Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum 1 Mar 31, 2014 8:33 am Thought I should start my own thread now things are getting started, so I can keep a record, and hopefully some feedback from the forum. We've just exchanged on 5 acres in the Southern Highlands, and with a short settlement we should be getting underway in the next month with fencing, and planning our house and outbuildings. I think we will be going a custom build, we have been looking at house designs for a long time now, and it's hard to find the right house for rural land, especially as we don't want a big house, and most rural homes are MASSIVE. We like a modern country, leaning towards French provincial style, with English farmhouse feel also. Our most important things are: 3 bed Plenty of storage At least 1 Bath Big laundry room/mudroom Open kitchen, living & dining Fire place Solar passive principles Cope with rural living, muddy boots, 4 dogs, indoor cats, we often come in covered in horse feed, hair, mud etc, so must be easy to clean. This would be the view towards the NE from our bedroom [url=http://s28.photobucket.com/user/nottinghampark/media/10153795_10152397712769009_124464672_n_zps95ba74f2.jpg.html:1ydj3rsn][img:1ydj3rsn]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c204/nottinghampark/10153795_10152397712769009_124464672_n_zps95ba74f2.jpg[/img:1ydj3rsn][/url:1ydj3rsn] Towards the west from the alfresco area where stables and paddocks will be [url=http://s28.photobucket.com/user/nottinghampark/media/10008384_10152386160534009_15600393_n_zpsf6217938.jpg.html:1ydj3rsn][img:1ydj3rsn]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c204/nottinghampark/10008384_10152386160534009_15600393_n_zpsf6217938.jpg[/img:1ydj3rsn][/url:1ydj3rsn] Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Big block7 Rural Acerage Build Southern Highlands 2Mar 31, 2014 8:37 am Great to see you have your own thread now! I'll be watching with interest as we seem to have some common wants and likes. The images haven't worked for me, is that my end or yours? Our build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=69984 If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. Re: Big block7 Rural Acerage Build Southern Highlands 3Mar 31, 2014 8:53 am Thought I better start one now its all official! Re Photos Sorry have fixed them up Rookie error Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Big block7 Rural Acerage Build Southern Highlands 4Mar 31, 2014 6:12 pm Oh cool, it's working now. So is the front entry through the rumpus room? And is that a big verandah out the back of the house? It's great you're making most of the views and aspect. Am I going crazy or do you have no pantry? Our build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=69984 If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. Re: Big block7 Rural Acerage Build Southern Highlands 5Mar 31, 2014 6:17 pm CountryHome Oh cool, it's working now. So is the front entry through the rumpus room? And is that a big verandah out the back of the house? It's great you're making most of the views and aspect. Am I going crazy or do you have no pantry? Yeah I've done it that way mainly just to save space. Was thinking of having an undercover area jutting out in front of that entrance. I guess we could also make it into a separate entry hallway, and reduce some off the rumpus or increase the house size overall the compensate. We will probably only have a few chairs in there, and maybe our spare TV, and our turntables and records. May be better to have them separate for the entry appeal? Any thoughts? Its an uncovered pergola - will most likely use a deciduous vine/climber thing to cover it, and then it will let the light & heat in the winter and cooler months. There is the smaller undercover alfresco area on the western side, so it should be warmish in winter, but hopefully with some deciduous trees on the outside it will be cool in summer also. No pantry marked on there - only because I drew it up really quickly so didn't bother placing everything in there. We may put the pantry on the other wall (on the smaller bedroom) - just depends how it effects the flow of traffic etc. I didn't add the linen closests or broom cupboard in either. These will probably go in the laundry/mudroom Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Big block7 Rural Acerage Build Southern Highlands 6Mar 31, 2014 6:27 pm We are on 5 acres and also don't have an entry - I think because people have to drive walk so far up the block it doesn't really bother me not having one <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=62083">viewtopic.php?t=62083</a><!-- l --> Re: Big block7 Rural Acerage Build Southern Highlands 7Mar 31, 2014 9:52 pm AKB We are on 5 acres and also don't have an entry - I think because people have to drive walk so far up the block it doesn't really bother me not having one Do they enter into a lounge room or something similar? Must say my parents home has the most amazing front entry, but most people come to the side door and come through the mudroom or the informal lounge. We aren't having any carpet so not worries about people tracking dirt in. I do want to consider resale though - and whether not having a formal entrance will turn people off. Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Big block7 Rural Acerage Build Southern Highlands 8Mar 31, 2014 10:06 pm It enters directly into the living room - it has a tiny entry maybe 1 metre long <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=62083">viewtopic.php?t=62083</a><!-- l --> Re: Big block7 Rural Acerage Build Southern Highlands 9Mar 31, 2014 10:06 pm AKB It enters directly into the living room - it has a tiny entry maybe 1 metre long Sounds great Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Big block7 Rural Acerage Build Southern Highlands 10Mar 31, 2014 10:13 pm I don't know about great but it's what we inherited <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=62083">viewtopic.php?t=62083</a><!-- l --> Re: Big block7 Rural Acerage Build Southern Highlands 11Mar 31, 2014 10:16 pm AKB I don't know about great but it's what we inherited Does it work on your block? We will only ever use the front entrance for guests, hubby and I, and the animals will enter via the laundry/mudroom! I'm nervous to cut off more space from the rooms just to have a formal entry, maybe a little vestibule, with a couple of hooks for coats and an umbrella stand or something? Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Big block7 Rural Acerage Build Southern Highlands 12Mar 31, 2014 11:00 pm Yeah it really does, again because I suppose we consider the entrance to our property to be down at our gate <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=62083">viewtopic.php?t=62083</a><!-- l --> Re: Big block7 Rural Acerage Build Southern Highlands 13Apr 01, 2014 12:30 am AKB Yeah it really does, again because I suppose we consider the entrance to our property to be down at our gate Great appreciate the feedback Your reno's look fantastic! Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Big block7 Rural Acerage Build Southern Highlands 15Apr 01, 2014 7:10 am Stewie D Nice block of land. No shower in the ensuite ? Stewie Thanks Was just chatting to hubby about this - were were originally thinking shower over bath for the ensuite, or if space worked out we could move the vanity to under the window and put a shower in where the vanity currently is Will redo the plan tonight with some changes - Pantry, Linen, Shower, Entry and see how it comes up Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Acerage First time Building Southern Highlands NSW 16Apr 02, 2014 9:47 pm I've made a few changes - made a more formal entry - will be hopefully speaking to some builders/architects as soon as I get time - would love to get the plans finalised as wuickly as possible around settlement so we can start building ASAP Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Big block7 Rural Acerage Build Southern Highlands 17Apr 05, 2014 5:53 pm Bigblock7 AKB I don't know about great but it's what we inherited Does it work on your block? We will only ever use the front entrance for guests, hubby and I, and the animals will enter via the laundry/mudroom! I'm nervous to cut off more space from the rooms just to have a formal entry, maybe a little vestibule, with a couple of hooks for coats and an umbrella stand or something? Hi Bigblock7, I don't have an entry foyer or hall way either! My main entry is the laundry! which comes straight off the driveway. I think it will work even on my little half acre... The coat hooks etc will be in the laundry. As for entries and resale, I've never really had a problem selling any of my previous builds, although they were all quite different 'styles'. Each one sold in under 5 days. I'm just saying, don't feel pressured into an entry if it takes up too much space. Re: Big block7 Rural Acerage Build Southern Highlands 18Apr 05, 2014 7:19 pm Treeseachanger Bigblock7 AKB I don't know about great but it's what we inherited Does it work on your block? We will only ever use the front entrance for guests, hubby and I, and the animals will enter via the laundry/mudroom! I'm nervous to cut off more space from the rooms just to have a formal entry, maybe a little vestibule, with a couple of hooks for coats and an umbrella stand or something? Hi Bigblock7, I don't have an entry foyer or hall way either! My main entry is the laundry! which comes straight off the driveway. I think it will work even on my little half acre... The coat hooks etc will be in the laundry. As for entries and resale, I've never really had a problem selling any of my previous builds, although they were all quite different 'styles'. Each one sold in under 5 days. I'm just saying, don't feel pressured into an entry if it takes up too much space. Well that definitely gives me more confidence to not have one - we may as well utilise our large laundry/mudroom I guess I have spoken with a couple of builders, and have found a few plans we like with some changes, or could go a completely different custom build. I've drawn up another plan quickly taking some inspiration from your build treeseachanger A quick edit in photoshop from a builders plans - very simple house, would make the ensuite and living dining larger, and reduce bathroom size and take up the extra in the laundry/mudroom. Door also from Garage to laundry. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Plan I just quickly drew up inspiration taken from treeseachangers beautiful home & the neighbouring block to us. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The plans for the stables & shed Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Acerage First time Building Southern Highlands NSW 19Apr 05, 2014 10:03 pm Looks good to me I wish I had a music room all to myself Re: Acerage First time Building Southern Highlands NSW 20Apr 06, 2014 8:02 am We have turntables and a heap of records - if we can afford it I think it will be a good idea to have an extra room, if not they will have to go in one of the spare rooms We are planning on trying to reduce the space they take up though, might sell a few speakers etc. 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 2387 In Qld it is a requirement that a builder must have a cost breakdown, for building a home to the same specification, with the same inclusions and the same finish. So ask… 1 5026 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 4742 |