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Things for the Yes List

11/4/2015

2 Comments

 
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In the midst of all the building madness, it’s always great to find some little gems that just work. So while we keep ticking things off our To Do list, I thought I’d share a couple Would Use Again products and people as I know some of you are keen on knowing the exact details of how and where.  
  • I wrote about the overhead cabinets openers last time, and this is more of the same theme – it’s those drawer dividers that I’ve always wondered about but never actually invested in. This time, I’m totally sold. These puppies from Blum fit perfectly, in a multitude of ways, and just work. They’d definitely go on my list if we lost all reason and sanity and did this building thing again.
  • Next is the fire. Because of our huge thermal heat sink (the concrete floor soaking up the Northern and Western sun) we have been plenty warm in the place thus far. But in the first week, when it was just Mr BuildingBoxes and I and there were a few doors still missing, we cranked up our wee Studio fire box. It took five pieces of offcut timber (untreated of course) to heat the whole place, the whole night. Seriously. That is some mean efficiency. On this one we cheated as there was one of these cute wee fires in a flat we shared in the past. But having one in the house is a definite yes this time round too.
  • The couch. Oh yes, the couch. I looked all around town for different couches and they were all either a little boring, or too pricey. The folks at Kiwi Beds and Sofas could make me something, quickly, in New Zealand (yeay for the carbon footprint) with super kid proof foam and in whatever colour and fabric my heart desired. And it cost less than a “highstreet” store one. That gets a definite would use again.
  • The oven – it practically cooks dinner itself. It did freak me out when I turned it on and the front panel Opened Up Like A Tardis! but then, it cleans itself so I forgive it. Clever Bosch oven.
  • Aladdin’s Rugs. I have looked everywhere for rugs. But a friend told me about this little hidden gem and boom, I was sorted with choices galore and much cheaper than designer stores. It is in Auckland but they do deliver and you can order online so, it’s a win even if you’re not in the City of Sails.
  • And finally – this stuff. It took A LONG TIME to paint all those walls. So of course when the Lego Engineer and Destruction Specialist finally got into their rooms, the first thing they did was mess them up a little. Yeay for something that gets rid of most of the muck. Mr BuildingBoxes sanity is retained. Sort of…
 

2 Comments
Ande
5/6/2016 12:15:27 pm

Hey, have only just found your blog and have nearly read through it, its great and was just wondering about your stove and the flue system you used. Since you made the house so airtight did you install a direct air supply for it from outside? And howd you seal up round the chimney, thanks.

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Buildingboxes link
5/9/2016 05:59:59 pm

Hi Ande,
Nice spotting. Getting a fully air tight seal on a standard fire place is all but impossible. You need to get a specific type of fire box. A specific (expensive) type of fire box that had none of the simple, easy, efficiency of the fire we've ended up using so we had to compromise. We used fire retardants where we could to make the seal as tight as possible, but our air tightness is compromised. However, we still have an exceptionally well performing house in terms of air tightness, which was necessary for the optimal efficiency of the ventilation system. Hope that helps.

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