Tuesday 11 August 2015

The list is getting shorter

We have now stayed at the house a number of times, but it still doesn't quite feel like a home - there is still a list of things to finish off, lots of fine tuning and still lots of cedar protection going on!...
...but it is happening and the list IS getting shorter (just taking a long time)!



The skirting boards are being done - all half a kilometre of them, double height and two coats (that's a lot of Tung oil and a lot of smell...we really couldn't live there yet).


This is the rear verandah where we were able to save the floorboards (with others from rooms where we couldn't save enough.to fill the gaps). I reckon they have come up well.


The doors are all done, except for the back door which still needs a bit more sanding to take the paint off.
The architraves for the doors - and all the window fittings still to go.







This is the view across the rear entrance, (to the left), with an old rug from home protecting the polished floor.
The house is now a 'no outdoor shoes' zone!
The far door is the door into the powder room, otherwise referred to as the downstairs loo!









We are so pleased we have saved and reused whatever we could.


Every time we go upstairs, we are reminded of the history of the place...the stair treads are worn from the many sailors who used this place as their safe haven in the Port of Newcastle in the 1890s and beyond.

Barker Stairs did a great job of adding the new noses and then sanding them to match the treads.









Many parts of the house however are completely modern, and all the wiring and plumbing is brand new (a heritage home with all mod cons - what a great combination!)


.

There are still areas of the house that cannot be completed just yet - there's a dark patch on the wall in the meals area that shows it is still drying out! At least now that is happening, with the new drainage outside having helped somewhat!


There's lots of finishing off to do...

...but Carl is on to it...a couple of weeks...??? 

I'll keep you posted!