Two Months til Council

Just got back from the architecture firm and we went over the latest floor plans. Four things need to be revised: the bathroom/laundry configuration, the refrigerator location, the length of the study, and the placement of the stairs.

I designed the bathroom/laundry part of the house myself. There is a small passage where the separate WC and main bathroom are accessed from, and the laundry door is from the main hallway. However, the smaller passage is apparently taking up space, as is the already tiny laundry, which consequently makes the bathroom "too small". Personally, I thought I did a good job and I didn't have an issue with any of the dimensions. But we'll see what they come back with.

The refrigerator is located in the walk-in-pantry. However, it's adjacent to a wall at present and it is recommended to flank a fridge with cupboards or bench space. Why? Because when the fridge door opens against a wall, it doesn't open to its full extent. Some fridge designs have overcome this issue, but the reality is, most fridge doors need space to open. I toyed with the fridge having counter space either side but one of my parents wanted it moved. This issue could really be resolved by the kitchen cabinet maker if we wished. But if the architect has a solution then we are all ears.

The current study length is 4000mm by 1800mm wide. If you look at the plans it makes sense to have it narrow. Having it so long makes the hallway it is attached to appear even longer. So we want to see it shortened and have a bigger entrance way from the lightwell.

At present the stairs are just to the right of the entrance from the lightwell. However, being placed on the boundary means that the stairs have to go in a certain position to avoid affecting the neighbours as much in terms of height. One of the architects suggested flipping the stiars so that the first step up is basically from the kitchen area. It is actually more of a natural flow to do this because when you come through the back door from the garage, the stairs are a few metres in front of you.

The next time we visit the architects, the plans will be in 3D form. I believe the above revisions will be included. Once we approve them, and the land survey/engineer report (I think that's what it is) is carried out, the plans can go to council. This is supposed to be in two months from now.

In the mean time, we will sell the current kitchen unit on eBay, and the old fireplace mantles because they will be boarded up. We also need to hire a crane to remove the ginormous palm tree in the middle of the back yard (there is a photo in one of my other blog posts). Apparently they sell for quite a lot, so hopefully we make a good deal. Demolition is very expensive, so the more we can do ourselves, the more we save.

It's the long weekend! Happy Australia Day to all the Aussies reading this.

Xo the Kiwi

Inspiration

It is about time that I post some inspiration photos for you all! I have seriously just figured out how to "embed" a photo onto my blog using a URL. So I am sharing some of my favourite interior design photos that I hope to mimick and appropriate in Almora.

To begin, this a utility room (basically a laundry) that doubles as a gift wrapping station. I am so obsessed with this idea because I love to wrap presents and to have so many wrapping papers and decorative ribbons to choose from, all organised so professionally, is just plain brilliant. Indulgent. But brilliant. In Almora, there is going to be a store room, so I am thinking one metre of the cupboards in there can be dedicated to wrapping paper and ribbons. Oh my gosh, the more I write about it the more ridiculous it sounds...

This living room has a gorgeous colonial window that works so well with the vaulted ceiling. We had a plan that involved a double-height ceiling (two-storeys) that would feature a magnificient window similar to this but then it got changed. Nevertheless, one day, I would love to have a room with a tall, grand window like this. I also love the sofas and throw cushions.

Now this is my absolute favourite photo of the minute, a Sarah Richardson Design creation. Sarah Richardson is my idol. Not a lot of people know that, they think Miley Cyrus is my favourite celebrity (she still is, but Sarah is like my life idol because she is an interior designer and her work is just fabulous). This particular bedroom is the current inspiration behind my bedroom I am designing for Almora. I love the colour palette - blue and green, black and white. I love the great use of pattern, becuase pattern is SO often forgotten in design. I believe it helps create a sense of traditional style, which is my style, I don't favour contemporary design. And pattern adds so much interest, as opposed to just block colour. I love the wainscoting on the wall too, which I hope to replicate in my room.

I have handmade a headboard that is similar in colour to the headboard in the photo, but with a baroque pattern. I also found very similar bedside tables from America that I nearly bought, but I think I'll wait until the house is finished and we are close to moving in before I order them. You can look at them here: http://www.lampsplus.com/products/trio-moderne-three-drawer-black-end-or-bedside-table__61481.html

If you want to see more of this bedroom, check out: http://www.sarahrichardsondesign.com/portfolio/sarah-101-season-2/kid-free-retreat

What I love about this WC is how feminine it looks. I think the pink orchard helps with this. But I also love the wainscoting and wall tile. I feel like bathrooms in Australia get neglected in terms of decoration. You can create a beautiful tile arrangement to border the room, just like in this photo, with dado tile and wainscoting. What I want to totally replicate in the separate WC in Almora is the basin. You would never guess it is from IKEA of all places! For $179 you can pick up this beauty and then customise it with a gorgeous faucet. See it here: http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/90207143/

Look how beachy this living room is! I love Hamptons style (Revenge, anyone?) and I feel like this room is a great example of this. Especially the coffered ceiling, I would love to see Almora have a coffered ceiling. I think they add another dimension to the reality of "grand", but only if you have the height.

There you have it! You just got a glimpse into my favourite, inspiring interior design photos. You may have noticed I am highly influenced by American design, and not so much contemporary (clichéd) design. I find I am like that with fashion too, in the sense that I don't follow what the trend is right now, what everyone else is wearing.

Most of these photos came from Houzz.com. I recommend this website for every interior design idea you want to see or just for some inspiration. On the top right hand side of my blog you will find a link that will take you to my Houzz Ideabook.

Tomorrow we are revising the final floor plans for Almora with the architect! Yay!

Enjoy your Friday

xo

Getting the ball rolling again

Welcome back to Casa Almora! I hope your holidays were filled with blissfulness and blessings, and that now you're ready for an update on the house.

Planning took a hiatus over Chirstmas and New Years. Surprisingly, I haven't missed constant progress on the plan's evolution over the past few weeks because I've been busy designing and making costumes for my school's annual drama performance. I have to create about 150 costumes and execute a set, along with my co-designer. Only within the last few days has there been any Almora progress for 2014.

The architect emailed my mum her consolidated version of my design that I drew up (a combination of all the favourite elements in the original propsoals), and good news, my sister and I get walk-in-robes! I was really pleased to see them becuase it meant my input was being appreciated. The overall look is quite similar to what I drew, but I don't want to take credit for their own design. The architect incorported 90% of my version (which was basically their work just recompiled) and added her own touch to a few places. For example, a screened balcony, a reconfigured laundry, and open-tread stairs. 

However, I changed a lot of it. Surprise, surprise. We measured out all of the plans inside of Almora to gain an understanding of the space and layout. It helped doing this inside the house because it created a more accurate vision. We also measured out potential changes to make. So in conjunction with my parents, I rearranged the laundry from being next to the kitchen to being adjacent to the downstairs bathroom; the bedrooms now have built in desks in alcoves to avoid crimping on floor space; I made the separate WC have natural light; the stairs are "closed-tread" and, reluctantly, against the boundary wall; the balcony was removed; and the middle living room which we dubbed "the library" (only becuase it had built-in bookshelves) is now a smaller reading nook to gain more garden space. 

These alterations are still in keeping with the bigger picture, and aren't so drastic as to offend the architect. To be fair to her, the ensuite bathroom layout is spot on, and I had trouble getting that right. As well as the ensuite, so is the main living/dining space, the windows in the lightwell, and the way the existing structure is being used to accomodate a new room with a new purpose.

I've said this before but I want to reiterate that the design has to be right. The house must work for you and support your lifestyle. It pays to plan the nitty-gritty details now in an attempt to prevent hiccups later on in the process that could have been avoided.

Later in the week we hope to meet with the architect and discuss the changes, but also say, "This is it." My family is very happy with the latest plans and would be willing to call them the final option. Hopefully they are, I really want to see them go to council and be approved!

Right now, as I wait for that day (actually, I'm waiting for my Real Housewives of Beverly Hills epsiode to download off iTunes) I am going to design the kitchen.

Ciao!

Xo