Real Estate Ramblings

Hi,

Firstly I would like to say Happy Birthday to my daddy! It's been a busy week for me, it's a good thing I like cake!

I will apologies now, this is a rather large post. At this point in my life my real estate dream is to find the perfect house that needs a little TLC! In my hunt so far I have found lots of potentials but they are missing something. Yesterday was open home day and a lovely little house in Taroona was open for inspection. I went along with my builder and plumber (bro and dad) to get their input, as they will be doing most of the hard work.

Isn't it just the cutest little thing you have ever seen! I don't have a huge list of 'must haves' for the property that I'm looking for but it must have: a backyard that gets the afternoon sun, off-street parking and a nice sized yard for my Border Collie and future Border Collie. Based on the street frontage I wouldn't change a great deal: a new coat of paint, remove the awnings and a new garage door. I would say some gardening but unfortunately there isn't a great deal that will grow under those trees.

 

Deceptive isn't it! In terms of the floor plan I have a few ideas, what would you do? I would add a wall between the lounge and family room creating 2 bedrooms. The door between the family room and formal dining would need to be covered over. I'm not sure what I would make the formal dining: a bedroom or library maybe. I would love to remove the wall between the living and eastern bedroom, that's if it is structurally possible. The two back bedrooms I would make a rumpus and study, or leave the large of the rooms as a bedroom. If is is also possible I would like to remove the wall between the dining and  back rooms, opening up that space up a little bit more. Most of the rooms have picture rails which suit the period of the house but I'm not sure if I should keep them. The positioning of the electrical outlets and light switches needs to be looked at.

 

Or the other suggestion it to make the front bedroom with the ensuite a guest bedroom. Then square off the wall between the dining and back bedrooms and make that the master bedroom. The larger of the rooms would be the bedroom, the smaller would become a massive walk-in-robe and the bathroom would obviously be the ensuite.

 

 

I am in love with the lead lighting on the front door and side window. I'm not sure what I would do with the floor, I wasn't able to sneak a peak under the carpet anywhere. If there are nice boards under there I would polish them up. Some new cupboard doors, coat of paint and light fixtures and the hall/entry is done.

 

This is the front room where I would add a wall to create a bedroom. As ugly as the fireplace is, I'm inclined to leave it there, maybe remove the wood heater part and add a more decorative mantle. Being a bedroom I would keep this room carpeted. Some new window dressings, a coat of paint and light fixtures this room is good to go.

This is second bedroom created by adding the wall, the door void needs to be filled. This room is basically the same as the one above -some new window dressings, a coat of paint and light fixtures.

 

 

This is the living area where, structurally allowing, I would remove the wall on the right to open the space up. If it is also possible, I would square the heater face up with the room. Of course the flooring will need to be changed to match what ever discovery I find under the carpet in the hall. Again a coat of paint and new light fittings (however the chandelier is nice) and the new lounge is done. Oh and maybe a quick clean of the sky light.

 

The kitchen is quite usable the way it is until I can afford to put it the way I want it, you'll see what I mean when you see the bathrooms. As are most of the rooms. When it comes time to doing the kitchen I would totally remove the wall ovens and counter top stove, I'm not a big fan of them. I would then add a hob and range to the area under the small window, of course I would remove the little window. Having removed the wall ovens I would find myself with a lot more tall cupboard storage, thus meaning a bigger pantry. I would encroach this pantry space into the fridge niche and have the fridge right on the end of the left wall. Oh and my cupboards would be ceiling height, I'm a short person so the less high things to clean the better. After all that some minor changes: appliances, coat of paint, window dressings, bench top, flooring, light fixtures and a bigger sink. Kitchen, tick!

Hehe, there's a bathroom sneak peak! The is the front bedroom on the right, considered as the master. I actually don't mind the wall paper which I am undecided about changing. So until I have decided it's just new window dressings and light fittings.

Taa Daa! It's a bathroom, it's it ugly! There are 2 words to describe what I would do here: START AGAIN! Totally gut it and start with a blank canvas, with a smalled window.

 

This is large back bedroom! New paint, window dressings and light fixture = complete! Or if I was to make it the master bedroom I would also remove the built-in.

 

This is the smalled back bedroom which with a new coat of paint, window dressings and light fittings would be a prefect study. Or with the built-in removed would be a perfect walk-in-robe.

Last bathroom and it's another start again project. It would either stay a second family bathroom or become the ensuite to the master.

This is the room I would hope to delete and incorporate into the living area.

Hhmm not sure what to out here, I need grass though for my fur baby/ies. Trimming some of the bushes around the fence line is possibly where I would start.

 

Until next time