Day 74 - updates

Whoops. Been a little slack with updating you on progress- mainly because I still feel like I'm living in chaos but at least it is slightly more organised! Three days ago the kitchen tap went in and it was such a relief. No more walking down stairs to wash up.

So a quick update-

Wardrobes- check
Kitchen- handles, bench top, kitchen tap- check
Bathroom shower screen - check

Chaos of unpacking- check!

Things are going to move a little slower now hubby has gone back to work full time but today is organisation day. Watch out dad- get your work boots on!

Day 60 - birthdays and bench tips

Day was a double milestone - kitchen bench top went in and little miss turned one.

The kitchen installation has been a bit frustrating. Deciding which kitchen almost took a week. We did a lot of research before deciding and this will give you a bit of insight into the DIY options out there. We priced the same number of cabinets and a stone bench top from each.

As you might expect having someone install it was the most expensive. Less gadgets and less drawers but someone comes and installs it for you was about $2000 more than any other option and they were the cheapest installer.

Masters and IKEA were within $200 of each other. We have done 2 IKEA kitchens before and I would do one again. Instructions are fairly straight forward and easy to put together and the have a great customer assistance centre now but you will have to wait like Medicare for someone to help. I like their gadgets and they have a great range of stone colours.

Masters - great customers service to help plan, great gadgets- even Mir than ikea! I would have liked to try them this time . Stone bench top I think is the same person as IKEA- looked like the same quote form.

Builders warehouse- cheaper cabinets and stone. Lots of variety.

DIY renovations- who we went through.

PROS- great price, some cupboards come built. 2pac cupboards. Solid kick board.

CONS- quality control is poor. That being said be haven't had any trouble trying to take things back. (All 4tine!) this is IKEA flatpack but with no instructions. If you struggle with the instructions or haven't find flatpack before- I wouldn't attempt this. You have to get your own stonemason to cut your stone top for you.

I'm glad we tried it but I don't think we will race to do the same one again. Overall though, we are happy with the finish and more importantly the fact we now have a kitchen. Now to get a tap and fond handles.

Day 50 - halfway

Eek! It doesn't feel like half way. I know a lot has been done, and certainly the budget has been hit pretty hard, but there is still so far to go.

Today we decided on the kitchen/ yay! Tomorrow we start to bring it home. I can't wait. Some more blinds went up today with the help of the junior foremen. No need for the makeshift blanket blind anymore.

Tonight a storm is brewing and I can't help but feel apprehensive. The first time you face natures fury in a new house is always a bit scary. Lets hope there are no nasty surprises.

Day 49-shower screen shopping

We went looking at shower screens etc again today. I feel like my whole life I spend in bathroom/ kitchen shops. We were at Builders Discount Warehouse today. Very large range but I wasn't blown away by their "discount". Far cheaper online and other outlet places. It looks like we will definitely need a custom shower screen. Need to get some quotes but custom is always more expensive. :( The budget is quickly disappearing. Almost $8500 going to tradies this week! At least Indi is still enjoying herself.

Reno tip for today- make sure you do your research online and don't assume that a discount outlet will be the cheapest. I found under bench sinks for $250 whereas they were $500 at the discount outlet.

Day 48- birthday breaks

Renovating had a bit of a break today while we celebrated a family birthday. I love a good party and it was such a lovely day for it.

The rest of the day we picked up the last of the new appliances for the house including our new tv. We have still had my 13yr old tube tv and have been reluctant to upgrade simply because it isn't broken. This time though we decided to and I am still trying to get used to the picture! I'm so not a fan yet. We had to get an ariel man to come out and replace the ariel and all the cables. We should have got him to hook up all the extra things too. Hubby spent best part of a day and its still not working.

Reno tip for today- when buying a house make sure you check that everything works. Hot water, tv ariel, fans,lights,hardware on the windows etc. all these things are not that expensive to fix( except for the hot water) but they all add up and blow out your budget. For example- the window locks on our windows need to be repaired or replaced. They are only $15 each but we have 20 windows. That's another $300 out of the budget!

Day 47- laminate flooring

I just realised I posted the last two without Reno tips. Don't move with small children and don't do it twice in two months!

Grandad and I laid timber laminate flooring I the playroom today. You must have an underlay which was a bit like the foam they wrap around new TV's etc I their packaging. There is a glue less sealer you can get for in between the boards to help guard again water damage- highly recommended. There is also an installation kit- essential if you ask me! It's pretty easy although a bit diddly. You start in the left hand corner and basically wiggle and click bits together a bit like you do with cheap jigsaw puzzles. When you get to the end of a row and have to cut a piece to fit you use the other bit to start the next row.

Could not be easier!

Day 46- back to work

Hubby went back to work today. Not just renovating work but real work. After not being a chef for the last 6 years, he went back today. That meant grandad and I played box Tetris and box lucky dip to find everything we needed. We hubby got home he was right onto fixing the panes of glass to the gaping holes in the kitchen. Up a ladder in the dark with a big bit of glass- work place health and safety nightmare! Thankfully they are all in ok.