Blank Canvas

Its been a long time coming but finally I have some pictures for you.  The house is very bare, I am busy buying items to be added to the house, but I haven't actually gotten around to putting them in yet.  I have purchased pendant lights for the kitchen and the dining area and our electrician is coming by in a week or so.  I thought it would be good to show you the blank canvas and then you can see how the room evolves over time.

So... come in have a seat, make yourself at home..

Ahhh my lovely chair, which was a gift from hubby, it kind of steals the show in this room.  Ignore the TV, it most definitely does not belong there.  I had a sick child the day I was taking these photo's and the TV was temporarily set up there so she could lie on the sofa and I could keep an eye on her.

The little alcove where the TV is taking up residence will one day become shelving and storage but in the meantime, its just space.  As for the rest of the room...

Some serious artwork needs to go above that fire, or a mirror....

It is screaming for a rug, some artwork, some room decor etc, etc.. pillows are a temporary measure until I can find ones I really like.

The room looks very sterile, but that is the difference between a house and a home... I have some pieces to go up on the walls but we are just waiting on a few other things to arrive and decisions to be made as to where they will go first. 

Dining area... ignore the chairs, they are also a temporary measure until I find chairs that I'm happy with, I have a few in mind, however the replica's aren't to my satisfaction and the originals don't agree with my hip pocket, so I'm still deliberating.  You can just see the alfresco from this pic, nothing is happening out there for the moment.  I just threw the outdoor table there for the time being until we get our landscaping done then that will all change.

Anyone for coffee?  We get so much sunlight through the back of this room that the kitchen heats up like a little oven during the day.  Blinds are on order and hopefully arriving some time in the near future.

And finally our kitchen.  Many a meal has been made in here and with 3 kids, I can tell you this ~ its not often you see it looking like this.  This home is no show home, it is a hive of activity.  There is usually always something cooking, homework getting done, stories being told and blogs being typed at this kitchen island and we love it.

You have no idea how much I love that pantry ~ I'll show you inside one day... 

Photo bombed by the dog.. well it is his  home too.  Ignore my antique fridge, its biding its time before it moves into the garage, like everything else the fridge is on the to do list, I'm just not in any hurry to rush out and buy one right now, its on my list, I'll get to it eventually.

See ya next time...

Ms Betsy xo.

A brick is not just a brick....

I'm back to viewing bricks and I'm quickly reminded about how much of a headache this was the first time around.

Bricks are a sh!t aren't they ~ they change colour with the wind, the sun, the grout, the shadow - some are nicer than others, some have spots and flecks but not all of them, you can pick up 10 of the same brick and some will be fleckly and some will be gorgeous, some will chip easy, etc, etc, and the list goes on....

This is the time when my respect for artists and designers goes out of the stratosphere.  These people have keen trained eyes when it comes to colour.  I had no idea about all of this prior to building a house.  In the good old days white was white, brown was brown and I lived in a shade free world.

Now I live in a world where brown is brown until you stand it next to some other colour and that brings out the yellow tones and the green tones, but if you match it with this it brings out the gorgeous grey tones ~ well slap me happy who knows this stuff!!!!

Then we have texture, shine, spongyness, what a MOFO this is turning out to be.  I'm half tempted to put 10 bricks in a bucket and pick one out and say - that's the one, but I know I'll only live in regret.

I also have the people who like to remind me - a brick is a brick just pick one... yeah well I know a brick is a brick and I'm sure when you work on building sites and see houses being built every other day that its all in a days work.  However, this house to me is blood, sweat and tears - and I'm the one that will drive up the driveway everyday for the next 30 years while paying for these bricks and if I hate them that will piss me right off.

Yes I'm having a ranty. 

I'm going to look at my brick selections again today at 4pm, by that time the sun will be coming from hopefully a good angle, it won't rain on my parade, the colours will aline and all will be go well and a brick will be chosen - AND - my drama will be over.

Anyone else having a brick week??

I write my blog tongue in cheek.  I hope to pass on information but sometimes I just like to vent out the good and the bad.  However, in light of the current bushfire activities I'd like to note that even though there is a smidgion of annoyance regarding my bricks, I know they aren't a big deal in the grand scheme of things.  My hopes and prayers go out to the families, communities and firefighters who are suffering during this time.

Much love

Ms Betsy xo

Dreams are coming true...

First things first - We did it... We signed our contract!!!  ***applause***

We also signed off on our Landscaping Plan and I'm really pleased with it, we will more than likely tweek it here and there when the time comes but mostly we will stick to the plan and this will give us a good foundation to build on in years to come... 

..AND

We found a rental property ~ I think this little project is starting to come together quite nicely ~ Okay remind me I said that when I'm in the middle of moving out of my existing home, I'm not sure I'll be quite so 'chirpy' about the whole situation.

In other news...

Just incase this whole interiors thing isn't quite your thing or you don't spend all your time reading interiors and lifestyle blogs "POTTERY BARN, WEST ELM & WILLIAMS SONOMO OPENED IN AUSTRALIA TODAY" seriously, how could you not know that!!!.  If I happen to have any American readers then I forgive you for not understanding how monumental a moment this is for me.... no more browsing the net and wishing I could get this or that... okay so I'll still be wishing because I won't actually have any money to buy anything, but at least now I can touch it - right!!! {if your an interiors person you know what I'm talking about...}.



Swoon - how could you not... kudos to organised housewife for the pic updates

Unfortunatley I'm a bit pissed that I'm sitting my butt at work right now instead of plodding off to Bondi Junction to have a squizz ~ common sense prevails and I will continue to live in wonder for a few weeks until all the hype has died down and I can go for a browse without having to fight an army of people to get throught the doors {Yes that will be the day I surrender my credit card to my other half, possibly NOT}

Target & Woolies..

Whilst I was out browsing yesterday I noticed that Target and Woolworths (yep the supermarket) are putting on some lovely bowls and plates and fast becoming contenders in the 'cheap and still lovely' category.. as much as I love the owls, they aren't taking up residence with me anytime soon but they are still nice to look at - but I'm having a little bit of a love affair with the black and red.

I had my troops with me {aka children ALL THREE OF THEM} and my patience was shot by the time I was in Woolworths so no pic was taken from there - but trust me they are worth a looksy!

What's your favourite homewares shop?

Miss Betsy xo

We picked one.....

Finally after looking at 29,745 show homes {trust me it feels that way} we have finally picked one.  We have thought about it, walked through it (many times), fell in love with it, harassed the sales guy with a million questions at all times of the day and night and now we are just about to sign on the dotted line....

McDonald Jones Homes - Milano Two (16)

Kitchen

Dining Area

Alfresco

Kid's area

Media Room

Now we have to sit back, relax (hahahahahaha) and wait for the colour selections appointment to come around!  Not likely, I see many nights of research, browsing of shops and obtaining quotes ahead of us.