful doors! ( you are very brave!) :) x

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  6. Ih my, those doors! Absolutely gorgeous. I have front door envy. xx

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  7. Your new (old) doors are amazing, and with a history. Even better! xo

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  8. did you squeal with excitement...I bet you did!. they are fantastic!. Betsy is looking great...um did you say you`ll be climbing up there again...nuts! Al x

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    1. I think there may have been hyperventilating and a little bouncing up and down on the spot. mel x

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  9. I am loving reading about your renovation and can't wait to see it finished.
    Those doors are to die for.

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    1. Glad you are enjoying Sheila, but just to warn you the finished part may be a long time coming! The builder is expected to finish in around 2 months but we will be fiddling around for AGES after that. mel x

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  10. Gorgeous doors!! Your patience paid off!! Looking good! x

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  11. Love all the photos. Good on you for conquering your vertigo. Your house will be amazing. Love the kitchen window, my little old house has windows that open up just over the kitchen sink, to give me a lovely aspect into the back garden. How exciting to watch it all take shape.

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    1. My last kitchen did not have an external window onto the garden and was one of my biggest regrets. There is nothing better while washing up, to do so with a gorgeous green view. mel x

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  12. Those doors are gorgeous, great find!

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  13. Wow so glad the rain has gone away for you - I adore those doors :-)

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  14. Love love love the doors.....amazing find! Heidi

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  15. Doors are AMAZING... particularly considering they are originals and not modern copies. AWESOME! Your house renovations look so, so exciting - will have to visit again soon to see the fabulous transformations! Have only been catching up on your blog fleetingly because things have gone summer-crazy around here, have been planning to write soon for a virtal 'goss'xxxx

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  16. Wow Mel those doors!!! Beautiful. Meant to be.

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  17. Oh gosh those doors are just stunning, and perfect for Betsy. x

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  18. Well it's certainly taking shape very quickly. Your view from the kitchen window/splashback is fantastic (we've had to go with high level windows in our kitchen as our neighbour is literally metres away) but we'll have nice views towards the sky instead. It's amazing when you get on a roof/scaffold how different the perspective is - a bit like a possum's view really. And the doors, hey what a great find! OMG - are you doing the external painting yourself? xx

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    1. About the painting, yes, well quite possibly will be me up a ladder. No budget left at all for any painting so we either save up or do it ourselves. Might get legoman to do all the high bits though! mel x

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  19. Beautiful doors! What a lucky duck Betsy is...

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  20. I truly treasure your piece of work, Great post.

    Click here for : deck plans

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  21. Looking gorgeous! We added an extra window part way through our build too and were stung by Auckland Council for another $900 for a plan change ....... Thieves!

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    1. Oooh that is just too rude! I don't think our window elicits extra fees, just the cost of the window and the builders time but if this is my only change we are doing ok I think. mel x

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  22. Those doors are seriously gorgeous! Shame on who ever threw them out to begin with. They are heaven on Earth and will look spectacular at the entrance of your house. I'm also renovating a 1930's house in Sydney. Can't believe I have never come across your blog before.
    www.lasscreative.com.au

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  23. What a treasure of a find, those doors are fabulous! Good luck with the roof.

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  24. It's so exciting to watch Betsy take shape and follow your journey! I'll continue to watch with interest as we are about to start a renovation on our Queenslander in Brisbane. You've inspired me to start my own blog www.familyhomeblog.blogspot.com.
    I've given you a shout-out in my first post!

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  25. I was wondering about the roofline until I saw the stud crossway in the second pic, hope you get some roof storage, looks huuuge!!! Love your door find too, very pretty, you could repurpose the old doors for your pantry.

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  27. I love your deck to bits! It's so stylish, and friendly as well. You deserve such a brilliant result after all your hard work. Standing ovation from Canberra :))

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