So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye....

Its quote ironic that my previous post way back in 2012 was called we are still here as after living in our wonderful Nolan 45 for over 3 years we have decided its time to move on and up. We have loved everything about this house, the layout, the light, huge kitchen, wonderful master suite and on and on I could go. But due to our location it lacks on thing and that is a view. Since building work is complete on the surrounding blocks we feel slightly hemmed in and began talking about moving around 6 months ago. First we tested the waters by going to opens in our local area as we love our suburb and the school of son goes to so didn't want to look at leaving the area.

We decided it would be a good investment to move a rung up the property ladder and buy something more expensive while the housing market is flat.
Now while we had seen some lovely homes none of then held a candle to our beautifully designed and planned for our family Metricon Nolan.

In early November we viewed a large older style home on a very big block and decided it would be something we could renovate and possible sub-divide at a later date. However, there was intense interest and we learn we had been pipped to the post by about $25,000. Money we simply couldn't raise as we were not only at the top of our budget but past it.

Funny how things turn out though, the next day our real estate agent rang to tell us a contract had fallen through on a house she felt would suit us perfectly. Excited we tee'd up a view for later in the week. 

Well we weren't to be disappointed, it's not often I walk into a house and find myself saying 'wow'. But this house wowed me, from the huge expansive living ares, 4 car garage and master suite the size of a small apartment I was impressed. the add to that the piece de resistance - a river view!

And the rest is history - offer made and accepted and our Nolan on the market and sold within a matter of days. People just know a well built and well designed home when they see one.

So its a frenzy of packing and we move in less than 3 weeks.
Are we sad to be going - we'd be lying if we said no but it is time for the next adventure and project and to have room for our family and friends as our son grows.

So as a final farewell here are some photos of our home....

We Are Still Here

It has been around 10 months since we moved in and we have been busy with life, work, school and family. The house is now feeling more homely as we continue to put our own stamp on it. We have had some custom made entertainment units installed in the family and leisure rooms and storage cupboards built and installed in the garage so we now have somewhere to put coats and shoes and all those other garage odds and ends that you never have space for.
We have even started buying decorative pieces which really add character and express who we are thus making this our space. Still however we are struggling to decide on art works and have vast amounts of bare blank wall space staring back at us but its not too bland as we have some lovely views out of our up sized windows and bifold doors.
We have a brilliant veggie garden and have begun harvesting salad leaves, herbs and this week broccolini - loving having a garden big enough to give is the space to do this. Soon we will have French beans, tomatoes, cabbages, carrots and beetroot. Yummy. With sweetcorn, broad beans, capsicums and egg plants to follow assuming they all grow successfully.

The build directly behind us has started (and stopped for now) they have had the slab poured and then nothing has happened since. Sadly they are building about 2 meters off our rear fence so our lovely views out to the gum trees and I suspect lots of our natural light from the early morning sun will soon be blocked. Look we knew it would happen one day but after living here for so long with an empty lot behind you just kind of get used to it.

Next door had handover last week but are yet to have their drive done so not sure when they will be moving in. I think it is the slowest Metricon build I have witnessed so far having said that though there is a house on the estate that was started about a month after ours and it still isn't finished!

Are we still happy with our home? Yes we love it and can see ourselves living here for many, many years to come.

Photos to follow......

How's It Going?

Well it's been 2 weeks since we moved in and so far the house is going really well. We are mostly unpacked and are now deciding what additional furniture and bits and pieces we need. After a good and rather ruthless sort out we have a lot more items to sell on ebay as we felt that some of our old things no longer worked for us.

Up until yesterday we have had no glitches then one of our ovens which was having its second use became possessed and over heated, the display/control screen went blank and the muffins for our son's birthday nearly cremated. Being unable to find a power switch for them inside the house we had no choice but to switch it off at the circuit breaker in the meter box. The exterior of the oven was boiling hot as was the work bench and cupboards around it. Pretty worrying! I managed to speak to the SS and he said there should be a power point behind the drawers in the workbench - there is but there is nothing plugged in to it! Anyway he is coming round today to replace the dodgy microwave trim so he can have a look for himself then. We will have to call Techinika today to get it attended to. Psycho oven aaarrrggghhh.

The blinds for the windows are ready and will be fitted tomorrow. Yippee no more attractive cardboard curtains. Once they are in the place will look quite different. We went for roller blinds in a brown/grey tone to match our carpets and colour scheme and will probably add some curtains in the master suite at a later date. The family room is so open plan with very large windows and bifolds so we didn't want any window treatments in that space - we may change our minds once the houses either side get built but only if we feel too over looked.

Exciting news on the swimming pool front. The tilers are running ahead of schedule so will be coming to do our coping and paving from today, 5 days earlier than arranged. Amazing, fantastic, brilliant. It now looks very promising that the pool will be completed before Xmas and we wil be swimming and relaxing in it over the holiday period. That's if the weather holds and we don't get torrential rain and if the fence gets installed as planned and everything is certified and signed off.  Nah it'll be fine don't know what we are stressing about!

The driveway is aggregate and as we want it to look its best and last a long time we are having it sealed with a polyeurethane treatment that gives it a glossy wet look finish and really shows off all the different colours. It also protects the drive and makes it easy to keep clean. The treatment we have gone for is more expensive than a normal sealer but lasts twice if not three times as long so actually works out cheaper over the long run. That will take place on Monday and Tuesday next week as they have to pressure clean the drive and then apply two coats of product. Should come up really nice. We have also booked them in to seal the garage floor in the new year - this involves them grinding back the top layer of concrete to remove the powdery layer at the top and expose some of the aggregate below.

The other project that we would like to get completed before Xmas is to get some top soil, grass and garden beds made up and then we can relax a bit before starting with planting. It seems like this will come together as we are using the same person who did our native plants - we are waiting for the final quote and then it will be action stations.

Telstra were supposed to be coming to connect up our landline today but this has been delayed due to works in the area - as of yet I don't have a new date for this. I absolutely hate dealing with Telstra it is so painfull and long winded and now I have to call them again to rearrange a new installation date. Hopefully our modem will be here soon though.

Phew there is a lot going on and a lot to do but it feels great. I have been emailing all our firends and family telling them how much we love our home. I hope that feeling never wears off.

We will be celebrating our boy's 5th birthday here on Saturday and have his Nana coming to stay for the weeked, we are excited about having our first house guest and having a weekend off from house projects. The Christmas tree will be going up on Sunday to add to the magic and I will hopefully be able to post some photos for you.

Stairway To Heaven?

The stairs are being installed today and the rails should go in tomorrow once everything has had chance to set. It's looking brilliant.There is a plywood cover on each of the treads to protect them from damage that may happen due to tradies tramping and stomping all over them; much to Sandy's relief.
The doors, architraves and door jambs also arrived on site today ready to be installed at the end of the week. The kitchen cabinets will be arriving in the next day or two and the wet areas get waterproofed this week as well. I know all this as the SS called this afternoon just to say Hi and update us on progress so in a nutshell everything looks as if it is going to plan and happening on schedule. Fantastic!

Timber Stairs Installed

View Up The Stairs

Stairs From Living Room Opening

Banister Rails

Doors

Scaffolding, No Ladders But Lots Of Photos

The scaffolding was delivered and erected yesterday ready for more insulation wrap, bricks and cladding to go on the second floor. The cornices have been finished off and look very neat and professional. The house looks huge inside now; erm well it is after all but the place is filthy dust, screws, plaster, wood shavings, cigarette butts (!?), food scraps, empty bottles of soft drink and general building debris everywhere. Will be giving that a good sweep as we don't want rubbish under the gyprock when the architraves get fitted. Outside looks like a bomb has hit but we are learning to turn a blind eye, anything other than building rubble we pick up and put in the bin as we don't want litter all over the place. Yes we are totally anal but it is our block of land and we don't want it becoming a cesspit.

I really wanted to go upstairs and have a proper look around but hang on a minute where are the ladders? Oh oh they've gone along with the platform scaffolding that goes over the void where the stairs are to go. This is the first time since frame that we can stand and look from the bottom to the top of the house. The hallway and entrance areas are huge and judging from the space now the ladder platform is gone the staircase will be as well. It's awesome to be able to appreciate the scale of our yet to be home and see how each area downstairs will flow. We are already planning where the furniture will go. Sadly we won't be off buying new pieces as for now we will make do with what we have and make additions and changes along the way. With so much in storage I can't even remember what half our things even look like any more.

Now for the progress photos be warned there are quite a few.

Entrance

Living Room

Kitchen and Dining Room

Garage Brickwork

Yummy Bricks

Outdoor Room Ceiling Plastered

Stacks More Bricks

Looking Out From The Family Room

First Floor Bricked

Family Room

Looking Across To Kitchen and Dining Room From Family Room

Hallway, Opening Into Living Room

En suite Bath

En suite Shower and Vanities Plus WC

Bathroom (Should Have Made That Window Bigger?)

The Boy's Bedroom Note Access Hatch Bottom Right

Cornices