Hi,

I've been reading through others thread and now thought I would start my own.

This is our first time building and so far haven't had that great experience - from the time we engaged with National Builders to now in the process of building (National Builders allocated us a Builder of their choice).

We are building the Buckingham Study 460E option with NBG in the City of Monash.

We made heaps to change to the original floor plans. And the reason we had to go with the Study option because of the slope of our land it won't allow us to have an alfresco at the side of our house, otherwise will need rails all around.

Below is our floor Plans. We made heaps of changes.
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wow you did make alot of chamges to the plans.

Love the area and the block orientation to the North rear. Great.
Love the fact you have a full bathroom downstairs, as so many 2 storey homes leave this option out.
Love all the windows you have included in your plan also. Lots of natural light!
I look forward to following your build. Best of luck!
Andrew

Equineaffair: Yes lots wasn't it. I just hope that it'll turn out alright once we get the house.

Andrew: Thank you We hope to get some good lights in. But since we close off the rumpus (North facing) so I hope there will still be some good lights from our Alfresco. I'm a bit nervous as our kitchen only have 2 small little windows 514mmx 600mm next to the stove and another window next to the meals area and we open up the Family/Dining Room to make it one big open space. Finger cross that it won't be too dark in this area of the house.

The Buckingham Study Option doesn't have the guest room downstair that was why we turn our study room into study/guest room with a semi-ensuite, share with the powder room.

I love your 4m x 1.2m island bench. Love love it. I noticed in your plans it said you'll provide your own sink. What are you thinking of getting, as I'm also providing my own sink. I'm looking for the larger bowls so I can wash my wok

Hope everything is going well for you.

Did you remove the photos from your second post?
They are showing up as errors....

Thanks Michelle. I must have done something wrong before. They're all back now.

Hi Jnny,
It must have been a huge decision to knock down your home and rebuild, as it actually looked quite nice, but then you look at the palace your about to build I can see why it's enormous!!
Love the plan wow that's one amazing master bedroom, and I have serious ensuite envy
I look forward to following your build, can't wait to see it all develop!
Barbs

Thanks Barb. Yes it was hard decision. We were toss between building a new home or full renovation of the existing one. Our original home was a 5brms home, open a space and 2 living areas. Sometimes I look back wish we hadn't gone ahead to build. It has been almost a year since we knocked our house down and today we only see a steel beam arrive. The site is still empty. No progress on the frame, where they left 2 weeks ago

Once your in your beautiful new home, that feeling will go away

Since there hasn't been any progress on the house, I'll share with you my Colour Selections:

Brick: Jarrah
Mortar: White/off white
Roof: Charcoal Modern French Terracotta Roof
Guttering: Classic Cream
Fascia: Classic Cream
Downpipes: Classic Cream
Windows: A&L White Birch
Flywire Screen: Yes
Garage doors: Classic Cream - Panelmasta Caprice Window option
External Doors: XN7 Hume Doors
Internal Doors: Flush - all 2340mm height

PAINTS:
External painting: Wattly Natural Silver
Garage, doors, window infills: C/Bond Classic Cream - Solagard
Internal Painting
- Ceiling, Cornice, Skirting, Architraves, Doors (upgrade to large size): Wattyl Classic White
- Wall: Wattyl Confetti Shower (I'll ask to change as it turns out this colour is too grey for me)

CABINETS:
Kitchen & Pantry (Colorform Gloss Vinyl Wrap)- Designer White
Island (Colorform)- Shadow
Benchtop- Quantum Quartz Alphine White
Kickrail- Luxor
Glass Splashback- Dulux Grey Pebble
Bathroom- Valencia Walnut
Laundry- Lustre White

Barb, I can't wait, but it seems just too far away.

New updates. All joists downstairs are in.

Hallway
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From invisible island bench looking out to alfresco:
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Open space (Kitchen/Meals & Family Room):
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My biggest concern is the following picture.
The way they joint the timber joists to the steel beam doesn't look too sturdy. Only a nail on top and a nail down the bottom sitting on the metal bracket. Is this correct? I would thought that there should be another timber sit in between the steel beam so the joists can nail to. Can someone out there please comment on this? As I'm very nervous that it could be a mistake.

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Your selections sound lovely
Sorry can't comment on your timber joists If you haven't already ask the question on a new thread!

Hi

Should have a bracket welded to C channel or Run another timber along C channel. Ask the builder if not get an ispector to check

Thanks Barb. I'm still deciding whether to stick to Alphine White bench through the house or that does seems too practical especially having young children. I noticed that you have Luna White bench and that looks lovely too. Should I too? Alphine White can be tooo white isn't?

I just had a look on the website to see the difference between the two, Alphine White is beautiful and yes very white, Luna White which i have, gives the look of a white bench but because it has the tiny grey flecks, it's not sooo white tough decision!

Thanks 77lk1. This sound very technical to me. Do you mean it should look like this, have a timber along the C channel ?

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[/quote]I just had a look on the website to see the difference between the two, Alphine White is beautiful and yes very white, Luna White which i have, gives the look of a white bench but because it has the tiny grey flecks, it's not sooo white tough decision![/quote]

Yes, I can't seems to decide I've got a small sample here in Alphine and Luna white but since they are very small it's hard to imagine what it would look on a 3m x 1.2m island.

Yes it should be that way.