Oil and water

Starting with the water... Remember, this was all going to happen before Christmas? Well, on the 21st Dec our plumber was rushed to hospital with appendicitis - it wasn't good; he was there a whole week. So we've been waiting patiently until he recovered, and he returned last week with a mate to help with the heavy work. Operational at last!

Viv and I celebrated with a bubble bath each; aaah bliss! The shower's good too; you wouldn't know we have low mains pressure (cos of the wetback).
My Dad and Viv spent a couple of hours yesterday adding towel fittings etc. There was much measurement and companionable consultation!
Not quite signed off though - the floor tiles are being oiled by moi this weekend, with a blended oil mix from Motueka: 'Java oil' from Ecohouseco. Website's mostly about timber, but slate is mentioned, and Middle Earth highly recommend the oil. Very easy to apply, and it's enriching the colour beautifully. One more coat now and we're done :)

That's it, Bathroom Blog concludes... been fun!

So what's next, I wonder?? e.

Tiles!!

I'm thrilled! Tom's done a terrific job, and the effect is everything I wanted. Turns out he learned this style and technique from, and still works with, the Kiwi guy who tiled for Hundertwasser... think Kawakawa loos! So,  handmade local tiles with lots of variation in the finish, and the influence of a maestro - well ok, third hand ;) Anyway, it's a little bit different. Here they are!

The lack of symmetry is very Hundertwasser, as is the grouting rounded to the walls... Didn't actually set out to emulate any of his principles, and there's only a hint really. I was just thoroughly bored with whites, creams and faux marble or granite in most of the tile shops, and Middle Earth was a breath of fresh air! The colour combination was an interesting outcome from Viv and my design collaboration - I wanted brights, she wanted blues, and we ended up here! The bronze wall tiles throw all kinds of interesting tones and a bit of texture when they catch the light. See the one in the middle at the top of the lowest photo. Doing the skirting was an afterthought, but it's worked really well, and I'd have had to introduce another element otherwise.

I'm very happy... We just need water now - but that's another story!

Hiatus

The painter's finished and we're waiting for Tom the Tiler - who is in the middle of doing a swimming pool... Still promising pre-Christmas, and will definitely turn up if it rains! In the meantime, the plumber and electrician are doing little bits and pieces - so we have the bath door and light switches, which go only a small way towards satisfying Viv's impatience. Having built a house from scratch, I knew to expect downtime from the trades, and am very relaxed about it! The tiles are going to be fabulous and I'm savouring the anticipation :) e.g. they'll be up the end wall of the bath to the height of the white liner.

Decisions, decisions

Stopped, undercoated, topcoats tomorrow!

This weekend's decisions: what to do about the undercoated window frames that I forgot were staying stained; (duuh. we'll match the bronzed aluminium - will be better); light fittings - ceiling, vanity, hall; what kind of glass between the bathroom and the hall. Opening is very high and I'm NOT going to be cleaning it, so solution is an already dusty look ie etched.

Extras: very tempting/sensible to sort out a few other things while appropriate skills are onsite! The plumber has a little list; just thought of something for the builder; seen an interesting possibility for lighting the dining area ( it's the bronze one). Better check the budget first! And then the real thing, of course ;)

Watching paint dry...

and getting a buzz out of it! Yes, that's my 7am tea and toast, and the last coat from the test pots curing as I wait.

Final verdict: Alabaster white ceiling and window facings; Gin fizz bathroom walls (4th sample from left) and Astra (far right) for the gibbed hall wall. Which is all up! 'Stopping' tomorrow. (double click to enlarge photo)

The chocolate tile lower left is the floor; green, bronze and white tiles will cover the face of the bath, the end wall over the bath, between the vanity and the cabinet, and form skirting. Proportions 70:25:5, in irregular combinations of rectangles and squares (3 sizes - from 150mm sq, down).

Viv "can't wait" for it to be finished; she's been saving some Body Shop bubbles for a couple of years - which is when I started talking about doing the renovation - and is planning a ritual bathe!