Byron Bay renovation

Today I came across these beautiful images of a beach house renovation - everything I believe a beach house should be... bright, open, airy, tropical and perfect for family.  All pictures by Prue Ruscoe. Found here.

I love this little sandbox in the shade!

Simple & basic.

Now to find time to escape...

wish list : metal roof

Let's discuss a metal roof...

all images via

1.  More expensive initially (than standard asphalt shingles) but saves in long term maintenance costs

2.  Extremely durable & long lasting

3.  Goes well with many styles of architecture

4.  Lots of colors available

5.  100% recyclable material

6.  Saves in home heating and cooling energy costs

7.  Resistance to elements (wind, hail, fire)

One item by husband I and agree on if we were to build another house is a metal roof.  We both like the visual look of the metal roof as well as the benefits of it.  If we were to buy our next house, it wouldn't be a necessary item but definitely would be a nice extra. 

I love how all the homes above are different in style and location yet are all pleasing to the eye with the metal roof.  Most of the pictures feature the darker colors but light colors are also available.  I love the wow factor of the red roof and wish I was brave enough to try something out of the ordinary like that.

Opinions? Thoughts?

the treehouse

Well, it's not needed anymore but below is the summary/breakdown of the treehouse:

all photos via MLS

1 & 2 show the front elevation - Overall this house is not the style I would typically go for however, it grew on me and the only item I definitely wanted to change was the hunter green trim.  Unlimited funds would have allowed for changing the brown color and installing a new front door but they weren't necessary.

3 shows the completely outdated kitchen... Pink cabinets. Bluish countertops. Almond appliances.  Fluorescent lighting. Wierd bench on the island. Extremely worn and scratched hardwood floors.

All of it had to be torn out.

4 is the great room.  HUGE windows that I love. Strange glass blocks behind the fireplace. Odd paint color that needs be painted over immediately.

5 & 6 shows the back of the house. Again, not what I am typically drawn to but I think part of what drew me in was the patio and entertaining area in the back.  I don't think the upper deck overlooking the patio would ever get used?

7 is the master bath.  Once again it all needed to go.  My husband barely fit in the shower and the (looked to be barely used) huge tub took up way too much space.  The glass blocks would have been removed.  The whole bath would have gotten a new floor plan if it was mine.

8 is the very spacious loft.  It overlooks the foyer, the kitchen and the great room.  It also led to the third floor tower.  The railings were metal and needed either a paint job or completely new railings. 

In general there was wallpaper to be removed, new flooring needed throughout, and general updating needed.  But the house is set back off the road, in a quiet area nestled in the trees and reminded me a treehouse.  Plenty of area around for a child to explore! Hopefully new owners will soon fix it up and love it - it has been sitting empty for far too long.

inspired

treehouse via MLS listing

Last week I read two inspiring posts from bloggers I read often, one was Emily Clark on the story of our home - the first year and I couldn't agree more with her first two sentences... "Every house has a story. I think that's why we can get so emotionally attached to them."  I've always been interested in houses in general and I recently became attached to a house (not mine) which leads to the next post.  Lauren Liess recently wrote about buying a new home when she was happy with the home the currently owned and lived in. I read these posts in the same week and during that same week found out that a home I wanted (even though I love my current home!) and had been on the market on and off for THREE years was under contract.  Somehow I got emotionally attached to the house for sale (aka treehouse) and was trying to figure out the specifics of how that house would work for my family/what remodeling needed to be done/budgeting etc. when I found out it was under contract.  I think the biggest shock to me was how long it had been listed and sitting empty and now suddenly gone.

After finding out there was (most likely) no chance of the treehouse being mine, I began to make a list of why it wouldn't be appropriate for my family and everything I would want to change about it.  The combination of the two posts listed above and realizing all that my husband and I want in our next house (whether buying existing or building a new home) led to the creation of this blog - where I plan to explore houses and journal for myself what our dream next house would have.