Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *Ensuite &Hallway 101Jun 15, 2014 4:03 pm I do like cat's suggestion of making the toilet separate from the bathroom. Trying to figure out how to modify a plan to suit you is always the hardest part I think. Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *Ensuite &Hallway 102Jun 15, 2014 4:24 pm Just wondering if you've already got your furniture and if so how big it is? Also how big is your fireplace? i had a play and put in my two couches, i hope you dont mind! http://i1365.photobucket.com/albums/r759/cat_dunc/Housechanges2_zps47a9700d.jpg Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *Ensuite &Hallway 103Jun 15, 2014 8:25 pm cat_dunc Yep that's heaps better, great suggestion EmyN. I think you should consider a 'U' shape in the kitchen, rather than only benches on both sides, if of course budget goes that far. Do you think you'd ever want to or be able to extend it? I think it'd be easy with that plan. You could take out the laundry, that'd be your hall way, and add another room or two past that. Don't forget to make the new lounge room window bigger. You could save money by only having the one window in the kitchen (above benches/sink) facing long side of building. But then put money back in with the extra cabinets to fill out the 'u'. Which way is north? If north was facing the long wall of the lounge/dining/kitchen that would be BRILLIANT. Re U shape kitchen I don't think it showed up clearly on the plan as I quickly just did it in photoshop This is it enlarged - very rough I know, but basically U shape with corner pantry. I did put a small return on it also for a breakfast bar. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We more than likely won't extend, but the scope is there Ah yes, I will change the window in lounge, and yes the living, dining, kitchen and main bed is on the north side Re the 2nd window in the kitchen, that side has great views and is also on the western side, so will get afternoon winter sun. We will build an alfresco area there with a pergola with vines to provide summer shade. Cupboards aren't a big issue, nor is more bench space as hubby can do that himself, so basically just paying for materials for the cupboards and the stone. We are trying to see if the builders will just do the kitchen carcass and we can do the doors and stone, sink etc. will depend how flexible they are. Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *Ensuite &Hallway 105Jun 15, 2014 8:30 pm cat_dunc Hey if you really want a bath you could squeeze it in. You could extend the house by 300mm, or take 150mm out of the bedroom 1, and 150mm out of the lounge? You'd need the ensuite door to be a cavity slider, and come off the blank internal robe wall. Gives you more bedroom wall space to put lovely photos or art as well. Also would you consider making the toilet separate? It'd be so easy to do so and be great for resale one day in the future, also might be super useful once you have kids http://i1365.photobucket.com/albums/r759/cat_dunc/Housechanges_zps865e954a.jpg Looks good - I'm waiting to see how flexible the builders will be with the lower cost design, but it might be worth doing...I'd love a claw bath in there...but if I can't I can't I really dislike the toilet being separate unless its a full powder room with a sink etc, as it freaks me out having people use the bathroom and then open the door before using the bathroom to wash their hands Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *Ensuite &Hallway 106Jun 15, 2014 8:33 pm EmyN cat_dunc Don't forget to make the new lounge room window bigger. You could save money by only having the one window in the kitchen (above benches/sink) facing long side of building. But then put money back in with the extra cabinets to fill out the 'u'. Which way is north? If north was facing the long wall of the lounge/dining/kitchen that would be BRILLIANT. I think that's a great idea, you can never have too much storage in the kitchen. Even if you want to add overhead cabinets later like lots of people do, by getting rid of that window you've got the chance. I hope North is to the right too..... Hopefully with a big block getting the orientation right won't be a hassle! Another thought is the window in the now "living area". You could consider only having it start at something like 1300 off the floor, that way you can put the couches up against that wall without it looking strange, if things are a bit squishy having couches off the wall. Good idea about couches up against the wall - I'd like to have a decent window there, but even have a daybed type thing there, so I can sit by the fire and read a book (not that I seem to have time for reading books...but I can dream) Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *Ensuite &Hallway 107Jun 15, 2014 8:35 pm TiredHalo I do like cat's suggestion of making the toilet separate from the bathroom. Trying to figure out how to modify a plan to suit you is always the hardest part I think. Most def - I'm feeling very lucky having everyone give there advice - it all gets very confusing and frustrating, but everyones ideas make so much sense Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *Ensuite &Hallway 108Jun 15, 2014 8:37 pm There are tiny wall basins that would work especially for toilets (ie, http://www.caroma.com.au/bathrooms/basi ... wall-basin) but yep, fair enough!! Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *Ensuite &Hallway 109Jun 15, 2014 8:43 pm Or what about this! http://www.wici-concept.com/shop/377-thickbox_default/adaptable-small-wash-basin-kit-for-floor-wc.jpg hehehe Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *Ensuite &Hallway 110Jun 15, 2014 8:44 pm cat_dunc Just wondering if you've already got your furniture and if so how big it is? Also how big is your fireplace? i had a play and put in my two couches, i hope you dont mind! http://i1365.photobucket.com/albums/r759/cat_dunc/Housechanges2_zps47a9700d.jpg You are far too clever Is it terrible to say I've never measured any of the above?? That can be this weeks challenge lol Our lounges will come with us to begin with, but we will be looking for replacements as the leather is looking worse for wear...2nd hand stuff as we like to reuse! Thanks so much for all of your help Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *Ensuite &Hallway 111Jun 15, 2014 8:46 pm cat_dunc Or what about this! http://www.wici-concept.com/shop/377-thickbox_default/adaptable-small-wash-basin-kit-for-floor-wc.jpg hehehe The other one is cute Will see how much extra the builder would charge for the whole thing - although its not high on the list of priorities Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *Ensuite &Hallway 113Jun 15, 2014 8:49 pm Oh in family news we got a new addition since our border collie passed away. This is little Willow, she came from the pound and has settled in beautifully, we are now back to a 4 dog & 4 cat family! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *Ensuite &Hallway 114Jun 15, 2014 9:11 pm cat_dunc I much more enjoy looking at other people's threads than concentrating on my own The whole process stresses me... and i find it's best to avoid it Yours is coming along beautifully, look forward to the next update! Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *owner build/kit?* 115Jun 17, 2014 7:38 pm At the moment we are seriously considering owner building - perhaps through a project manager or kit home built with a builder we know to facilitate finance. Our biggest concerns are finance, and time available for the build. Will be looking into the finance side of things, as with being first home owners and builders plus not a huge amount of equity in the land yet, we would be hoping to get as close to 80% LVR as possible on the construction loan. Time available for the build would pretty much just be weekends which is limiting - but my family in the area are experienced in building (now retired) so we may be able to pay them to do some work and help manage some of the trades whilst we are at work. Just musing at the moment - as we are feeling like whilst we will be getting the major requirements in our place it will be missing our own touches. We'd love to supply a lot of the build like baths, kitchen, etc and it seems that because we are aiming at the bottom of the project home builds we are limited to changing things or supplying things and getting a suitable cash refund on these things from the build. Lots to think about Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *owner build/kit?* 116Jun 18, 2014 12:24 am Willow is gorgeous. Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *owner build/kit?* 117Jun 18, 2014 11:53 am Yes Willow is adorable! I'm not sure if I missed it, what other types of dogs do you have? It's so hard to decide which way to go and where to draw boundaries on things you want vs things you need vs things you can actually afford!! I wonder if you could get some type of small project home making only a few changes, that can be easily extended later? You'd have kind of half a house to start with, (maybe only 2 bedrooms? No internal garage?) and then they can be added cleverly later on? If you had a gable end to the roof then a new roof can be butt up against it to extend the length of the house? Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *owner build/kit?* 118Jun 18, 2014 12:20 pm cat_dunc Yes Willow is adorable! I'm not sure if I missed it, what other types of dogs do you have? It's so hard to decide which way to go and where to draw boundaries on things you want vs things you need vs things you can actually afford!! I wonder if you could get some type of small project home making only a few changes, that can be easily extended later? You'd have kind of half a house to start with, (maybe only 2 bedrooms? No internal garage?) and then they can be added cleverly later on? If you had a gable end to the roof then a new roof can be butt up against it to extend the length of the house? She's a gorgeous dog, so lovely and has fit right in. We have 2 other female scruffy terrier x's and a 20 month old German Shorthaired Pointer. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ On the weekend we also discussed maybe doing a 2 bed one bath home with a high roof pitch, that we could put more rooms and an ensuite in down the track! Not sure many project home builders would be into that but it might even be an idea for owner build. Great news re the project home builder - they've come in under budget on the plan I put up with the changes to kitchen etc. So big decision time - go with project builders or do our own thing? Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *owner build/kit?* 119Jun 19, 2014 10:44 am Your land is lovely. Is that dam yours? Welcome your newest four legged friend. Sorry to hear about your other dog. We are thinking of doing our fencing ourselves. Can I ask you, did you cut notches out for the rails? How are you going to fix them? We don't have as much fencing as you probably do, but we have just over 200m of fencing to do. Our estate specifies post and rail. I think that your idea of owner building with a two bed one bath with a design that you can extend in the future is a great idea. You have the land which is the biggest hurdle. have you looked a Kithomes in Emu Plains? They do great kit homes for rural lifestyle and the frames are steel so anyone can put them up. I would definitely check them out. Also another thought for you, an oversized kit granny flat? There are some huge kit granny flats out there that are really small homes. looking forward to seeing more progress. Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *owner build/kit?* 120Jun 19, 2014 1:08 pm Lot927 Your land is lovely. Is that dam yours? Welcome your newest four legged friend. Sorry to hear about your other dog. We are thinking of doing our fencing ourselves. Can I ask you, did you cut notches out for the rails? How are you going to fix them? We don't have as much fencing as you probably do, but we have just over 200m of fencing to do. Our estate specifies post and rail. I think that your idea of owner building with a two bed one bath with a design that you can extend in the future is a great idea. You have the land which is the biggest hurdle. have you looked a Kithomes in Emu Plains? They do great kit homes for rural lifestyle and the frames are steel so anyone can put them up. I would definitely check them out. Also another thought for you, an oversized kit granny flat? There are some huge kit granny flats out there that are really small homes. looking forward to seeing more progress. Thanks that's where I live now, on the family farm, its a lovely big dam! I will miss this place when we move. It will be a big change from over 100 acres to 5, but I'm sure we will settle in there as it's nice a quiet and peaceful. We aren't cutting notches with for the rails. Basically we have 100x150 pine posts, you can either ram them in or we have used an auger and then put the posts in. Then we will place the rails flush with the posts, pre drilling the rails (as they are 150 x 50 hardwood rails) and then using hex screws to screw them on. Some people use bolts, but as we have horses you have to countersink the bolt, and then it gets really fidly and not as neat. The only place we will cut into the posts is on the entrance way, where the rails come in off the front on an angle, so we need to cut into the posts so it's a nice finish when we put the rails on. If you use round posts, them you do need to cut into them to put the rails on. Plenty of ppl we know use them, but because all our neighbouring fencing used rectangular posts we thought we would match them if you have anymore questions let me know, we've done most types of fencing over the years, including the plastic timber look, and metal fencing that looks like post and rail We are going to go to emu plains to have a look at the kit homes on Saturday. So much to work out, the builders are pushing for an answer and a deposit to get the soil testing etc going, so I want to make sure we are doing the right thing before I go shelling out more money. Hoping to buy the shed also quite soon, the quicker we get it up, the easier it will be to store stuff down there. Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk having built on acres several times i suggest that you also need to add the cost of a sewerage system and any associated fencing, water tanks with associated extra… 2 2479 Hi so sorry for the late reply. I already contacted them and they wouldn't tell me instead they tried to get me to talk to one of their home coordinators and I'm not… 2 6161 Hi there, We’ve recently had plans approved to add a 1st storey addition to our existing house for a growing family in Sydney. With the current cost of building… 0 5168 |