4 decades of houses

I’m indulging in a moment of sentimentality because, well, it’s a conspicuous month.  A certain birthday.  I’ve been reminiscing about the 21 houses I’ve lived in, being amused at the decorating fashions that have been recycled over the years and hypothesising about the influences of my history on my current choices for House By The Water.

1974-1980

My first House By The Water.

My first kitchen bench.

Exposed brick and psychedelic green!

The lake at the bottom of the garden.

Macrame. Apologies to Aunty-Kate.

Statement couch! No wonder Aunty Kate had her eyes closed.

1980

The A-frame rental.

Memories of itchy chicken-pox as I lay under the pitched roof.

1980 – 1984

The humble Australian weatherboard house.

Wood lined walls may be perennially popular, but what about lace curtains?  Who cares?  The inhabitants were happy.

On the eve of my 7th (?) birthday, once I’d gone to sleep, my parents moved me into my very own bedroom.  I pretended to remain asleep, but really I was peeking at the newly pine-lined room (thank you Dad), complete with custom made soft furnishings (thank you Mum).  Their renovations had been top-secret until that moment.

1985-1993

Farmhouse.

Before!

Under renovation.

Was it 2 hours before or 2 hours after settlement of this house that Dad started wielding the sledge hammer?  This old farmhouse needed some work.  My room was pink and black (ergh!) with a barre and gigantic mirror for ballet practice, but my favourite spot was on a wooden platform up a tree where I would write my journal.  Slowly Mum and Dad beautified this country house and large garden.

My writing tree.

Old treasures.

Farmhouse bath.

“After”

The garden, with its mountain view, was the perfect place to return to for our good ol’ fashioned country wedding several years later.

Our wedding (in the year 2000) – with my husband’s parents.

1992

Double story English brick houses.

This one made extra special by a large and beautiful garden.

Elegant England.

On student exchange to England, I had the privilege of calling 4 different English houses my home.  All were double story and each had a great sense of cosiness.  For the first (and only) time, I experienced the luxury of a bedroom basin.  I thought it was decadence to have my own basin for teeth cleaning.  The grand home above was extra special with a beautiful outlook over a massive garden and a hidden veggie patch keeping my hosts in stock with fruit for evening crumbles.  Yum.

1994-1997

Melbourne – student digs of various descriptions.

Carlton – the epitome of student life.

It’s all about location.

College room

So long as a tram rolled passed the door, there were no holes in the floor and the price was right, then we were happy tenants.  Even so, I managed to secure a cute old semi-detached house (not pictured) to share with friends – you know, the kind of house that is one room wide.  It was in Melbourne that the Nice Wolf and I had our first home together.  We rented an apartment in Carlton with a great city view.  Yes, it was best appreciated with the lights off!  But, ooh, what I could do, if only I could get my hands on that apartment now!

1998

Bendigo character house.

Some lovely heritage details in the historic city of Bendigo.  My room had wooden floors, a fireplace and stained glass windows.

1999-2002

The Indian Ocean.  Mandurah brick and tile.

We rented 2 houses in this same block.

Ocean front.

Builder’s own home

Two full-time incomes for the first time and freed from Melbourne rental prices, we decided there was only one place to be.  By the beach.   These houses are typical of Mandurah, but with amazing views.  We swam in the ocean most afternoons after work, and watched a pod of dolphins take their daily trip North.  When we moved from the first house to a second house in the same block, we loaded our white goods onto a trolley and wheeled them down the street.  The second house was built by a builder to be his holiday/retirement home.  We rented just one level.  The workmanship was fantastic.  Without a doubt the best feature was the upstairs, outdoor spa, just right for serving cocktails as the sun set.

2003-2006

Renovators’ delight.

Kid friendly back yard.

Bifold doors and Jarrah floors.

Looking weary after 7 years of tenants.

This house was our first purchase.  A 1970’s brick and tile do-er-upper.  We spent 3 years renovating on weekends – rendering the outside, restoring the roof, installing recycled wood floors, completely gutting the kitchen and 2 bathrooms.  The Nice Wolf is pretty handy and put in a new kitchen. We did most of the work ourselves and a lot of it the hard way.  It was a good project to “cut our teeth on”.  My favourite place was the back yard.

2006-2009

Canadian townhouse.

Stunning Autumn

The Nice Wolf made a house.

All Ikea-ed out.

Real trees.

The second little Pig assessing build quality.

Snowy driveway.

This was a beautiful townhouse in a beautiful area, walking distance from Lake Ontario.  Wood floors, high ceilings and a wood-look, gas fire place for wintery nights.

2010-2011

The Queenslander.

A Queenslander oozing character.

I loved this white and wood kitchen.

So many hours spent on the deck.

The source of much inspiration.  Plantation shutters, wood floors, white kitchen.  Our first pool.

2011-present

City high-rise monstrosities with views.  China, South-Korea, Brazil.

Bedroom view in Beijing.

Standing room only for adults

Window cleaning fun.

Tiny, tiny, tiny.

Our “back yard” in Seoul.

Functional, but oh so ugly.

Great views in Seoul.

2015….

House By The Water…..never move again.