So. Mr Tonic has been soldiering on with the renos every weekend. Mainly "prepping" surfaces - sanding, undercoating, painting trims - not terribly blog-worthy stuff, hence the lack of updates. But I know how much you love them so here goes. This weekend will see a few rather exciting developments in "operation rough-diamond". See these sliding doors?
That's them above... and below...
They will be glass louvres! Three vertical panels, floor to ceiling. We abandoned the glass sliding doors for a couple of reasons. 1. They're not safety glass. Which is actually illegal now. 2. They have gargantuan cracks in them (see number 1). And 3. They're actually adjacent to the front door, so are somewhat redundant as doors. And besides, louvres are divine. I think they'll visually usher the house into 2011 nicely.
(below) That same angle before we bought the house - a photo from the real estate campaign, and a subtle reinforcement of the old adage "Less is more". Don't you think?
(below) IT'S A JETMASTER WE'RE GETING A JETMASTER! Also known as "the tax return-funded hunk of burning loveliness". Mr Tonic was hellbent on a log fire, but having experienced one at the Blue Mountains last winter, I reminded him that it was a romantic notion and nothing more. And by golly do you churn through the fire wood?!?!
So yes. Everyone is happy, and instead of blowing on scrunched up pieces of half-lit newspaper, we will press a button and basque in the toasty glow of natural gas. Happiness. Obviously, this (below) is where it will go:
Mr Tonic's brother is an electrician. Handy for when you need 4 pendant lights hung in a house with 50s wiring.
The large one on the left will go above the dining table (see first 3 images in this post), and we have 3 of the smaller ones - one for each of the bedrooms, which currently have rusty old downlights.
As I mentioned previously, these are genuine vintage Louis Poulsen pendants Mr Tonic bought from an ebay seller based in Denmark. You gotta love ebay!
(below) The ratty old fly screen has been pulled off the screen door, and the front door is undercoated!
(below) As old and grubby as they are, one of my favourite original features of the house is these terrazzo floor tiles, which run through the hallway and also the laundry:
(below) Not really renovation-y, but this is the beautiful view out my office window, where the sun streams in each morning. And I subsequently curse it for doing so.
In other house-related news, this is the patio wall - finally painted in Dulux Pale Icelandish (quarter strength). We toyed with the idea of going half strength, but it's actually gorgeous. Powdery and subtle.
(below) Same same, but with added sunshine!
Now all we need is that perfect little 50s patio setting...
Well? What do you think? I read each and every one of your comments, and am always so interested in another point of view. So please! Shoot!
Well? What do you think? I read each and every one of your comments, and am always so interested in another point of view. So please! Shoot!
