The bathroom bunker is coming together and if we get a delivery or two this week, it might even get close to being completed. As you can see, we went with the ever popular "military grey" - we are very happy with it so far. The furniture will go in this week (cupboards, sink, toilet, shower, towel rack and glass wall and mirror if they arrive) and then it should be good to go, we will have completed one room of the house - "99" more to go.
At the end of the week, the windows will be installed, the week after the exterior painting starts and at the same time, hopefully the attics will get opened up so that we can begin doing the upstairs surfaces. That is where I actually get to build stuff, rather than just demolish. There is a massive amount of dry walling, sanding and finishing to do up there, then we move everything from downstairs - and begin the next phase.
It has been really interesting to bring everything together so far and while there have been plenty of little headaches along the way, we are quite lucky that things have gone relatively smoothly, although well outside our budget. I am looking forward to getting the upstairs area done that we have a space that is "ours" - something we have created and something we will enjoy living in. We wanted the upstairs area to be a little different to the downstairs, a little more modern (but homey - despite the hardness of the bathroom) with clean lines and colors that we can accentuate with decor over time, something that can support a more eclectic range of furniture and styles.
For now and probably for some time to come, we aren't likely to have the budget to extend out to actually buying furniture as we are putting it all into the structure itself, the stuff that isn't going to change often and hopefully will survive the next couple decades without us tiring too much of it. Once we have done the two living floors, we are going to have a lot of empty corners as the area is about 2.5x the size our apartment was - it'll be nice - I dislike clutter and trinkets on shelves.
A friend visited here for the first time last night and said, "you will need to have a couple more kids to fill it" - but that isn't going to happen - too much clutter ;D Actually, we were originally planning on two, but that wasn't in the cards, so it is lucky we did such a good job on the first one.
Our place definitely isn't go to be to everyone's tastes, but that is why we chose a home over another apartment or a row house, it is ours, a place we can create that fits our preference and purpose as well as something that we are willing to invest our time and effort into, because it is ours. While we renovated our last apartment and made it "ours", it never felt like the kind of place that we truly owned, it was more like renting a space because we were going to move on from it.
There were people living in the building who had lived there since it had been built in the mid-70s, and even they didn't seem to consider it a home - which I consider a strange life to live in some respects, always kind of one foot out the door, never really settled, but also not going anywhere. With little exception, all of the people in our last apartment seemed to be bitter at the world or disappointed with their life in some way and it seeped out of them, projected in their views of others.
Perhaps it is only when we can feel comfortable where we are and in our own skin can we start to look at others with a more accepting eye and a little more compassion in our filter. I think that this is part of the problem with the life of consumption we have supported, as we are always wanting more, always chasing and always having to watch our backs in order to hold our jobs and keep the debt collectors at bay - how can we feel "at home" when we are always running, where is home base?
A bathroom is just a bathroom, a house just a house, a city just a city, a country just a country - but it is the meaning we apply to them and the personal relationship we have with them that can make us feel attached and grounded. Many of us seem to choose to cable ourselves to the disposable, when what we are seeking is the connection with that which we can grow and create and perhaps the most important of all and scarce at this moment of time, is the sense of community - the people around us that keep us balanced, keep us engaged, keep us wanting to be our best, not in order to reach a personal milestone, but for them, to support their growth and potential in the world.
The value of creation, is being able to share it with others who appreciate it. It doesn't matter if it is to build a home for family or cook a barbecue with friends - it is the relationships we hold that give meaning to what we do.
Time to grill.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
I hate clutter and too many trinkets, too.
Remember to document what you do with photographs. If you have to move or if you move at old age because you want to, you'll be able to show that you have done the renovations properly. It'll be useful for your own future reference as well.
We have taken photos at each stage and I will put together a collection post when it is actually done, just to show where it came from :)
!ENGAGE 25
ENGAGEtokens.Aye, lots of times I've felt that what I do is meaningful because I am doing it in order to share it with others. I wouldn't be doing it for myself only. If it were not for people I care about, It would lose its immediate meaning.
It's all perception of meaning. Those wise and strong enough (or weak and foolish enough, depending on perception) to detach themselves from anything are...Oh, wait, still subjectively happy.
!ENGAGE 20
Nice "Engage" ambush, thanks ;)
Lol...It was a stealth mission. Ninja style.
ENGAGEtokens.It is common I guess, but I think that a lot of people discount the relationships and overweigh how much something will make themselves feel good these days.
It is funny that when you are living in a place you know you are going to move from it is hard to put your stamp on it. I used to think of what others would want and never what I would want. You have taken on a project that is yours now and it will be more rewarding to all of you. Just takes time and the evaluator will see what the vision is even if not completed when he comes.
Yes, always preparing to sell. "Don't drill holes, otherwise we will have to repair them when we move"
I am looking forward to having quite a different feel in this place by early next year, clean and homey is the hope - rather than rundown and derelict :)
!ENGAGE 20
Rundown and derelict could add to the charm. What is the best though is it is a blank canvas for you to do whatever you want. I always find it hard to see things how they could be like if you got out a sledge hammer and removed a wall or two. I guess I don't have that type of vision and need a computer program to show me. Then again maybe it is lucky knowing my capabilities and not just swinging at walls with gay abandon.
It is a talent/skill of some kind - and for me it is pretty easy to do. So far, it is as I imagined and the only iffy bit will be the shower door, but I think I have that well visualized too :)
You get some engagement tokens for this line :D
!ENGAGE 25
ENGAGEtokens.ENGAGEtokens.Yeah man, bathroom is looking good and modern.
The sunken wall shelve is also a neat space saver.
Color is right and a mirror and lighting will give it a svelte feel.
Little by little, the palace is coming on.
There is strip lighting in there and I have chosen 3000K lights throughout to add warmth and a little more of a luxurious feel. Many these days go for the 6-7000K which is "white" but puts a hard blue tinge on everything.
The next few weeks should make the outside look quite different.
Ah, almost a 5 star hotel feel methinks.
You are so right about the "white" lighting, as so many make that mistake. A dimmer light always adds character to any room. We had the old 100 watt globes in here and they are a real strain on the eyes.
The outside? Sounds exiting, as I live in the outside hahaha.
Do you mean outside the bathroom, or outside the house?
As a father of two young children and with couples of friends who also have two children, I can suggest that the idea of designing a babytaraz brother is excellent. The positives are many, they keep each other company, they will exchange opinions and maybe they will need two bathrooms if it's a boy ... but the second bathroom you can take it easy, the promiscuity among children is well accepted until the age of puberty . LOL
Best wishes
The problem is that the first one didn't come easily and if we were to try, it would probably kill my wife. There is a reason we didn't continue :)
In this case it is better to leave it alone
Wise words that end with the perfect outcome. I'm glad I found the time to read them! Although, words are just words :)
Words are just words - best to put some action behind them from time to time too :)
Throw another shrimp on the barbe mate!
Glad to hear the home is taking shape, but it also sounds like there is still much to be done.
A 'home', not something I've felt present within since I left my childhood house at 18. Should probably start to work on this.
Home is a state of mind Asher and can be anywhere you are, once you close the door. I hope you find it mate, I've got the perfect housewarming gift for you. It might be beer from Australia.
I guess. Renting forever has that unsettling feel - knowing that this roof is only temporary means I'll not make the place my own.
Beer... helps, cheers!
Google Great Northern. One of my faves. I got a carton (24) with your name on it down here for your housewarming show.
I hear you mate. I've never been a renter so I don't understand, but I can imagine. Throw a photo or two of that daughter of yours up, one of me too, maybe a few holiday snaps and that's all you need though. Home.
Sounds good. Great Northern looks refreshing and light, ideal for cooling off with :)
Yeah I have a few photos up, could be more though. Part of the 'oh well I'm leaving soon' thoughts, even though that date is not yet known.
I understand, it must be difficult feeling like you're not able to put any roots down. It'll happen though. We'll have to get 2020 out the way and then we can all move forward huh?
Sounds like a plan to me, 2021 could be the year :)
We went with burgers and chicken shish-kebabs today :)
Hopefully it will be built partially on HIVE :)
You are welcome to visit
Prawn? hmmm, I was told shrimp - I'll have to remember the correct version of the phrase no Aussie has ever said :)
Yeah, going for the home run with Hive, would be nice.
Thanks for the offer, that would be nice too :)
They Americanized it because no one knows what a prawn is :D
nice job on the work so far. I wish you good luck as you complete the work. you sure have a good taste for good stuff
I fortunately didn't have to do too much building in this phase, bathrooms are outside of my scope of skills - like most house stuff :D
hmmm... good luck in the completing of this project. I am sure it will be a homely one .
Whenever reforms are made at home there are inconveniences and even doubts whether to continue but, once the result of the project motivates to continue forming the home that for each of us is perfect, successful in future projects @tarazkp
Thanks, it should come along nicely, but it will take time. Luckily, I am not planning on dying soon.
We'll probably love it then XD we picked this house because it was to our taste (and thus nobody else wanted it).
The second house we picked on the other hand got snapped up pretty quick as that one was a lot more mainstream and we decided to stay in our eclectic little wreck
Enjoying the grilling? :D