Pointside update

So how are we going with the 3 pillars at Pointside?

  • Design – We have had a design and plan for the project ready for a while now- in fact I bought the quartzite stone I am using for the kitchen bench tops nearly 2 years ago 🙂 safe to say our garage is full with tapware, tiles and toilets!
  • Budget – We have a budget set and updating it weekly as we begin the construction process – it’s only week one and already we have had some extra costs added in…
  • Time frame – We have a timeline goal, but we have had to adjust this as soon as demolition started, as we have found a few surprises that have caused a slight pivot and re-design of the project, for the better…

Flexibility is key

Last week, we began the demolition of an ensuite bathroom that we were planning on renovating- adding a new bathroom- keeping all existing plumbing in place, easy peasy hey!

More demo to other walls and boom, another door was found- this time a useful connecting door to the outside bathroom, used for the pool. In the design phase, we had talked about how a door to this room could be great, so we could then add a WIR for what we call ‘The Retreat’ as it lacks storage. But we didn’t want to do anything structural, so it was an idea we knocked on the head pretty quickly. To see the door opening in the exact spot we would of created it, was quite remarkable! Sure it is a little low, built in 1890 for people shorter than us, but location is bang on. So, in the space of 10 minutes, our floor plan was changed and more work was added to the scope, but in a good way, as it enhances the retreat space and we are still only renovating on bathroom.

Here is a quick sketch of what we are now doing with the space:

  • we are keeping the outside door so that the bathroom can be still used for the pool and visitors when we are entertaining outside, plus as ensuite for the retreat
  • we gain a private toilet, something we always like to achieve in our designs if we can
  • we gain some great storage and the retreat is now a generous downstairs master bedroom/self contained unit in a sense – we will be adding a desk, lounge and TV, but could also be a good gym space
  • the natural light is enhanced and the flow is great from one room to the next. We always wondered why the bathroom had such lovely but low sash windows, now it makes more sense, it wasn’t always a bathroom

So from a demolition perspective, we removed the plaster to reveal the door opening and began removing the outside bathroom… this is where we hit a problem, with 300mm deep of concrete slab! It wasn’t going to be as straight forward as we hoped. We needed to take it back to bare bones, as things weren’t done quite up to standard. What did this entail?

 

  • we had to hire a concrete cutter and extra trades to get through all the concrete and rio
  • this was a few days extra work
  • a skip was needed to remove the concrete
  • we then had to remove the sand under the concrete, so we can have easy access to plumbing and start from scratch

 

In all, we lost a few days and used a little of our contingency, but we feel it is a great last minute change for the house that uncovers more of the homes’ story, using an original doorway, and essentially peeling away some distractions that had been added over the years.

Another bonus during the demolition was that we discovered some wonderful wallpapers – a Laura Ashley floral design from the 70’s, followed by a hand-blocked print, that we believe is from the early 1900’s. It is absolutely gorgeous, I have goosebumps admiring it- it has a Japanese feel to it with the pink blossoms, yet a native touch with what looks like ‘Pride of Madeira’. They are fragile wallpapers, but I have managed to salvage a little of each to frame and tell the story.

I also find it quite amazing that the palette of the wallpaper is very much what we had already selected, in particular for the living and kitchen areas- moody blues and greens- with my inspiration taken from my trail walks, combined with my love for Danish design.

I am so grateful we are the custodians of Pointside, a home that is filled with stories and surprises. We have a renewed energy for the home, that can sometimes take a lot more than it gives with cleaning, gardening and general maintenance. It feels right to be restoring her, yet listening to her queues as we go.

We look forward to sharing our journey as we delve further into the renovation.

Thanks so much for your time, wishing you a great week ahead!

Cheers

Carlie

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