Diary of A Self Builder Part 3

I can TASTE the finish (my husband just tastes dust!), but mistakes can still be made, so a high degree of concentration mixed with strong negotiation skills and style is paramount.

To be a Self Builder you require a variety of skills, for example:

• Instilling Confidence – especially with the banks.   If you borrowed money on  your project before the crash like us, when banks were throwing money at you and then having to ask for more during the 2nd worst recession ever, well no university can teach you how to keep from losing it all. (Sorry should have mentioned they did lend and it wasn’t due to luck.  Just perseverance, passion, conviction and likeability).

The rest of the skills needed are in no particular order:

• Mathematician
• Negotiator
• Critical Thinker
• Interior Designer
• Architect (Grrrrr)
• Budget Planner
• Accountant
• Amicable/Diplomatic
• Composed
• Man-Manager
• Decision Maker
• Lighting Designer
• Researcher
• Labourer
• Cleaner…

The list goes on but above all you need a great sense of humour, nerves of steel and some knowledge of the Polish language for a good site morale and the banter, of course.

Before I upload the pictures I would like to mention the lighting, WOW  haven’t we moved on from the equally spaced ceiling halogen lights.  All LEDs now darling and low energy fluorescent strip lights in light boxes with wall/ceiling washes.  We’ve taken the sophisticated lighting designs from the likes of Harvey Nichols and Selfridges to create seamless illumination to curves, coves and subtle light washes in the corridors and stair area.   Hence the ceiling boxes in this photo.

For visualization:   Except in our kitchen there will be a light box running above the full length and width of the 4m by 1.3m Island.

At the moment its all about the LIGHTS.  Lights around the garden, down the walls in side and out and in the pool/spa. There are so many great examples to pump you full of inspiration.

Just a few pics of where we’re at!  Busy Bees and the Plasterers doing (having t0!) a fine job.

This is the utility room and the tech hub of the house with all the wires which incorporate the wired and wireless light and alarm system operated by Rako’s funky switches, PIRs and now by your iPad/iPhone, love it.

Whilst the sun is shining…Just 3 weeks until the balconies arrive.

I’d love to hear your story or very happy to help, we’re not selfish in that department.