Slowly it's happening

Renovation renovation renovation. The four rooms are slowly coming together, but there is still more than plenty to be done before I can share the ready spaces. Here are some photos of what we have done so far. Thinking back it seems so little but it's Bali time, so everything happens so slow!

Tiling the bathroom of room 9. The "California" tiles we got from India.

The shower is lowered down, and the mood is rustic.

Creating the wall shapes for bathroom of room 8.

Room 8, quite unfinished.

With my workers we communicate with pictures and smiles.

To make the window of room 9 bigger, we had to expand the renovation outside the 3rd floor.

I wanted to make the window 3 times bigger than what it was to make sure wont waist the view.

Waterproofing the room 7

I also decided to enlarge the bathroom windows.

Room 8 with new bathroom doors and the bathroom of room 6.

Room 9's bathroom slowly coming together.

Marble floor for room 8.

Bed head bench and bathroom of room 8

Installing the big mirrors.

Bed head for room 9.

View from room 9 and fabrics for the curtains.

The rooms are getting to the point where it will be a lot more interesting to share some photos since it wont be just concrete and dust. Can't wait to see them done!

Slowly settling down

Since I promised to my friends and family that I'll write more about my doings here in Bali I'll try to actually do that. Let's see how well it will go!

During this past week I started to make the blueprints of the rooms that we will renovate next. With my friend Bagus we have already started to brainstorm what kind of characters will join "Graeme" and "Draupadi" and what kind of personalities they will have. I'm already quite excited what we have come up with, but it's not yet time to reveal more...

I've been also busy designing stickers for the hotel's cars and smaller stickers just to give the employees to use in motorbikes or helmets. We have been trying to find the best company to print them, but the nicer materials would require less details or the minimum order of 500 pieces which is a bit too many for us, at least yet at this point. 

Other than work I have just been reading, eating and finally, after four years, I started to go to gym again. Also before my friend Cinta headed back to Finland we went for a haircut and had lunch in Clear Cafe. I miss her already!

Still working on the finishing touch for Graeme and Draupadi. We need some trash bins and...

...Bed covers,  key rings and so on.

We are also already looking for new great things for the future plans.

Clear Cafe with Cinta.

New haircut.

Breakfasts on the Bale. I usually have nasi goreng, fruit salad and juice - with a book.

Making the blueprints of the rooms on the third floor.

The interiors that haven't really been touched for almost twenty years.

But before we can start renovating the rooms.

We have to finish the parking area first.

Young coconuts.

Ubud Fitness Center.

At the printing shop getting some samples done.

First week in Bali

It has already been a week since I landed to Bali. My friend took me from the airport to Ubud and it felt nice to arrive to a place I already know so well. Seeing old friends were also such a joy.

For the first two nights I stayed in one of the rooms I already designed here and it was great to be able to try how it feels to stay in "Draupadi". There is still some small things to be fixed but in general the space has the wanted atmosphere and feeling! The other room, "Graeme" is also ready and naturally I'm happy to see that they are actually selling out very well. The fish pond infront of the rooms is almost done but there is no water yet.

I started working already by updating the menu and by making a handout map of Ubud showing all nice places around here. The workers are now making a new parking lot for the motorbikes and that will keep them busy for few more weeks. Meanwhile I started already making the blue prints of the next rooms to be renovated.

Other than that I have just slowly started to check out the new shops, restaurants and places I haven't yet visited. I'm also lookign for new models and new locations for future photoshoots.

Here are some phone pictures from the last days

Very fresh magazine I bought from Hong Kong's airport. Not sure how to get the following issues but by this one, im a fan!

"Draupadi"

"Graeme"

and the tiles that still makes me happy.

Tropical view to the pool.

My two animal friends from my friends' house.

I really enjoy my current room on the rooftop.

The fish pond is almost ready to be filled with water and those fire red carps.

Can't wait to see it done.

Making new ceiling to the parking lot.

Discovering new nature spots for future photoshoots

And having a swim where the stream is not too strong.

Graduation work

salatekstiä :)
Click to enlarge or browse the preview pages from the righ side. 

It's finally done! Last Thursday I had my final presentation and basically I'm done with my school. On above there is a virtual replica of the book I made about my final project in Bali. Unfortunately it is only in Finnish, but there is an abstract in English and many many pictures.

My original plan was to share the process here on real time, but since the actual doing took so much time and energy, in the end I only made few posts from Bali. Now after the presentation there is again time to breath and share the work - better late than never :)

Jungle book

Some days back I found this rustic abandoned hotel and every since first laying my eyes on it I wanted to take some photos there. Today we went there with my friend Dijay, but a bit too late since we kind of ran out of light. We managed to get some pictures with traditional Balinese clothing but maybe some day soon we have to give this place a revisit, with a tripod.

Working time

Back in Ubud and started my work here.

Im doing my graduation work here at my friends' hotel. We are renovating two old rooms and slowly the plans are getting togther. So far I have only made the data of the rooms with all the measurements and material analyses, but hopefully soon we can start to take down the old ceiling and floor tiles ect.

I'll try to post more about the process once we get it really started!

Here are some photos of one of the rooms we will renovate.