

Front Yard
[DONE] Have the front render touched up, and the back of the train pipes painted
[HALF DONE] – Follow up on the front verge (I’m still following up on this, it’s turned out to be more of a headache than I’d anticipated)
– Work on a plan for the garden
[HALF DONE] – Remove the one dead plant, and tidy up the kangaroo paws that run along the fence
– Have the front window tinted
– Install a light fixture over the front door
– Install an additional wire security screen at the front door
I managed to remove the dead plant from the garden, and now I need to move one plant along so they look more uniform. I still haven’t dead-headed the kangaroo paws, although I did do the ones in the back yard, and they’ve flourished ever since, so I really need to get on top of that. As for the verge, I’m aware of the process that I need to follow, but they’re making it such a hassle for me that I’m putting it off. Unfortunately, they seem to think that I’m landscaping the WHOLE block, rather than just the verge out the front (which is technically council land, so I’m not sure why I even need to be the one to follow up on it). But anyway, we’ll get there eventually. At this stage, the priority for the front yard is the window tinting, and also the landscaping of the verge. We’ve noticed the bedroom getting hotter (and brighter) early in the morning, and it’s only going to get worse as the season progresses. I’m currently researching window tinting companies to see what the cost will be.
Living Area
[HALF DONE] – Pick paint colours, and paint the living area and kitchen
[DONE] Hang a mirror or artwork over the hutch
[DONE] Buy a bigger TV
[HALF DONE] – Sort out the storage area in both hutches
– Sort out the drawers under the TV cabinet
– Install light fittings
[HALF DONE] – Buy, frame, and hang artwork
– Buy a rug for the living area
– Buy tall fake flowers for the pot next to the hutch
– Buy a large soft basket for storing throw rugs
– Buy a small side table to sit drinks/snacks on when we’re watching tv
– Fix the table (it wasn’t put together properly)
One major tip I’d give those that are considering building is a house is MAKE SURE THE PAINTING GETS DONE BEFORE YOU MOVE IN. I built with the Homebuyers centre, and although my overall experience with them was a positive one, they do not paint the interiors of the house. This is because they suggest you live in the house for three months before painting, which makes sense, but gosh once you’re in it’s very hard to motivate yourself to move furniture/take down your blinds/stay elsewhere so you can paint the interior walls. We’ve picked a paint colour, and purchased it, and now it’s a matter of picking an appropriate weekend to paint the house. Which, considering we’re heading towards Christmas and the new year, I can’t see being anytime soon. Still, baby steps. Next up will be painting the interior walls, and buying a side table.
I love these house posts! We’re buying the house we’re in currently and there’s such a list it will be fun but a bit crazy to go through it like this. Are those kangaroo paws in the purple flower picture?
They aren’t kangaroo paws, but I’m not actually sure WHAT they are – and I can’t seem to find them in any nurseries! I know they have to be an Australian native though, because those are the kinds of plants that the building company use for landscaping in this area due to the soil/sun levels.
Swoon over your house posts! We’ve been in for over a year now and the to-do list is still crazy, we need to paint the woodwork throughout but it means we have to change the blinds too so it just makes it easier to put off.
Thank you! Yeah, it’s amazing how much time can go by without me making any progress with my house to-do list. I think it’s because all of them are full weekend projects, and I simply don’t have the time for it!