Tales From the Box

Because we are extending underneath our current bathroom, we had to give due consideration to the clearance of the waste and drain pipes. Before the bathroom reno – the pipes were quite deep – which initially made our architect plan for some bulkhead that would be build around them. But due to the fabulous work by our bathroom doctors – the pipes drainage pipes were set shallow enough so that they wont affect the head-space (or my head-space for that matter) downstairs beneath the bathroom. We also opted to a p-trap toilet with meant the toilet waste (the bad stuff) went out the wall rather than the floor. This was the same for the vanity too.

Our property is now 3/4 enclosed – with void below is the house the only opening to our backyard. The wire fence went in Thursday.

Plus the new wooden fence.

Our former bathroom featured shower over bath combo much like our new bathroom. We had drab looking shower curtain to stop the water spraying across the entirety of the room ( this must have been a theoretical use because it didn’t really do its job).

While browsing through the plethora of showroom bathrooms, we came across a nifty solution to our water screening quandary. Rather than a fixed glass screen – we opted for a pivoting, toughened glass screen (standard chrome finish of course..) which easily opens for easy entrance and exit for shower and for easy clean and maintenance.

Plus is looks real purty too!

Or a fence in the soil so to speak…. Yesterday another significant addition occured to The Box. Well – not tobut rather around it. Our property was and has remained fenceless at the front, down one side and to the back.

After conversation with our neighbour a line a of agreement was founded… [me tryinf to sound ye olde worlde ]. From this day proceeding, these two clans hereby agreed that in thither will be a wall of such magnitude that the vast collosus of this fair estate be draw and ne cleft in twain with a vast stretching monument to divide the two entities. So hereby stands such a divisionment.

…i.e. a wood fence. We have opted for a hard fence next to the house so we can construct some sort of gating across the front – as well as some drainage to divert the rain (when it falls) around the side. At the back of the property will be normal agricultural fencing – suitable for keeping pets no larger than specifed local hound.

Here is some before and afters – we had Jim’s Fencing come in – and he completed it in one day! Super tradesman!

Their aint nothing like it. After 3 years with a bath that was only big enough to wash a somewhat oversized dog – the weatherhead’s took a bath last night in our new bathroom. Apart from some small additions (paint and the shower screen) the bathroom is done!

I feel a bit like Jamie Durie from Backyard Blitz (one of those endless but entertaining backyard renovation shows…)

Okay well its Friday afternoon and the bathroom is due to be finished in three hours time. We still have the mirror cabinet to put up, as well as the shower screen. However – our bathroom extraordinaire Jayson has a flat battery, and the weather is closing in [i.e. slightly drizzling] We still have to clean and lay the turf [they always have to lay the turf - so it would see inappropriate not to cite this] This one is going to go down to the wire…

Jamie Durie seems to be more interested in ice skating at the moment…anyway… the bathroom is nearing completion. Our shower and toilet are plumbed are working. Heating and fan are installed, lighting (halogens and side mirror lights) are installed with only the cornices and other assorted treats left to do.

Huzzah! Our vanity is in and installed. We opted for the more expensive but cooler looking vanity (Cogee model by Blue Australia bathrooms) which was a wall mounted model (i.e. it doesn’t sit on the floor but magically ‘floats’). In the pics below you can also see our tap choice which was the Sabine range by Linkware.

I know you all will be pleased to know that our toilet is back – in a newer, whiter form. We are extending underneath the house – so our bathroom plumbing needs to be much more shallow so as not to interfere with the headspace downstairs.

So our toilet – a Fowler Newport model – had to be a P-trap shaped toilet so the waste can go through the wall rather than through the floor.

The new ceiling has been constructed – lowered by about 2 inches from the previous ratty ceiling with halogens. And the vanity arrived today!

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Today we saw a return of the floor – the kruddy textures of the previous surface have been smoothed over (very Ponds Institure like) and covered with our lovely non-descript greeny, browny, grey-ey coloured tile.

Now for the cream on top of the pudding that is this bathroom reno.. – for the rest of the week – lighting, vanity, toilet (v. important), fixtures and finally a warm bath (sorry no podcast available for that…). Here is the best snap I could get tonight – tommorrow I will post a video.