Well I thought it time I joined the ranks. I do have a blog, but try to stay controlled on there, so don't whinge and moan when I want to, and also want to share more of my story and info without taking over other peoples threads - as well as get lots and lots of advice without starting a new thread each time.

So the story so far. We bought 2 acres in March last year, worked on our plans then went to a draftsman to complete them. Put the plans out to several builders for tender and finally chose a builder around October last year. Planning permit came through a few days before Christmas, and building permit in January. Signed contracts on my birthday, and a few weeks later slab was down (our valentines present).

We had hoped to build a sustainable house so have done a lot of research towards this, but budget is not allowing us to be fully sustainable, but every little bit counts right? We are using Timbercrete blocks which are hand made and include recycled content and we think look pretty good too. We are choosing to be off town water, and have to be on septic. All our windows except one, are double glazed UPVC with argon gas. The exclusion is the garage window which is single glazed. We have a polished concrete floor and a raked ceiling in the living room.

Currently the plasterers and brickies are doing their thing.

Here are our plans and a 3D projection..we are a family of 4 and the house is 23.3 squares of living

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and some recent shots taken yesterday..
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We didn't get any corner ricks, so our brick work is offset, we were worried about how it would look, but think it still looks pretty good!
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living room raked ceiling love love love
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TIMELINE:

March 2011 - block purchased
24/01/12 - contract signed
3/02/12 - excavation began
21/02/12 - slab down
05/04/12 - frame up
01/05/12 - roof on
06/06/12 - plaster finished

Look forward to following your build ... you know we will need pictures .... Hope all goes well for you and your family ...

Gee you're quick Mclaren!! Thanks and welcome! Was adding more pics as you posted Don't worry with me it will probably be picture overload....

yeah you have a thread!!!
( Although I thought you already did but then realised it was your blog which I was secretly stalking!! )

Love your high ceilings!! They are going to look stunning!!

Look forward to more pics!

Wow that is sexy! I would love to move rural and build an eco friendly house like that.

Im following your blog, the windows are interesting. Do you get a lot of airflow "at tilt"?

Thanks Eiffel and welcome to you and alt0160 Nice to hear about who some of the people are that have been looking at my blog too!

alt0160 - I really don't know how much air flow we will get whilst in the tilt position, I would expect it to be similar to a standard awning window. Will be something I take note of once we get in! I just love that it is such a secure way to leave windows open, and a more interesting option then awning - my pet hate.

Hey greenfish,
I'm here
Have followed your blog as well, and looking at your very messy site

well, HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

just clicked 'view new posts' and there you were!!

I dont read blogs, so YAY you have a thread now, whoaoaoaoao
dancing on my bench as I type this

love your house.
your master is off the dining like ours. LOVE it!
and bedrooms miles away too (so I cant hear them crying). love your craft room. what do you craft?
I make gingerbread houses at christmas. can you top that?

LOL Hiya Gogo

I put a real 'messy' shot up on the messy site thread. I couldn't resist

Hey Kiwi

Nope Can't top something you can use as a decoration and a tasty snack I scrap book a little and sew a little. A real little since my youngest got on the move - over a year ago now. The only space I have currently is the kitchen table and my youngest causes real mayhem and makes something fun a misery.
We will also be using is as a music room as DH dabbles and we have a great assortment of instruments (we have put insulation in the walls of that room as well as both girls bedrooms).

I am a bit concerned about the whole not hearing them thing when they cry. Will have to dig out the old monitor we used when DD1 was a little 'un and we were outside, and plug it into the passage methinks.

yeah, best way..just make sure you do it the right way around and they arent hearing you and ALL the squealing.

those monitors are good...means you can go get them if you really cant sleep through it.

dont worry about no time for crafts now...you have forever once they are at school.

One down, one to go...but I've just gotten a part time job so have put DD2 in care 2 days. Am only supposed to work 4.5 hours each afternoon so will have the mornings to myself! Except when they want me to work all day - like this week - my first week and already getting extra time! Money will be nice though, suppose I should warn the builders I won't be available...

is it 2 days at 4.5 hrs a day?
that is the type of job I would like...

Yep sure is Casual rate too - but only 16 week contract, fingers crossed it gets renewed, due to expire a few weeks after the build is scheduled to finish.

They are definately more interesting than awning. I would assume they are really air tight too. They are another thing you dont really see in WA. They look great, will have to put some in my kitchen to replace the fixed windows if we decided to rennovate, once can never have enough optional airflow!

Love your build GF! That living room will be superb on a sunny winter's day!

In our house today it is currently 22c-with no heating on...and it's 14c outside!

They have multi locking points so are great for security too, and yep definitely more air tight then awnings - have I mentioned how much I hate awnings lol Tilt & Turn are becoming more popular over here, but have been all the rage in Europe for a while now. As usual, we get things a bit slowly over here...especially products that are more eco friendly.



That is so great to hear Dee (especially knowing you are in 'sunny' vic too). I am so looking forward to making better use of the winter sun, and having good insulation and windows to help make our house naturally warm. My ducted heating here has been working hard the last few days...
Welcome to my thread too Dee


Well I called by the house after doing some shopping this morning and am very excited to report that they have started doing the top part of the brickwork! Very excited to see my garage wall completed already, can't wait to call out after school pick up tonight and see how far they have gone. The recycled concrete for the bricks still hadn't arrived yet though...

We have recently worked out our cabinetry for the kitchen. I had wanted to do a pull out bin thing but DH isn't keen, and we need to do some cost cutting anyway so might add the pull out type that attaches to the bottom of the cupboard at a later stage. Our drawings isn't very fancy, but here it is

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After we got our quote I had to make some changes to other cabinetry to save some money but didn't change anything in the kitchen. I removed the shaving cabinets in the ensuite, and changed the shelf colour in the study nook to be a white rather then matching the built in desk which will be Echelon Redwood natural finish.

Just realised I haven't described colours anywhere. I don't have any pics with all together so will have to list them.
EXTERNAL
Bricks: Timbercrete Sandstone
Roof & Gutters : COlorbond Jasper
Fascia & Windows: Ivory
Downpipes and Garage door: Colourbond Paperbark
Front door : Stained - Brazilwood.

INTERNAL
Walls: RussianToffee
Ceiling Natural White
Trims: Beige Royal Quarter

KITCHEN
Benchtop: Ceaserstone Bondi
Cupboards: Polytec classic white Gloss

Bathrooms:
Benchtops: Polytec Buffalo stone gloss
Cupboards: Polytec Caraway Gloss

LAUNDRY:
Benchtop: Polytec Olive Fabrini
Cupboards: Polytec Caraway gloss

Floors in entry, living, kitchen, dining, passage, powder and rumpus is polished concrete Pompeii colour with riverstone
Tiles for Laundry, bathroom & Ensuite - Alaska beige gloss
Carpet for bedrooms - new basilica colour Palermo

Think thats everything!

Have realised how horrible it will be once I start work tomorrow that I can't just call out to the house whenever I want. I usually pop by a couple of times a day, but seeing as I have to work two full time days in a row I won't get to. Shame it will be dark already by the time I leave work and pick up the kids from care. Still I guess it will make Friday super exciting to see what has happened.

Quick question - how do I add this thread to my sig?

Nevermind, I worked it out

yay! Just found your thread... like kiwi I don't follow blogs, and threads are much easier to chat on. So great that you have your own thread. I have commented on your plans before, but I will say it again - great plans, and I LOVE that you are building as sustainably as possible. the bedroom 'wing' thing is also a favourite of mine (which we haven't got in our plans). Monitors will be the interim answer until you are comfortable they are old enough. I also noticed your craft room and your have answered my question already.

Look forward to watching you build!!!