Wednesday, 26 October 2011

The making of a red washi wall and more.

We had a lot of fun today watching and discovering the whole wallpapering process. Very glad Ariana came up with me to check out the wallpaper (she was just as excited as me!), because then I wasn't so shy to stand and watch as one of the walls of my study went from having the chicken pox to just being dead sexy.


The amazing glue applicator. Man and machine.

Little look to the left, just a slight calibration here and there...

And we're ready to roll! OK, bad joke.

The first sheet goes up.

Note quick draw to tool belt.

He slices the edges like a master.

The second section.

Joining the two panels.

Third panel. This one was trickier - he actually had to get his measuring tape out, do some quick maths, and work out how to use the paper in the most efficient way. Might have taken me an hour. Took him all of 2 minutes.

This is what he came up with - he used one strip of paper to do the top, inside the door and the left hand side, he just cut away where the door frame goes. Nifty!

Wood and washi is awesome. I'm excited.

The last panel.

Sorry - we were so transfixed watching him that I didn't take a photo of how he got the joins so PERFECT. Don't worry, we locked it in, Eddy!

The final trim.


After cutting where the paper joins, he uses a roller to flatten it completely. You have to look very closely to tell where the joins are. Brilliant!


Ben's room is complete, and we're not only happy to report that it's made the room really nice and light, but it also has a slightly blue glow from the ceiling which makes me think a spaceship has already taken up residence. Kinda cool!

Now all it needs is his bird curtains and the floor boards, which are currently being protected by all of that cardboard on the floor, and it will be smashing! Ben is planning his "cushion corner" complete with an electronic massage cushion. The biy has style!
I designed these curtains for Ben, based on some that I saw and liked, but were the wrong colour.

It's was a bit dark to see the bathroom and toilets properly, but they are also being done or have been completed:

Sorry, the picture is a bit too dark. This is a different kind of washi paper to the one we chose for the Japanese room.
Two-tone toilet. This paper has a rendered texture. Goes with water, I thought.


The Genkkan (entrance area) has had one of its walls done too - the other walls will be different to this:

A bit of a close up, so you can see the pattern. It's subtle, but very nice, I think! This paper will also be on the back wall of the kitchen, behind the wooden back cupboards.

And, as you can just spot above, the tatami (Japanese) room has also received its feature wall, which I'm especially excited about! The dark blue washi has a lot of texture in it that catches the light and makes it perfect for that spot - and it contrasts beautifully with the wood in the room.

How cool is THAT?!

As you can see clearer in this picture, the washi has a great texture. The red one above has the same texture too.

We couldn't decide what to watch - the guy wallpapering or the dude making the doors.

Kaoru and I immediately liked this guy. He's just one of those people that's too cool for school.

These doors will be covered in the red washi.

Watching him work on our way out the door.

Love this photo.

We now have only 3 weeks until we move in. I can't seem to get any packing done, but I'm sure it will happen. He! Well, until tomorrow!

Monday, 24 October 2011

Ceilingpaper.

Well, we can't quite call it wallpaper yet, as it's only made it to the ceiling, but it's exciting nontheless, specially for Ben. When we were up at the house today his room was in the middle of having its roof papered, and he was so excited he ran back downstairs and said "Mummy, come and look at this!"

Looking into Ben's room from the freespace.

Over halfway done!

I was wondering how strong this guy's arms must be to be wallpapering ceilings all day.

A slight flicker of the stars which come out at night. Can you see them?
Ben found an off-cut of his wallpaper and brought it home with him. He took it to bed with him tonight, and popped it under his blanket so he can see the glow-in-the-dark stars. Awww, little guy! On another note, he has decided against the whale curtain fabric, because he no longer has dolphins on his roof, but stars and clouds. I told him he could still have the whales, or fish, but he said "But they can't fly - it needs birds!" Smart cookie that one!

Ceiling of Kaoru's study.

Our bedroom ceiling - the colour on the inside of the pop up is the one going on most walls. A wooden fan will go in here.

And a close up - why not?!

The dining/living ceiling. How I love those beams.

The tatami (Japanese) room ceiling, with slight dip.
Here are our lovely hand-made doors, ready to be fitted into place.

The ones near the kitchen are solid wood, like this.

And the kitchen pantry.

The wood is very smooth and lovely!

"Hello. I'm a door." "Really? That's funny. I'm a door frame. Come here often?"
Almost forgot to add this in for my Mum - yes, we have a bath, and I will be sure to fill it for you upon your arrival!

The bath! Really nothing fancy, but nice enough.


Saturday, 22 October 2011

The house is still getting plastered. I'm not.

Disappointed! I waited until this afternoon to go and pick up the curtain material swatches and then take them to the house to put them up against the wallpaper, but it was getting MORE plaster. These guys are so thorough! Maddening!! : )

WHY, pray tell, is the wallpaper STILL in its wrapper...hmmmmm????!

On another note, the preparation for the large front tiles has begun, with an extra layer of concrete below where the deck will be and in the entrance (genkkan). So, no complaints from me afterall!
The genkkan (entrance) gets a new coat of cement before the tiles are laid.

A section of the new layer of concrete, under where the deck will be.

Well, how can one get antsy with a Saturday afternoon view like that?! The ocean was beautiful today.

One bonus to our new location - you can see the rain coming before it hits!
Looking out to Hiji in the distance.

There's loads of things for kids to do. There are weeds to kick...

...immaculate roads to play on...
And hot onsen water in every gutter. Ahhhhh, the good life ; )