Windows go in

We have been very lucky over the past few months with the weather. Today, at long last, the glass was installed in the windows and doors. The one we were particularly keen to see was the curved glass window in the family room overlooking the pool: It's a bit hard to photograph windows to show off to people; even though this glass is energy efficient with a grey tint, the silicon in the joints was also tinted to match, and you can hardly tell it is there from the inside. From the outside, they are much more noticeable due to the dark glass. Here, as a contrast is the white glass louvres in the bathroom areas with the black ones on the laundry.

We didn't originally like louvre windows, but these new ones are very sleek, and after our short time in Queensland, we learnt to enjoy the beauty of a cross-breeze!

Also on the outside, the tiler is preparing to tile the balconies, and our finicky builder has wrapped the glass balustrades in bubble wrap so they don't accidentally get damaged...

Glass Balustrades, Timber Posts and Quality Control

Woohoo, another big milestone today as the Frameless Glass Balustrades were installed on the balconies on the bedroom level: Reason we are cheering is because this one has been a bit of a battle; particularly planning regulations and engineering. The slots had to be recut into the concrete hob, and engineering approval obtained again etc, but if you have a look through to the view we think you'll agree it has been worth the effort. Another happy moment for us was the installation of our "vintage" ironbark timber posts by the front door, recycled from a railway bridge in the Hunter Valley. Unfortunately the builders were so keen to protect them from damage, they were covered with bubble wrap before we got to take a photo, so you'll just have to wait for the big unveiling. We have also been busily selecting the final finishes for inside, including Kitchen/Bathroom/Laundry cabinetry and picking carpet for the bedrooms. We got our other family member, Phantom the (previously stray) cat, to check out the latter... and he was suitably impressed: His new cat-door has been cut into the Laundry, and we expect he'll love the new house as much as the rest of us!

Lots Happening

The builders have continued at a cracking pace over the past fortnight, and on an impromptu site visit last week, we were very fortunate to witness the first lick of paint being applied to the exterior render: The gutters are also installed now, and the colour of the steel (Dune) complements the walls (Joey) nicely: We have also had some family visitors from interstate and overseas for Granny's 70th Birthday celebrations, so we were able to arrange for them a tour of the construction site. Here is Mike's sister, Tina (who also used to live in the Boatshed over several years), enjoying the elevated outlook from the Master Bedroom balcony: And looking up from the boatshed, you can probably just make out behind the scaffolding that the curved fascia has been completed and has also received its coats of acrylic render and paint: Tina also admired our nice Italian tiles for the balconies and terrace by the pool: Inside, the sheeting has pretty much been completed. This photo is of the nice slim (and tall) EzyJamb door frames, which have been set into the plasterwork: The fellas dismantling the temporary balustrading on the staircase, ready for installation of the half-wall: Detail in the Ensuite shower: Here you can see more of those door jambs, with the balustrading under construction: Almost finished, the balustrade will include recessed fluorescent uplights to illuminate the curved stairwell roof overhead: Downstairs, the tiler has finished applying the porcelain tiles to the walls of the powder room:

Jake checking whether the step on the bathtub is at the right height...

...while Jess checks out the Builder's Labourers:

And finally, our front doors have arrived: Looking at the entry foyer from inside, the front doors are being installed; both stairwells (up to the garage and down to the lounge room) lead off to the right: Next, the timber is being delivered for the Sydney BlueGum floorboards, which will sit in the garage for a few weeks to acclimatise before being laid. Meanwhile the tiler will continue inside, the glazing is being installed, and the painters can finish off the outside so the scaffolding can be removed. Then the pool builder can make a start. Watch this space for the next update : )