With a very sloping block one has to adapt or go rolling down the hill. Making retaining walls which did not require a permit was tricky. (Over 1m high needed a permit) Keeping the Juniper tree roots happy was also tricky. Working around the natural fall of rain water is an ongoing concern. Taking video of heavy rainfall and watching the way the water wishes to go is key to figuring out how to put in drainage. Even when we thought we had it right, nature will still fight you!

When visiting other people's homes I always gravitate to the photos. I enjoy looking and talking about them. In my own home I have pics of mum and dad in their youth and they are in my bedroom. For my children and grandchildren's pics I have made a collage in the stairwell interspersed with photos of me and my mates in our heyday. It always gives my girlfriends a good laugh as we reminisce old times.

Hey annemarie, thanks for the visual. Firstly, I think the pale olive trims complement the vanity unit in a way I don't think the black, grey or white could. The vanity doors and basin are subtly highlighted and it produces a very calming, aesthetically pleasing showpiece. The olive colour helps make the vanity doors and basin the standout features of this particular model - the reason you were attracted to it in the first place. Secondly, I think the colour palette works well with the Moroccan tiles you have chosen. The darker trim contained within each tile piece helps with the fusion. Do not interfere with the integrity of the vanity unit. It looks great as. Overall, you get a fantastic vanity unit - you have chosen well.

I was 23 years old and our first home (1982) was $42,000 but interest rates were 21%!!! It was in Otorohanga NZ and mortgages were tough to get. Best decision ever though. We had second hand everything, even using an old beer crate as coffee tables and book shelves lol. Over the years we have owned only 3 homes though, and if we were to start again we have learned to not over capitalise on homes we have bought instead upgrade sooner. Finally we are ebarking on our first new home build ... bettter late than never though definately!