I’ve been going through a reflection (aka meltdown) phase recently, really looking at my family, our priorities and focus, and challenging if we are going down the right path. My ‘reflection’ may or may not have been sparked by a 3 tiered dinosaur cake I spent an entire day making, the 100th piece of miniature lego parts I found that doesn’t seem to belong to anything, or a challenging client that just pushed me one step too far. Its too soon to say, but I am now deep in the throws of a life spring clean.
Too often life overwhelms us and we get swept up into the chaos without taking the time to stop, reflect, analyse, question, and carry on. Time is too often spent on the wrong things, or beautiful moments are missed or ignored because we are distracted or tired. Whilst this is a long trail of thoughts that I am currently boring my loved ones with, this post is really about celebrating the project we completed earlier this year with Mr and Mrs Experience and Conquer.
This is a couple that is fun loving and adventure seeking, yet still meticulous in detail and planning. Both extremely sharp and brilliant at what they do, they are the kind of couple that seeks to find the joy in life and living, and I really admire that. Working with Mr and Mrs Experience and Conquer was just that….a multitude of various experiences, but we conquered their grand old dame in the end! We were cursed with a number of blows. Walls were brittle and crumbling, floorboards rotten through, and wiring as old as the hills. Being the couple that they are though they were considered in their approach to all elements of the project, making the process enjoyable despite the challenges. They are really the kind of couple you want to get stuck in a lift with, good under pressure, and energising to be around.
Mr and Mrs E&C had bought the property a year or so before, and post getting married were now ready to start giving their new home a much needed lift. With impeccable taste and an eye for detail, they both had a strong vision from the offset of what they wanted to achieve. We undertook to renovate the kitchen and bathroom completely, retile and deck the front and back courtyard, and various other aesthetic updates throughout.
As we started the project they broke the unbelievable news to me that we had a little guy on the way, so the schedule of works became an imperative focus for us all. Just like his parents though, this little guy was too excited to wait any longer and he made a fast appearance into this world in the midst of what only can be described as a snagging mayhem.
I could bore you with the details of the various snagging challenges we overcame, and the guttering problems that had us all weeping into our morning coffees, but truth be told what stands out for me with this project was this amazing little family and the energy they exude into their new gorgeous home.
The Brief:
Give the kitchen and bathroom a much needed complete overhaul. Retile the front courtyard, deck and retile the back courtyard. Strip, sand, and seal all the wooden flooring throughout, and general aesthetic and maintenance updates throughout the entire home.
BEFORE:
The Transformation
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- Redesigned and renovated kitchen with new tiles, joinery, fixtures and fittings
- Redesigned and renovated bathroom with new tiles, fixtures and fittings
- Drywall section under stairs
- Strip, sand and seal of wooden floors throughout
- New tiling to front courtyard
- New lighting throughout
- Decking and tiling to back courtyard, incl custom benches and planters
- Redesign and install of mancave room
- Painting throughout most of house
- Maintenace to windows, balcony and woodwork
- Installation of storage tanks
Biggest Challenge: The snag list during the rainiest 3 weeks of the year.
Best feature: I love so much about this property and Mrs E&C’s choice of furniture and decor, but I think my best part of the whole renovation was the way the staircase feature came out. Its bold and striking and grounds the entire space.
AFTER:
