Hahaha!! I knew I could count on the both of you!!! You're right - there are too many windows (this is just the preliminary plan, so nothing has been set in stone) and we can change heaps of things. I know the shape is odd but it works really well with following the light - important in a colder environment for me! (sometimes I think I should invest in one of those UV blue lights so I get my photosynthesis on! Dark spaces = Crazy Shaezy!).

We have the space to play around with in the Master which is great. The kids activity was always pegged as having a skylight, and we actually considered having a half wall into the hallway until they get older and want more privacy. With the windows opposite that would certainly assist. We'll work on that space for sure.

One option for the kitchen etc space is increasing it slightly, maybe having a wall between the dining and living (where the T is) so it is closed off a little bit. Then we could add more of a pantry. But I do like the idea of swapping it with the dining and making the whole top end a living. I just don't know! It's not THAT huge really - only around 230m at the moment excluding the garage underneath.

I'll have a re-think based on your advice (which I knew would be excellent!) and see what we can come up with. Thankfully I have a very boring but very functional rectangular fall back plan which definitely covers all bases, but we would really like something a bit special too.

Thanks so much - if you think of anything else, please let me know!!!!

xx

230... Wow, it looks bigger...maybe that master bed picture is for a hobbit, cos that room looks huge!

I agree, you want something fabulous, and a bit of tweaking (maybe an indoor courtyard like darts had?? In cairns ) for light
I'm in nz...I hear ya re light
We have an acre too...
I hear ya re warmth ( we went double glazing, love it don't need curtains. Put the curtain money towards double glazing....?)
Skylights leak...

You have a fab area downstairs which will become the kids rumpus in 10yrs, so for now you want a nice toy area, with bean bags and a Thomas track set up etc...and a window to see the rain coming!!

At least I would.....

I hope you don't ever take offence or feel you have to do what we say, we are just making you think...trust me I am a doctor!!

All the living together is good, till you live in it.
A family dining kitchen...yes, and a sep lounge/theatre I would think is a must and a kids play room.
Tick,
4beds and a guest/study..or was it 3 and a guest...plans are on the other page!
Tick
2 bathrooms and a powder (or sep loo with basin as part of the kids bathroom)
Fab master wi large ensuite and walk in
Tick
And a walk in pantry,..
There you go, not much to ask!!!
Tick tick tick

Happy drawing...
When you get it, like I said on the tas thread, your heart will sing and you will 'know'

Here is the boring rectangular one... ignore how simple it is ie straight external walls, this could be changed in places, but this layout works for us too. Sorry it's a bit faint - hand drawn by yours truly with a B pencil and a scale only to an A3 paper.... I think it's roughly 250sqm based on my measurements..... If you had to choose between the two (with amendments) which would you choose? Verandah down the family and lounge walls, with a garage at the front next to the Master if that makes sense? (ran out of paper....lol).

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which way is north
gosh you are a quick typist/replier!!

hi Kiwi - good thoughts there!
Cheers
Planfan

North is again to the top right of the plan. I'm a writer amongst other things... (hence the need for a beautiful sunlit study)... the keyboard is my friend! (most of the time.)

Bringing this over to this page!

Thanks Deemaree - I thought I managed to delete that! Sorry! You can delete it from here if you like - I posted it a page back.

This would be way way way cheaper...as in prob $150k cheaper, you know that don't you ?

Ok, so there are parts I like in this...but also it is BORING as you say, but as a ho,e...it would work better.
Can we not take both homes and mould them into one fab custom designed one?
I'm on the iPad so can't tweak any plans, but will do once on the Lappy
One with a wing for parents, maybe....remember that hall which had wall on both sides on the ' bridge' ( a plan on this thread) that rocked!
Look at danrts plan, his was my fav, I will find it

We have 5 beds, cos we have 5 kids (and an office)
DaNrts also had 5 beds
And a light courtyard thing...will go find it and tell me what you think

I hear ya re a3 paper and running out!

A home, not a hoe!

My first instinct is to put the kitchen where the lounge is-making the dining/lounge area one space at the top. This would allow rejigging of the kitchen ( free standing island maybe) to have a WIP next to the laundry...

I would also consider swapping the ensuite/wir with the study area-the current wall in the Master could be extended to enclose the area. Stairs to area below would have to be redesigned to allow study access.

I broought it over so that it's easier to see what we are discussing.

Have you done all the contours for the block and chosen to put it at that angle because of less digging, foundation issues (or I guess it's the views <g>)
Is it possible to site the rectangle so that the long sides run east west?
As it is now, won't the family and lounge cop the hot arvo sun and Bed 1 - that wall will get hot.
What are you building in - bricks?
I prefer the rectangle with some changes.
We have a skylight in the garage - hasn't leaked yet. Also one in our last house - dry.

Found his thread. Couldn't just quote it over to here, but here is his first post. The last page of his thread, the house looked like a show home

Block
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My sketchup sketchs

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the real floorplan

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Schhhhhhhhh

Trying to tell her to get a window.....

She will believe anything I say
(although they MIGHT leak!)

I do like the idea of changing up the kitchen/lounge. Do you think it would matter that it's a thoroughfare? We've been discussing swapping the study and ensuite/WIR. As the study is MY room (MINE MINE MINE!!) I am really reluctant as I spend a lot of time in there and want it to be light and warm - I can heat a bathroom for the short time I am in and out of there and I don't need views while I am there either. OK, so I am just being selfish but the study is about 14 million times more important to me than the ensuite. Everybody else should compromise, goshdarnit! lol

The contours won't work (without lots of digging and lots of money) to run it east west unfortunately. We had considered that but it doesn't work. Also, it affects our BAL level as the house would cross over the invisible line that keeps us at BAL29. It's up in the Blue Mountains so we WANT those rooms to get the afternoon sun - it doesn't get very hot up there often so it isn't a concern for us. We are fluctuating between bricks and weatherboard style cladding - the cladding is favoured as it is more sympathetic to the area's older style and history and I would like to retain that in our build.

Hey! No leading me astray! Gah, come here for some honest advice....

^^ Rough I know! Study where I've put it could have lovely big windows-as could the master on the wall which is next to the WIR I've put in...

Gadzooks Deemaree! You moved my study!!!!! But I can definitely see where you are going and I like it. I think we'd have to do something with the patio area as it doesn't make sense to me to have it there if you don't have direct access on to it. Gosh I am hating this game at the moment. I just found my first lot of plans posted on page 45 or something and I still LOVE that house, but we just can't afford the build. Stupid not winning lotto.