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Julia and Sasha’s new reno, week 3: Not-So-Little-Willow!

August 28, 2017 Leave a Comment

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It’s instalment three of our exclusive series with former Blockheads Julia and Sasha and so much has happened! Read on for Julia’s warts and all account, some exciting developments (and, let’s be a honest, a few fails!).

Remember last time when I said Little Willow was off to a pretty good start? Well, she was for a day but you know what they say about life and lemons. A few weeks in and we could open our own Solo factory. Why? I’m glad you asked. Let’s jump straight in, shall we?!

If there’s one word that makes my skin crawl it’s demolition. It all sounds simple enough. Therapeutic even, if you’ve got unresolved anger issues and know your way around a sledgehammer. Be warned though: it’s not all sunshine and unicorns. It’s also not as funny as my dad-jokes on The Block but I wouldn’t torture you with those again. Actually, who am I kidding? Of course I will.

Before Little Willow could take shape, she had to shed her behind. The permit came through in stages, making it tough to lock in a dedicated demo company, so we decided to do it ourselves. Now, normally I’d demand a round of applause for this nobility but in actual fact, it was to our detriment. Our builders are working to a cost-plus model which means we pay them an hourly rate instead of a fixed lump sum. What was supposed to be a few walls over a few days turned into the mother of all demos. I’m not sure how but the house seemed to get bigger with every skerrick removed.

Want to know what’s really expensive? Skip bins. They charge a pretty penny and when you’re knocking down a house, you’ll go through at least 15. Whilst I love our trades, packing is not their strong suit. Rumour has it I spent two weeks inside a skip bin stacking it like a Tetris ninja. Yes, it’s as sexy as it sounds and yes, I will probably die from tetanus given all the rusty nails, but at least I can sleep at night knowing there were literally no gaps among the debris.

Julia the bin-filling Tetris ninja!

In the end, it took four builders over a fortnight to pull Little Willow apart. They did a stellar job but from a financial perspective, it wasn’t a smart move. Ultimately, we were paying qualified chippies to do a labourer’s work and our costs blew out like you wouldn’t believe. We tried to save by roping our dads in to help but the terrain was uneven and there were a few busted ankles. It’s been a tough learning curve but in all honesty, demo companies are worth waiting for. They salvage so much and are far more cost-effective. By locking in a fixed price, there are no nasty surprises and you won’t be forced to sub in to spare a dollar. (You also won’t be left onsite wondering if the white powdery stuff in your bare hands is asbestos. Not that I’d know anything about that. Ahem.)

Sasha in an excavator

OK, now that’s out of the way let’s talk framing. Our intentions to keep the front of the house were good but once the plaster came off, it was apparent Little Willow wasn’t straight. Like, not at all. You could take her to The Castro on a Saturday night and she’d fit right in. We couldn’t move forward with crooked walls so we made a plan to straighten what we could. This meant removing a million nails, which was about as fun as driving through a safari park in a car made of steak. Once this was done, it was time to move those babies into a better position. Unfortunately, not all could be saved so the boys made a plan to replace them. The house also needed to be re-stumped so we called in the experts and they jacked her up. It took three days and was as fascinating to watch as Say Yes to the Dress. Love you, Monty!

Due to our massive time crunch, we elected to have the new frame made offsite. In the industry it’s known as prefab and no, it’s not short for fabulous (Believe me, I’ve already made that joke and no one laughed). This was one of our better decisions as our builders could focus on laying the foundations. Once again, you need to allow a decent whack of time for this to happen. Holes need to be dug, stumps inserted, and concrete poured before the inspector comes out and gives a yay or nay.

Foundations

With the tick of approval, it was time for our plumber to come in and lay the pipes. Honestly, Brett Franklin is the nicest guy you’ll ever meet and can rough in like no one else. He was our plumber on The Block and dropped everything at a moment’s notice to help us at Little Willow. We put him through hell last year and yet he turned up with a smile on his face ready to do it all again. Here’s hoping you don’t regret it, Brett!

Steel is an important part of every build, particularly if you’re going up a level, yet it almost slipped through the cracks. We’d gotten a bit wrapped up in all the pretty stuff — picking wallpaper and carpet and what type of apples to display in the kitchen*. By the time we reached out to steel fabricators, we only had two weeks up our sleeves and were cutting it mighty fine. Thankfully we were able to lock in a supplier who delivered only two days behind schedule. It wasn’t a total debacle but could have been avoided if we’d been more focused. Of course, it pays to learn the hard way and it’s a mistake we won’t make again. Silver linings and all that.

By far the best moment was when our frame arrived. Not that we were there to enjoy it as Sash was literally in surgery as it rolled up. Still, our relief was palpable. The beauty of prefab is the hard yards are done for you so you can literally set and forget. The boys had both levels up quick sticks and Little Willow started taking shape. Just between us, she’s bloody huge and has the most amazing city views from the first floor. A friend of ours has dubbed her Not So Little Willow and it couldn’t be more accurate. We still have a long way to go and a thousand decisions to make but one thing’s for sure, this is going to be a stunning family home.

Thanks for following along so far. Next time we’ll be talking roof plumbing, wall cladding, and a whole lot more. Until then, gang.

Julia xx

*In case you were wondering, Granny Smith apples come up best in photos.

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Is there a more decadent and delicious soup than F Is there a more decadent and delicious soup than French onion?

I think not!

Grab the recipe on the blog this morning via link in bio.
Get to know me! I haven't done one of these in YE Get to know me!

I haven't done one of these in YEARS so there's possibly thousands of you who don't know my back story. Here's a few things you may not know about me!

✔️ I'm English 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 and I moved here (just for one year) back in 2008😆 

✔️ I can't end the day without a bath, even if I get home really late or on a really hot day. It's a mental health thing and my happy place. 🛁 

✔️ Before becoming a blogger and running my own small business, I was a journalist from the age of 18. My favourite news gathering times were as a newspaper crime reporter (bit different to interiors!) 📓 

✔️ I once worked at New Scotland Yard in London 🚔 

✔️I had an interview at Oxford (didn't get in!) but chose not to go to uni at all after being offered a job on the local paper #universityoflife 😁

✔️ My mum died when I was 3, I have an excellent dad and one sister (younger) in the UK ❤️ 🇬🇧 

✔️ At school, my favourite subject was French 🇫🇷 and I was head girl 🤓🤓

✔️ I'm addicted to ☕️ , long hot baths and💄 (been wearing it since I was about 14!)

✔️ I'm not a phonecall person and will never ever pick up an unknown number. Ever. They can leave a message 😁

✔️ My favourite cuisine is Japanese 🍣 🍜 and Damian and I honeymooned in Tokyo and Venice 

✔️ I have zero design qualifications. I just started blogging about my passion, which is trying to persuade everyone to #heartyourhome That was 11 years ago...

✔️ My favourite tipple is a good GnT or🍷 

✔️ Cheesy as it sounds, 💁‍♀️being a mum is my absolute biggest joy in life 🧒👦

✔️ I will never give up my old school paper diary! Has to be A5 and week to view 📖 

✔️ My official surname isn't Bishop. I kept my maiden name for work after I got married but changed it for everything else. Often confuse myself!

✔️ I didn't get my Ps until I was 37 and I'm still a terrible parker 😯 🅿️

Hope you feel like you know me a bit better 😘

📸 @vanlowvanlow
Blue, green or lilac? 🎨 @nood_co coloured con Blue, green or lilac? 🎨 

@nood_co coloured concrete basins is a great Aussie business success story. Although co founder Matt Di Costa first found fame as one half of Matt and Kim on The Block, he hasn't relied on this to build his brand.

“We are very honoured to have been a part of The Block, and all they have done for us. I am, however, a believer in letting the product take centre stage,” he says.

Read our interview with Matt via link in bio now.

🙏Share your favourite colour basin in the comments!

#colouredconcrete #noodco #colouredbasin #blockheads #the block #bathroomtrends2022

Pic 1 by @naibudesign_ and 2 by @twostyleinteriors
I'd love to see more colour in Aussie interiors! I'd love to see more colour in Aussie  interiors! 🎨 

At the end of the day though, it's a matter of personal taste. I love pops of colour but it's not for everyone. 

We couldn't resist featuring this Canadian house tour today. The amazing Kelly Green  hutch (swipe) was an upcycled $200 find 🤗

Head over to the blog via link in bio to see the rest including one of the best playrooms we've seen in ages!

Project by @in.house.design
📸 @philcrozier
Create an unexpected city oasis with an emphasis o Create an unexpected city oasis with an emphasis on light and nature.

That was the brief for the conversion of a corner shop and a warehouse bakery into a luxury family home in Sydney's Newtown. And how about the library?!

Take the tour of this very special @annacarindesign project on the blog now, via link in bio.

Pic: @justinalexanderphoto
The things that excite me as a 40 year old 🤭 N The things that excite me as a 40 year old 🤭

None of us enjoy laundry (OK, there are a few of you out there who do. Weird!) but we have to do it. And often. So if your laundry bin can be as good looking, functional and space saving as this, then why wouldn't you?!

I've lost track of how many baskets I've thrown out because they've gone soggy or mouldy. They look pretty, sure, but they're not fit for purpose and they're often messy and overflowing.

Here's what I love about his @brabantia_australia one:

✔️ ventilation holes
✔️ no need to remove the lid for small items plus it hides your dirty laundry from view
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The Rolls Royce of laundry bins? I think so 👌🏻

TOLD you this was going to be exciting!

Now I need to know, do you have your laundry basket in the bathroom, the laundry, every bedroom? We used to have one in each bedroom but moved to the laundry-only situation which I much prefer (one for colours and one for whites). My boys know to put their used clothes in the bin in the laundry each night and they're 7 and 3!  #raisingfuturehusbands

#gifted
"Living rooms are important spaces where our publi "Living rooms are important spaces where our public and private lives intersect."

So says stylist @nataliewalton in her gorgeous new book Style, the Art of Creating a Beautiful Home.

"They are where we gather to welcome guests and entertain. But they are also where we decompress and relax at the end of the day. Increasingly, they are open-plan spaces and need to work within a greater scheme. Bringing all the elements together cohesively requires care and consideration. And, if you want a space that lives up to its true potential, make it personal and create with conviction."

Read an extract, the chapter on elevating your living room, on the blog today via link in bio.

Published by @thamesandhudsonau Pix by @chriswarnes 

#livingroomdesigns #nataliewalton #coffeetablebooks #designbooks #interiorsbooks #livingroominteriors #elevateyourspace
Kids and husband messing with my vignettes again🤨

PS. The coaster was RIGHT THERE 🤪
#weatherforit 🥶 Need a new blanket? Look no fu #weatherforit 🥶

Need a new blanket? Look no further than these gorgeous South African blankets from @baobabcollective, sustainably sourced, ethically crafted and imported by a Southern Highlands couple.

On the blog now via link in bio.
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About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. Interiors Addict has been her full-time job for more than 8 years. She is married to Damian and mum to Sebastian and Charlie.

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