Living room complete, front steps, laundry progress and southern deck

It has been a very sad week with the passing of my Grandad (Dad's Father, Ron Byles). We attended Grandad's Funeral today which was very special. I was honoured to contribute 'Heaven Scent' roses from my garden for the ceremony. I know Grandad was very proud of the amazing transformation that Dad is making to this home. It really is a 'labour of love'.

Living room complete

The new back living room is now complete and such a pleasure to use. It is located adjacent to the kitchen and dining area, and has already enjoyed lots of great use! The sun pours in through the large eastern picture window each morning - the perfect spot for these cool Autumn mornings. 

We have painted the VJ walls in 'Salt' - to tie in with the rest of the interior. We chose a neutral coloured sisal wool carpet to fit in with the carpet in the existing bedrooms. 

Eventually the windows and door on the left (eastern side) of this room will open out to a new back deck.

The TV console was one that Dad built years ago and had been stored in Dad's shed - I have given it a coat of white paint for good measure :)  Here it is undergoing its new lease on life.

 Below you can see where the new living room adjoins the dining area. Great for entertaining.

 

Front steps

Dad has started building the new front steps - such a statement piece! You can see in the below image, a platform which will sit at the base of the steps. The wide timber boards on this platform were repurposed from the original floorboards of the bathroom and toilet in the back flat. Another great example of the sustainability of this project.

You can see the new stair stringers in the image below. Some of this timber was given to us by a  friend Sally, as it was surplus from her house renovation.

I have planted a garden bed of agapanthus under the new front steps. Hopefully they will fill out over time and meet the other agapanthus that I planted along the width of the front verandah.

Laundry progress

The new laundry is coming along beautifully. The water proofing has been done and the plumbing is now complete. Walls have been painted white and all that remains is the tiling (floor and lower walls). Dad has built a tall cupboard with lots of great storage space.  The cupboards match those in the new kitchen - clean white with a VJ finish, and stainless steel handles.  It is a very fresh and airy room.

Dad has custom-built the benchtops using a limewashed timber, in keeping with the clean, fresh look of the rest of the house.

Southern Deck

Dad has almost completed the deck area that adjoins the new laundry on the southern side of the house. The steps you can see below lead to the clothesline.

Below you can see the French door to the laundry, as well as a new exterior light to match the others on the front verandah.

Autumn has finally arrived.  Such a beautiful time of year....

Living room almost complete and more laundry progress

Living room almost complete

The living room is now painted and ready for down lights and carpet to be installed this week.  It is such a light, fresh room with a lovely relaxed feel. The living room is located right next to the kitchen and dining area, which will be great for entertaining.

The dining area and adjoining study nook will also be re-carpeted this week with the same neutral coloured wool sisal carpet.

The study is well and truly in use now and such a handy space.

Laundry progress
Dad has been making great progress with the new laundry, which adjoins the living area - on the southern side of the house.  We have finished painting the laundry (also white) and are now awaiting the waterproofing, so the floor and wall tiles can be laid. The tiles will be large square off-white (same as those in the new bathroom), with large white rectangular splashback tiles.  Dad has custom-built the laundry joinery - which comprises white VJ cupboard doors, a timber lime-washed benchtop and white tub. He has also built a fantastic large cupboard with plenty of storage space.  This cupboard was built largely from recycled doors. The French door that you can see below will open onto a new deck, with steps leading down to the clothesline.

House exterior - transformation of southern side

The extension on the southern side is coming along very well. The below image gives you an idea of how the back of the house is transforming. You can see the new living room extension with its large picture window on the left of this image. The existing carport at the back will be removed to make way for a new back deck.

On the right of the below image is the new laundry, with new steps leading to the clothesline. To the left of this is the existing house exterior, which will soon be extended to prepare for a deck, ensuite and main bedroom and walk-in-robe. The main bedroom will open out onto the front verandah which is just visible on the left of this image.

Here is the front southern end of the house. You can see the edge of the new verandah, which will eventually adjoin the extension.

Meanwhile, the new bathroom has been complete since the end of Winter last year and is such a pleasure to use. I love the warmth that the recycled timber brings to the otherwise all-white room.

The ornamental pear trees and gardenias that I planted last year are starting to fill out the garden on the northern side of the verandah.

Living area and laundry wall sheeting

Living room sheeting

Dad has been busy insulating and sheeting the walls of the new living room.  I am looking forward to getting the painting gear out soon to paint the living room.  The VJ walls will be painted white, the same as the rest of the interior.  This space has such a lovely cool feel to it, and you can't help but gravitate here in Summer.  It should be just as lovely in cooler weather, as the sun will pour through the eastern windows during Winter mornings,

Eventually, this area will open outside to a large deck which will be located to the left in the images below.  (A big thank you to Tim for the loan of the sheet lifter!)

I love these tall narrow windows.  Dad repurposed them from old large louvre blades that were removed from the former kitchen of the front flat.  Once the carport is removed from the back of the house and replaced with a deck, these windows will look out to greenery.

Laundry wall sheeting

The new laundry is located off the living area, on the southern side of the house.  Dad has started sheeting the laundry walls in the past couple of days.  The laundry will retain the same colour feel as the kitchen and main bathroom - light bone coloured square tiles, large white 600x300 splashback tiles, white VJ cupboards with matt stainless handles and (almost) white benchtop. As you can see below, the laundry opens up to (what will be) a deck with steps to the clothesline.

I can't believe Summer is almost over.  The late afternoon light flooding in to the front living room has been beautiful.

My magnolia outside the front door has settled in very nicely.

Dining area
The dining area is located next to the new back living room, and basically forms one large living space, along with the kitchen.  Now that the new living space has been opened up, it has really let so much light into the back of the house.

The dining area and new living area will soon be carpeted in a new light neutral coloured sisal or berber floor covering.  Eventually, all of the existing old wide floorboards in the house (including those you can see below) will be re-sanded and polished, most likely in a dark stain.