Vin-tij Coast

May 21, 2013
by clarekinsey 2 Comments

SOLD

I’m so very pleased to say that our house sold on auction day! The auction was a bit of a fizzer but we sold soon after and we are delighted that now we can move on to our next project!!!

The sky was dark and stormy when I got up on auction day but luckily the sun came out just before inspection time. I have never seen so many people in my house!!! It was really weird……. A giant thanks to all of our family and friends who were there to support us on the day and for all the lovely messages we have received…… You are all awesome!!!

Anyway, now the hunt begins for land on the mornington peninsula to build our “forever house”….. So excited!!!

May 17, 2013
by clarekinsey 2 Comments

one more sleep….

Tomorrow is the BIG day!! Tomorrow our home is being auctioned and hopefully will be sold. I have lived here for 21 years, all my babies have grown to adulthood here, so many wonderful memories……
How do I feel? I’m excited….. Looking forward to a new beginning. I’m also a little sad. It will feel very weird to go “home” somewhere else….. I hope a lovely young family will buy this house and that they will make as many amazing memories here as we have!
And if it doesn’t sell? We get to enjoy a finished house for a bit longer…… Either way we are winners!!
Thanks for all your well wishes and kind words over the last little while, it’s greatly appreciated!

To be continued…………….

May 11, 2013
by clarekinsey Leave a comment

open for inspection

Well here we are with just one week to go until the auction! The time has gone really quickly and I am pleased to say it has actually been pretty easy to keep everything nice. In fact it has been lovely to have such a clean house!!

We have had lots of people through, way more than I ever imagined we would and the feedback has been great. Our agent, Trevor Bowen, has been absolutely amazing!! He has worked so hard to get as many people to see the house as possible. He has been respectful of our time and privacy throughout the marketing period and has made us feel so comfortable throughout the whole process with his relaxed and friendly nature – feels like we have been friends for years.

It’s going to be a busy week with a few more “opens” and a few private viewings to get through and then the auction! See you here next week with the result!!
If you would like to speak to our agent Trevor you will find his contact details here

May 6, 2013
by clarekinsey 3 Comments

meet Bailey….

In keeping with my plans for 2013 I have been learning more about photography. Our resident photographer has been doing his best to teach me the ins and outs of the camera, helping me understand what it all means and how you put it all together to get a beautiful photo. It’s all a bit confusing at the moment and I would normally throw my hands up and say “too hard” and press the automatic button!

But I didn’t! I have practiced a bit with a doll and was lucky enough to be able to “borrow” a gorgeous little man named Bailey so that I could practise with a real baby. He is just devine and I am very excited to share with you all my very first baby shoot!

Isn’t he just the most angelic bubba you have ever seen?

It was a real challenge working with Bailey. They say that a baby should be under 2 weeks of age to get those lovely sleepy shots. Bailey is 3 weeks old and he was not at all interested in sleeping!!

He was a very placid baby though which I think is largely due to having parents who are very relaxed and attentive.

Eventually his little eyes did close for a few moments and we got a couple of lovely sleepy shots.

This was so much fun….. Can’t wait to do more!! A big thank you to Rhiana & Sam for letting me photograph him and to Steve for his help & editing xxx

I am looking for more bubs to photograph so if you know anyone due to have a baby soon get them to contact me…….

April 18, 2013
by clarekinsey 6 Comments

we are finished!!

I am absolutely delighted to say that “we are finished“!

Yesterday evening we had the professional photographs done by Frank Parisi. He wanted to do a twilight shoot which seemed a little silly to me considering how beautiful our house is during the day because of all the natural light that floods in. Anyway I am not the expert and we trusted his experience and I am so glad we did! The photos are outstanding…..

It was a crazy day, trying to get all the last minute things done and I was still mopping floors minutes before he arrived. Earlier in the day I had resigned myself to the fact that I just wasn’t going to get it all done….. There was just too much and I was having a hard time getting around with my sore foot. Thankfully Steve & Brittany came home from work and together we got it all sorted. They have been such a massive help this past week or so & I couldn’t have done it without them.

So here we go…… The formal lounge! Thanks to Maria and the team from staged2sell who helped put this room together using what we already had and a few extra bits.

Bedroom 2….

Bedroom 3….

Kitchen…. I love the bench space I have here…… Plenty of room to dish up for a big family!

I just love open shelves. I think it gives the kitchen a relaxed holiday feel. There is oodles of cupboard space PLUS the butlers pantry so we were able to have open shelving without compromising on valuable storage.

Dining area….

Family room looking out to the deck….

Laundry….

Family bathroom….. This is the best bath tub for a relaxing soak!

Bedroom 4….

Bedroom 5….

Media room/parents retreat…. I love this room…… It opens out onto the deck.

Master bedroom….. My favourite room. Makes me smile every time I go in there

Ensuite bathroom…

Outside entertainment area….

This has been a long post but before I finish I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped along the way. For the most part it has been me plodding along little by little but these past few months everyone has chipped in one way or another. We are all now exhausted, and I am pretty sure that these last few weeks I have driven everyone crazy!!!! I’m sorry about that But….. WE DID IT!!!!! I am so incredibly thrilled with how it all looks and oh so proud!!!
Also a big big big thank you to my wonderful friend “Richo”. His help was incredible, nothing has ever been too much trouble and I have learned so much from him.
So where to from here? Not really sure….. Will save that for another post! I’m excited though and can’t wait for auction day!!!!
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and following along with the renovation. I really appreciate all the comments and encouragement
Now to try and keep the house clean & tidy for a month…… Eeeeeeeeek!!!!!

If you would like more information about this property please contact Trevor Bowen.

*All photos have been taken by Frank Parisi and have been used with permission*

April 5, 2013
by clarekinsey 6 Comments

Almost finished!!!!

I wasn’t going to put anymore pictures up of the house until it was finished, and then I was going to use the professional photos to show you all the final result……

BUT…….

I can’t help myself!!!!! The garden is finally looking like a garden after years of looking like a tip! Steve took some lovely pictures today while we were hard at it and so I thought you might like a peek of our work in progress.

Just to remind you of what we started with down the side of the house……

The pebbles were delivered this morning. At first we thought…..”hope we have enough”!

Now after hours of moving them its more like “OMG we haven’t even got half way through!!!”

Bit of planting! I’m well hidden and absolutely filthy……

And the (almost) finished result!!!! What a difference….. It’s all looking so lovely. I can’t wait to show you the whole house finished.

March 27, 2013
by clarekinsey 6 Comments

garden makeover

It’s just over a week now since Daisy left for New York and I am feeling sooooooo much better. I have spoken to her a few times and she has settled in well and is enjoying herself. She is going to have such an amazing year. The time difference has taken a little getting used to, she text me at 2:30am the other day before realising I would be in bed! I didn’t mind……

In preparation for selling the house, I have packed up all her things into boxes ready to go to storage. It was a little sad & exciting at the same time. Daisy has lived here her whole life. It will feel very strange to come back to an entirely different house I’m sure!! It feels weird to me to be on the move after such a long time but I’m very excited about it too!

With her things all packed up, I have been able to clean her room and get it ready. I’m very happy with it. It’s such a lovely bright room….

I’ve also been creating a little artwork to fill in some spaces in the house. These have gone into my room.

And this little one has gone into Daisy’s old bedroom. So much fun to do! I love making things like this….. It’s very relaxing and once the house has sold and life has settled down I intend to do a lot more of it!!!
This week has also seen the front yard really take shape. Steve has worked very hard at it and should be very pleased with himself.

The turf was delivered literally at the crack of dawn by a massive truck. At least that’s what they tell me….. I was in bed!

Very quickly the yard became a garden and finally……..

Tadaaaaaa!!!! Of course now we are trying our best to keep it alive after a few very hot and dry days. So far so good! Also we have had Caitlin here this week planting the garden beds…..looking very good with some pictures to come.
I had a property stylist come out to see me today. I think we are pretty much on track with that sort if thing but I did want to hire some furniture for the front lounge and to fill in a few gaps here and there. I don’t want to go buying furniture now especially as we are hoping to go to a smaller home. Anyway she had a few helpful ideas and I look forward to seeing her furniture selection!
Lots to do….. Only a couple of more weeks left until we hand the house over to the agent for auction!!! Eeeeeeeeek!!!!