Bunting

Due to employment (that old chestnut) I’ve sadly had to have a couple of days off Park Street. I did however, make it a present: bunting flags. All girly households must have some.
Posted by Alice 

 

Day Thirteen: Phase One Complete!!

Much to my excitement the carpenters greeted me this morning with the news that they planned to finish work this afternoon! Today’s tasks included fitting the sash window for the kitchen, completing the weatherboards, removing the crumbling floorboards have been removed and putting new boards (along with a few ‘temporary’ patches) in their place. Many more bones were found underneath the floor, alongside much rubble...and a small pile of about ten peach stones. Bizarre.

In order to stay out of their hair, I completed some rather tedious tasks...sanding plastering, windows, doors, the last of the skirting, and I had another go at the front door - still a few more hours work left I say!

The glass for the kitchen and bathroom also arrived, trips were made to both Bunnings and StepToe’s to get the necessary supplies for putting up the new roof/ceiling/walls in the bathroom. With a rather large storm forecasted for Saturday...tomorrow’s plan is for dad to assist the plumber in installing the new roof, but as the tin didn’t arrive as scheduled, we shall have to wait and see what happens.

Posted by Lucy

Day Twelve: All Hands on Deck

The nicest variety of renovation is that which happens before one’s eyes, and with the carpenter, electrician, plumber and three girls on board today, there was plenty to see. The kitchen has had a luxurious upgrade from an au naturel dirt floor to wooden panels (to be lino’d- in keeping with the house’s tradition.) 

There are two windows in the kitchen and one in the bathroom that have been framed up and await the arrival of glass. Gas and water pipes have been laid, and fresh weatherboards on the new bathroom await a lick of paint (which poses the question of colour...?) The good old green bath has had needles removed, been given a new frame and will soon be restored to its former glory.

Lucy sanded plastering in the living room and applied more plaster to other cracks in the hall. I climbed on the roof with my lovable crowbar and yanked out all the nails that held the disintegrating tin sheeting over the kitchen in place. Here’s hoping we don’t have a cyclone in the next 48 hours. 

I did some more paint-stripping, some sanding, then Anna arrived in time for us to paint bedroom #2. With three hands on the job (six, striclty speaking) we got it done in a couple of hours. Clean, white, fresh, new...ish. 
Posted by Alice

More loot

Here are some other things that were stuck between the Lino. Can’t say I was rocked by the football card discovery but I’m sure some people would be. One playing card, two cards from a mystical card game, the football card and what I think is a movie card. How exotic. And a gratuitous shot of my marbles... which I have not lost. Yet. (yeah, I own a hand-shaped dish, so what?)
Posted by Alice

Patterns of a Bygone Era

Despite them being ancient, cracked and ridden with dust, the layers and layers of old carpet and lino at the house had plenty of charm and spoke of an era of bright colours and patterns that is now long gone in modern interior design. Many eras in fact; as each layer revealed yet another trendy piece of flooring. In a perfect world..... Well I know how I would have it. 

Here are some of my favourite patterns; snapped before being rolled up and taken away for dumping. A bit of a shame really. Regretfully I didn't get shots of all the patterns, largely due to them being so gross and wanting them OUT ASAP. Slightly tempted to re-do the floor in an homage to it's heritage but I doubt I would be allowed.
Posted by Alice

Day Eleven: The First Coat

After weeks of doing some pretty filthy jobs, we decided it was time to do something a little nicer... and paint the now scrubbed, sanded, plastered and re-sanded walls of bedroom #1. With the assistance of mum, I spent a good 5hrs painting the front bedroom a nice, crisp shade of WHITE. In the same time it took me to slowly paint the cornice with a small brush, mum managed to paint the entire ceiling (ceiling-rose included!) and all the walls... 

In a somewhat ironic turn of events; as we were applying paint, Alice spent all afternoon getting stuck into the paint stipper and removing 5 thick layers from the front door. The day was done before we knew it .To be continued...
Posted by Lucy

Day Ten: Painting Prep

This afternoon I arrived at Park Street to be met by the new bathroom! During the week the carpenter had proceeded to finish and line the frame, and began to attach the weatherboards to the outside of the house. Its very exciting to get a feel of the new spaces (external and internal). The door leading to the now-established bathroom has also been hung; we re-used the now unrecognisable one from the kitchen (Sugar Soap). Who would have believed it was white?!

My afternoon tasks consisted of applying ‘finishing plaster’ to the walls in both bedrooms, lovely stuff it is. Like putty that you smear all over the walls. Definitely made raking out the cracks worthwhile! I also finished sanding the skirting boards in the living room. Not long until we can paint! 

The kitchen also has nothing, not even a kitchen sink..
Posted by Lucy