After months of snooping around other threads on the H1 forum, it’s now time to start my own thread as we’re finally starting our build!

The story so far…
After purchasing a block in Helena Valley WA, we signed with DAH to build the Santorini (with some modifications similar to the display version, the Ambrose).

Major changes we made to the standard Santorini:
- Flipped the front (switched Master & Office with Garage & Theatre)
- Sunken Home Theatre
- Added Activity
- 31c to Master bedroom and living areas
- Added bulkhead over kitchen island
- Upstand to kitchen island
- CS bench & undermount sink to kitchen
- Added overhead cupboards
- Stacker doors to Alfresco
- Blanco kitchen appliances, pivot doors to showers & inset laundry trough (upgrade package)
- Added 3x4 workshop to garage
- Extended Alfresco
Plus a few other things…

Progress so far is that siteworks have begun this week, and hopefully by this time next week – A SLAB!!!

Looking forward to seeing the actual building stage happening, and sharing the experience with others who only know full well the ups & downs of building.


Milestone Dates:
Signed PPA: 31st Jan 2010
Signed Contracts: 22nd April 2010
Pre-start: 23rd April 2010
Signed off Final Plans: 16th June 2010
Council Approval: 1st July 2010
Siteworks Commence: 14th July 2010
Slab: 21st July 2010
Bricks Delivered: 13th August 2010
Bricking Started: 25th August 2010
Roof Carpentry: 7th October 2010
Roof Tiles: 19th October 2010
Plaster Float: 2nd November 2010
Ceiling Started: 9th November 2010
Windows Installed: 19th November 2010
White Set: 22nd November 2010
Lock Up: 27th November 2010
Cabinets Installed: 3rd December 2010
Wall & Floor Tiling: 8th December 2010
Applianced Installed: 22nd December 2010
Garage Poured: 5th January 2011
Front Render Painted: 18th January 2011
Gas & Electrical Finals: 18th January 2011
Key Handover: 17th February 2011

Just want to say.... about time you started your thread

We're just on our way out, so I'll read your post when we get back

Oh, and NO second guessing your choices. It'll be fine, it'll be beautiful, and it'll be YOURS

Back soon!

Hi Lis. . .WOW I love your house design. I was in a display home recently where they had that set up with the activity room & other bedrooms in their own zone. . .what a great idea! It would suit both young children & teenagers.
Love the size of your ensuite & dressing room, sunken theatre room looks good too. My DH would love that workshop in the garage!

Look forward to following your build.

Loretta

Thanks Loretta
We're hoping the stay in this house for a fair few years so the room zoning was important for (future) kids

DH insisted he got a good sized workshop as we won't be having a shed in the backyard. Workshop, theatre and alfresco decisions were left to him - had to get his way somewhere

Well done for thinking ahead much easier than having to move again later on!!
Oh yes we have to let our other halves think they are having some input

Loretta

Hi Lis,

I really love your plan. Love the sunken home theatre - very jealous Actually I love all of the changes you made!
Can't wait to follow your build

Aaah, the Santorini/Ambrose. Good choice, and I like the changes you have made! We were very close to building that as we really liked the display, but our building broker said DAH had much slower build times than the builder we chose..... you will see from the timeline in my signature however that you have so far moved a bit quicker than we have during the first phase! I'd be interested to know the (approximate) amount you spent spec'ing up the Santorini if you don't mind sharing it. Oh, and if you could put up a slightly bigger plan so I can see what you've done with it!

Keep the pics coming!

Cheers.

Thanks for the kind comments sleven. Here's hoping the build gets going soon!

Uploaded a larger plan for you westy - sorry, still a bit of a novice with Photobucket. The plan I uploaded isn't our FINAL plan, but you get the gist of it. The additional changes that come to mind are that we added a door between the kitchen & activity/minor rooms, there's a nib wall in the bathroom between the vanity & shower, and some of the openings have been changes from FHO to DHO. Up-speccing has come in at ~$40K but still comes in less than the display model and has the fancier features we wanted, as well as those that aren't in the Ambrose like workshop and larger alfresco.

Been pretty happy with our progress thus far with DAH. All milestone timelines have been spot on, almost to the day actually! Hope it stays that way

Will upload some more pics soon.

Thanks Lis, now I can have a good squiz... I really do like that workshop, I should have extended our garage that bit further and made it a proper work area, then I wouldn't have to worry about the shed out the back. I have the space on that side of the block too. Hmmmm....

Milestones? What are those??! Our builder certainly doesn't understand the concept!

So is your slab on track for Wednesday?

oh Lis - how in earth did I miss your new thread... must've had my head in the gutter...

I looooove the plan and can't wait to see your final one with the changes you've made. What are your selections in terms of colour/materials??

Our pre-start variation was approx $40K so I know what you mean

As to having your slab poured this Wed makes me so jealous - we are so behind with ours it's not funny... I found out that our SS is on holidays - mind you not from my CLO but from a fellow H1-er... grrrrrrrrrrrrr definitely didn't get to a good start with our CLO - she prefers to call rather than email and she's not very personable either – hopefully thing will improve. I do prefer email updates though so I have things in writing... I might ask her to email me from now on and only ring me if something urgent.

Weather is perfect for tomorrow so all the best and hope to see some slab photos Thursday??...

Congrats on getting started. I hope you get your slab by the end of the week. Exciting times ahead

Thanks carlswil, things are getting really exciting now

Oh Bagheera, I really do have my fingers crossed that you'll start soon - definitely no going back now, there's no old house to go back to

I actually missed a call from my CLO today because I was stuck in work meetings for hours, so not sure when exactly the pad will go down.

In the meantime, a few block pics.

~Block - April 2010
[ img ]

~The neighbourhood pets
[ img ]

~Block all ready for the slab!
[ img ]

Will do a block stalk before work tomorrow just to make sure I don't miss anything!

Hi Lis

I must have had my head in the gutter too. I missed your thread too!!!

Congratulations. Perfect weather for a slab!!!

Loooove your plan and the changes you made. Your hubby certainly has good reason to be most pleased with his new "man land places". No use giving my hubby a workshop, he wouldn't know what to do in it. Ha ha. But at least it leaves us free of DIY disasters, cause he only attempts to look after the gardening at our house. Then again he is chief diswasher, so he will be ecstatic to see that nice new shiny dishwasher when we finally move in. Ha ha.

You must be close to having your slab poured now. Can't wait to see the piccies.

I have been really bad - I haven't yet posted pics of our place and yet bricking is nearly finished. Hubby has had the camera in his car for his daily block stalks. We have only crosses paths late at night and it's been too late for me to be bothered to jump on the computer. This weekend I promise.

Our prestart was $48K too. It adds up quick doesn't it.

Anyway great to see your thread started.

Cheers

Hi jbarry! Yes, hubby is quite chuffed with his 'man-spaces'. I too will be happy to send him away to the workshop, or the home theatre when the footy is on so I can close the doors and he can yell at the TV as much as he wants Perhaps should have looked at sound-proofing too

Hope to see your latest pics on your thread soon. This weekend, I"ll be checking

Wow really like that plan, what is MW recess in the kitchen? Love the idea of a workshop and how the kitchen flows into the laundry

microwave recess

Its been two days now, slab footings should have been poured??? Maybe?

Good luck with your build Lis!

HAHAHA OK I have to make a comment, but does it only look to me like there are two roos on the right in the photo with all the roos, well, um, trying to make another roo????

Hi Lis,
Wow, what a fabulous floor plan. Love the idea of a sunken lounge, look forward to seeing it come together.
Cheers Barbs.

Kangaroo porn....

Love the plan so far Lis!