The RUC Stairs
It’s been a while since I’ve given you an update on the RUC. We’ve been working on the front stairs for a few months with our trusty builder Mick Black.
I call these butterfly stairs, but I have no idea if that’s the correct term – I’ve just always known this design of stairs to be butterfly due to the separation of the lower steps.
I haven’t finished painting the balustrade yet, and probably won’t until next year. The reason for this is that I’m going interstate soon and I don’t know how long I’ll be away – but, believe me, I’ll stay in touch with some very exciting news.
Until then…
Enjoy the building of the RUC stairs in pictures.
***Have a great week!!!***
Dianne Gray author 
These are gorgeous. How proud you must be!
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I love them, Jacqui – I thought I’d never get them the way we’ve been going the last few years 😉 I’m glad you like them too! xxxx
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Wonderful. They totally complete the Victorian facade. What a gracious and elegant entry. We, too, have recently completed the front steps and porch railing. Much more rustic, and not nearly so elegant. Soon I’ll post pics.
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I really think they fit the era of the house too, Alta. I’m looking forward to seeing your pics as well. I hope your bees stings have all vanished. You’re the only person I know who has been stung over 100 times and survived to tell the tale! Wow xxxxx
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Fit as a fiddle, and putting lessons learned into action!
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I’m so glad! 🙂
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The design is beautiful. I love the tulips in the balustrade! What a lovely touch. Excited to hear what the news is!
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The tulips were hubby’s idea – the other builders thought he was being a bit ‘weird’ until they set them in there and realised how wonderful they look! 😀 I just love them. The news?? Oh yes – I’m going interstate to visit my daughter and there may be some pictures in late October (hint hint) 🙂 xxxxx
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Ooh, I think I I know what it is. Very exciting!
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Oh yes – I’m waiting with anticipation and a lot of excitement xxxx
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I just love the tulips! A nice eye appeal for sure. Can’t wait to read about your news! 🙂 Have a great week!
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Yes – those tulips really set if off, Jackie! I love them too. I can’t wait for my news to ‘arrive’ either 🙂 🙂 I’ll have some pics to share in late October xxxx
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Very dramatic and a great architectural compliment to the RUC.
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Thank you, Sharon. I think the RUC deserves it after a destruction order was put on it before we found it and carted it all the way to our place. It’s a very happy house now 🙂 🙂
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Dianne, WOW! this is truly beautiful. Like everyone else I, too, will be waiting for your news. 🙂
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I’m so glad you like the stairs, Lynda. Considering the RUC was supposed to be knocked down and probably sold for fire wood before we found it, I’m really happy with the results! It’s certainly been a journey with a lot of ups and downs xxxx
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Awesome stairs… I love Queenslander style homes. I love the colours, and tulips, too ♡
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Thank you, Dale. It’s so good to hear from you. I hope all is going well at Taylors Arm xxxx
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All is well… busy… but almost end of term. Hope to do a blog post soon 🤓
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Hi there! How nice to discover another friend of a friend… I was put onto your blog by Lynda Swink of Life on the Farmlet, because she knows how much I love old Queenslanders, and now I discover EllaDee’s here as well! I’m also in cane country: down the road a way from you in Mackay. We spend our free ‘holiday’ time in FNQ as often as we can, so your landscape looks very familiar too. Three years ago I broke my heart over a beautiful old Queenslander, Dr Jekyll on the outside and Mr Hyde under the surface. We had to give her up, she’d have cost us double the purchase price to put right. So I’m filled with admiration for your gorgeous home and her beautiful new staircase. Kate 🙂
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Thank you so much for dropping by, Kate! It’s great to meet someone who understands Queenslanders – they can certainly break your heart (and the bank)! We’ve been working on this one for 4 years now and it seems forever, but we can only do things as we save up for them so we just keep chipping away. I always thought I was a patient person, but my patience has been pushed to the limit and beyond over this place, and if I was offered the chance – I would never do it again 😀
I’m so glad you like the stairs – trying to paint them is fiddly because I don’t often get that straight delineating line where the balustrade and handrail meet, but I’m not expecting anyone to look too closely 😉
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Very fancy!
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She’s looking good 😉
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Wow! The stairs look spectacular, Dianne…so welcoming!
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Oh yes – I think people may want their wedding photos taken there soon! (once the grass grows back) 😉
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The stairs look wonderful. Interesting to see the change in the grass too from the start of the project to the ‘almost completion.”. Looks as though there hasn’t been much rain. Happy travelling.
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Absolutely no rain at all. I think the front lawn is almost dead so I’m going to get the bore working in the next few days to see if I can get a bit of greenery there. I’m so glad you like the stairs – they’re not only handy, but I think they would make a nice backdrop for some family photos xxxx
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And I am guessing you may want some big family photos soon.
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Absolutely 😀 I’ll get everyone in for the big family pics 😉
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These stairs are reminiscent of some Jamaican homes of my youth. I like them and always thought the style was Jamaican! Hah.
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The style could very well be Jamaican, Cynthia. We had some children here the other day and they ran up and down the stairs trying to decide which staircase to take each time – it was a lot of fun 🙂
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Very awesome! I love those stairs. And the tulip is a wonderful touch. Nice job!!
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Thanks, Kate! The tulip was hubby’s idea and the builder and his helper thought it was funny at first that a guy would think like that – but once they were set in place all the guys stood around and said, ‘wow! great idea’ 😀
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Love seeing the process. End result is gorgeous. I’m really in love with the tulip cut out in the balastrude. So pretty.
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Thank you, Char. It’s certainly been a journey, but we’ve finally got there xxxx
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They look great! Have a fun time on your trip!!! ❤️
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Thanks, Nancy. I’m so glad you made it safely through Irma xxxx
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“Butterfly stairs” a beautiful name for a beautiful project.
Speaking of projects, hmmm, I’m excited to see what ‘develops’ from your interstate visit!!!!
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Oh – it should be very interesting, Pam. I’ll be taking pics of the “new arrival” and posting them here. Shhhhhh, just between you and me 😀
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project looks like it is coming along (nice name for stairs) and safe travels – looking forward to catching up later this fall….
xxooo
priorhouse
(ps – stay in the zone, baby)
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Thank you so much, Yvette. And yes – I’ll be staying in the zone 😀
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😉
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Progress indeed! 🙂 🙂 Love the tulip! Wish you well on your travels 🙂
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Thank you, Jo! 🙂 xxxx
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The flower was a beautiful touch. 🙂 And the stairs look great. That place is really coming along!
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It certainly is. It’s seems like it’s taken forever, but maybe it’s just my patience wearing thin. I’m so glad you made it through Irma xxxx
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Stairs are beautiful! Love the tulip!
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The tulip certainly is a nice touch. It was hubby’s idea and I (now) agree with him 😉
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Well done, hubby!
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Oh, and can’t wait for this exciting news! You big tease! 🙂
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Haaaa – I am a tease 😀
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Wow it really looks lovely and I find the tulips delightful!
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They really do add a nice touch, Allen 😉
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Such elegant stairs and I love the tulip detail.
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Thank you, Andrea – I’m so glad they’re almost done xxxx
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Love your new stairs, Dianne. The tulip detail is very elegant, as is the blue colour. Looking forward to reading about your exciting news. 🙂 xx
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Things are about to get very busy, Sylvia 😉 xxx
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Excellent job – love the tulip cutout
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Thank you for coming by to take a look and comment 🙂
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The stairs look great, Dianne. I love the artistic touches with the tulips and the wagon wheels.
On a related note, although I know it’s common Down Under, I always find it so disconcerting to see houses on stilts. I know the whole thing is stable, but it just feels so precious to me, like it’s perched on toothpicks.
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I feel exactly the same way, Janna – and I get vertigo. I didn’t actually want the house to be this high, but hubby refused to be swayed and wanted it ‘right up there’. The stilts go way into the ground and are cemented in. The architect designed them to be the same size as the “worse case scenario” which is “built on sand” which the house is not – so (apparently) they’re extremely stable and strong. I tell myself this every time we have strong winds – and I’m almost convinced! 😀
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The stairs look beautiful, Dianne, and I’ll bet they’re a nice “welcome home” when you get back from that interstate trip!
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Oh yes – as long as it doesn’t rain too much and they’re not overtaken by weeds 🙂 I’m SO glad you like them xxxx
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Love the stairs, Dianne, although I see you aren’t expecting a visit from your old friend in the USA!
But evidently, you are “expecting” another visitor when you visit your daughter – this is great news…shh…but I will look forward to pictures and wish your family well with much new happiness.
Hugs and kisses from South Carolina!
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Thanks so much, Sheila – what a truly exciting time it is xxxx
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Wow wow wow Dianne!! How absolutely awesome do they look!! 😚 xx
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Oh Andy – great to see you here!!! I hope you had a nice birthday and I’m so glad you like the stairs 🙂 🙂 xxxxx
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Wow, just stunning!!!! You must be so happy. What does going “interstate” mean?
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Haaa – sorry Luanne, going interstate means travelling to another state in the country 😉 I’m back now and ready to get back into blogging again xxxx
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Woohoo!!! Welcome back! xoxo
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Just dropping by to say hello – and sending good thoughts your way 🙂
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Thank you so much – I’m back home now and ready to start blogging again. I’ve been out of the web for too long! 😉
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well take your time – but look forward to your next post – peace
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Dianne, haven’t seen your posts for a while. Are you well?
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Hi Cynthia – yes I’m well. Thank you so much for your concern xxxx I’ve been very busy lately and not had the time to catch up on any of my blogging buddies (which makes me feel quite guilty). My daughter had a baby, hubby lost his job (but found another one thank goodness), and we’re in the middle of some severe floods here in Cairns – all excuses I know, but I’m planning on posting again very soon. Much love and hugs to you xxxx
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Dear Master of Procrastination ~
We’re waiting . . .
Signed,
An Able Apprentice Procrastinator 😀
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Haaaaa! You’re wonderful, Nancy. One day I might design a procrastination app – if I ever get around to it 😀
All is good here. I’m thinking about going out to buy some blinds for the front of the RUC. Although, as I said, I am just thinking about it 😉
I hope you and yours are well xxx
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A procrastination app for all the able apprentice procrastinator => BRILLIANT IDEA! And (as we procrastinators know) . . . it’s the THOUGHT that counts. 😀
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Hi Dianne, I hope you continue to be well. Congratulations on your grandbaby – many of our friends now have grandchildren, and we are guilty of baby envy!! So enjoy yours and be happy!
We will look forward to pictures when you decide to post them…regardless, I wanted you to know your voice is missed.
Hugs and love,
Sheila
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Hi Shelia – how lovely to hear from you! I’ve been very lazy with my blogging for a while now and keep telling myself I’m going to get back into it (I’m obviously not listening to my inner voice) 🙂 Thank you so much for the congrats – I’m SO excited. I hope you’re all doing well xxxx
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just saying hello my friend
🙂
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Hello there – so lovely to hear from you! 🙂 I’m travelling around Australia at the moment visiting family and it’s been lovely. I hope everything is going well in your neck of the woods xxxx
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Yes / things well and hope you enjoy your travels and get all the stuff your author side needs – oh and the rest of you needs too- hah
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Hi Dianne, just hoping you and your family are all okay during the horrible fires. I am happy the Australian Open is still going to be played but worried about the air there, too.
Please take care of yourself – we send you our best wishes from under the same moon in America.
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Thank you so much, Sheila. It’s wonderful to read your kind words. We weren’t hit by any fires where we are in the tropics but have been watching carefully those to the south of us. My son is a fireman and he traveled to the fire ravaged areas to assist – I’m so proud of him. I’m glad you’re enjoying the Australian Open! Hopefully all those storms they’ve had down south have cleared the air for them xxx.
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Your son must be a warrior – like his mother.
May he stay safe.
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