Renovations cost money and I guess after surviving the ‘bigger than benhur’ renovations of the whole middle section of our home both enthusiasm and money dried up forcing us to take a much needed break.
Renovating a home while living in it, adding in 8 children and pets can be let’s say, a little bit stressful. Exciting yet stressful. It’s been a break of sorts in which time we’ve had goats born and still continued the mental renovations.
For anyone who’s moved into a ‘renovators’ dream there is rarely a moment where your mind isn’t dreaming, planning and re-arranging some wall or door or even re-colouring a room. All in the imagination until it can become reality.
With our middle section there is still the splash back to be done. I know, I know but it’s not through lack of want. It’s been more my issue. Mr Burb wants to rush ahead and throw-up white tiles. Oh dear, perhaps ‘throw-up’ isn’t the best way to word it! No, no white tiles. Rather I have a dream, a vision of a masterpiece finding its home in this place. The area is the focal point of the kitchen when entering. I can see the end result in my mind and I’m unwilling to waver in my ambition of sorts. With this house I’m determined to do everything how we WANT for the first time in our 20 year marriage. If that means taking longer, then so be it.
The same is for the ceiling which remains I guess the final frontier of that renovation sector. Yet to be rewired and to receive new stylish lighting and of course the final topping of fresh paint to hide the years of scaring and the recent removal of walls and so on.
For the splash back I’m dreaming of something like this;
Hand Painted tiles by Mimi (www.tilesbymimi.com)
I know, beautiful isn’t it! What an amazing artist to be able to paint onto tiles like this.
For the lighting I’ve been considering some chandelier lights from Laura Ashley, I spotted them while walking past a L.A store and fell in love.
I’m not sure how they go with the new light globes now used or how well they would light up work areas so I’m not rushing into it.
Besides as usual life is never that simple and while I ponder the above issues the front patio has corroded to a dangerous level forcing us to place it on the NOW renovation list. Funny! Seems that’s how our home is actually being renovated. The bathroom taps broke off forcing us to begin with the bathroom, then the kitchen cupboards literally dropped off and the stove top “BANG” blew up and so, renovation!
Mr Burb has become very clever given 20 years ago he could barely put up a shelf. Today he repaired several posts and replaced an overhead beam. Sadly we lost the railing which have rotted but at least the patio is safe and guess what? Yep I’m a yearning to paint it WHITE. Mr Burb cringed and stated “It’ll get dirty”. Oh Mr Burb that’s what you said about the kitchen! It still looks amazing. So out came my many magazines. Apart from showing him where his hard earned dollars go, the magazines are great for sharing ideas with him so that he doesn’t have to be so scared. I think I have him convinced. He’s relieved that I’ve said I’ll do the painting, I wonder if I should make it a family affair and let the little ones help!
Here’s some photos from today’s ‘emergency’ repairs.
The post footings as we found out, were merely placed in dirt!
Keeping kids clear for the day, not easy!
Safely allowing the boys to give a lending hand.
New footings this time set in quick set cement.
Newly replaced beam. Not bad, for a computer geek!
Clean up time.
The patio is now safe and the area is all ready for this weekend’s ‘adoption’ party.
I’m so proud of my aussiebushburb husband.
