Feel the serenity

No words required really...

Image via Coastal Living

Can't you just feel the gentle breeze coming off the water, what a fabulous place to relax.

Feel the serenity my friends!!!

CHEERS

Trish xx

Progress Update

I can imagine by now everyone is wondering just where we are up to on the "Dream House", well its still just that at this point, a dream!!!

For all of my lovely new followers, our dream house got put on hold as the quotes we got to build it ended up being A LOT over budget. After lots of thinking & planning we decided we couldn't abandon our house plans & have opted to sell our investment properties to fund the short fall.

We listed them with the real estate in late November ( bad time of the year to try & sell a house) but hopefully something positive will come our way soon, fingers crossed!!!

My dream guy has however been working adding a driveway from his shed up to street level,one slab at a time. He has done 3 segments over the holidays & has many more to go!

 Next will be some fences & planting a few trees, we feel we might as well get a few things done while we wait.

Dream child no3 is his right hand man on the job & he really does work hard

Daddy's little girl likes to think she helps, but thankfully is bored within 30 seconds & retires to something far more interesting, like....

feeding her face, he he he!!!!

this is all that's left to do

OUCH

another 40 metres until he reaches the top!!

Once a we off load a little real estate we will be able to rev this baby up & start digging a house site

so we can enjoy this view from our back verandah EVERY day

or perhaps we might sit on the front verandah & enjoy this one.

Oh it will be lovely to have choices!

So I need everyone to start thinking "handy house sales for Trish" & perhaps the real estate fairies will shine on me & end this frustration of living in limbo...ARGH!!!!

What sort of projects have you got going on at your place?

CHEERS

Trish xxx

A dream home for sure!!!

I was exploring some of the beautiful images on Houzz today & came across this beautiful Victorian farm house.
I was very surprised to see it was a new build as it looks like it had been a part of the scenery for many years.



I couldn't help but look follow the link for the building designer who was responsible for such a gorgeous home.
I needed to see more.

Madson design is a building design studio in San Francisco specializing in residential remodels, additions, and new custom homes.

This one just oozes character & charm

This was once a dairy farm, built in the late 1800s/early 1900s.
 The new owners are in love with the site’s history and unassuming, simple, yet beautiful nature, so were looking for a new home that would be sympathetic with its surroundings, both in appearance and in character.

I do believe this project was a definite success!

I love the freshness of the black & white exterior, softened by the greenery surrounding the home & then the original old red shed  adds a lovely contrast & a sense of history.

That sense of history was also continued inside the home.
A view from the entry to the family room.

The wood posts and mantel framing the fireplace are old railway ties, salvaged by the owners from an abandoned track nearby, they add so much character, which is why I never suspected it was a new build.

These exposed beams add a rustic & aged touch connecting  the fireplace to the rest of the home.

I love the beautiful farmhouse style kitchen ,with the shaker style doors being an all time favourite of mine.

Unfortunately there where no other photo's featuring what appears to be an incredible mudroom in the back ground.

The dining area has 180 degree views of the surrounding farm land & the pool.

Of course if you haven't had enough of the view, you could also relax in this amazing clawfoot tub.

I love the wainscoting & the hexagonal floor tiles, I could see myself enjoying some bubbles here...

both in the tub & my favourite champagne glass!

I don't know about you but I fell in love with this masterpiece!

Drop by Madson design & check out thier photo gallery.

 They have some lovely images of many projects from new builds right thru to renovations & kitchen make overs. They have included some incredible before & after shots

CHEERS
Trish xxx

Rockin' & Relaxin'

traditional porch design by other metros architect Frederick + Frederick Architects

I think I could sit & rock & enjoy the view ALL DAY!!

Come swing with me

I love the look of a swinging chair or day bed, whether indoors or out on the verandah they just scream relaxation to me. My parents have one in their outdoor entertaining area & it is loved by the adults as much as the kids.

Have you ever tried sitting on a swinging chair & been able to resist the urge to swing?

That gentle, rhythmic motion is irresistibly soothing.

Image via This old house

Image via My home ideas

source unknown

I dont think you need a view to get pleasure from a swinging chair, any location will do, BUT, a fabulous   out look would certainly heighten the experience! 

traditional exterior design by other metros architect Frederick + Frederick Architects

It would appear there is a style for every decor

contemporary living room design by interior designer uttara and adwait

source unknown

Image via savvy housekeeping

Source unknown

This is by far my favourite image, the colours are beautiful, the wall paper & rug are lovely, its very feminine & romantic, don't you think?

A concept Plan for the Dream House - Part1

 After drawing up my own very amateur plans for our dream house it was time to take it to the architect. We have chosen the builder we would like to use & he will liaise with the architect to ensure our house is designed exactly how we want it.

This is the first draft & there are many changes to be made but I thought I would share this process right from the beginning, perhaps you may have some great suggestions....

This is the view from the front. My dream guy really wanted a portico for our guests  to park under...I didn't !We agreed that if something was to be cut from the budget this would be it, BUT, as luck would have it , now he has seen this drawing, he no longer likes the portico, so its going...this makes me happy!!!

I can't wait to see what the next draft looks like without the portico...

This is the back of the dream house, our block slopes away at the back so we are able to utilize this space by putting our garages, gym, kids area & storage all downstairs.

This end is not exactly how I had envisioned it but we will get some changes made here as well, this small side window on the bottom level should actually be a door, there should be a side window upstairs.That is the kitchen area upstairs & from that corner, you get the best view, so it would be a shame to just look at a kitchen wall & the pergola should be on the downstairs level.

I love the look of sketched versions.

Front view

Back view

I'm loving the upstairs alfresco area, it opens up from the kitchen & the view from there will be amazing!!

This is the view from ground level, the floor level for the alfresco is 3m higher than here.

Let me know what you think, any suggestions or ideas are greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Trish xx

A fine place to dine

What can I say...I Luuurve them all !!!!

This colour...

These chairs...

Images House Beautiful

Oh so elegant...

Stripes & urns...

That view....

Images from Home Beautiful

The serenity....

Hows a girl to decide....I think I will have one of each PLEEAASSE!!!!!

If you could only choose one, which one would  it be???

Cheers

Trish xxx