Rev up the Renos

 

It was at exactly this time 2 years ago that I had the brilliant idea to totally uproot my family and move north. We had started married life up here some 12 years before my latest epiphany, so we did know what we were moving back to. It was a no brainer for us. 

In the September school holidays, we booked ourselves into a beautiful bed and breakfast for the weekend, the first time we'd been away without the kids . . . ever. It was only 11 years, no biggie. 

I'm not sure if any of our friends and family thought we were serious. After all, we were only coming up to stay and do some 'homework'. Check out some different areas, attend a few open houses and sit on the decision. Problem was, at 2pm one beautiful Saturday afternoon, I walked into our house, fell in love with it in 10 seconds flat and decided then and there that I simply MUST have it. I loved it so much I couldn't breathe. I saw stars. The fact we didn't have ANY finance sorted didn't register. I had to have it!

On December 6th, 2010, we settled. It was our 13th wedding anniversary. After 13 years of renting, we finally had our own home. It was quite a harrowing process, but we did it!

I'm not sure who was more shocked, us or our friends and family. You'd think they knew that when I make up my mind about something, I do everything in my power to achieve it. I am an Aries after all. 

So our house didn't tick ALL my boxes, but there was something special about it that money can't buy. I think you know when a home is right for you and it's not about the benchtops or cupboard space. It's a feeling. I did know that the unticked boxes could be changed to suit us and so the journey began. After 13 years of renting, my mind is literally bursting with renovation and home decorating ideas. If only my wallet was bursting with cash . . . . . :-)

The picture at the top of this post was from the real estate listing when our house was on the market. It's a 3 bedroom house which we initially discounted as we needed 4 bedrooms. That was until we saw the 'rumpus room'. The massive untouched rumpus room. The guy who originally built the house in the late 80's used the room for his model train room and the lady we bought it off used it as her craft room (weird parallels with my own family!) We saw potential in the name of a 4th bedroom and playroom or a future parent retreat. 

Over 18 months of settling in and gathering finances, the renovation of this room started this week. It was a really 'raw' room. Not sure why they didn't finish the room during building, but I was truly sick to death of the UGLY sites! Excited doesn't describe how I feel!

 

My original plans were to create the dividing wall halfway with a single entry door. Yesterday afternoon, I had a stroke of brilliance. The exposed piping forced us to make the 'bedroom' larger and suddenly I had the thought that a single door would look ridiculous. As a result, cavity wall frames were installed and there will now be double bi-parting sliding doors. My brother (who'll we'll call Jack, as in Jack of all Trades) was very patient (read 'obedient') and nodded and said OK. Hooray! Best decision yet!

 

The cavity wall frames were purchased ready made from Bunnings for $113. A slight increase to the budget, but totally worth it. Here's some before and during shots.

I think the beauty of these doors will be that they can be open to allow the beautiful sunlight we get through the room of an afternoon. The external wall with windows faces west and the sun is gorgeous. Needless to say, the wall itself will be insulated to protect from the heat in summer.

Our house is really starting to feel like OUR house! I'm now in the process of trying to convince Ms 13 to move out of the new space so we can move in. She's not impressed. I'll work on her during the holidays. Might even butter her up with a trip to IKEA.

The next stage is for our fabulous electrician to come and remove the hideous fluro lights and old rickety fan, install two new ceiling fan lights and a new powerpoint at the south end of the room. Then we'll lure Jack of all Trades back to start gyprocking! Might have to put on a BBQ for the workers. With cake.