Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Apr 30, 2010 10:39 am Hi there! I am new to this forum but have been reading up on it for a while now as we are planning to build the beautiful Monterey Q1. We were tossing up between the Lexington and the Monterey, but eventually went with the Monterey because of the more open living areas and the Alfresco being more a part of the house. I was wondering if anyone can help with a few questions... 1. Is it possible to get double doors to the entry? I asked phoned and asked a rep but she said it wasn't possible... I have heard that if you keep asking, they can sometimes organise something for you. Has anyone else investigated this option? 2. Which facade option is included in the price? On the webiste I cannot see the option for the "urban facade" which is what they have displayed at Mernda. 3. Now about this wall on the living area.... it is bothering me... do you think it should be taken out? It seems as though it is in the way of the open plan. 4. We are considering the laundry swap as it looks so out of place in the middle of the living and casual areas. 5. Butler's pantry... what are people doing about this? I can't see a display anywhere so don't know what I am planning. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks heaps! Re: Building Monterey Q1 2Apr 30, 2010 12:19 pm Hi Trudy, Are you dealing with a sales person yet? If so, they provide you with a list of all of the facade options with prices. The only facade which is at no extra cost is the Broadway with no render. All of the other facades carry an extra cost depending on how much render you choose etc. So if you are dealing with a sales person just ask them for the facade options price list. I am building the Q3 version as our estate has pretty much only 14m blocks. I am leaving the part wall of the TV room in as that is the wall I am going to put the TV on. Obviously the back wall has a window.. and thought that it would be strange to put the TV on one of the side walls as the orrientation of the room would be a bit odd. If you aren't using it as a TV room then it might not matter to remove the wall. I also thought a lot about the laundry swap. I have decided to leave it as the laundry created a bit of a buffer between the two living areas. If kids or husband are making noise in one of the living areas at least there is a bit of a buffer. But again.. it would just depend on your circumstances. I would love to see the butlers pantry as well. I am going to stick with it as I got the measurements off the plans and measured it against some cupboards I have at home so I could see the size. I was happy with it. It might be good for you to do the same, that way you will have a bit of an idea. About the double doors, I don't know. I'm sure in theory you could do it, it depends whether you would want the glass side panels or not. If you wanted to get rid of them and the door way would fit a double door I couldnt see why not. But if it doesn't, the door way would have to be made wider which would affect the facade etc. which could be very expensive! This is also something that your sales person should be helping you with. Hope I was of some help! Manda Building Henley Monterey Q3 at Somerfield, Keysborough. Land Purchased: 23rd December 2009 Land Settled: 14th December 2010 Developer Approval: 18th January 2011 Building Permit: 20th January 2011 Site Scrape: 9th February 2011 Slab Poured: 23rd February 2011 Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43214 Re: Building Monterey Q1 3Apr 30, 2010 1:15 pm Hi Manda, Thanks for your reply. No, we haven't spoken with a consultant yet... this will happen very soon. It's the double doors I am really pondering about... they look so grand at the front of a house adn would really love to have this added in. Apparantly we can't do it because of something to do with the study??? I dont mind getting rid of the side panelling to have this option available. has anyone else looked into double doors? The madison door from Corinthian Doors is AMAZING. About the butler's pantry... thanks for your advice with that. I think that will be what I do to get an idea of what we are buying! Trudy Re: Building Monterey Q1 4Apr 30, 2010 1:43 pm Yes, I could imagine that double doors would infringe on the front of the house. I also just send you a private message with some more advice Building Henley Monterey Q3 at Somerfield, Keysborough. Land Purchased: 23rd December 2009 Land Settled: 14th December 2010 Developer Approval: 18th January 2011 Building Permit: 20th January 2011 Site Scrape: 9th February 2011 Slab Poured: 23rd February 2011 Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43214 Re: Building Monterey Q1 5Apr 30, 2010 10:37 pm Hi, We are going to build the Monterey Q2 but are waiting on title of our land. We definetly want to remove the wall on the living room....it just closes it in too much and you lose the open plan feel. I have yet to find out if you can actually remove it though. I have asked a few times and they just say it is something we would have to ask Head Office when your ready to sign. I really don't think we would go ahead and build it if you can't remove it. I know if you move the laundry next to the garage and swap the living and casual rooms around the wall can be removed as this is one of the options in their plans. We considered moving the laundry for a while but I think it is much better where it is as it gives you a buffer between the living & casual rooms. I actually really love the look of the laundry wall how they cut off the corner, it will be a nice feature wall for displaying photos etc. I also felt it would be strange having the laundry at the front of the house where everyone enters. If you moved the laundry next to the garage, when you walk in the front door there will be a very long wall (garage & laundry with 2 doors) before you enter the main part of the house. I think the garage wall alone is long enough so I think it might look odd. I would much prefer just after the garage wall you enter the living area. They are my thoughts anyway. Good luck with your build!!...and nice choice!! Re: Building Monterey Q1 6May 02, 2010 7:36 pm Hi, Yes Kelly I agree that the entrance wall will be far too long when the laundry is placed right next to the garage. will need to mull over this one. The Q2 is an awesome plan... It took me ages to decide between the Q1 and Q2! I had another question about the study in the Q1 .... it's tiny! Does anyone know if we can remove that study alcove altogether and just not have it there? It's too small for me to use as a home office and it just seems like a waste of space. I would much rather make the living room just slightly smaller and add some beautiful double doors on it and use that as my office. Any ideas? If the alcove study cannot be removed, I guess maybe we could put a couch, armchair and coffee table in it and use it as a small sitting area? Without turning the living room into an office I was also considering taking the "guest room" option as an extra and using the guest room as an office instead... however the guest room cuts down room from the casual area and I'm not sure I want to do this. Thoughts? Re: Building Monterey Q1 8May 03, 2010 4:36 pm Kelly, The lexington would be lovely.... BUT I have a friend who has that floorplan and she has already said she wouldn't want us to get the same plan she has. Also, we love the alfresco and main living area of the monterey a lot better. We did consider the lexington for a while, but the monterey had so many pro's over the lexington.... its just that study!!!! I spoke to a sales rep today and she said she would check with head office.... lets see how we go with this one. Anyone else heard that it is possible to enlarge or get rid of the study? would appreciate your thoughts. Trudy. Re: Building Monterey Q1 9May 03, 2010 5:26 pm Hi Trudy, Yes I agree, I prefer the alfresco and main living area better in the Monterey too. Ok, I have had another thought for you if Henley come back and say no. As I said we are going to build the Q2 version, I'm not sure if the Q1 has this option or not. But we are going to be adding the kids retreat....which is just another large room in between bedrooms 3 & 4. It is 4280 x 3600....if the Q1 doesnt' have this option you may consider the Q2 like us then you could use this as your study. We are also extending the casual room to the same length as the grand alfresco....so the casual room will be 4100 x 6980 which is almost the same size as the Q1. Something to think about anyway!! Re: Building Monterey Q1 10May 03, 2010 8:11 pm Hey Kelly, Your idea sounds brilliant. I've just looked up the options and have noticed that yes, it is definitely possible for the Q1 plan. I would much rather prefer this option to putting in the guest room near the garage. I called Henley this afternoon and hey presto! ... I am allowed to reduce the size of the living area and use it as an office. And yes, i am allowed to get rid of the study alcove and .. voila!!!! I am also allowed to have double doors to the front now that the study alcove is gone This ALSO means I have actually added some extra room into the master suite could this idea be more perfect?!?!?!? All of this is allowed as long as I do the laundry and living room swap (which is fine by me). I'm very happy... we can have everything exactly the way we want it in the plan. Thanks for all of your suggestions and advice... I appreciate it heaps Trudy go upvc window frames ensure insulation under colorbond. not just sarking, lighter color roof also not sure if you have seen this viewtopic.php?t=5823 last couple of pages… 4 110570 Even if it's not being sub-divided and you want to keep it as Torrens title, you will still need to talk to a town planner or Council themselves, to see if they will allow… 1 11035 |