First Home Build - QLD - Dixon Homes (Brumby House)

Our story so far...

My partner and I have secured a lovely flat acreage block (2.5 acres) in beautiful south east Queensland with mountain views to die for. Our lot has a whopping 50 metre frontage and a 'creek' which runs through the back of the block and is bone dry - lol. The block is expected to be registered sometime this month and then, finally, settlement can happen and it will officially begin! For me, this is an absolute dream come true. I will finally be able to keep horses at home and our dogs will have plenty of room to roam.

In the meantime we have chosen our builder, drawn up our plans, had our colour appointment and are due to sign later this week.

Below is our plan. North is towards the front of the home, slightly angled toward the garage side at the front.

Basically, its the original plan from the builders archives. All that we changed was the WIR in the main bed and the ensuite. Originally, the ensuite was half the size and the WIR was right next to it. I just cant stand small showers so we extended the ensuite into the robe and decreased the bedroom size to fit the robe at the back of the room. I'm happy with what we have.

I love our plan, my only concern is the lack of natural lighting that we will receive in the kitchen. I'm trying to figure out ways we can work around this (skylight?).

Also, the sizing of the bedrooms is definitely on the smaller size - i just have to keep telling myself this is our first home and we have reached our budget so there isn't any room to move unfortunately. But, i am honestly overall happy and feel very blessed all the same.

The house is set back about 23 meters from the front boundary as we are planning a circular driveway. We have positioned the home towards one side of the lot, so we have a wide side access route.

I might also mention now that my partner is an electrician and ive never fully appreciated this until now. I have BIG plans for him (lol)

I'd love to hear from anyone building or who has built with Dixon Homes. I'd be very interested in what you have to say. Also, anyone that would like to make comment(s) on our design is more than welcome. I LOVE hearing peoples suggestions and thoughts. More than happy for anyone to follow our build journey which i have nicknamed, 'Brumby House'.



TIME LINE
Secured Lot - 6 September 2014
Initial meeting with builder - 15 September 2014
Colour selection - 2 January 2015
Covenant approval - 9 January 2015
Finalised plans - 12 January 2015
Finance Approved - 15 January 2015
Building plans signed - 7 Feb 2015
Bank documents signed - 9 Feb 2015
Plans sealed by council - 15 April 2015
Plans with DNR - 16 April 2015
Council Approved Plans - 24 April 2015
Land Settlement - 6 May 2015
Site Works Start Date - 2 June 2015
SLABBED - 13 June 2015
Frame - 19 June 2015
Roof Trusses - 26 June 2015
Roof Colourbond moment - 11 July 2015
Electrical Rough In - 12/13 July 2015
Insulation and air con rough in - 19 July 2015



Note:
Great wallpaper site http://www.arte-international.com

Elevations:

Colour Selection!

My idea was to stick with neutrals. I like browns / creams and timber. I'm not much of a bold colour person really. If I add colour, its through cushions, decorative pieces, art or furnishings.

Our brick colour. PGH Ballandean. I wasn't overly fussed about this brick but it was the best out of a bad bunch. I dont like the flashing through the bricks but hoping it wont be so noticable on a larger scale. We only had 4 choices to choose from.

We are having a colourbond roof. The colour is 'Jasper'. Our gutters, garage door and downpipes are this same colour.

Our window frame colour, 'Merino'

This is similar to our entry door. We upgraded to a lovely 1200 wooden stained door.

Our flooring (excluding the living / dining area on plans which will be carpeted), Eligma 'Vintage Dark Oak'

Carpet choices. Originally picked 'Evening Sky' but have since changed my mind. Im thinking more along the lines of smokey beige. Any suggestions? Carpet will be in all bedrooms and the living / dining area.

Internal paint colour

Below is out stone bench top colour 'Milk Speckle' for our kitchen and bathroom / ensuite bench tops. Not a great photo, its basically much lighter / whiter than the photo depicts. The kitchen cabinetry will be white (NOT gloss) and the bathroom carpentry will be gloss white.

Here are a couple of photos from a few weeks back - there is MUCH more grass now.

We are wanting to do a circular driveway in front of the house. Not sure whether to place the cross over and entry gates directly in the middle or off to the garage side of the home? Hmmmmm. Here is an idea of what we would like to achieve.

Currently toying with the idea of pulling tiling from our contract. Our builder will not allow us to supply our own tiles and we do not like the options they have offered us. The only way around this would be to speak with the tiler and hope he agrees to lay our tiles (which we already have) rather than the builder supplied ones. Hmm

I don't see the point in paying for tiles that we don't like nor want, and potentially being left with no choice but to live with them or having them pulled up after hand over.

Currently searching for quotes, anyone recommend a tiler in south east QLD? What are peoples thoughts on this?

Im needing to make a fast decision as we are due to sign contracts this week! Eeeek!

Note: This is for the bathroom and en suite ONLY. Not the entire house.

Following i love the acreage builds

If mine turns out even half as impressive as yours is looking ill be one happy girl! I've always loved your plan its amazing!

Also, forgot to mention that we will be LIVING on our block during the build. Crazy? I think so! We have a modest caravan which we will call home for a few months, hopefully!

thank you for the kind words


I toyed with the idea of building a shed and living in it, but seemed all to hard where we are and being only 3000m2 its a bit frowned upon apparently..

Although would have probably saved us money and got me a bigger shed!

A shed would be preferable but we have already busted our budget, and then some, so caravan it is!

Looking forward to all the money we will save when we aren't renting, will be all poured into the build no doubt.

I will be following as well We are also building in SE QLD on our 35 acres property we bought 2 years ago Just out of Hervey Bay. Where about are you?? You got lots of living space! Nice I would definitely have a think about some skylight or any other source of additional natural light into your kitchen. I think it was a good choice to get a white kitchen as it will lighten up the space as well We just had our second colour appointment and are not far from signing the contract. I have to put some photos up. You can find the links to my blog and threat in the signature below
I think its a great idea to live on the property while building. We are doing it as well. You can keep your eye on it during the build Good luck with everything!

Our land is in Woodhill, which is close to Jimboomba.

Wow, 35 acres! Im jealous! But I am grateful everyday that we found an affordable 2.5 acres. It will at least be home to a horse or two so that keeps me happy!

You've just reassured my white kitchen decision, thank you! I've been having sleepless nights debating whether or not I should have chosen grey over white! But you're right, I need all the light i can get and the white will help to brighten the space!

Living on the block will be so convenient for us. We are planning on bribing a lot of the trades. We want different tiles laid, niches put in showers, different paint colours and a few other small odd jobs so hoping we get understandable trades who appreciate the beer economy!

Plus, my partner is doing all the electrical so it works out really well. I've got some work in mind for him! Just love my other half being a tradie, comes in so handy!

I'm going to head over and check out your thread, i love following acreage builds! Cheers!

Posting to follow, love the horse icon, and couldn't resist when I saw you are calling it "brumby house"... .
The agistment fees are killer aren't they. You are blessed having enough land to keep one!
Any luck with the credit for tiling? They won't give you much back but at least you will be happy with your choice

I'm not sure I'd call Hervey Bay part of South East Queensland though.

Went for a cruise through your estate over Christmas, and yes it is much greener down there these days.

Just stick to the one driveway through your front fence, and bias it towards the garage side of your block, as you should find it better suited being on that side of your block.

Is the house being put dead centre across the width of the block ? I'd thought it would be better to bias it towards one side fence, so that the other side gives a wider access area (or simply fenced area), so that your horses can come up closer to one side of the house.

You're right, agistment fees are astronomical. I've seen places wanting in excess of $180 p/w for ONE horse and thats not even including feed.

Gave up on the whole tiling fiasco. We are sticking with the builders tiler and HOPING that he will be flexible with us and lay our tiles rather than the ones provided, a case or two his way and a big of moolah should seal the deal. I hope.

The only reason i gave up was because we are due to sign contracts tomorrow, and it doesn't allow me enough time to get proper quotes. I've tried negotiating with the builder earlier when we wanted to do the kitchen ourselves and they wanted to credit us back about $3000 for the entire kitchen. So there is NO way we could have found another for that price of similar! So thinking the tiling would be similar.

We haven't seen our lot since last year, just before Christmas! Hoping to get out there this weekend and check it out.

The house is being placed to the left of the block. So the bedrooms and bathroom side will be closest to the fence (I think roughly 8m away). We have done this so to allow greater side access like you mentioned. The driveway will have one entry through the fence via a crossover, a straight drive to the garage and a circular driveway in front of the house. All joined. If that makes sense.

bpratt - now you have me thinking. I wonder if it would look nicer to have the crossover and gates in the centre or bias to the garage side. I desperately tried to search for photos but couldn't find anything so forgive my horrific paint skills. What do you think? Opinions anyone?

Driveway in the MIDDLE

Drive way on the garage SIDE

What a lovely house and block! Congratulations and hope you work out the tiles - perhaps you'll sort it out tomorrow at contract. Oh and I love your bricks! And other colours. The Smokey beige carpet is nice (the wild mushroom is also lovely)

Why not two driveways? Otherwise Top pic looks ok to me

i'd go first option its a less sharp turn to exit.. say you ar ein garage you reverse out then peel left around then 2/3 of way aorund you exit gently almost straight out... in the 2nd one you exit garage then peel left around but you have to go 3/4 of the way aorund almost back to wher eyou started then turn hard right to exit.. taking longer and not as smooth