The Couch!

OMG, OMG we bought a couch!!!!!! Well, we ordered one. It's unbelievable how a pile of timber, springs and foam can incite so much joy and excitement! You'll have to use your imagination a bit... It's the same style as the one above, only in the colour below (all over). It will be 4m or five cushions on the long side (as opposed to 4 cushions in the pic). And it will have the chaise on the opposite side, which will be extra long (2.5m), with the armrest running down it halfway. We did this because we wanted the side of the couch that backs the kitchen and dining to be 'backless' so the lounge area doesn't look too enclosed.
Ordered it from 'Nice and Cheap' Furniture in Nth Coburg, after finding them during a google search for reasonably priced furniture. Don't be put off by the cheesy name, their stuff is beautiful, cheap, and they will custom make whatever you want. They use all the same fabrics as the Freedom couches and to us they look and feel the same quality.

Bricks at the front (yay!) and garage

Bricks on the side of the garage as of today.

And more on the back of the garage... It's going to be strange not being able to see through it anymore!

And the long awaited 'bricks at the front'!! They look really great against the timber windows and match the roof colour really well too. Very pleased with the exterior colours at this stage.

Eastern side of the house bricked up as far as humanly possible before the scaffolding comes into play. Not sure what the thingy on the left is, but it looks like a temporary brace for the scaffolding maybe...?

Front, right hand corner the house- the first course has been laid ready for tomorrow! Can't wait :-)

First bricks were laid down the east side of the house today- lots of progress!

More courses done on the rear of the house- you can see where the mortar is darker that it's still wet.

Bricking halfway up on four walls

Our very plain looking temporary front doors (that are nailed shut). Note also our lovely skinny window to the left- would you believe the timber venetian for it is going to cost almost $300??? Apparently the tinier or weirder the size, the more money they cost! Silly window.

Western side of the house (three minor bedrooms) has been bricked just over halfway up the wall today.

And they did the same to the two walls backing onto the kids' retreat and kitchen.

Then we got really excited when we turned the corner because they've done some at the back too!!

Bricks and Doors!

At first glance this looks like just a concrete mixer and a pile of sand right??? Incorrect! Look closer and you can a see a couple of bricks peeking up at you from the back of the garage!

They've done 5-6 rows all around the back of the garage and around the blind side a little.

And here you can see they have put on the door to enter the house via the kids' retreat! They've also put on two temporary front doors and the door between the garage and the pantry.

Love our bricks :-) They look exactly how we thought they would. Can't wait to see the front bricked and look at how they look against the timber windows. Ooo and then we'll want to see how the front looks with the garage door on.... Omg I feel like Veruka Salt with all this wanting!

And the laundry door is on! It looks so nice and clean. We will be scraping off those idiot alert squares as soon as we move in.

Look at our bee-yoo-ti-ful bricks!!! We still love them (even though we'd pretty much forgotten what they looked like as it's been 10 months since we picked them). I wanted to take one but Chris said no :-(

28 pallets were delivered, so there's not much room to move on our driveway now. The whole front of the house is crowded with bricks.

And they've also delivered the lock up doors- the clear glass one for the laundry, two temporary front doors,

And two doors like this one, for entry into the house at the pantry and the kids' retreat.

Wonder if the brickies will start Monday????

Have just received news that bricks will start next week and plaster not until end of January. Seems they can't make up their mind what to do first! Temporary fencing magically appeared last week. Wish we didn't have to have it. Feels a bit unecessary given that we have permanent fences on 2 out of 3 sides anyway. They have buzzed back and padded out a lot of the studs to straighten the walls, but doesn't look like our ss has checked them yet as there's no pink paint anywhere. Hot water service pipes are in too. Would be very exciting to see some bricks. We're hopeful!!

Quick update

Apparently we are having a lock up inspection this week and "plaster to follow." So looks like they won't be leaving it until after the end of Jan after all. Not exactly sure what a lock up inspection is.... We don't even have a front door yet!!!

Bargain microwave- thanks Ted!

Went to Ted Chwasta Good Guys Thomastown massive sale tonight. They are having a 'pay the supplier invoice plus $1 sale.' Heaps of people there. Wanted a large microwave that was stainless steel look, but not actual staino (hate the fingerprints). Found the perfect one - Sharp Carousel- and got it for $150 (40% off!) Mum and Dad bought a huge 5 k telly, Ryan bought the same, Lesley bought a 1k telly, and we all got a few other bits and pieces. Got a big group discount off the already cheap price because we bought so much stuff and mum knows Ted from where she used to work. Thanks Ted, you're a champ!