What great light and sky in this photo - oh and the building is not too shabby. Pity about the fence, the toilet, the clay mounds and the unfinished walls at the upper level - apart from that this is a great shot. Only 3 weeks to go until we start moving in - WILL IT BE FINISHED IN TIME???? Stay tuned.

Mike finally got himself into a photo - he is only a shadow of his former self and a one handed photographer at that. It will be good when the beloved dunny goes and the dirt becomes garden - soon I am told, soon.................

WOW is that a deck or a dance floor. Just a week ago this decking looked 100 years old with all the tradies doing a bit of boot scooting over it. Now it looks ready for ballroom dancing. This may be a case of shoes off if you want to go outside!!!

The completed sandstone feature wall in the entry - or at least part of it. Wes is back in a couple of weeks to complete the job on the outside of the entry area. Looking great so far

A close up of the unbelievable painting job being done by David on the front door. There is an inlaid aluminium strip with "Monument" (matching the roof colour) on the right hand side and Porters "Liquid Copper" on the left hand side. Looks great and when the painter told us how much it was per litre we thought that it must be REAL liquid copper. But how good is it? Wait until you see the door hanging on the front of the house..............

The feature wall behind the bed head in the main bedroom. David (the painter) is doing a great job. This wall is Wattyl "Gilded Gold" Pearl Finish and has one coat to go.

The plumber has progressed this week and has started installing the fixtures. This shot is in the master ensuite with his and her basins. The cupboard over will be mirror faced. I sure it will look very different by the time it is all done and cleaned - oh the cleaning!!!

The final coats of paint are going on now with the colours getting richer. The floor will be carpeted and the carpet colour is (you guessed it) charcoal. In case you are wondering, the two holes in the wall are for the TV connections and the glass cupboards at the base are to the equipment cupboard. The 3 white rectangles on the seat are the notices saying 'Keep off the seat"

WOW!!!! Wes the tiler has started installing the sandstone in the entry foyer. The blocks are 600 x 400 x 32 and weigh a lot - just ask Wes. This feature is repeated under the stairs and outside the front door and by the time Wes has finished his biceps won't fit in his shirt sleeves!!!

Not a great photo - the setting sun streaming into the kitchen area - but it shows that the island bench has had the stone bench installed as well as the upsatand wall at the right hand end (to hide toaster kettle etc.). The under bench knee space will be lined with brushed aluminium. Also if you look closely you can see that the stainless steel top has also been installed along the back and left hand side. Kitchen is now getting closer and Lee is very excited!!!

Kaitlen getting excited by the feature wall colour in her bedroom "I thought it was going to be a light colour?" It will be Kaitlen - it has not yet been finished and you did say that you wanted blue!!!

Caesarstone Raven benchtop has now been installed in the master ensuite. Now Wes can complete the surrounding tiling to bring the ensuite closer to completion. So much work and so little time.........

The water storage tanks have arrived and been put in place at the west end of the lounge area. There are two large and one small tank with a total capacity of 19,000 litres. The tank water is used for the toilets, the ponds and the external garden taps. They also give some protection to the west wall of the house from the hot setting sun................mmm sounds like an architectural magazine submission

View of the rear of the house as it gets closer to completion. The galvinized water tank on the right will be mirrored on the left with galvinized mini-orb cladding under the kitchen window and around the BBQ.

From this angle you can see the rear of the metal sculpture in the pond and on the left of that is the fire pit area - refer to the next photo for the fire box for this area.

Steel fire box designed by Mike and fabricated by Ross of Valley Steel - was that another ad???

Although this is currently sitting in the lounge room, it is destined to live outside, near the rear water feature - for those cold nights when Mike is cooking on the BBQ and feels the need to have a cold beer by a warm fire!!!!

The idea is for the steel to rust and match in with the rusted steel sculpture in the pond............

View of the front entry area. The driveway has been poured along with the step pavers leading to the drawbridge over the pond - bring your waders when you come to visit. The "washboard" water feature (designed by Mike) has been placed in the pond. What is left to be done, the front door, the sandstone wall, the rusted steel panels, the dark monument paint to the soffit, the planting. the water feature water works and the fish - not much really and this is only the entry. The end is near and we should be close by the end of July and planning our move in early August - not long to go now..................

View of the central courtyard gradually getting closer to completion with the paving done, pergola, steps and water feature all in place. A couple of garden edging pieces and then ready for planting AND fish. The addition of the greenery should really add to this space

Closer view of the water feature in the pond in the central courtyard. Eventually the water will run down from vane to vane once Mr. Keef the water expert gets to site

It is a little difficult to see the detail (refer later photo from the outside) but the slump glass panels have safely made it into place after travelling all aorund Melbourne in the process of their fabrication. The panels were designed and fabricated by Mike's sister Marguerite and they look fantastic. This panel is in the ensuite shower area.

The slump glass window panel in the powder room. The surrounding tiling has yet to be installed. Marguerite has done a great job on the design and fabrication of the glass - contact Mike if you would like to contact her about some for you - HEY our first advertisement on this blogsite!!!!

The view of the slump glass from the outside. This one is in the master ensuite and looks great - not sure how much will be seen from the outside but what the heck - it is only the shower on the other side!!!!

Looking from the front entry towards the meals area at the far end. The painting to the walls is nearly completed and the floor tiles to the passage have been laid. Green wall = sandstone later this month

The joinery in the office is done and ready for the beer oh sorry I mean books. The shelving is ready for the books/ View is looking towards the front entry and the "green" wall will soon be clad in sandstone

View from the library towards the central courtyard. The doors have been painted and re-installed. The joinery is completed and the fish tank (photo central) is due to be measured

The bamboo flooring is OUT and the ceramic floor tiles are ON. Wes powers through the installation of the substitute flooring which is looking good. The bamboo installers would not guarantee their product if installed over a heated concrete floor - so therefore the substitute.