Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Apr 17, 2013 12:11 am Hi all, After following this forum for a while and getting wise advices from other members, it's time for us to start our build thread. We are building the Monaco Nouveau Q1 by Henley in Allura Estate. We just signed the building contract and now awaiting our land to title in early May. Now, we have done little modifications to the original floorplan, which are: - Turning WC into powder room by adding basin - Creating a niche/recess on the wall facing dining area - Change butler's pantry door to cavity sliding door - Add niches in shower (ensuite and bathroom) We wanted to upgrade the facade but not possible because the house with the standard Broadway facade is already at the limit for site coverage of 60%. So we have to work hard around the front landscaping later on so that the facade does not look too plain... Here is the final floorplan... Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And here is the electrical plan Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And here is our colour selections - we basically followed the colours in one of the display houses that we really love and modified a bit to suit our budget (:-p)... But the colour will (hopefully) look very similar to the display house in Williams Landing (Alegra) or in Allura (Palace). Wall paint: Hog bristle Ceiling and architraves: Whisper white Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Brick: Austral Chestnut (Offwhite mortar) Pillar Render: Dulux Russian Toffee Roof: Bristile Traditional Chocolat Allumunium Window: White birch Timber window/door: Clear stain Fascia & downpipe: Colorbond - Paperbark Spouting: Colourbond - Loft Garage door: Colorgrain Classic Cedar - Slimline pattern Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Ceasarstone benchtop: Ivory Underbench cabinets: Laminex Bronzeworks - natural finish Overhead cupboards: Laminex Pumice - Silk finish Splashback: Stonecrop of Li We decided to do the flooring (carpet and floorboard) ourselves, but it will be of similar colour scheme as above. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Ensuite tile: Sandstone Ivory Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Bathroom floor tile: Ivory Matt Porcelain Bathroom wall tile: Gloss Alabaster Feature tile: Bullet Emperador Dark Honed Marble Mosaic Feature tile will only be 1 band running horizontally in the shower Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Laundry floor tile: Kalahari Grey Polished Laundry wall tile: Gloss Alabaster So that's it, comments and questions are all welcome. Please do let me know if there are things that I can improve (especially regarding the electricals). Re: Our Build - Henley Monaco Nouveau Q1 in Melbourne West 2Apr 17, 2013 9:08 am Hey mtz08... congrats... we are building the same house and are at a similar stage. I'm surprised you could not change your facade. We have also chosen the broadway but added the grand alfresco option. Even with that we still managed to come in at around 58.5% of the building envelope. Does an upgraded facade add that much? Sounds like our site starts will be at a similar stage. Should be great to compare notes !! Re: Our Build - Henley Monaco Nouveau Q1 in Melbourne West 3Apr 17, 2013 10:05 am Aston Boy Hey mtz08... congrats... we are building the same house and are at a similar stage. I'm surprised you could not change your facade. We have also chosen the broadway but added the grand alfresco option. Even with that we still managed to come in at around 58.5% of the building envelope. Does an upgraded facade add that much? Sounds like our site starts will be at a similar stage. Should be great to compare notes !! Hi Aston Boy! It's great that we are at similar stage, it's really great if we could update each other's progress . Do you have a thread/blog that I can follow? Where abouts are you building? Our land is only 14*32m which makes it a total of 448m2. The monaco's area is 268m2 - this is already 59.8%. Maybe you have a bigger piece of land? I also wanted the Grand Alfresco! What makes it worse is that we have 3m rear easement which makes the back of the house as close as 1m to the easement -> which ultimately means Extra site cost! Re: Our Build - Henley Monaco Nouveau Q1 in Melbourne West 4Apr 17, 2013 10:55 am We are building in Aston (Craigieburn)
Sounds like your block is a little more exacting than ours. We are 466m So it's basically 31.75m long (thankfully no easements) 15.25 wide at the front and the regulation 14m down back so the left permimeter tilts in slightly. We had our hearts set on the grand alfresco and were quite content with the standard facade. We held our breath while they calculated the building envelope and "just" made it Haven't started a thread per se... highly tempted. I might get one together when we get a site start perhaps ?? We're waiting for our land to title in about 2 weeks with a view to a site start late May. I might start getting all my bits and pieces together and start a thread. All I can say for is Henley have been nothing but great. Look forward to your updates !! Re: Our Build - Henley Monaco Nouveau Q1 in Melbourne West 5Apr 17, 2013 5:05 pm wow, that's a nice block size you have... I wanted a 15m block as well but there are not many blocks with 15m frontage... we are also on budget. To be honest, the grand alfresco was also the first thing that we asked as an upgrade. We felt so upset when the sales person said we can't upgrade the alfresco. But yeah, give and take, we still love the house plan so much! Let me know when you have created a blog/thread - I'll be keen to see your progress. I'll try to keep this thread alive and up-to-date. Anyway, did you make a lot of structural changes to the floorplan? Also, did you go to Argus for the electricals? Re: Our Build - Henley Monaco Nouveau Q1 in Melbourne West 7Apr 18, 2013 12:51 am You have done well in your electricals, very welled planned. Just some tips that i regret i didnt add into contract: What i've found with mine was that i forgot to add extra outdoor powerpoints, so just think of future use i.e water feature, bar fridge etc. thankfully i managed to get an electrician during framing stage to help me do some extra electrical work and entertainment room pre wiring. Also what i regret not thinking about was adding insulation in between the rooms, that would not cost too much extra. Things that ive added to my house: cieling powerpoint for projector Exact height of powerpoints and tv points to have tv wall mounted. Extra flood lights on each side of house Watertap in fridge space Powerpoint in broom cabinet (to charge those hand held floor vacumns) 2 way light switch in masters room : so that you can turn off the lights when in bed Hope some of them help:) good luck. Re: Our Build - Henley Monaco Nouveau Q1 in Melbourne West 8Apr 18, 2013 10:02 am mtz08 wow, that's a nice block size you have... I wanted a 15m block as well but there are not many blocks with 15m frontage... we are also on budget. To be honest, the grand alfresco was also the first thing that we asked as an upgrade. We felt so upset when the sales person said we can't upgrade the alfresco. But yeah, give and take, we still love the house plan so much! Let me know when you have created a blog/thread - I'll be keen to see your progress. I'll try to keep this thread alive and up-to-date. Anyway, did you make a lot of structural changes to the floorplan? Also, did you go to Argus for the electricals? Hey mtz... fortunately the block was more luck than good planning We had every intention of buying the standard 14x32 should it have been available. Really glad ours is slightly larger as we would have been devastated if we couldn't have built the grand alfresco option which we had every intention of doing. Look forward to your updates and yep... I'll more than likely start my own thread when we get closer to a site start maybe. Re: Our Build - Henley Monaco Nouveau Q1 in Melbourne West 9Apr 18, 2013 10:06 am mtz08 To be honest, the grand alfresco was also the first thing that we asked as an upgrade. We felt so upset when the sales person said we can't upgrade the alfresco. But yeah, give and take, we still love the house plan so much! Hey mtz one thing I must add in Henley's defence. We were told if the grand alfresco exceeded the building envelope there was always the option to extend the concrete slab that distance (which they were quite willing to do). They just weren't allowed to move the roofline. At least you get the option to add to it post-handover. Re: Our Build - Henley Monaco Nouveau Q1 in Melbourne West 10Apr 18, 2013 11:13 am cpl Hey mtz08 congratulations! We also building the same but over the south east side. So far we just got to lock up stage and it only started construction in march. Hi cpl! wow! that's speedy construction you have there! it's only been over a month and you are at lock up. Thanks for the suggestions. I think the outdoor power point is important. Do you get charged if you make further changes after you sign the Contract and one PCV? Do you have a build thread/blog? I would love to see some pictures of your house.. Quote: Hey mtz one thing I must add in Henley's defence. We were told if the grand alfresco exceeded the building envelope there was always the option to extend the concrete slab that distance (which they were quite willing to do). They just weren't allowed to move the roofline. At least you get the option to add to it post-handover. Hey Astonboy, Yea, we can extend the slab but not the roof. But we figured we just do some concrete paving later or extend the decking. I agree with you, so far, my experience with Henley has been great. Especially my admin, she has been so good with everything... Re: Our Build - Henley Monaco Nouveau Q1 in Melbourne West 11Apr 18, 2013 11:34 am No there isn't any fees after contract it will just be post contract variation. I am trying to do a blog but i dont have enough time to update it as we are also organising our wedding in November -.-" I will try to upload some pics to show the progress. So far so good with construction and i am sure you guys will be pleased with the speed and quality. Are you guys bringing in your own independent inspector to check foundations, frame etc? I did with this house as its my first build and didnt know what to expect, thank god everything is pretty good with no problems. Once you start build let me know what to look out for during the stages. Thanks Re: Our Build - Henley Monaco Nouveau Q1 in Melbourne West 12Apr 18, 2013 12:19 pm cpl Once you start build let me know what to look out for during the stages. Much appreciated... thanks cpl we are contemplating an inspector. Might be money well spent. Re: Our Build - Henley Monaco Nouveau Q1 in Melbourne West 13Apr 18, 2013 12:29 pm cpl I am trying to do a blog but i dont have enough time to update it as we are also organising our wedding in November -.-" I will try to upload some pics to show the progress. So far so good with construction and i am sure you guys will be pleased with the speed and quality. Are you guys bringing in your own independent inspector to check foundations, frame etc? I did with this house as its my first build and didnt know what to expect, thank god everything is pretty good with no problems. Once you start build let me know what to look out for during the stages. Thanks Seems like a lot going on for you.. Hope all the preparation is going well. We are definitely going to bring in an independent inspector - at least for the slab and framing stages. I think it's worth it to have an inspector rather than risk the foundations being sloppy.. it's really good to hear that you have no problems - helps us think positively towards everything. Thanks. Anyway, I just got a letter from the developer that title will be registered in mid May. Looking good Re: Our Build - Henley Monaco Nouveau Q1 in Melbourne West 14Apr 18, 2013 3:29 pm Just did a simple blog to post some pictures http://ckbuild.blogspot.com.au Re: Our Build - Henley Monaco Nouveau Q1 in Melbourne West 15Apr 18, 2013 5:07 pm cpl Just did a simple blog to post some pictures http://ckbuild.blogspot.com.au Woowww nice one cpl! Just wondering, if you added sliding door to the ensuite, where do you put your double vanity?? Anyway, is your estate an NBN ready estate? If so, could you please see this forum and maybe you could help me.. thanks in advance. viewtopic.php?f=31&t=64229&p=1006739#p1006739 Re: Our Build - Henley Monaco Nouveau Q1 in Melbourne West 16Apr 18, 2013 5:11 pm Wow... enjoying scrolling through your blog cpl !! Firstly love your bricks. We went for Austral Auburn (cat. 5)... Also small world it appears you've got similar modifications to your pantry that we are planning. We've had the door/door nib removed and shelving and a sink added as well as 40mm caeserstone to the bench inside to match the rest of the kitchen. Many thanks for putting it up. Your house is going to be superb. Re: Our Build - Henley Monaco Nouveau Q1 in Melbourne West 17Apr 18, 2013 5:44 pm Mtz08 regards to the nbn, my estate has the fibre, and our hub is in the garage on the wall inbetween garage and hallway. I dont see it as a problem or a huge deal to have it there as my current house also has fibre and the hub are also in the garage. Inside your house there should automatically have 2 or 3 Lan ports. Hope that answers your question? With my ensuite made a few changes to fit a sliding door, as we have about 3m of side garden we wanted to open up to make a courtyard. 1. Shower is moved to the WIR (oringinal WIR entry door). 2. Vanity moved to old Shower location. 3. Sliding door at old vanity area. Ill try to upload my layout. Good luck guys, just dont stress too much! When do you guys start construction? Mid may? Re: Our Build - Henley Monaco Nouveau Q1 in Melbourne West 18Apr 18, 2013 6:26 pm Oh I see. Thanks for that. Would love to see the modifications you made to the floorplan! For me, the land will title mid-May. So we expect to start construction soon after that, maybe around end of may/early june. Hehe. Re: Our Build - Henley Monaco Nouveau Q1 in Melbourne West 19Apr 19, 2013 8:10 am Yep.. they have set up our proposed connection that way too (inner garage wall)... hey mtz the waiting (for titles) is the hardest part yeah? I've never had so much interest in checking the letterbox. Re: Our Build - Henley Monaco Nouveau Q1 in Melbourne West 20Apr 19, 2013 9:54 am Aston Boy Yep.. they have set up our proposed connection that way too (inner garage wall)... hey mtz the waiting (for titles) is the hardest part yeah? I've never had so much interest in checking the letterbox. Ok that's good then. People have mixed opinion regarding where to put the NBN NTU... I'll keep it in the garage. Haha yea, every week I'm itching to drive past the estate and see the progress. I was also really excited when I got the letter from the developer lol. Hi I live in a 100yr old semi and my neighbour added an additional floor last yr and our architect has advised that we can knock down our semi and build a free-standing… 0 28818 Hi All, Running on the theme that every day is a school day, I just wanted to follow up yesterday's post with some pictures explaining how we are dropping the ceiling due… 95 280439 It might be a bit darker in the mornings but the light is still light, so you should be getting it. Similar to what you see from your western windows 3 15546 |