Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Nov 15, 2008 8:10 pm Hello
We're getting close to the end of our planning stage, we have nailed down the room layout, pretty much nailed down the window and door schedule and lighting layouts, the draftie has done shadow diagrams and elevations based on those. I'd be very interested to know - was there anything you wished you'd asked your drafties to include in the plans when you finally built the house? Anything you wish had been made clearer? Or anything you wish had been left out? Would very much appreciate any suggestions. Re: Plans - anything you wish you had / had not included? 2Nov 15, 2008 10:05 pm I wish I'd thought more about the side windows and overlooking neighbours property. We have to screen a huge window upstairs. I wish I had changed it to a small window high up. Also off our kitchen/dining we have a sliding door and a window out to a narrow area outside which I don't think we'll utilize at all. I wish they weren't there and I had built floor to ceiling cupboards instead. We also have ended up with a massive bathroom upstairs for the kids. I wish I'd eaten into it and built a second walk in robe off the main bedroom. The last thing I would have done was make sure I have a door that I can put a cat door in. Sliding doors are not the easiest to put cat doors into. All great with hindsight. Fi has moved in!! Re: Plans - anything you wish you had / had not included? 3Nov 15, 2008 10:27 pm Hmm, a bath in the ensuite. Sigh. Would have loved that...not necessarily a spa, just something to soak in. We are going with a volume builder and didn't know this was a possibilty...now I know that it can be done!
Also, more pot drawers in the kitchen, and lots more cupboards! Re: Plans - anything you wish you had / had not included? 4Nov 15, 2008 11:31 pm more drawers and less cupboards in the kitchen. Re: Plans - anything you wish you had / had not included? 5Nov 16, 2008 6:33 am Thanks guys - couple of useful ones there we will definitely bear in mind.
Keep them coming please..... Thanks Re: Plans - anything you wish you had / had not included? 6Nov 16, 2008 8:27 am James Bond pretty much nailed down the window and door schedule and lighting layouts, the draftie has done shadow diagrams and elevations based on those. Bathroom and kitchen elevations - tiling heights, rail positions Re: Plans - anything you wish you had / had not included? 7Nov 16, 2008 8:32 am Anything where you need to have channel in the slab.
Services to island benches or service columns Embedded sliding / bifold doors Re: Plans - anything you wish you had / had not included? 8Nov 16, 2008 8:37 am Quote: The last thing I would have done was make sure I have a door that I can put a cat door in. Sliding doors are not the easiest to put cat doors into. This is a very good point - those sliding glass doors which are popular in laundries would make this very difficult. We have a standard door on laundry and was farily easy and cheap DIY job to add pet flap, available from hardware store for about $30. To compensate for lost light, we made the door have a half height window, as well as the small window above the trough. Dymonite, we asked for greywater diversion from washing machine, but I am surprised this is not offered to clients in these times of water restrictions. We had to initiate this ourselves, builder did not suggest or mention it at all. Re: Plans - anything you wish you had / had not included? 9Nov 16, 2008 11:55 am For me, the biggest thing I wanted was a 'mud' room .....that is what they're called in some display houses, but a room off the garage and near the front entrance where all shoes, coats and umbrellas can be stored. It doesn't have to be a big room....just long and narrow with lots of shelves. Just an area where every family member would head to after they come home, leave their shoes, bags, coats before they come into the house. DH reckons it will be the dumping ground. But at least it is out of sight. Our building journey has begun: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=23138 Brookvale 45 by Porter Davis ************** Lead me not into temptation.....I can find the way myself. Re: Plans - anything you wish you had / had not included? 11Nov 16, 2008 12:56 pm Helyn Quote: The last thing I would have done was make sure I have a door that I can put a cat door in. Sliding doors are not the easiest to put cat doors into. This is a very good point - those sliding glass doors which are popular in laundries would make this very difficult. I'm a dog person...cat flap on a sliding door...can anyone tell what I'm thinking.... mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Plans - anything you wish you had / had not included? 13Nov 16, 2008 5:21 pm overwhelmed For me, the biggest thing I wanted was a 'mud' room ...... My designer has suggested this for me as I have horses and dogs and I now think its going to be the best thing since sliced bread. I'm even getting it adjusted so its big enough so the dogs can dry off in there after a walk. Just the idea of boots, dog leads, bags and coats etc having a designated home just helps so much with organisation. Building Upside down house in Wantirna VIC Current Stage: Procrastination... it's just all too hard.... Blog: http://thereluctantbuilder.blogspot.com/ Re: Plans - anything you wish you had / had not included? 14Nov 16, 2008 6:05 pm Lots of people I know have regretted not having enough power points. Make sure there's always going to be a spare one to plug the vacuum cleaner into in any given part of the house. Consider also where your static appliances (e.g. toaster, bedside lamps etc) will be plugged in.
Make sure you have a power point in the ceiling cavity as well. And outdoor power points if you want to run lights or anything along those lines. Also, consider getting tinted glass anywhere you expect the sun to be beating down regularly. Makes a significant difference. And lastly, if you think some rooms are likely to get more traffic than others, consider using a different carpet underlay for some rooms so you can spend big on only a few rooms that will need it in the long run. That's all off the top of my head. : ) --Mike Everything I know, I learned from SBS. LATEST: Frame Complete http://metricon-mercer.livejournal.com Re: Plans - anything you wish you had / had not included? 15Nov 16, 2008 6:56 pm cynarion Lots of people I know have regretted not having enough power points. Make sure there's always going to be a spare one to plug the vacuum cleaner into in any given part of the house. Consider also where your static appliances (e.g. toaster, bedside lamps etc) will be plugged in. Make sure you have a power point in the ceiling cavity as well. And outdoor power points if you want to run lights or anything along those lines. Also, consider getting tinted glass anywhere you expect the sun to be beating down regularly. Makes a significant difference. And lastly, if you think some rooms are likely to get more traffic than others, consider using a different carpet underlay for some rooms so you can spend big on only a few rooms that will need it in the long run. That's all off the top of my head. : ) --Mike Thanks for that Mike, I just read your blog, gees you have been waiting a while for your land haven't you! I think you win my witty blogger of the week award, I loved the dialogue with the solicitor! Re: Plans - anything you wish you had / had not included? 16Nov 16, 2008 8:24 pm I have all toilet and bathrooms windows in frosted glass, can't see in.... can't see out and no need for window furnishings.
Getting a special drawer for dirty clothes in the laundry instead of having a clothes basket sitting in the middle of the room. Re: Plans - anything you wish you had / had not included? 17Nov 16, 2008 8:26 pm Helyn donuts Tiled shower bases. donuts, was this not standard? If not, what is on the base? Hi Helyn, no the standard was plain white shower bases - they may be called Polymarble? not sure. they look like this (only a little cleaner by the time we get in there I hope). I think they are easier to clean than tiles which will be a plus! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Plans - anything you wish you had / had not included? 18Nov 16, 2008 8:33 pm SuH :arrow: I have all toilet and bathrooms windows in frosted glass, can't see in.... can't see out and no need for window furnishings. Oops I better edit this. Suh said frosted not the other stuff. So all should be ok. Before I give anyone else a heart attack! I really hate to be the bearer of bad news but my tip is that you can see in. If the person has the light on. well you can see enough to tell whether the person is male or female and if they shave or not.. I have strong memories of being at a g/friends housefor a bbq with a bunch of good friends when their new neighbours had not long moved in. No fences. We were all out the back having a bbq and a few drinks when the lady next door got home from work and decided to have a shower. ... ermmm... the guys thought it was quite errmm eye catching. Strangely enough it wasn't long before they decided to get fences up. Blog http://wherethehearthis.blogspot.com/ Build https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=6634: Yard https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=27687&p=378401#p378401 Re: Plans - anything you wish you had / had not included? 20Nov 16, 2008 8:41 pm nope the bubbly type standard obscure glass they use that you aren't supposed to be able to see through. for frosted you should be ok. I had an old shower unit that broke on me and when I took it off, there were only 2 water pipes, instead of the normal 2 water pipes and a shower head pipe. S o I… 0 36944 hey there! 😊 so, it’s kinda common for standard drawer depths to be around 500mm since most cabinets use this size to fit the usual runners… 3 20920 That is a really good attitude Akin to you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. I do enjoy watching that tik tok inspector from Victoria but he does go a little… 12 81896 |