Welcome to my blog

We moved to Ireland with the notion of building our "dream" home in May 2007 after purchasing the site earlier on that year. Mr C is Irish and originally from Limerick but he remains in the UK during the week, his job is running www.cruise.co.uk and earning the bucks that will hopefully allow us to "live the dream."

It's taken us almost two years but ground will be broken on the site by the end of May 09!! A lot of blood, sweat & loads of tears (all mine!) have gone into this project already, we left a fabulous house behind in Newcastle...and now for my Kevin McLeod bit, "can the new build can live up to my expectations and the old house we left behind"? I'm not sure...keep watching my blog and you'll find out!!

Friday, September 18, 2009

Roofers have arrived

We are starting a new phase on site...the roofers have arrived



Most of the work carried out so far has been over the "east" wing of the house....(sounds very grand I know, but this is the easiest way to describe!) There are two bedrooms and lounge/play room at that end of the first floor and they all have vaulted ceilings.

I'm intending to use the space over the each of girls shower rooms to make a small loft area for sleeping.  Something along the lines of this.....(of course no lovely oak beams in our concrete castle!)


Source - 25 Beautiful Homes - October 2009
I really like how they've used glass balustrading (another idea I'm stealing), it really lets the light in as well as making the area quite secure...it's along way to fall if you roll out of bed!  


I'm hoping to squeeze in double mattress up there.  It's going to be quite high up but that only seems to add to the excitement and anticipation for my older girls, access will be via a ladder very similar to this.......


source - 25 Beautiful Homes October 2009



Although a "pole" (think fire station rather than strip club!)was on the wish list after seeing this pic....

Great idea girls but Mum said a firm "NO!" to that one!!
























Thursday, September 17, 2009

my first ebay disaster........

Nightmare!!
This is how my WC turned up via DHL

Should have looked like this
You win some...you loose some!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Set in Stone

The north facing exterior wall of the family room is going to get its stone cladding very soon.  This is a detail the local planning department seemed to like and who were we object!  I was a bit hesitant at first, at the thought of what seemed like "random" cladding, but would have been willing to clad it in cotton wool just to get planning approved if I'm totally honest!  However I'm now almost converted to the idea.  



The rational behind the cladding and indeed the shape of the house was to break up it's "mass" and impact on the local landscape, so to create the impression that it could have been a series of buildings joined together. Couldn't really see why the planners weren't keen on my initial plans and why it was necessary to go down this route.....however, now I see my house taking shape, I think they may have got it just right!!


 Anyway, all this means that I now have to choose a stone to clad the said wall in.  I've decided to go with a dry limestone finish, similar to this picture above. This particular limestone comes from Cong in Co. Mayo.  A sample of this stone now needs to be approved by the planning office....hope they like it!!

Monday, September 14, 2009

Another Laundry Room Lovely......


Bought this sign recently from The Contemporary Home. It will hang above the door to my laundry room....I'll always have a smile on my face when I enter....LOVE IT!
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Friday, September 11, 2009

I Stole Her Style...............

I have been following "The House that A-M Built" blog for a while now, and totally fell in love with A-M's walk-in pantry the minute I saw the post.....so much so in fact, I redesigned an area of my kitchen plan to have one just like it. There you go A-M, "imitation is my sincerest form of flattery"


Mrs C's soon to be Walk-In Pantry


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Thursday, September 10, 2009

and for my next project............


Probably the coolest tree house EVER!!

I'm too easily distracted on a day when I have a million and one tasks to tick off the list....however just had to share this with someone!!
I'd love a tree house like this never mind the kids!!

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Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Progress Pics

"Computer says"....we are 30% complete


Roofing is due to commence next week. I picked out the roof tiles last week, my roof shall be wearing Capco Berona, which is a fibre cement tile that looks like slate (can't really get excited about roof tiles!) I was shown the equivalent in Tegral, the Rivendale I think, but chose the Capco Berona as this was the most textured of the two options.



The house is rapidly taking shape all the internal walls upstairs will be complete by the end of this week. All my internal partition walls will be blocked rather than stud partitions, the benefits of this for me (well here's hoping) is greater sound proofing!!



Master Bedroom & Bathroom









This is the lovely Philippe Starck bath to go into the master bathroom
(another fantastic ebay bargain!!)







I'm really looking forward to fitting out the kids rooms, it'll be fun that's for sure. I got some ideas from digsdigs.com a blog definitely worth a visit if you like this type of thing



For now you'll just have to use your imagination and try to see past that awful grey blockwork!!




Miss A.C's Room





There is a longish corridor into this bedroom


That's all for now folks...........BBFN x


Wednesday, September 2, 2009

BLACK & TAN.......inspired interior for the Conlon House


(click above to hear the brilliant Cara Dillon version of Black is the Colour accompanied by the Ulster Orchestra)


Interior inspiration from the bottom of a beer glass
so apt on this wet, wild & windy Wednesday here in Co. Limerick


I'm getting there with a theme to tie the interior of the house together

I'm thinking...

matt black base units in the kitchen

Thick oak worktops

rustic black slate flooring
&
distressed wide plank oak flooring

stainless steel appliances

big white walls

open shelving

Squashy vintage tan leather sofas




so.......waddaya think?