We got the windows tinted

My husband is a shift worker and having the westerly sun beam straight into our bedroom was an issue. We looked at many other ways of blocking the sun out then discovered window tinting! My sister got her westerly side done and it looks awesome. Cut the glare down heaps.

I didn't want to block the windows out with an awning or hang heavy curtains inside to cover up the beautiful shutters.

So we decided to tint the front windows. We went with a dark tint with a reflective film on the outside so people can not see straight into our bedrooom/ensuite from the street. We can now have the shutters fully open all day without people seeing in. It's so practical!

Busy times - here's the catch up

Well as you can imagine, moving into our new home, 3 kids, work etc I've really neglected to update my blog and let people know how everything is going!

We have been here 3mths now. I can't believe it! It is such a great feeling walking in here and getting flashbacks of coming in when it was just frame or gyprock up to now walking into OUR HOME! Knowing we can do WHATEVER we like around the house to make it ours. I still have to pinch myself sometimes. This is not some nice rental.... this is our home. The house we chose, we modified to suit us. Love it.

So the last update was we had just received the keys and my husband was painting all of our feature walls, our appliances had just gone in and our driveway was being formed up.

Here are some update pictures:

The driveway. 

Mr 3 & Mr 1's room

 Miss 5's room

 Kids activity room (on a 'tidy' day)

Front yard before and after turfing. The grass here was just left over from the side

Down the side before and after turfing

Our house as it is today. The front pebbled bit will have rectangle stepping pavers down to the letterbox. There will also be a garden bed under the window, built up to the same height as the porch with some decorative edging. I was very excited to get the shutters installed.

The garden down the side that will connect the two decks we plan. There will also be stepping pavers here too.

We've had a bit of trouble with this side garden. Going off the only plumbing plan we were given, we assumed we'd be well away from the stormwater pipes. In fact, what was written on the plan (1.5m) isn't actually how they measure it so unfortunately we give speared a pipe. We thought putting the garden at 1.2m we'd be safe. So my poor hubby has now had to dig a big trench to find the pipe so we can replace it. As he's dug we've found is wouldn't have mattered how far in or out we'd put the garden, the pipe runs on an angle so we would have probably have gotten in anyway =(

The only plumbing plan we were given

 

You can see where the pipe starts at the top of the garden, out from the garden

 This is at the other end. The pipe is cleary now under the garden bed.

We still have a lot to do. We need to retain down the left had side and do the boundary fence, turf the backyard, do the decks, put up gates... the list goes on. I hope not to be so slack and keep this updated. =)

IT'S FINALLY OURS!

OMG! We have our own home! We got the keys last Thursday and things are go go go! I have already started moving things in, appliances are being installed (except for the rangehood as there is a problem with the delivery), tiles have been replaced, my husband is doing the feature walls in 4 of the rooms, changing door handles, adding in door stops, the driveway is getting done, I'm packing up the old house and looking after three small kids who have been sick. WHOA!

Our room

Amelia's room (wall behind the door done too)

Lachlan & Patrick's room (opposite wall done also)

Stove and gas cooktop

 Dishwasher (I am incredibly excited I now have one with a family of 5!)

Driveway getting formed up. Pour tomorrow.

It's nearly ours!

Today the cleaners were there and I must say, the house looks amazing without all the dirt and dust everywhere. I can't wait to get in there. Here are a few photos. You will notice there are a few things missing from the kitchen, like the dishwasher, oven, rangehood etc, but they are installed after handover. Also the loos haven't been installed as there was a delay in their deliver due the storm and we are just waiting on the plumbers to come back. It's been such a LONG journey (this whole process started when we bought the land back in September 2013), but we are nearly there!!

Looking through the front door

Looking back to the porch

Looking down the hallway

Pano of our room

Another pano of our room

Ensuite

Walk in. I has asked they not install those racks as we are getting wardrobe built in so they will need to pulled down and the wall repaired.

Living room

Looking at the computer nook from the living room

Kitchen looking from the dining area

My kitchen. Silicone will be done today so that big space won't always be in the floor =)

 

Kitchen, panty looking towards dining area

 Looking down the hall to the 4th bedroom from activities room

Lachlan & Patrick's room

Amelia's room

Looking at the kids rooms from the activities room

Looking up the hallway from bedroom 4

Laundry

Looking at the kitchen/family area from dining area

The cutouts 

The family room

 

Pantry

Activities room

Pano of main bathroom

 Main bathroom

Garage

Looking from our neighbours yard to our back yard. Our water tank got a little damaged in the storm when it fell over, so hubby and I are hoping we can get a new one and change the colour to the same as the roof (monument).

Taps, shower screens and mirrors

Well as the title suggests, the plumbers have been back and installed all the tapware in the bathrooms, laundry and kitchen. Electricians have also been back to finish off the electrical. Today the shower screens and mirrors were installed. I am getting so excited to see it all gel now.

Our double vanity in the ensuite

 Mirror in the bathroom

 Shower all done in the bathroom

April Flood 2015

So here in the Hunter we have received a bashing off mother nature. There is a major flood crisis in Maitland and surrounds.

This made us very anxious about our new home. Luckily however, everything is ok. Our water tank which was delivered last Friday, wasn't so lucky and was blown over in the 125km/hr winds. But everything else is fine. PHEW!

The water is rising though and saw it up the highest I have EVER seen! This is at the end of of our street.