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

Kitchen Planning

I'm having withdrawals from the floor plans right now. I didn't take a photo of my compiled floor plan for me to look at (I mean so I can obsess over it in a moment of procrastination from other tasks) or to show other people in the family what the current plans are before the architect took it. So not only am I missing looking at the floor plan I'm kicking myself for not making a copy of it.

I keep telling myself it's good that they have my floor plan because it means progress is being made on coming to a final design. But this doesn't make up for not having the tangible paper in front of me. So to make up for the missing floor plan, I decided to refine the kitchen layout.

In my version of the floor plan, I did a different layout to what the architect had done. But I was never quite satisfied with its functionality. And I forgot to put a pantry in. In my defence I thought there would be a walk-in-pantry from the door you'll see in the elevation I've included. Except that room may now become a store room. This gave me all the more reason to rejig the floor plan as opposed to just wanting to swoon over architectural plans (I'm actually obsessed with floor plans. Can you tell?)

So this is what I came up with:

It's super super basic, but it helps with visualising the floor plan. I used EZ-Archietct to create this.

I just wanted to document my feelings right now and share them with you. I'm also curious to see how close the finished kitchen will be to the one I've designed. This is probably more interior design focused than floor plan configuring, but I've enjoyed both so far.

There'll be another post in January about the architect's consolidated version of my combined plans so look out for it in the new year.

Six sleeps til Christmas!

Xo

Consolidation Phase

The architect came to our house this morning to discuss the plan to be refined and consolidated. Out of all four concepts we were provided with, I combined #1's upstairs, #2's sitting room, and #3's main living extension into one. I designed the front part myself, as the previous post tells you in extreme detail.

However, despite my efforts to combine everyone's favourite aspects, there are some elements that haven't been incorporated in a way that is practical and compact. For instance, a linen cupboard, laundry counter space, or a utility closet (for the vacuum, etc). As well as that, everyone except my sister and I seems to think the WIRs I have designed for us are "too indulgent" and excessive in space. Of course I disagree. I'm so hung up on these wardrobes - no pun intended - because I have had a bedroom in 3.6 x 3.6m room before and it was cramped. And that was when I had a double bed, not a queen. Wardrobes and other bedroom furniture take up a lot of space. I don't want my room to be claustrophobic and everywhere else to be spacious and grand. 

There are multiple options to solve these small issues, it just comes down to finding one that pleases everyone and doesn't compromise anything important (to me, wardrobe space). The architect has taken my plans that I hand drew to "consolidate" and hopefully incorporate solutions that are satisfactory. We get to see them next year in early January. Then, fingers crossed, if we love them they will be submitted to council and all of the necessary advertising and approval will go ahead.

The overall time frame could still possibly be til the end of 2014. Right now I'm looking forward to seeing final plans go to council.

Enjoy the holiday season everyone!

Xo

Designs to Refine

I have just come back from seeing the architect's four different concepts for Almora, and they are totally not what I expected - in a good way! Each design has its own different attributes, but there are a few constant similarities between them all because the site is difficult to work with. In a sense that is a positive thing, because we won't get carried away with hundreds of different options. We've been limited to the four created by the architect and her colleagues, and now we have until Friday week to choose our favourite to refine (which means build upon, develop, perfect, etc.). 

Out of all of the options my favourite is number three. I'll give you a little visual of one area of the design:

 I love this extension the most. The kitchen being in the centre of the south wall as opposed to right at the back squashed into the side wall seems much more balanced and functional. I love how the living area peninsulas out from the dining area. I love the flow from laundry to kitchen - something about the circular flow is really appealing. And having extra storage right next to the kitchen is a bonus too. But I feel like the island is a little small, especially compared to my design of the kitchen. I'm thinking the dining area could be less wide, and maybe also have an inward jut of about 1000mm to fit a light-well, instead of the cupboards. I had this idea in my own plans and I really like the extra light plus a vertical garden.

It's hard to try and somewhat let go of my own design for Almora. I have to understand and accept what is more likely to be possible and more economical (financially) for the site and its surroundings, plus be flexible in exploring other design possibilities. However, I don't favour any of the designs for the heritage rooms at the front of the property. This is where I am bringing my own design to the table. Most of the architect's concepts have a bedroom, a bathroom/laundry, another bedroom, a living space, followed by a light well. But I am not a fan of this configuration. I don't know if I have mentioned it previously, but I have my heart set on walk-in-robes for the front two bedrooms, and I will fight to get them (despite one parent saying 'no' already, but here's my argument). Because the current bedroom sizes at the minute will be about 3800mm by 3800mm, floor space cannot be eaten by wardrobes, and two rooms have a fireplace that I want to get rid of for the same reason. They're lovely pieces of history, but so redundant in this day and age. So I want them gone, and I also don't want wardrobes to flank the fireplaces either side. This configuration is SO common in heritage houses but SO unaesthetically pleasing. You see, fireplaces usually jut out 400 or 500mm from the wall. Wardrobes require a depth of at least 600mm. Therefore, there is a discrepancy in how flush the wardrobe and fireplace are, of about 200mm (20cm). And it is ugly. I will not allow it in my room. As an Interior Designer (as I like to think of my self) I am putting my foot down. (What happened to being flexible? Hey, interior designers are supposed to develop better functioning spaces, i.e. a WIR.)

When I came home I immediately scribbled down all of my ideas onto a piece of paper, then refined it on EZ Architect. I've since printed it and annotated the changes I want to incorporate into the option above. Mainly the changes centre around the front. I've drawn the first bedroom, followed by the WIR's , the second bedroom, then entering the current lean-to, a WC down a short hallway and the bathroom. After this, hopefully my most favoured extension will follow. I've eliminated the living space and light well for the front of the house because the main family area will be down the back and a sitting room will be upstairs. I think three is a little excessive for our household. But if the site length allows, then the third living area and the light well that the architect wants to accompany it with can be incorporated, I won't complain. I just see the WIR's (which I plan to fit a desk in that can be either for study or make-up) as more of a priority than a third TV-watching area. And if someone argues that it would be used a spare bedroom for guests, well what's wrong with the sofa bed in the second living room upstairs that can be sectioned off with a door? Besides, guests usually only stay for two or three nights.

I haven't quite discussed this in as full detail with my family. I see that my opinion is really of  lesser value than the bill payers' of this project, so I wonder if my thoughts will be considered seriously. I think they have good merit and reason, but I guess I'm biased. You know what, I'll get them to read this blog post. Hopefully they listen to me and take what I have to say on board, because I really want my big wardrobe that I can use for storage and study, and a bathroom that isn't partnered with a laundry. I always believe, "Go hard, or go home." This house has to feel like our dream house, and shouldn't involve compromises that we will regret later and make us unhappy or unsatisfied. I know it's not my house that I bought, but I get to live there. It would be nice if my bedroom gets to be a space that I can design and decorate however I like. Does anyone else agree?

Thank you to those readers who check back frequently and enjoy reading about Almora's progress! I know the length of my blogs are quite long but I want to remember every detail and have an archive that I can come back to for advice I wrote for my future self or just a trip down memory lane. It will be amazing to read over these past few posts in a couple of years...

Have a fabulous week everybody. Hopefully I can show you more plans soon!

xo

Quick Update

So today, my family met the architect for the second time. I was absent regrettably because I had to be at school in the morning. But my mum has filled me in one what was discussed.

Basically the architect walked through our current house and saw how we live. Together they talked about what we liked and disliked which lead to what we wanted in the new house. My mum described the style she wants as "plain". I certainly hope she means a blank canvas with traditional fit out because I am quite opposed to more modern styles. The architect also presented the current conditions of the house (a site plan) to us to give a visual depiction of how our house and surrounding neighbours are situated, and what of our extension could go where.

Next week we are all going to the architect's firm to look at the options she will have developed. This is what I'm most looking forward to at the moment. Like I mentioned in my previous post, there are certain elements and ways of doing things that I didn't fully explore. (I'm learning not to be conservative). There are also parts that I don't favour if I'm completely honest. The design is constantly evolving so I wonder how it will end up.

Things are starting to gain momentum!

Xo

Progress: Architect

Yesterday morning my family met the architect I did work experience with back in April. She has been designing houses in and around our suburb for years and runs an established architecture firm. Despite wanting to pursue Interior Design when I finish school, I wanted to expereince what I could from the architecture industry. After completing a week's work at her firm, I said to my mum, "If we ever have to renovate or build a house, I've found us an architect." My praise of this architect and her business ethic led us to a consultation with her, seven months on, at Almora.

This is the current condition of the house:

The reblocking guys are supposed to have finished their work yesterday. The floorboards are covered in dirt, and the walls are still yet to be plastered. Nevertheless, the house is definitely levelled out now, and stands almost as tall as the neigbours.

We met with the architect yesterday because we weren't sure whether to go ahead with fixing up the current conditions so that we can rent it out, or to take a hiatus. We would complete plans, permits and all the rest that comes along with a renovation, completely skipping the tenants idea, because what would be replastered now is likely to change when the real renovation happens.

At the minute, since meeting the architect,  it sounds like we are more likely to do the latter. We didn't intend on the asbestos removal, the reblocking, replastering, or any rewiring until another year. But becuase the walls were in such bad shape we had to redo them so it would be livable for tenants. However, that lead to the asbestos, then replastering required reblocking. The architect has said she can get plans done within the next two weeks, advertise the permit until next January and, fingers crossed, begin construction! To me it sounds slightly ambitious, but this is my first renovation experience.

At the initial consultation we discussed vaguely what we wanted, learnt about how the general process works, restrictions, neighbours, past projects, and what will be happening in the near future. I showed her my plans (above) that I've been working on since before we bought Almora. They're basically a guide for her that shows the type of extension we want to achieve. It's not extensively detailed, however, as they are just floor plans. So we have arranged for her to meet us at our current place so she can see how we live at the moment. Then we will do a full design consultation where we will decide our brief (traditional, four bedrooms, etc.), and she can show us some basic ideas. We will shortly choose one of her four concepts she develops, then refine it to exactly how we want. That's when the plans will go to council, and will hopefully be approved! She said the fastest she can do is have us move in this time next year! But I won't get my hopes up - I know time frames don't really come with guarantees when renovating.

I'm so excited to see the various designs she presents us. I hope they reflect what I designed in my own floor plans becuase I worked so hard on them, anyone can tell you that. I want to see the different ways of incorporating our wants and needs, in a style that I didn't explore. I hope that I learn new ways of designing by expereincing the process first hand.

There will be more news to come this week when we meet up with her again. 

Keep checking back!

xo