Final weeks of tweaking

We are finally enjoying our revamped home. 

While there are still little lots of bits and pieces to finish off like curtains, and purchasing additional storage for new floor layouts, the big stuff has all been completed.

The downstairs interior floors were sanded and polished and came up beautifully. I had my doubts, but have been impressed with the workmanship and how well it turned out.

The stairs were finally carpeted after months of walking on hardened gyprock and dried paint. It was like walking on a cloud, and the sisal has a look that is elegant but casual.

The last few days we have been blissfully putting up much loved art and unpacking books. It is amazing how these things make a house a home, and there have been moments when I walk down the stairs or glance at the bookshelf, and feel beyond content about the final outcome of design. 

I love that despite having so many separate spaces, we still constantly come together to lounge or dine downstairs. So far, open plan living suits our lifestyle, and when the boys upstairs rumpus finally sees some storage to keep things tidy (they unpack quicker than I can blink sometimes!) we will be interior design free. Well, for now anyway!

I am sure I will find projects to keep me busy over the new year - Project Bookshelf Ladder is on the horizon, but it feels good to just be in the space and appreciate its beauty and functionality.

I came across a quote recently that "home is not a place, but a feeling". So far, the feelings are all good :-)

From our home to yours, seasons greetings, and we hope 2017 brings you peace, love and joy.

images: Shelley Stephens for Little Elm House

Week 12

Anything can and did go wrong towards the end of the project. 

From the resignation of our site supervisor (hello project management skills!) to delays with painting and finishing off the project, this was certainly not our week.

A calm, measured approach was required to get us through the final week, but suffice it to say, that didn't happen either. 

In the end, it was a lot of reshuffling of trades to get to the finish line, utilising our Pictionary skills and sign language for the trades without English as a first language (things got comical!), more eating out and expenses not budgeted for, but in the end we finally got to the end.

Props go out to hubby for his 'financial management' skills, and me for 'losing my marbles' skills (and drinking lots of wine, did that exceptionally well I might add ;-)

So, it is with great relief (and some loss of sanity) that I can finally say that the walls finally saw a paint finish, and the floors got some oak laminate love...

And the staircase finally got painted...

And the bathroom was fully completed with the installation of the shower screen (don't mind the tape, had to make sure none of the kids accidentally took a shower before it could cure!)...

But wait, this is not the end of works for us (yes, we are crazy!).

We have separately contracted a company to replace and match all windows and cladding downstairs so it looks like the same building from the exterior.

And our downstairs floors are due for a sand and gloss finish to bring all downstairs work to a close.

Hope springs eternal that the next batch of works progress with minimal fuss, they are mainly exterior but were essential in ensuring that the house was as close to completed as possible.

With Christmas knocking on our door, time has well and truly flown since the start of this project.

Goodbye Cape Cod, and hello Santa!

images: Shelley Stephens for Little Elm House