Flashbacks, new Magnolia garden and main bedroom and ensuite extension progress

A quick 'Before & After' Flashback
BEFORE - Front of the house...

TODAY: Front of the house...

New Magnolia Garden
I have planted a row of Magnolia 'Little Gems' along the back eastern fence. There are existing Star Jasmine plants already in place, being trained on wire to form 'crosses'. I had also planted a row of low Japanese Box a couple of years ago, so have now moved these forward to form a hedge in front of the Magnolias. I love their glossy green leaves and bronze underside, and of course the beautiful white saucer-shaped flowers. I hope this will form a perfect low screen along the back. Here is the new garden, as well as the beautiful old Jacaranda tree and clump of agapanthus.

BEFORE - Here is the back fence-line before the Magnolias...

... and here is the work-in-progress (with a little help from 'Nina').

Main Bedroom Progress

Dad continues to make wonderful progress on the new extension. The south western corner of the bedroom is all framed up, with the addition of some beautiful old windows. The top window in the below image was originally part of the laundry of the front flat (we call it 'Lorraine's window', remembering the older lady who lived here years ago and loved the breeze that flowed through this window). It will continue to let a lovely breeze through the house in its new location. The bottom fixed window was originally part of a larger frame of windows that separated the kitchen of the back flat from the former living area.

Here is the window in Dad's shed - assembled and ready to install...

These three fixed windows below were also part of the former kitchen in the back flat...

Here you can see both windows in their new bedroom corner.

Dad has also built a custom bed-head using panelling detail. In the photo below, the wall will extend a little to the right-hand side so the bed-head will appear to be centred.

It is already such a beautiful room, opening out onto the verandah with French doors. We are also glad to have recently installed ceiling fans in each of the bedrooms.

Ensuite Progress

The new ensuite frame is shaping up nicely. All of the particle floorboards have now been installed, and we assembled the southern wall frame this afternoon. Here it is with Dad adding some bracing...

The southern wall of the ensuite comprises a large window, centred across the width of the room. The room has a lovely southerly aspect with the window looking out towards a tall Murraya hedge. 

Here is the new southern wall frame of the ensuite.

Meanwhile, the new laundry is in full swing and so light and airy.  The laundry deck (shown below) is turning out to be one of the coolest spots on these hot Summer days.

Here is the southern side of the house (below). You can just see the new bedroom and ensuite extension at the far end of the house. We have dug garden beds on the southern and eastern walls of the new living room, and I will soon be planting and mulching these. At this stage, I will be planting Gardenias with a low row of Japanese Box in front.

The below two images are a reminder of how the southern side of the house appeared before Dad commenced the renovation. Quite amazing!

New garden seat
I am loving my new teak garden seat which arrived just before Christmas. It is a 'Lutyens' style bench, named after Sir Edwin Lutyens, the 19th century English Architect who came up with the unique design.

Further main bedroom progress and the arrival of Summer

Summer

Summer has finally arrived...  long days, warm (make that hot!) temperatures and balmy nights.  I love this time of year. We have had storms rolling through (or around us) almost every afternoon.  I took these photos just after a storm the other day.  Love the beautiful light that it brings with it. The fushia coloured bougainvillea and Jacaranda tree were lit up perfectly.

Main Bedroom Progress

Dad is continuing to make great progress on the new master bedroom extension. Here are the floor joists and bearers of the extension - part of the new bedroom, as well as (what will be) the new ensuite - looking from the front of the house back to the east.  That's the new laundry and deck you can see beyond the extension.

Below is the new bedroom extension prior to the removal of the southern wall.

Dad has now removed the southern wall to extend the bedroom out.  The existing room that you can see in this photo was previously a laundry and bathroom of the former front flat.  The French doors were installed in the last couple of months to open the room out to the verandah.

Dad has repurposed some beautiful old windows so they can be installed in the new bedroom. The window below used to sit on the southern side of the house and let a lovely breeze through the laundry of the front flat.  It reminds me of Lorraine, an older lady who lived in the front flat for many years before me, and loved this window. 

Here is the repurposed window ready to be installed.  It has been built into a tall frame with a fixed glass panel at the bottom.  The bottom window was repurposed from windows that were previously located in the kitchen of the back flat. A mechanism has been added to the top window so it can open.

Dad has also built a custom bedhead in the new bedroom using the below panelling. The bedroom will be painted white (as will the bedhead), once it is finished.

Below is part of the front of the bedroom, which opens out to the verandah. This particular zone will become a walk-in-robe, on the south western corner of the house.

 ... wall frames going up.

And with insulation paper, ready for weatherboards to be installed...

We have also today installed the new windows (repurposed from the kitchen of the back flat) on the southern side of the walk-in-robe wall.

It's that time of year again when lots of entertaining is happening... 

Merry Christmas everyone x

New main bedroom progress and garden planning

The southern side of the house continues to transform as Dad works on the main bedroom, ensuite and walk-in-robe extension.

Here is the front verandah, looking towards the southern end where the new bedroom is underway. You can see the French doors which were installed recently.

Half of the joists and bearers which will hold up the floor of the new ensuite, bedroom and walk-in-robe have now been installed.

You can see below that the new ensuite (half way along) will cantilever out from (what will be the new) southern wall of the house - to add interest and provide more space. A new garden will end up disguising the hot water system and water tank.

We recently had ceiling fans installed in the bedrooms. Due to the high ceilings, the fans also comprise a length of rod to lower the fan and ensure the proportions are right. You can also see the picture rail that Dad has installed in the new main bedroom.

This is already such a beautiful light-filled room, and as per the rest of the interior, the bedroom will be painted white (Resene 'Salt').

Below you can see the new bedroom interior door, which sits adjacent to the front living room.

I recently invested in a new table and chairs for the dining room.  Thanks to Aaron from Harold's Finishing Touches for sourcing them for me. I think they really 'fit' with the house - they are an 'old grey' timber with a plantation/Hamptons style.

Warmer weather

After a long Winter, the weather is finally warming up, and we are enjoying the longer days and balmy nights. How beautiful is the afternoon light at this time of year?

I know I have already posted photos of the verandah gates which Dad built, but I just love them, and all the interesting shadows they cast.

The garden has come alive again

Lavender...

'Heaven Scent' Hybrid Tea Roses...

The May bushes have almost finished their Spring flowering...

These hippeastrums were planted by Lorraine who lived in the former front flat here many years ago. Lorraine is no longer around, but these hippeastrums are so prolific at the moment - paying homage to Lorraine.

The Magnolia 'Little Gems' are all loaded with large white buds - ready to open.

The Jacaranda is showing the first signs of purple - right on cue, to mark university exam time.

I have started digging a new garden bed on the eastern side of the back living room, and adjacent to (what will be) a new back deck in the future. This garden will probably contain a border of Japanese Box, and some low standard plants that can be enjoyed through the large picture window of the living room.

Garden planning...