Spots and Stripes: The Real Block

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

The Real Block - Part 3

The amount of work that's been done on our house (which I call "The Real Block") over the past couple of weeks is quite amazing. The house is being transformed. On the upper level, the builders have removed the windows enclosing the veranda, they've removed the roof from the veranda (it will be replaced) and they've removed at least 10 skips of debris. With all that gone, the real structure of the house is beginning to show through.

On the ground level, the frames for the walls have started to be installed so I can now see exactly where the windows and doors are going to be. I'm so excited as the rooms take shape and I can now start thinking about exciting stuff like lights, flooring and tiles.

In the backyard, the pool tiler has finished tiling and grouting. Now it's just the clean-up to go. Love those pool tiles. Each one is a different shade of aqua.

This photo shows the upstairs veranda before the builders started work. There is so much work to do!

This is the hallway upstairs. A lot of people have asked why we didn't just build a new house. It certainly would have been quicker, easier and cheaper. But the truth is I'm a sucker for original homes. I love the high ceilings, the huge rooms, the hallways, the VJs, the transoms above the doorways, the wide floor boards, the ceiling roses, the large skirting boards and even the cornice work. To sum it up, the craftsmanship in these old homes is breathtaking. And I just like time worn things.

This is one of the bedrooms upstairs, with a window seat! The rooms have lovely ceiling roses so I'm hoping to salvage them, clean them up and reinstall them. Enjoy your week.
(Related articles: The Real Block - Part 1, The Real Block - Part 2)
(Photos by AJ Hawkins for Spots and Stripes)

6 comments:

Jennifer, Decorum said...: I hear ya sista! Old homes have so much more character that even the new ones that are built to look like old homes. Mind you it is quicker and cheaper to go the new build route but it's just not the same. I'll be watching.

Jennifer xx; June 12, 2012 at 10:14 AM
Driftwood Interiors said...: I visited a client a couple of weeks ago, who has just finished renovating an old beauty like yours - and the results are stunning. You just can't recreate the original details; they add so much charm. I completely understand why you chose to renovate rather than build, and I'm really looking forward to seeing it all come together K xx; June 12, 2012 at 10:26 AM
E.A.P said...: Love a bay window and window seat. This property is going to be amazing. I took a trip down memory lane with my mother on the weekend. Her father was a builder and there were three of his homes in Windsor in the street she grew up in. They're all still standing, have been lifted and built in underneath - new fencing, paint etc, and they all look amazing. It was so nice to see people respect the property and craftmanship that went into these homes.

We're just about to build in under ours - finally. Your ceilings looks nice and high underneath. I'm looking forward to watching it all unfold...; June 12, 2012 at 11:55 AM
Clarissa said...: I love the old girls as well and would love to be able to completely strip and re-do our place in as dramatic a fashion as you! But alas the "staged" approach will have to do me!

BTW EAP - my house is in Windsor - it's over 80 years old I would love to know the history of it, apparently all the houses on my side of the street were built by the same fellow - would have been in the 1920's.; June 12, 2012 at 8:13 PM
Bungalowgirl said...: Same over here with the love of the old girls. We have the most amazing decorative plaster ceilings but very plain fretwork- I think because it's a bungalow. I love your bay window, it's so beautiful. My son has the bay window room and stores all his stuffed animals in his"treasure chest". Do you have any plans? Would love to take a peek as I am a real plans girl, helps me have a vision for the whole thing. We finally have plans, now trying to find a builder. melx; June 12, 2012 at 8:44 PM
Spots and Stripes said...: It's lovely to read all your encouraging comments. Thank you. As for the house plans, they're a bit out of date now as I've got a very accommodating builder who is happy to change rooms around as we build. What I can reveal is that our kitchen and dining will be on the ground level. The reason is that I love the idea of watching the littles ones play outside whilst I'm pottering around the kitchen.; June 13, 2012 at 8:01 AM