Recovering the bench seat

This is the short version, because no-one needs a step-by-step account of me pulling every single staple out of this thing and the blood, sweat and tears that went into it.  (Ok, there was no sweat but there was a bit of blood and a couple of tears).

 Yesterday:

Today!

The fabric is Multi Lulu, sourced from Femme de Brocante in NZ and the legs are painted Taubmans China White

Since I bought it earlier in the year, I've had so many different ideas of where this bench would go.  Initially, I thought it would be a coffee table, but then I went and bought a modular sofa and it's really too long for the gap.

Then I had a great idea to put longer legs on it and use it as a bench for the dining table, teamed with a white wooden bench on the other side and some great chairs I've got an eye on.

But it's quite wide and hubby wasn't keen (I'm trying compromise so that he doesn't flinch too much when I paint over the jarrah kitchen).

So I've lined it up to use it just as a bench in front of a feature wall I'm planning (soon! hopefully).

Why I will never be a DIY superstar

Yesterday I had no water.  I woke up, had a shower, put a load of washing on and contemplated washing my floors.  And then the water stopped.  Initially I was excited because, I had a genuine reason to delay washing the floors.
But then I got a little worried.  I started thinking of burst pipes and burnt out pumps and what if we had bought a lemon and it cost thousands of dollars to fix?  How would I afford to renovate the bathrooms if the budget was all spent underground?  I couldn't see or hear any leaks and when I finally found the water mains, it was turned off - problem solved.  Or not.  20 minutes later and still no water.
Finally I rang Watercorp and they sent someone round.  Turns out the water mains were off.  But I had found and turned on the reticulation.  DIY genius.

There is a silver lining though.  For the time I wasn't washing my floors, I was able to get stuck into another project.  Remember this bench I picked up in a Broome secondhand store a little while ago?

I spent most of yesterday morning picking a million staples out of it and it's almost finished!  By tomorrow I should be able to show you the finished product.

I can't believe it's almost July....

Hello!  I've been away a lot lately so there hasn't been much happening here since we moved in.  I think I've spent about 7 nights in this house since we settled almost a month ago!
I just got back last night after a great week in Surfer's Paradise with family.  So hopefully this week marks the start of some productive renovating time!
I've also got new client projects to get started on and lots of other work to catch up on that has been ignored lately - no sleep for me this week!

While I was away I picked up this fabric to start designing Archie's new room:

Our baby is turning two in a couple of weeks and it's time to update his room into a big boy room - wow it doesn't feel like two years!

Here's what the room currently looks like - exactly the same as the day we moved in and possibly the most uninspiring space ever.

:

Eww, that carpet has to go - it's old and grotty, but it will probably be one of the last stages of the renovation, as all the bedrooms have it.

I've also ordered samples of these fabrics:
:

And this one for accents which I know he will love:

Archie's favourite colour at the moment is yellow.  And it's such a happy, refreshing colour that it feels like the right theme to go with.  I'm working on the full concept board so you can see how it all goes together - and I'll share it just as soon as I can figure out how!

I've got lots of little personal touches in mind to complete the room - I better get cracking or at this rate the poor boy will still be in a cot when he starts school!

Here's a house, here's some doors....

Windows: 1...2...3.........more!

I stare at these doors every night from the couch and they bug me.  

They lead into this room - which I will eventually make an office - it has lots of light and it's own entry to the street!

Please excuse the unpacked boxes of office stuff - there's no office furniture yet!  Not even a chair!

And it also acts as a passageway into the main bedroom:

I love French doors.  I really do.  In fact, we plan to install at least two more sets in this house before we're finished.  I even love timber French doors.

But the two-toned wood on these doors bugs me.  They even bug my husband - who is from the school that you should never paint over wood.  Which is why I always do it when he's at work.

Light wood, plus dark wood, plus terracotta tiles, plus more wood in the kitchen - it's screaming for the paint brush.  

I hope to have them shiny and white within the week.  It's a nice small DIY project to kick things off.  Apart from taping up a million 20 windows.  

And I will be able to sit on the couch at night without cringing.

PS:  There is talk of closing in the passage to make this a completely separate room.  I'm not convinced, but can see the potential for re-sale - what do you think?

Home Sweet Home

We've finally moved in!  It already feels like we've been in this house forever.  In reality it's only been five nights and we are still (slowly) unpacking.

I am so excited to start renovating - my concept boards are already overflowing with ideas.
I already have a few simple tasks in mind which will be posted over the coming weeks.  But obviously this won't happen overnight - I hope you stick around to see the finished product!

For privacy and security reasons (as obviously we are living in the house and will be for some time) we have decided to keep its actual location a secret for now.

But I can tell you this:  It is a typical Broome house - steel structure with corrugated iron cladding and roof and those hideous but practical security screens.  See?  

It also has 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, open plan kitchen/living/dining with a separate lounge/parents retreat, and a shed and pool outside.

Let the renovations begin!!