I have loved reading about (stalking) everyone else's builds but one of my biggest frustrations has been that I cannot find anyone else using the same builder as us, so I guess it is time for me to do my part!

My husband and I (no kiddies, which we are planning on rectifying when we have our house ) moved, for work and family, to the southern Highlands in NSW at the end of last year. We originally intended on buying an existing house, however nothing was right and the prices being what they are here, we felt we could build for the same price (oh, our naivety) and get exactly what we wanted.

We were very lucky in getting our acre block, one of 16 or so in a mostly established area, and it settled in April '12.
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Since then, we have been looking at HUGE amounts of display homes and plans. We almost went with one builder, however after travelling 4 hours to see the plan we wanted (which we still wanted to modify quite a bit), we were horrified by the quality (or lack thereof) of the display home.

Then we found it! After going into a display home for builders we thought (based on the quality and "feel") would be too expensive for us, we found the (almost) perfect design - which was also within our price range! Don't you love those days?

Welcome to h1
Glad you found ' the plan'
It is great when that happens.

I love the southern highlands. We are on the same latitude as you, and we have an acre too.
We could be twins!!

Good luck

Thanks Kiwi!

I love NZ, we could indeed be twins! I have only been to the south island though.

Lovely plan kelbelle. We are also on an acre-and built a homestead style home.

Careful of Kiwi-she has lots of twins!

South island is gorgeous.
I was born in chch, but now we are 2 hrs north of Auckland cos it looks like kangaroo valley and is warmer!!

Warmer than chch I mean!

All the best with your build.

Kiwi-no basin.

Kelbelle-have you placed your house on the block to maximise the sun?

I saw, tiny loo though, no room

It's a similiar setup to ours actually.

Thanks Deemaree! Yep to orientation - the back of the house is North facing, one of the reasons we loved the design! What is the no basin though?

Kiwi, I got your meaning, being warmer than KV is not very hard to do We are very very lucky to be living in such gorgeous (if a bit nippy) areas. I moved here from smack bang in the middle of NSW, so I am still in luurrve with the cold.

oooh, I see - basin in the WC! I would have loved it, but <shrugs> no room! At least there is the option of the bathroom or the laundry sink (I'm classy like that)

I like a loo with a basin, so it is a powder room. Won't go into the whys and how...and poo on the handle etc, but it means kids wash their hands ( as do guests) if the basin is there, they won't if it isnt..poo handle etc

The loo is tiny though so prob no room for one, that is just my thing.
Powder rooms. ...and not just lonely loos

But they can use the laundry if the bathroom is locked

What sort of colours are you keen on kelbelle?

Ack, good point!
I love the title though, I think I might need a "lonely loo" sign for the door

Colours
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Duff bricks (austral governors)
Ironstone roof and gutters,
Surfmist facia
White birch windows

Still not sure about the garage - (fake)wood or ironstone

What do you think?

They are dees colours, bar the roof! She did surfmist roof

Welcome, and congrats on buying in the Southern Highlands. I have family in Bowral and i love it down there. I would have moved there myself but we work in the CBD and its just a tad to far to commute

What the hell is W.C.? I know its the toilet room but i cant figure out the acronym lol

As for the plans, i reckon opening up the rumpus to the family would make it look huge. Not everyone likes that though. Otherwise it looks quite interesting

Deemaree, do you have a link to your plans? You have so much info, at least a clue as to where to look? I am inspired by your sustainability journey, hopefully my thumbs will turn greenish when I get into my new yard (still unsure how to turn the back 1/2 acre into a yard!)

Tell a lie, bricks are different, windows are the same
Here is hers without the verandah. That is coming
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Wc....water closet

Your joking lol How the hell do they get that lol