So shitty.

I work weekends and my husband works throughout the week, hence we don’t get to spend time together in the day EVER, unless we have a day off.

My husband also plays indoor soccer on Thursday nights, the one and only possible time to go shopping together.

So, last night, he generously didn’t go to soccer so we could go and look at kitchen appliances. I have a very specific list of features that I want the appliances to have and we have been looking on the Internet together, but not getting anywhere on finding a clear winner.

So we decided to go to the showrooms.

We went to Harvey Norman at Alexandria.

Welllll little did we know that they were doing a renovation themselves and the showroom looks like a rogue asteroid hit it.

There was CRAP EVERYWHERE.

All I wanted to do was see Neff ovens! But No, “it’s more about moving old stock out and not having new stock in”

GREAT, GREAT that is just GREAT! NOT!!!!!!!!

I felt so robbed of my nice evening with my husband. We couldn’t even see anything.

It was such a waste of our time.

I want to go to Winning appliances again, but they too are also under renovations too and are only open till 5-5.30pm!

Sooooo, one of us is going to have to take a day off, just for kitchen appliances. WOW.

Only because they are big ticket items and we need to make a decision on one thing and need to be able to visually see it.

 .   .   .   .   .   .

At least the bathroom section there was ok. JUST Ok. Not really my style, but was good to point out EXACTLY WHAT I DON’T WANT!!!

Not that a bathroom renovation will be happening soon, but good to get ideas. I have a pretty clear vision of what I want, but we can’t decide which bathroom to renovate first. There are 2 of them!!!

If you have 2 bathrooms on the same level, do you do them in similar styles? Do you use the same tiles? Would you just make one have a shower and the larger one have a shower and bath?

Does anyone else HATE those ginormous tubs? Seriously, some baths you could go for a swim in. They are ridiculous! How do you feel them up? Even more ridiculous when you put a shower over them and you can barely even jump in and out, let alone a child. We had that as a child growing up. The shower over the bath and I recall quite a few times where I slipped and my girly parts got quite a painful surprise, when one leg was in the bath and the other on the outside. Wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, let alone my own child.

They make a lot of sense in terms of being efficient with the floorspace, however I am going to try and avoid doing this if I can. If I must, the bath will be as low as possble. Or maybe built in, so there is something solid to help you get in and out. And if you do slip, the surface area will be larger and probably hit your thighs first, saving your special place.

OMG, I THINK WAY TOOOOO MUCH.

 .   .   .   .   .   .

This is my favourite bathroom reno I have seen, so far!

View more images here

I would love to take one of the walls down to just the brick wall and paint it. Even if it’s not the bathroom. Looks so chic. (Thank god for my solid brick house!!)

This is our bathrooms:

Bathroom ONE

The bathroom is between the 2 bedrooms.

I would just make this bathroom have a shower only. (the toilet is hiding in the corner) I need to have a closer look, but I have a feeling that this bathroom could be extended my it’s length.

There is something I do not like about shower curtains! They freak me out when they get stuck to my skin when showering.

Bathroom TWO

This bathroom is much bigger then it looks and it is at the back of the house. You enter it from the kitchen.

I would rip that wall out that conceals the toilet. This bathroom could fit a bath and a seperate shower. I am sure of it.

This bathroom also has the laundry in it. We have a laundry in our apartment, in the bathroom. Hidden by fold out doors. I would do the same here. I have never used the laundry basin we have either. I think I would delete that, so save space. I just use a plastic bucket and place it in the shower when I am soaking anything. Works fine for me.

 .   .   .   .   .   .

Anyways

I should be concentrating on our KITCHEN!!

Also, has anyone installed a solar hot water system?

Thoughts? Recommendations?

Just saw this post over at the design files

I am in love!

It is so lush, nicely landscaped but not pretentious.

Oh that old thing!

YES, OLD indeed!

The house is tres old.

Okay, I am not too good with the lingo (but I am sure I will be a master when I am done) but the circuit board is either old or there isn’t one. I can’t remember. We need a new one of those. There is no circuit breakers (are they the safety switches?)

Okay, I think I am going to stop right there. I have no idea. Lets go into vague mode.

All the wiring for the house needs to be re-done entirely.

We are going to do that before we move into the property.

Does anyone have an recommendations for electricians they have personally used in Sydney? If so, please comment below.

Here is a list of things we require to be wired for:

• Split system air-conditioning in the living areas
• Data cables
• Telephone cables
• electric oven
• electric rangehood
• dishwasher
• fridge
• several double power points
• hot water system
• exhaust fan in both bathrooms
• light switches (possible dimmers in bedroom)
• 2nd bathroom, wiring for washing machine and dryer
• power in the garage
• alarm system

Here is a list of all the lights we would like in the house (to the best of my ability and based on preliminary observations)

• Entrance hall at the front of the house
• Hallway
• Bedroom 1
• Bathroom 1
• Bedroom 2
• Bathroom 2
• Living Room (Is it possible to have wall lights?)
• Dining Room (Chandelier???)
• Family Room (is it possible to have wall lights??)
• Kitchen
•   3 pendants over the island bench (or maybe only 2)
•   under-cabinet lighting
•   ceiling light
• 2 Outside wall lights (either side of the big back window
• Garage

AHHhhhhhhhhhh! Isn’t list writing just the best? Brings me right back to those wedding planning days. I think I need projects in my life, or else I will walk this world aimlessly.

Can anyone add to this list, possible items we may have overlooked?

Now I am a firm believer that blog posts most have atleast one photo, although I don’t always adhere to this rule.

But here is a picture of the light fitting I would love to have in the ‘entrance hall’ (the part you are standing in when you are in front of the front door, the part with the arches) now referred to ‘entrance hall’

Urban Archaeology

Now I can finally put all those plans well, they were all just dreams, until yesterday, into action now!!!!

On Friday, I went to Winning Appliances to browse kitchen appliances! Because deep down I knew we were getting this place.

Although I got a little overwhelmed with all the choice (I always said I wanted an induction cook-top, back in the days where I attempted to sell this at Clive Peeters, before it went under in NSW) But we have gas in our apartment and I am use to that, and that is what all the chef’s use.

But you can get 2 induction burners and 2 gas burners.. but it just looks like you are getting 2 rubbish ones…. you know?

I am leaning more towards gas, but induction is much easier to clean! (and yeah yeah yeah, the pot thing! I know alll about the pots and pans for induction.)

Hmmmm

Then I saw a $15k wine fridge and I went “PFFFT to this place, I am outtie” and I left.

So that is one of about a million choices to make in the near future.

So the husband and I have decided that the kitchen renovation is the first thing to be done. (Yay a decision made, kudos to us)

Here is a pic of the lovely ‘retro’ kitchen.

What do you think? Isn’t she lovely?

That is a gas oven there folks. New wiring will need to be done for the kitchen.

Back in the day, I always wanted a super stylish VERY VERY modern and VERY contemporary kitchen renovation. But I am sick of seeing houses that are very modern, all white or grey and basically look sterile and soul-less. So I am not doing that. I want DETAILS and some character, to match the house.

Here are some pics I have collected over the past year of kitchens that I like and inspire me.

Now, I know my kitchen is no where near as big as these, but it is just the style we are going for here.

Things I like:

• Cabinets with the simple moulding/rebate
• Nice handles
• Hidden or simple stainless steel range hood.
• Island bench with sink in it
• Wooden floors
• MARBLE!!!!!!!!! Okay yes, I LOVE Marble! I have picked my marble place and my type of marble, Calacatta Gold. Now, I am unaware of how much this $$$ and I might need a chair once I am told.. but for now, MARBLE. I would like a marble splash back and then probably an engineered stone counter tops that are similar in tone to offset the cost. I am not a millionaire people, just a girl that has ‘spensive taste.
• 2 or 3 pendant lights that are over the island.
  

Champagne all round tonight!

 We were very surprised at the price we got it!

Here is a pic of the front.

I love the arches at the front and the bay window, which will need to be replaced to look original with lead-light windows to match the house next door.

This blog will probably turn into a renovation blog, and I am excited by that.

The home was built in the 30′s and requires lots of love and renovations and I will share all the progress with you, but for now it is cheers and chicken for dinner!

Not bloody happy!

The 1st words I found were, “Beautiful” (Tick), “Broken” (WHAT THE FUCK), then “Fun” (Tick)!

The 4th word I found was “Whore”

Here is the latest, greatest pic of me.

I am soooo over balayage.

I look wierd in this photo, sort of shocked and dazed.

Well, the photo was taken with photo booth and it is just plain weird. I didn’t do an affect, I am just sitting in front of a window, hence the blown out white look.

I am thinking of chocolate brown for the colour

and a fringe like this

Only problem is a have a teeny tiny forehead, so not sure if it will work.

Do you think I should so it?

Or should I just add more blonde to my hair?

Do you have a bucket list?

I don’t have an official bucket list, meaning I haven’t sat down and written one..

But,

This was on my bucket list.

LADUREE!

My husband's sorbet

We had macarons too!

Okay, well it wasn’t Paris.

But I have crossed it off my list.

We also went to Pierre Herme

The Japanese love Dessert! See, See what I am saying! Tokyo suits my lifestyle.

I LOVED Pierre Herme! They ice packed our dessert for enjoyment later and they gift boxed them up! It was just lovely and special.

Just yesterday I was browsing gourmet traveler for recipes to make for dinner, as I do.

And I came across this article!

Well, let me tell you! I felt real spesh! because I had inadvertently hit up the TWO best places for a sweet snack while in Tokyo!!

I planned on eating Parisian desserts, but didn’t really research it too much and I was lucky!

I just gravitate to the good stuff!! HEHEHEHEH

In other gravitation. I was browsing etsy paper goods and I always hit the list “highest Price” button. “Cos, I am high end!

and look what I came across!

Have you seen this??

It is soooooooo FUNNY!!!!!!!!

Take the time out for a giggle or two.

Well I am back from my business trip to Japan.

WHAT AN AMAZING PLACE! I only went to Tokyo, but I am so itching to go right back!

I could honestly say, hand on heart that I would live in Tokyo. It suits my lifestyle. The shops open late and stay open late (8pm – 10pm)

You can literally shop everywhere in Tokyo. The department stores are nearly on every corner and are heaven on Earth.

The bottom levels are David Jones food hall on steroids and the top few levels are yummy restaurants. In most cases, with the big stores, they have one building for men and the other for women.

The Subway and train system is a feat of engineer prowess. I just loved using the subway, very easy to use and so expansive.

So hating on Sydney right now. HATE THIS EFFING PLACE! FUCKING SHIT.

Our trains are SHIT!!!!!!!

Our shops are SHITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We flew with Jetstar with sale fares and I can NOT come up with one bad thing to say about Jetstar.

That was the first time I flew with them and they were PERFECT.

Took 4 flights and every single one arrived early into the destination by 10 minutes.

I need to write a letter of praise to them, because I believe they get a bad wrap (I am sure people have had horror stories with them, I am not dismissing them)

infact, I just did…

“Hi Jetstar,

My husband and I recently flew with you guys from Sydney to Tokyo and return in September. It was our first time flying with you and we were pleasantly surprised. We could not fault one thing, even if we tried really hard. I think you guys get a bad wrap.

We were extremely happy with EVERYTHING involved with flying us to Japan and back. All 4 of the flights arrived 10 minutes early into the destination airport, they all took of on time.
All the flight attendants were professional and courteous. The price of the food to purchase was reasonable. Even if we had paid for all the upgrades possible, the flights would have still been cheap then your competitors.

The price we paid for the flights was an absolute bargain. We threw caution to the wind when booking with you and had the attitude of “whatever will be, will be” and the pay off is magnificent.

I will most definitely book with you in the future for any of my future flying, if you go to the destination.

Thanks so much for pleasant, cheap and stress free travel.

Warmest Regards,

Laura”

It is good to give feedback when things are good, not just when they were terrible.

In other news, we flew back from Japan and arrived at Sydney airport, we jumped in a cab and went to an auction for a house we would love to purchase, our bidding authority was there and bidding away…

but it just wasn’t our day. Someone who wanted it more, with more to spend was victorious.

Now we have extended our search further out and there is another place I like, going for auction on Saturday week. Fingers crossed please!

(fucking auctions, just fuck off!)

Does anyone else feel like that about auctions?

So, in Japan, I FINALLY got my grubby little mits on some PRECIOUS SUQQU!

I blame you Lisa Eldrige! I am poor now!

I purchased the face and cheek brush and the eyebrow palette.

They are as good as she bangs on about them… “A kitten’s paw” Argh <3 you Lisa.

I also had a fabulous meeting with my paper merchant. Finally got to meet the Japanese lady I have been conversing with over skype, nice to put a face to the name.

I have SO MANY ideas and I am bursting with inspiration!

The husband is working hard on my website with the shopping cart.

Can’t wait to launch my website, but it there is still quite a bit of work involved.

If you are still reading, thanks for making it through my blog post.

HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY TO MY DARLING HUSBAND!

LOVE YOU MORE THEN YOU’LL EVER UNDERSTAND