Tiles, tiles and more tiles

Before meeting again with the guy from Concept Pools to look at the contract, I decided to slip into DiLorenzo to get an idea of what we are in for at our next appointment on August 14. I must say that i was pleasantly surprised by the range on offer for both wall & floor tiles. Feature tiles are included in the package or at least one strip of them. I wasn't overly impressed with the tiles for a kitchen splashback on offer so we will be needing some extra cash from our allowance for that. I took some photos (especially for my HomeOne EBH friends) but they are more ones that I am potentially interested in.

These are floor tiles (only some of the range) and they all come in smooth or grip for outdoor use.

Laundry update

You may recall me rambling on about our laundry extension meant that we need to extend the cupboard in the laundry to run down the entire back wall. At tender, we were told that it was something that Kitchen Culture would deal with. And of course, we were told at that appointment that it was something that Eden Brae should have put in the plan. I am happy to announce that Eden Brae have raised a post contract variation for another cupboard....and at no extra cost! Thankyou EBH - a nice touch for a good(money spending!) customer!

Kitchen

Well, Kitchen Culture finally came back to me after I called yesterday leaving a message & rang first thing this morning. M said that it was on the top of her pile and that I would have it by lunchtime. Yep! Got it and it includes one extra 'number crunch' in it. After 51/2 working days, I was expecting 3D diagrams at least. To change the kitchen bench from the original design (which doesn't work since we relocated the kitchen) to an L shaped one to create a walkway of 1m, the quote is nearly $2K. We were told by EBH prior to tender and also Kitchen Culture last week that it would be minimal. $2K? Minimal? I have asked for a breakdown of these costs and measurements of each design.
I have also questioned the bulkheads that we are paying for in our Kitchen Culture proposal. The EBH plan already has them noted. Are we paying twice for these? Hopefully not!
Not happy at all with the Kitchen Culture experience.

Actually got a response within a few hours this time. I asked for the breakdown of cost & measurements. We are having an extra lineal metre of bench which will cost $1617 plus GST for cabinetry & stone bench. Doesn't add up to the $1806 plus GST on the original variation so I am a little confused.

Cabinetry cannot be reduced in size to accommodate a breakfast bar overhang so of course, we need more Caesarstone!

I wish Eden Brae had warned us of the snowball effect when making changes - relocating the kitchen has meant soooooo much extra unforeseen money! 

More miscellaneous

1) Kitchen - I am still waiting on my documents to be sent to me from Kitchen Culture a week later. Really, I don't think we are doing anything out of the ordinary. We were meant to have a week to sign off on any changes. Hmmmm, not really possible!
I lay awake last night thinking about things that I was not sure about or didn't organise at my appointment....
* Bulkheads - did I get any? Yes, I did.
* Breakfast bar overhang - completely forgot about this at the time. Doh! I think I will ask them to reduce the size of the cupboards on that side of the island bench to allow for it rather than paying for more Caesarstone.
* Pull-out bins - I want to look more carefully at the pull-out bin setup we have allowed for. I would love for the bin lids to open up as we open the drawer/cupboard. My decision was so quick I can't remember now what it's features are.

2) Laundry - EBH have now accepted 'responsibility' for our extra laundry cupboard to match the one currently in the plan.

3) Doors - I am now undecided about the internal doors though I am sure that price will help me with the decision in the end. We went with the standard door in White Gloss.

Now I am thinking they may be a little 'plain'??? What about one of these in the white?

4) Apart from these little ramblings, I am spending some time researching for our electrical & flooring appointment in 4 weeks. I really want to get in & out as quickly as possible.

 

Miscellaneous

1) Stormwater issues - None of the neighbours responded to the request for a stormwater easement over their property (not even a negative answer!) This means we have to go with the absorption trenches in the backyard. A statutory declaration has been completed to send to the hydraulic engineer. Our neighbours have saved us a LOT of money upfront (legal fees, compensation etc) but not sure about the effectiveness of the trenches.
2) Laundry cupboard - Felt a little stuck in the middle between EBH and Kitchen Culture about our extra laundry cupboard. At tender, EBH told us it was Kitchen Culture's responsibility and of course, Kitchen Culture told us that we were much better off getting EBH to do it so that it would be the same as the cupboard currently in the plan. My CSO has asked for a sketch of what I want so hopefully we can get it sorted.
3) I found a discrepancy on our plans as far as the direction of one of our stacker doors to the alfresco. The ground floor plan has it going one way (the way we want) whereas the elevation drawings have it going the opposite direction. An easy correction, I hope.
4) Changed my blog address too. As this is public, thought it best to get my full name out of the address.

Bathrooms

After deciding I wasn't going to upgrade the bathrooms too much from the standard, things changed at the selection day. Caesarstone vanity tops REALLY will last a lifetime in these wet areas, won't they?

 

 I chose a wallfaced toilet suite with soft close lids (ahhhh). This will go in all 3 bath/powder rooms.

Not the best angle but this is the bath chosen. Didn't quite upgrade to the spa model!

 Above counter basins in each bathroom so 5 in total. Changed the mixer as this one seemed a little long, don't you think?! I can imagine a few broken teeth from half asleep headbangs!

 This one is a little shorter in length...

The shower rail in the ensuite with detachable spray

And the cheaper one in the main bathroom!

 Towel rails

Powder room and main bathroom colours (Shitake stonetop & white laminex vanity)

Ensuite colours (Cocoa Fudge stonetop & Doe Skin Velour Formica vanity)

Tile appointment is yet to come....August 21.

Internal colours

Whilst again I can't get a swatch of the colour (Taubmans don't seem to allow it), I have found a photo from The Block that shows the wall colour we picked - Pebble Bay. Skirting and cornices will be in Crisp White.