Browse Forums Building A New House 1 May 04, 2009 12:12 pm Hi everyone, We are building in Perth with Homebuyers Centre. Currently waiting for land titles (should have them within next 2-3 weeks yay!) and prestart. I thought I'd get a blog started and post our floor plan so that we could get some feedback/ideas on any suggested changes - however, we cannot make any structural changes now, only 'cosmetic'. We we're quite rushed into the building process, one minute we were looking at established houses, the next minute we had a hold on a block of land which was going to go to someone else if we didn't buy it and on we went! Things we love about the plan: Open plan Shoppers entry door - straight from garage into kitchen His and hers robes in main bedroom (however I am calling them Hers and Hers ) Games area and extra lounge area - we are used to living in a 3 bedroom villa, so this house will seem so big to us. Changes we have already made: Close front lounge in to make more private (we will prob use this as our music room for instruments/memorabilia etc) Made robes in all bedrooms double (we haven't added doors because my partner is a carpenter and he will do all that) Kitchen will have overhead cupboards Raised roof to open plan living areas by 3 courses Added drawers to ensuite Bricked garage in at back and side garage door will be added after hand over - cheaper! Things I am not sure about and would like advice on: Ensuite bathroom - the current plan has the shower on the side where the window will be, and the window is a small window at the top. This wouldn't let in much natural light. I could either make the window a full length thin window going down the side of the end of the double shower, where I hope/assume water wouldn't get to it, or another thought is to swap places of the toilet and the shower. If we put the toilet in the showers spot, we wouldn't have the wall/door closing in the toilet, would just have it open and would have a bigger window. Therefore, I'd add a sliding door to the bathroom entrance. But on the other hand, I do like the idea of that toilet being closed off. Ideas/suggestions? Kitchen - the corner pantry doesn't look very modern to me and it annoys me a little bit. I like the amount of room for storage etc, but any ideas on how I can make it look better? House will be quite modern interior. I tried playing around with some ideas but it's hard because of the positioning of it. If I had of thought of it earlier, I would have moved the garage forward so that the kitchen was 'deeper' and would allow more room for a big cupboard along the side wall - too late now though! Should we close the games part in at all... with half wall, or something like that? I like it being all open, but happy to hear suggestions. Our front elevation is going to be quite boring - we didn't even think about that and then it was too late to change it. I would like the main bedroom to have 2 of the long thin windows, not sure about the other window in the lounge yet. Also, I love niches! Can anyone see where I could put one where it wouldn't look stupid? Any thoughts/ideas/feedback/suggestions etc etc etc are more than welcome! remembering we can't make any structural changes. Thanks everyone! Kara Building with Ventura homes (WA) Building thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20516 Slab: 17/04/10, Bricking started: 12/05/10, Bricking finished: 2/06/10, Roof frame done: 11/06/10, Colorbond on: 14/07/10, Lock Up: 19/08/10, Cabinets: 25/08/10, Tiling done: 28/09/10, Electrical: 2/10/10, PCI: 29/10/10, Keys: 4/11/10 Re: Our first home (WA - HBC) - feedback on plan please :) 3May 04, 2009 5:01 pm Hi Kara, Some initial thoughts... - Which way does your house face (IE. is the rear to the North?) - as this will impact the decision as to whether you need more light in your ensuite? - I personally wouldn't close off your living room as you will create a long, skinny and dark hallway. Better off just putting a door between that room and the family room to create a "Parents Area" - more incentive to keep it clean as well. If you must close it off consider using glazed doors so that you still get light into your entrance way. - I hate houses with toilets just sitting in the bathroom - Keep it closed off; can't stand it ever since a colleague of mine explained how...well I won't go into it but essentially what's in the bowl may not stay in the bowl - Add a door to the linen recess - will be messy otherwise - Consider paving around the house (much easier for the builder to do it!) - Not much you can do with the corner pantry at this stage (I actually love mine...) however there is a nice spot on the wall that faces into the family room for a small display 'niche' - If you want to use your kitchen bench as a breakfast far(as illustrated on the plan) then make sure the overhang is 400mm or thereabouts - otherwise you will not get close enough to the bench to sit under. - Having an alarm system? Think about where you are going to put the 'brains' box and have a telephone point and power point put in that spot (normally a walk in robe or pantry). Also have a conduit put into the wall near where your keypad is going to go (near front door or in the kitchen area. - Rangehood over hotplate? Even if you dont think you need one, definately looks better to have it. - If you want more light in your bedroom you can put a high window over the 'bed position' - but remember that more windows equals more noise from your neighbors - something I have learnt and won't be doing when I build house number 2. - To dress up the front you could add some planter boxes underneath the front window and also around the corner near your front door. Thats about all I can think of - oh, one more, if you want a groovy fridge with a water/ice dispenser then have a plumbing connection fitted to your fridge recess. - Edit - One more thing - Glass shower door to the ensuite! Much nicer then a curtain and will let through light! Cheers and Good Luck! P1T P1T Read about my building experience: http://secondhomebuild.blogspot.com Dale Alcock Homes - 'The Nautilus' in Bletchley Park, Southern River - WA Read about my Clipsal C-BUS Home Automation Project: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=20854 Re: Our first home (WA - HBC) - feedback on plan please :) 4May 05, 2009 1:13 am Hi Eclpse and Perth 1st timer, thanks so much for your replys and feedback. Eclpse-Partner will be doing almost all doors after hand over, and we will most likely put one on the laundry I'm kind of put off by 2 basins, because I hate cleaning one, let alone two! haha but will think about this one Thanks! Perth 1st timer House is facing East - I personally wouldn't close off your living room as you will create a long, skinny and dark hallway. Better off just putting a door between that room and the family room to create a "Parents Area" - more incentive to keep it clean as well. If you must close it off consider using glazed doors so that you still get light into your entrance way. Defintely want to close it off, but will be using glass window doors and will remember to ensure adequate lighting in hall way - thanks! Do you think I could incorporate niches in the hallway at all? Would like to but I'm thinking it might look silly. - I hate houses with toilets just sitting in the bathroom - Keep it closed off; can't stand it ever since a colleague of mine explained how...well I won't go into it but essentially what's in the bowl may not stay in the bowl hahaha ew! I agree I will probably leave the toilet seperate. I wonder if I can get away with having a long thin window at the end of the shower (opposite end to where shower head will be). Can people see any issues with this? - Add a door to the linen recess - will be messy otherwise All these will be done by partner afterwards - Consider paving around the house (much easier for the builder to do it!) Paving through the builder is expensive - we will do all outdoor stuff after hand over either ourselves or through tradies - Not much you can do with the corner pantry at this stage (I actually love mine...) however there is a nice spot on the wall that faces into the family room for a small display 'niche' Thanks for the niche spot idea - will have a think about that! I think I will end up loving the pantry for all the space, but thought it would be good to ask here incase anyone comes up with a magical idea! - If you want to use your kitchen bench as a breakfast far(as illustrated on the plan) then make sure the overhang is 400mm or thereabouts - otherwise you will not get close enough to the bench to sit under. Thanks I'll make a note of that - Having an alarm system? Think about where you are going to put the 'brains' box and have a telephone point and power point put in that spot (normally a walk in robe or pantry). Also have a conduit put into the wall near where your keypad is going to go (near front door or in the kitchen area. One question, what is a conduit? haha sorry - I have no idea! - Rangehood over hotplate? Even if you dont think you need one, definately looks better to have it. Yup we are getting a rangehood - sorry I forgot to write that in our extras above - Edit - One more thing - Glass shower door to the ensuite! Much nicer then a curtain and will let through light! Whoops I forgot to add that in original post too, we added a shower door for the ensuite. Builders standard is obscured glass though so we will have to upgrade to the clear, hoping it doesn't cost a fortune. Thanks sooooo much for having a look and giving me your ideas, I really appreciate it. Kara Building with Ventura homes (WA) Building thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20516 Slab: 17/04/10, Bricking started: 12/05/10, Bricking finished: 2/06/10, Roof frame done: 11/06/10, Colorbond on: 14/07/10, Lock Up: 19/08/10, Cabinets: 25/08/10, Tiling done: 28/09/10, Electrical: 2/10/10, PCI: 29/10/10, Keys: 4/11/10 Re: Our first home (WA - HBC) - feedback on plan please :) 5May 05, 2009 8:06 pm Put an internal door on the laundry. If the washing machine is going or the dryer it can get quite noisy and you have 2 bedrooms right next to it. it also means you don't have to worry about messy washing etc if you get visitors because you can close the door on it. Perhaps consider a slider or at least a lintel where the family room goes into the minor bedroom hallway. ( your partner could turn it into a slider later if the lintel was there fairly easily) This makes zones in the house which is great for cooling, heating and also again it cuts down on noise traveling for later on when you have kids. (i.e. if you have visitors in the family area and your kids are trying to sleep) Re: Our first home (WA - HBC) - feedback on plan please :) 6May 05, 2009 8:22 pm Definitely put some niches in the hallway!! make sure you put downlights at the top and make them features... With the long hallway it will be great to have some feature niches. I would probably put 2 along the master bedroom wall, but up to you! My plan has 2 niches which are 800 wide x 1300 high... looks fantastic!! Building Monaco32 with Carlisle Homes in Alamanda Estate 20/08/2010 - HANDOVER 24/8!! Blog - http://ourmonaco32.blogspot.com/ Thread - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=14415 Re: Our first home (WA - HBC) - feedback on plan please :) 7May 05, 2009 8:47 pm Thanks Kexkez and Sarahq Will defintely do a laundry door and a sliding door to the other section. Sarahq - would I put niches on both sides or one? Because I'll be closing the lounge room in so it will be a hall way - with the doorway into the lounge being up the end of the family room entrance, so would I put niches on both walls of that hallway? and would you do deep ones (with lights) where you can put things in them, or just the thin ones with light as feature? Thanks again! Building with Ventura homes (WA) Building thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20516 Slab: 17/04/10, Bricking started: 12/05/10, Bricking finished: 2/06/10, Roof frame done: 11/06/10, Colorbond on: 14/07/10, Lock Up: 19/08/10, Cabinets: 25/08/10, Tiling done: 28/09/10, Electrical: 2/10/10, PCI: 29/10/10, Keys: 4/11/10 Re: Our first home (WA - HBC) - feedback on plan please :) 8May 05, 2009 9:08 pm Can you swap the toilet and the shower in the ensuite and have a skylight in the shower/vanity part? Or can you have the toilet still 'semi- separate' with partition type door that doesn't go all the way to the ceiling and high window that lets light over the door? Just a thought Mind you ,I think these posters lately who are worrying about toilet germs in bathrooms due to some study or other need to get this in perspective - if you measure closely enough there are germs everywhere, are they actually doing you any harm?? Most of us with healthy immune systems really can cope fine But I digress I think the lounge is too narrow to divide off with a hallway and you will lose too much space, especially as hall will go on 'long' side of lounge room It is a very open space liveing area, but I would put a sliding door to divide family room from minor bedroom area, as others have said, good if children sleeping while others are in liveing areas. Re: Our first home (WA - HBC) - feedback on plan please :) 9May 08, 2009 2:23 pm Hi Kara, Congrats.. I have a few little comments; 1. Linen recess - (if your partner isnt already doing it) make sure you have shelving. 2. Kitchen bench - if you want an overhang on the kitchen bench counter add that in I love the ensuite's big shower and the big pantry in the kitchen. So jealous Goodluck Nicci Home Group WA Monte Carlo Timeline on Page 1 Re: Our first home (WA - HBC) - feedback on plan please :) 10Jun 06, 2009 10:23 pm [quote="karakarakara" Kitchen - the corner pantry doesn't look very modern to me and it annoys me a little bit. I like the amount of room for storage etc, but any ideas on how I can make it look better? House will be quite modern interior. I tried playing around with some ideas but it's hard because of the positioning of it. If I had of thought of it earlier, I would have moved the garage forward so that the kitchen was 'deeper' and would allow more room for a big cupboard along the side wall - too late now though! [/quote] Hi Kara, I am new to this forum (first post and so glad I found somewhere to discuss stuff) and read your post when I searched 'corner pantry'. Currently our kitchen layout (only a rough idea of fridge/stove/sink at this stage) includes a corner just like yours with a fridge alcove next to a doorway and then about 1 metre between that and the wall so I was thinking of a corner pantry. What is the scale of your picture ie. how big is that pantry? Is it built yet and if so how do you like it now?? Many thanks, Jane Re: Our first home (WA - HBC) - feedback on plan please :) 11Jun 07, 2009 1:11 am Hi We are building pretty much the same plan ours is just a little bigger and laundry in between bed 3 and WC.(Explorer) We have lengthened the carport to be in line with bed 1 and extended it out to fence line, then changed it to a garage. I just felt after looking at a couple of homes there doesn't seem to be much storage. We were going to section of the lounge area by putting a wall up however this wasn't going to be soundproof and have decided to get soffit cornice put in and will put our own doors in later. We have prestart in 3 weeks and I still can't decide if I want to change the sink postion to over the window to allow for a breakfast bar or not. I love the corner pantry - We will put lights in there. Just really feel the hotplates are in the wrong place - straight in the door to face pots on a hot plate sounds dangerous especially with having young children. Not to sure what to do here? Cheers Re: Our first home (WA - HBC) - feedback on plan please :) 12Jun 07, 2009 2:15 am the other thing I would be tempted to do is extend the kitchen bench along a bit further so that there is more bench space before the sink. Re: Our first home (WA - HBC) - feedback on plan please :) 13Jun 07, 2009 11:32 am wow, hi everyone. I haven't written anymore in this thread for a while because we are currently looking at changing builders and going with a totally different house. Can't answer the corner pantry questions sorry - Have never had one, but I imaigne they would be good in terms of the amount of space. I don't know the size of the one in that house sorry. Building with Ventura homes (WA) Building thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20516 Slab: 17/04/10, Bricking started: 12/05/10, Bricking finished: 2/06/10, Roof frame done: 11/06/10, Colorbond on: 14/07/10, Lock Up: 19/08/10, Cabinets: 25/08/10, Tiling done: 28/09/10, Electrical: 2/10/10, PCI: 29/10/10, Keys: 4/11/10 Hi, Would you please share some photos of your Orlando 20 HBC build? I would like to get some insight on the living and dining area. Thank you 0 1644 Hi there! Absolutely agree on the wasted space. We have no desire for the master to be that oversized, but it occurred when we increased the depth of the garage. We have… 4 12507 6 55355 |