Laundry

Lots to be done in this little room.  Currently I think this is a little room not well organised or utilised.  The fuse box and I think it's the alarm box are in the wrong place, the robinhood laundry tub, washing machine and dryer all look untidy.  So rennovation time is time to make this space more usable, clean looking and tidy.

 

 

The fuse box is shown in the below picture, the box next to it we think is the alarm box, but we'll need to wait and see when we get up there.

Rennovation Plan

 

Hopefully the laundry will look something similar to this (the photo on the right) not the bathroom.  Except that our sink will be next to the wall, instead of in the middle like this one.  Also another thing we want to do is to have a spliter or something off the waste water on the washing machine so that I can switch it to empty the second rinse cycle into a separate water tank outside that will be used to recycle the water onto the garden.  Instead of paying for the water, then to have it go down the drain, and then paying for more water to go on the garden.  Means we'll be able to water the garden more often without paying a fortune.

 

 

Stage 1 - Prior to moving into house (Oct 2013)

1: Buy a front loader washing machine - COMPLETED

2: Buy a Auto senser dryer - COMPLETED

Stage 2 - Before Jan 2014

3: Remove Curtain in window
4: Remove Curtain from door
5: Determine what the electrical boxes are in the laundry
6: Move fuse box so that it will be inside laundry cupboard
7: Move alarm box into ceiling
8: Paint Walls Resene White Pointer or Blanc
9: Paint Ceiling Resene Alabaster

Stage 3 - Sometime after Jan 2014

10: Replace light switch
11: Replace power points
12: Replace back door with new door with double glazed glass
13: Remove window in laundry
14: Install bench with inbuilt sink and cupboard in front of sink & laundry draw on other side
15: Install dryer on the wall
16: Install cupboards either side of dryer
17: Replace vinyl flooring

 

Toliet

The toilet is probably one of the last things on our list, it's perfectly functional, so that likely means that it will be the first room to be completely rennovated!!!

As it looks right now


Rennovation Plan

Stage 1 - Prior to moving into house (Oct 2013)
Nothing

Stage 2 - Before Jan 2014
1: Remove Curtain in window
2: Paint Walls Resene White Pointer
3: Paint Ceiling Resene Alabaster

Stage 3 - Sometime after Jan 2014
4: Replace light switch
5: Replace vanity
6: Replace toliet
7: Replace Mirror
8: Replace vinyl flooring

Main Bathroom

First thing to get done on the list was the shower in the main bathroom.  It really needed doing before we got tenants in, so something we wanted to get done prior to moving in ourselves.  Also motivation was the fact that the shower had a mixer rated for low pressure and we are now running mains pressure.  Aim to slowly replace all the tapware as we renovate the house. 

Photos of the current main bathroom, yes note the mutliple blue colours in the bathroom.  Not the best, but easily fixable.

 

Rennovating the bathroom - Stage 1:
Managed to get a really good deal on a Englefield Sapphire shower from PlaceMakers, so got the Methven Kiri Slide Shower and shower mixer from them as well.  This was installed by a plumber that we contracted through builders crack.  Not sure that I would use him again, but it did an alright job. 

 

Englefield Sapphire Shower		Methven Kiri Slide Shower		Methven Kiri Shower Mixer

Rennovations - Stage 2:
Now we just need to paint the bathroom, this won't be done until we get to Auckland. The colours will be Resene White Pointer on the walls and Resene Alabaster on the ceiling and the trim.

Rennovations - Stage 3:
Purchase new bath and maybe move to beside the shower (under the window), replace the window with a larger window and  replace the vanity and flooring.  Another option is to add a new window above the bath instead of moving the bath.

The List

After sorting out the landscaping, well the design of it ... then it was a question of what to do next...

This is when the list was drawn up...

1:   Build a Fence to keep Orian away from the front door
2:   Paint the inside of the house - Brought paint, just need to do the painting
3:   Install Grid Connected Solar - COMPLETED
4:   New Shower in the main bathroom - COMPLETED
5:   New rangehood in the kitchen - Brought the rangehood, just need ducting and to install
6:   New curtains for the lounge - COMPLETED
7:   Restain the decking timber - Brought the stain, just need to do the staining
8:   Landscaping

Kitchen
Stage 1 - Prior to moving into house
1:   Buy F&P 900mm silver rangehood - COMPLETED
Stage 2 - Before Jan 2014
2:   Buy ducting and install rangehood
3:   Remove Curtain
4:   Paint walls Resene Double Blanc
5:   Paint ceiling & trim Resene Alabaster
6:   Paint kitchen cupboards Resene Lynch
Stage 3 - Sometime after Jan 2014
7:   Install lazy susan in corner cupboards under bench
8:   Install pop up 4 power point multi box in bench
9:   Buy and install sun blinds
10: Replace light fitting
11: Replace light switch and shade
12: Replace electric power points
13: Buy & install USB electric power point
14: Replace window with bifold double glazed window
15: Resign kitchen

Dining Room
Stage 1 - Prior to moving into house
Nothing
Stage 2 - Before Jan 2014
1:   Fix crack in ceiling
2:   Paint walls Resene Double Blanc
3:   Paint ceiling & trim Resene Alabaster
4:   Remove carpet and replace with vynal or wood flooring.
Stage 3 - Sometime after Jan 2014
5:   Replace curtains
6:   Replace light fitting
7:   Replace light switch and shade
8:   Replace electric power points
9:   Buy & install USB electric power point
10: Replace ranch slider with bifold doors including double glazed glass

Lounge
Stage 1 - Prior to moving into house
1:   Have curtains made for lounge - COMPLETED
Stage 2 - Before Jan 2014
2:   Fix crack in ceiling
3:   Paint walls Resene Double Blanc
4:   Paint ceiling & trim Resene Alabaster
Stage 3 - Sometime after Jan 2014
5:   Replace light fitting
6:   Replace light switch and shade
7:   Replace electric power points
8:   Replace carpet
9:   Replace ranch slider with bifold doors including double glazed glass
10: Replace two southern windows with large bifold doors once garage extensions complete

Master Bedroom
Stage 1 - Prior to moving into house
1:   Fix ranch slider water damage - COMPLETED
Stage 2 - Before Jan 2014
2:   Fix crack in ceiling
3:   Paint walls Resene Double Blanc
4:   Paint ceiling & trim Resene Alabaster
Stage 3 - Sometime after Jan 2014
5:   Replace light fitting
6:   Replace light switch and shade
7:   Replace electric power points
8:   Buy & install USB electric power point
9:   Buy new curtains
10: Replace carpet
11: Replace ranch slider with bifold doors including double glazed glass
12: Buy new bedroom manchester set

Walk in Wardrobe
Stage 1 - Prior to moving into house
Nothing
Stage 2 - Before Jan 2014
1:   Fix broken shelves
2:   Paint walls Resene Blanc
3:   Paint ceiling & trim Resene Alabaster
Stage 3 - Sometime after Jan 2014
4:   Replace light fitting
5:   Replace light switch and shade
6:   Replace carpet
7:   Replace wardrobe organiser

Ensuite
Stage 1 - Prior to moving into house
Nothing
Stage 2 - Before Jan 2014
1:   Remove curtain
2:   Paint walls Resene White Pointer
3:   Paint ceiling & trim Resene Alabaster
4:   Install extractor fan
Stage 3 - Sometime after Jan 2014
5:   Replace shower with tile shower
6:   Replace vanity
7:   Replace toilet
8:   Replace mirror with mirror cabinet
9:   Replace vinyl flooring

Office
Stage 1 - Prior to moving into house
Nothing
Stage 2 - Before Jan 2014
1:   Fix crack in ceiling
2:   Paint walls Resene Double Blanc
3:   Paint ceiling & trim Resene Alabaster
4:   Buy & install wall paper mural
Stage 3 - Sometime after Jan 2014
5:   Replace light fitting
6:   Replace light switch and shade
7:   Replace electric power points
8:   Buy & install USB electric power point
9:   Buy new curtains
10: Fill in doorway between kitchen and office
11: Replace carpet
12: Replace ranch slider with bifold doors including double glazed glass

Scott's Room
Stage 1 - Prior to moving into house
Nothing
Stage 2 - Before Jan 2014
1:   Paint 3 Walls Resene Spanish White
2:   Paint feature wall Resene Havelock Blue
3:   Paint Ceiling & Trim Resene Alabaster
4:   Make and put up new Lightening McQueen Curtains
5:   Make up and paint two 3 shelf bookshelf Dulux Opua & Dulux Rai Valley
Stage 3 - Sometime after Jan 2014
6:   Replace light switch  and shade
7:   Replace electric power points
8:   Buy & install USB electric power point
9:   Install wardrobe organiser
10: Replace carpet

Kalvin's Room
Stage 1 - Prior to moving into house
Nothing
Stage 2 - Before Jan 2014
1:   Paint 3 Walls Resene Spanish White
2:   Paint feature wall Resene Havelock Blue
3:   Paint Ceiling & Trim Resene Alabaster
4:   Install Lightening McQueen Curtains
5:   Make up and paint three 3 shelf bookshelf Dulux Opua & Dulux Rai Valley
Stage 3 - Sometime after Jan 2014
6:   Replace light switch and shade
7:   Replace electric power points
8:   Buy & install USB electric power point
9:   Install wardrobe organiser
10: Replace carpet

Main Bathroom
Stage 1 - Prior to moving into house
1:   Replace main shower - COMPLETED
      -   Englefield Sapphire, Methven Kiri Shower & Mixer
Stage 2 - Before Jan 2014
2:   Remove Curtain in window
3:   Paint Walls Resene White Pointer
4:   Paint Ceiling Resene Alabaster
Stage 3 - Sometime after Jan 2014
5:   Replace light switch
6:   Replace extracter fan
7:   Replace Vanity
8:   Replace Bath
9:   Replace vinyl flooring
10: Add window on Southern Wall
11: Increase size of window on Eastern Wall

Toilet
Stage 1 - Prior to moving into house
Nothing
Stage 2 - Before Jan 2014
1:   Remove Curtain in window
2:   Paint Walls Resene White Pointer
3:   Paint Ceiling Resene Alabaster
Stage 3 - Sometime after Jan 2014
4:   Replace light switch
5:   Replace vanity
6:   Replace toliet
7:   Replace mirror
8:   Replace vinyl flooring

Laundry
Stage 1 - Prior to moving into house
1:   Buy a front loader washing machine - COMPLETED
2:   Buy a Auto senser dryer - COMPLETED
Stage 2 - Before Jan 2014
3:   .Remove Curtain in windown
4:   Remove Curtain from door
5:   Determine what the electrical boxes are in the laundry
6:   Move fuse box so that it will be inside laundry cupboard
7:   Move alarm box into ceiling
8:   Paint Walls Resene White Pointer or Blanc
9:   Paint Ceiling Resene Alabaster
Stage 3 - Sometime after Jan 2014
10:  Replace light switch
11:  Replace power points
12:  Replace back door with new door with double glazed glass
13:  Remove window in laundry
14:  Install bench with inbuilt sink and cupboard in front of sink & laundry draw on other side
15:  Install dryer on the wall
16:  Install cupboards either side of dryer
17:  Replace vinyl flooring

Under Stairs Cupboard
Stage 1 - Prior to moving into house
Nothing
Stage 2 - Before Jan 2014
1:   Paint walls Resene White Pointer
2:   Paint ceiling & trim Resene Alabaster
3:   Add shelving & coat hocks
Stage 3 - Sometime after Jan 2014
4:   Replace light fitting
5:   Replace light switch and shade

Garage
Stage 1 - Prior to moving into house
Nothing
Stage 2 - Before Jan 2014
1:   Replace net curtain
2:   Paint Walls Resene Forget Me Not
3:   Paint Ceiling Resene Alabaster
4:   Install new work shelving
5:   Install new metal cupboard
Stage 3 - Sometime after Jan 2014
6:   Replace light switch
7:   Replace power points
8:   Extend garage 6 m South
      -  Include build in workbench, cupboards

Well isn't this is a long long wish list, will be interesting to see how far we get in a year and whether we get all the jobs completed by 31 Dec 2013 that we want to get done.

Landscaping is on another page.

Landscaping

After the installation of the solar hot water and once the new cylinder was installed it was time to sit back, relax and enjoy owning a home... not living in it yet, but it was close to Christmas, so that was something to keep our minds occupied.

Of course mine was thinking about the next thing to do on the house... naturally landscaping.

Here's what the grounds currently look like...




Driveway looking North

Garden by Front Door

Looking East across Front of Section

East side of Section looking South

Looking across the Southern boundary

Looking West from centre of southern boundary

Looking Northwest from Southern boundary

Southern Back Corner of Section

Northern Garden under Deck

 

We weren't in Auckland so the next best thing for me was to talk to someone down here in Blenheim
about landscaping.  They obviously couldn't see the house, but hey I had photo's, and it's all about the vision isn't it... hahahaha... Well Christo Saggers, a landscape designer down there, was willing to give it a go.

He came up with what I think is a practical and yet awesome design.  Refer below.

We'll make a few minor alterations, but mostly we'll keep to his plan.

Much of what needs to be done can't be started until the section, which is currently sloped, is leveled and retaining walls are installed.  I think there will be about 4 or 5 retaining walls in total, just so that we can have the garden I want... cos let's face it, Rowan doesn't mind what happens as long as it's flat for him to mow and he has a vege garden to grow his veges.  Currently the house ticks none of these boxes.  But we don't yet have the money to do all the grounds work we want to do, so it's going to be a bit by bit project.

The other major thing that is missing at the actual house but is in the plans is the back deck.  This currently doesn't exist.  But it's not just a back deck, it's also a garage extension underneath.  This will fill in the slope in the Looking northwest from the southern boundary.  The ground level is the garage and the upper level is the lounge.  So the garage will be extended and the deck built on top as outdoor living space.

For now, considering we aren't even up there, the first things that will need to be done are as follows
1:    Remove all trees currently planted around the section.  Many of these are dead or just plain in the wrong place, so we are going to start with a blank canvas

2:    Plant fruit trees along the eastern border.  This border will not be changing in height as we can't retaining wall right up to the fence, so there will be a 1 metre slope on the eastern side.  This will be planted with espaliered fruit trees.  Currently looking at different designs.  This will be mostly Apple, Pear & Peach trees.  We might do the Belgian Fence, see diagram below, but this will be alot of trees for not much fruit, but it would make an awesome hedge as well.

 

Belgian Fence

3:    Put in the retaining wall along southern boundary.  We know this will be there, and it can go in now as it won't have to move when we do the alterations.  Also means we can get very small plants as the hedge will have time to grow.  I think there is about 40 Griselina Lucida plants going in, so getting them small and cheap is the way to go!!!

Griselina Lucida

4:   Plant Calla Lillies and Carnations along the driveway all the way up to the house.  Expensive, but I think it will look lovely.  Not sure whether to do a mix of colours all the way up, or whether I should colour co-orindate them.  Will need to think about it before buying the plants.

Calla Lily - Amarillo

Calla Lily - HotShot

Calla Lily - Sunrise

5:   Plant my Alstroemeria plants temporarily.  I have many alstroemaria plants that I have brought or been given while in Woodbourne.  These are currently all in pots, but they'll need to be planted once we get to Auckland else they'll probably die.  Because these can't go in until the second southern retaining wall is built they will have to go into the garden somewhere.  Haven't decided where that will be, but luckily they transplant pretty easily, so won't be a problem moving them.

6:   Put in a temporary vege garden
7:   Put in a temporary worm farm
8:   Put in temporary composting (Can always be moved/restarted)

I think for now that is enough, I don't think we'll get all of this done by Christmas, but I'll post photo's as we move along the plan.

The Start of Things to come... solar

Our Solar installations...

For many years Rowan has been looking into alternate ways to generate power, including wind and solar generation. So when we brought our new home in West Harbour, it was time to look at implementing some of these solutions.

The first look at Grid Connected solar was that it was going to be a bit too expensive, and we thought we would install it later.  So the next best thing was to look into Solar Hot Water Systems.  Rowan and I emailed a few companies, some of which didn't even bother responding, others were outside Auckland so weren't really viable.

In the end the one that rang us back with the best sales pitch won our contract... Well Adrian did also let us know that there was a government subsidy in place and that it was going to end in a couple of weeks.  That did get us moving and Adrian did have a pretty good sales pitch, although he wasn't pushy which was perfect.  So Solar Group Limited was who we ended up going with.

Of course we did have to make things a little (well alot) complicated, we had a low pressure system and we didn't want to get a new hot water cylinder.  Adrian did warn us, he said it should work, but it may not.

Keep in mind that at this particular time we had tenants in the house, while they were getting a good deal on the rent as it was only a short tenancy, they were to soon pay for this with the hot water cylinder, read on further and you'll understand why.

The team at Solar Group came in and installed the system, they used our current hot water cylinder and had the system up and running.  Unfortunately this is where the problems started, because the water was low pressure and the hot water cylinder was not being moved, the pressure dropped significantly.  Basically the hot water was dripping out of the tap.  This basically meant that the tenants couldn't have a shower!!!!  Adrian was great, although he was probably getting frustrated with us.  He got the plumber in and they had a good look around fixed this, tweaked that.  Got it going good for a bit and then it would go down again.  Something to do with filters and other bits and pieces.  Essentially the best solution to the whole problem was to replace the hot water cylinder with a mains pressure one.  And this is exactly what we did.  All of a sudden the house had amazing pressure again, the perfect solution.

So what did we end up getting installed...

Hot Water Cylinder: GreenGlo 180D

If you are looking for Solar Hot Water or Grid connected Solar (see other post) then I definitely recommend Adrian @ Solar Group Limited 09 477 2999.

History...

This little, probably end up being very large, post is about the history behind our little home.  This blog will be all about the transformation of our home, Jamo's (my husband's nickname) block.

So short background...
Rowan and I met 10 years ago, and almost to the day, started dating.  We were both at Auckland University of Technology. Rowan was doing a diploma in Electrotechnology and I was doing a degree in Software Engineering.

In July 2004 we moved in together in an Air Force married quarter in Whenuapai, in 2005 we got engaged, Rowan went to Woodbourne for a year and I went to America for 6 months. 

2006 went buy so fast, I can't even remember what happened, organising and saving for a wedding I imagine.

Jan 2007 was our wedding, then Rowan was away so much with work for the next 5 months it hardly felt like we were married, hahaha, but then I did marry an Air Force man, so can't really complain.  August 2007 saw Rowan and I jetsetting around the world.  We spent almost 4 months travelling around Europe on our honeymoon.  What a fantastic time we had, although I do remember at one particular point, I think we were in London at Heathrow, seeing an Air New Zealand plane and very much wishing we were on it, but we still had about a month to go.  Needless to say, we made it past that bump and loved the rest of our trip.

2008 & 2009 are a bit of a blur.  I changed jobs from Hansen to Oracle, Rowan moved to Avionics Sqn, he made it through selection to be an Officer.  I also became pregnant with our first son.

2010 Scott Wallace Jamieson was born in Feb, Rowan left for 4 months in Woodbourne in April, we were then posted to Wellington in July 2010.  We brought our first home in Upper Hutt, well Trentham, or Poet's Block depending on how you want to look at it.  Tennyson Street saw us for exactly 52 weeks, when in July 2011 we moved to Woodbourne in the Marlborough district.

2011, I was pregnant with our second son, he was born in Blenheim a coule months after we moved.  We sold our house in Wellington just before he was born, and were going to buy in Blenheim, but decided against it, and thought we would look in Auckland, considering that is where we wanted to live eventually.

Interestingly enough, or maybe not, there are not many photo's of the Wellington house.  I suppose this is because it really was only a temporary house to us, not really a home.  Although it was nice to have 4 bedroom's and a big lounge, separate dining and a big kitchen... we knew we wouldn't be there long.

2012 - This is where Jamo's Block history starts.  We started looking around March/April, and found a couple of houses we liked, we started just looking around, sending Sez, Hadley and Mum through open homes for us, as we were still in Woodbourne.  Funniest thing was I went to the bank and started organising finances, sorting out the mortgage and getting everything in order... Everyone thought I was a bit mad, until, we found a house we loved, and it was going to auction on Wednesday.  It was all of a sudden all go, lucky I had everything in order, within a day I had mortgage approval and I was on my way to Auckland to see the house and go to Auction.  Ended up really wanting the house, went to the auction, the final price was over $100k over it's valuation.  Needless to say we were really guttered!!! 

We decided then that we couldn't be bothered, I flew home on the Thursday night (I think), vowed never to look at another home... But that's not what I did, the very next day I was looking on trade me and there was one particular house that Rowan kept coming back to, it was in our favourites and I had written it off, (the colour scheme was hidious) so I decided bugger it, I rang up the real estate agent, she just happened to be the same agent as the one on the house we'd lost.  So I organised our builder to go through the house and have a look, he was going to go through that afternoon, then organised Sez & Hadley to go and have a look at the open home the next day.  Then on Saturday we put in an offer, and low and behold Jamo's Block became our new home, four days after loosing the other house to auction, we had an accepted conditional offer which would settle in less than two weeks...

1 June 2012, Rowan and Megan owned our first Auckland home.