Go All Blacks!

292 is fully supporting the boys in black this weekend when they face France in the Rugby World Cup final. We have had the flag and the black bows up, showing our full support, since the start of the cup 6 weeks ago and they are still there! Go All Blacks!
Photograph by Charlotte Minty.

Snow in Wellington and at 292.

Earlier today - Snowdrop flowers surrounded by snow at the Minty's HQ.



Snow flurries at 292 - has been like this for most of the day.

Wellington has been having a unusual winter - first it was so mild, we got excited about an early Spring. However, Mother Nature surprised us with once in a lifetime 'polar blast' that we have not seen in Wellington for a long time, if ever. For those who don't know Wellington (or New Zealand) very well, we just don't get snow here, just the rare dusting on the hills every few decades. How today has changed that...
Photographs by Charlotte Minty.

292 - Moments from Behind the Scenes.



Father and daughter team of 292.



Our lunch bag lovingly packed every weekend by Mum - legend!



Putting as much as we can in the skip - my brother helping out.



One freezing, windy and wet weekend - and I'm smiling...?



The crane in the driveway when the trees came down.



One of many trips to the tip - we lost count.



My excellent brother helping with the exterior painting.

Here are some behind-the-scenes moments from project 292... Photographs by Charlotte Minty.

2010 at 292



292 - At the beginning

 A major part of my 2010 was 292. This was a personal building project which used my professional skills, is a rite of passage for us Minty kids (my brother and sister developed a building with my father some years previously) as well as creating a home base for me.
In January 2010, 292 was a two level building with two flats that was in a rather sad state. I had lived in it for the previous three years then my father and I stood united, (he as an architect/builder and me as an interior designer/assistant builder/occupant) and along with a professional builder, we brought this baby up to scratch. Here is the long process in a nutshell...
(click on the highlighted blue keywords to read more details about each chapter.)


Start of the interior demolition



Removing the trees from behind.



Excavation and our builder comes on board.



Finish the interior demolition



Digging holes




Concrete.





Digging out the footings.



Concrete in and breaking through into the building.



Blockwork.



More concrete.



Timber framing goes up.



Timber framing continues and getting ready for the roof.



The addition of a new roof and soffit.



The new roof is on and prepping for cladding.



The cladding goes on.



The new weatherboards are installed on the top level



Exterior painting is started.



Windows removed and bigger holes are cut for the new french doors.



Framing for new interior walls.



Electrical.



Insulation.



Gib.



Gib stopping.



The joinery for the two kitchens are  installed.



So are the bathroom vanities.



The painters arrive on site.



The upper level's balcony goes up.



The driveway ready for concrete.



The tiling is done in the bathrooms.




Kitchen is finished and I move back in to 292 in July 2010.

 


The bathroom is finished too.




The balcony handrail goes up.



And we do some landscaping at the front.





292 - the end result.

Whew! That's it. That was my big personal project for 2010. The downstairs flat has tenants and I have been enjoying living upstairs with my new flatmate. When the job was completed and I got my weekends back, I was at a loss what to do with myself. I enjoyed those weekends working with my father and achieving something each weekend. It was very satisfying. Thanks Dad.
Photographs by Charlotte Minty.

292 - My Lunch Spot

I don't mean to brag but one of the perks of working from home is that you can have a great lunch spot like this one. Bliss.
Photograph by Charlotte Minty.

292 - Update



292 - January 2010



292 - October 2010



292 - side view



292 - the other side

 Life has settled and continued at 292. I haven't written much about it for a while, however, it all goes well. Both apartments have lovely tenants and the new garden is slowly growing with new shoots sprouting. Dad and I are almost ready to apply for the Code of Compliance. We have been finishing little details over the last few months - when weather, time and energy allows us. It was on this gorgeous day that I decided to take a good look on how far 292 has come - and indeed it has. Aren't before and after photos great?
Photographs by Charlotte Minty.


The back stair access to the top apartment - January 2010



Stairs restored and with a screen - October 2010



Screens cover the stairs and the back courtyard where rubbish bins and washing lines are hidden from view.



Showing the way to 292-B.



A little garden and colour at the side.



Love the pale blue front doors.



The new garden - starting to sprout away.