Bon's Monte Carlo with McD Jones - painting, kitchen ETC!!

bon · Aug 15, 2010 3:09 pm

Hi Everyone

Well it’s about time I start my own thread so here goes.

We are building the “Monte Carlo with Side Activities” with Vogue Executive Façade with McDonald Jones in the Hunter Valley.

Floor plan (note we are not getting the study and the garage just slides accross so house is a perfect rectangle)

Facade

Our block -looking from the bottom up to the street (1300m on a slope)

We haven’t made many modifications to the base plan – just added windows to the northern side. We did get air con, upgrade our appliances, 20m stone bench tops with waterfall edges, solar hot water, additional shower head to ensuite, and all floor coverings (including big polished porcelain floor tiles).

External colours (using M selections website)
-Roof – Colourbond Surfmist
-Bricks – Austral Bramptons (with feature Austral Iron to portico)
-Garage door and windows - white
-Front door - Taubman's November Leaf

Our progress so far has been very slow (on builder’s part). We paid our deposit last December and after lengthy, unexplained delay, we finally kicked off on 27 July. See progress below:
-Building pad – 27 July
-Pipework – 2 August
-Fence and loo – 5 August

A photo of the work so far:

I will post my internal selections later.

I'm looking forward to seeing it all come together (and hoping that it doesn't continue to drag on so slowly)!!

kyton · Aug 15, 2010 3:36 pm

Hi and welcome to H1 Bon. McD-J do have lovely house plans don't they? Just a shame sometimes they can be a little lax on the planning side. We loved their big home they have on display at Lochinvar and were all set to build it but other things happened and we chose not to proceed.

Here is hoping your build is smooth and goes along sailingly!!

bon · Aug 15, 2010 3:42 pm

kyton

Hi and welcome to H1 Bon. McD-J do have lovely house plans don't they? Just a shame sometimes they can be a little lax on the planning side. We loved their big home they have on display at Lochinvar and were all set to build it but other things happened and we chose not to proceed.

Here is hoping your build is smooth and goes along sailingly!!

Thanks Kyton

The house at Lochinvar is just stunning - they do build a lovely home.

I agree completely on the lax comment though - If I had my time over I probably would not be building with them. The continued delays are so frustrating - I'm hoping I'll forget all about the issues when we are in our beautiful new home.

kyton · Aug 15, 2010 4:35 pm

Bon - yep just keep thinking postively!! Even after our builder went bankrupt I still only ever thought positive thoughts and we absolutely love our home...

mattmaca · Aug 15, 2010 9:22 pm

Hi Bon it all sounds great except of course the delay but hopefully that turns around shortly.

We have just had our loan pre approved so we will also be going with the Monte Carlo.

We're going with the Balinese Tropicana "C" Facade which was a suprise as it didn't really stand out on their web site but when we saw it for real at the Harrington Display home we just loved it. We considered the Childrens Activities Room which is excellent but have gone with the Parents Retreat.

We have also dropped the study as it just didn't feel right being the first thing you see when walking into the house as well of course the extra cost that came with it. We have a Monte Carlo currently being built not far from here that also has the Vogue Executive Facade. Can't recall but is there a variation from the facade pic you posted in that you would lose the smaller window as thats where the study would have been so the garage slides across to make it square as you mentioned.

Anyway good luck with your build and i'm sure i'll be poking my head in to see how things progress as we have only just had a quote,paid the 3k and are accepting the quote tom to get everything started.

woodduck · Aug 16, 2010 7:54 am

Hi Bon, It's finally all action when they get to the slab stage. I noticed you have an additional shower rose in the ensuite, we also added one, but noticed on the weekend after the plumber had been that he hasnt included it. About to ring the builder now and see what happens.

We will be following your build, good luck.

Woodduck

gavmer1 · Aug 16, 2010 9:51 am

Hi Bon,

Sorry to hear about the slow progress but, fantastic to see some of your ideas!!! I love the colour selection! interesting also to see you chose a porcelain tile as i think they are a great addition. We have our colour selection tomorrow and have priced the tiles/tiling privately to see what the costing variance will be as well as the caesar stone. If it blows the budget, we will do it ourselves.

Also i think you have motivated me to start a blog myself.

Keep us in the loop!!

Gav

kiwi · Aug 16, 2010 10:21 am

ooow, how did I miss this!

congrats on your thread and your build. Look forward to seeing it

2nd time building · Aug 16, 2010 11:11 am

Hi Bon

We are also building with McD Jones in the Hunter Valley. We are building the Beach House Manor and hopefully should be getting the keys in the next few weeks.

We have had a really successful build with Mc Jones, if we get the keys by the end of the month it will be a 5 1/2 month build from the day the cut in was done -which I don't think is too bad. The only complaint I would have is the lack of committment to giving dates and times and getting info out of our SS is like pulling teeth, which can be frustrating at times. Otherwise it is a beautiful house and I love it, I am just very desperate to now move in and we are hoping for a handover date soon.

Good luck with your build I hope you it goes as smoothly as ours.

bon · Aug 16, 2010 2:32 pm

mattmaca

We're going with the Balinese Tropicana "C" Facade which was a suprise as it didn't really stand out on their web site but when we saw it for real at the Harrington Display home we just loved it. We considered the Childrens Activities Room which is excellent but have gone with the Parents Retreat.

We have also dropped the study as it just didn't feel right being the first thing you see when walking into the house as well of course the extra cost that came with it. We have a Monte Carlo currently being built not far from here that also has the Vogue Executive Facade. Can't recall but is there a variation from the facade pic you posted in that you would lose the smaller window as thats where the study would have been so the garage slides across to make it square as you mentioned.

Anyway good luck with your build and i'm sure i'll be poking my head in to see how things progress as we have only just had a quote,paid the 3k and are accepting the quote tom to get everything started.

Hi Matt

Welcome to H1 and good luck with your build. Keep us posted with your progress

I love the Balinese facades!!! I didn't see it in the flesh until after we had signed up but gee I wish I had - gorgeous.

I agree with your comments on the study - such an odd place to put it. I think the facade looks better with it and I wish I could locate a study elsewhere in the house but oh well.

bon · Aug 16, 2010 2:33 pm

kiwi

ooow, how did I miss this!

congrats on your thread and your build. Look forward to seeing it

Thanks Kiwi -

bon · Aug 16, 2010 2:35 pm

2nd time building

Hi Bon

We are also building with McD Jones in the Hunter Valley. We are building the Beach House Manor and hopefully should be getting the keys in the next few weeks.

We have had a really successful build with Mc Jones, if we get the keys by the end of the month it will be a 5 1/2 month build from the day the cut in was done -which I don't think is too bad. The only complaint I would have is the lack of committment to giving dates and times and getting info out of our SS is like pulling teeth, which can be frustrating at times. Otherwise it is a beautiful house and I love it, I am just very desperate to now move in and we are hoping for a handover date soon.

Good luck with your build I hope you it goes as smoothly as ours.

Hi 2TB

I love the Beach House - the one on display at Fern Bay is great!

Congrats on your build - I think some photos are in order!!! PLEASE

bon · Aug 16, 2010 2:39 pm

woodduck

Hi Bon, It's finally all action when they get to the slab stage. I noticed you have an additional shower rose in the ensuite, we also added one, but noticed on the weekend after the plumber had been that he hasnt included it. About to ring the builder now and see what happens.

We will be following your build, good luck.

Woodduck

Thanks Steve

I'm just hoping my build runs along as quickly as yours seems to be

bon · Aug 16, 2010 2:56 pm

gavmer1

Hi Bon,

Sorry to hear about the slow progress but, fantastic to see some of your ideas!!! I love the colour selection! interesting also to see you chose a porcelain tile as i think they are a great addition. We have our colour selection tomorrow and have priced the tiles/tiling privately to see what the costing variance will be as well as the caesar stone. If it blows the budget, we will do it ourselves.

Also i think you have motivated me to start a blog myself.

Keep us in the loop!!

Gav

Thanks Gav - I can't wait to see all of the colours come together! I LOVE porcelain tiles too. I am sure that they are must cheaper if you source them yourself but that was just one of the many things in my "too hard basket".

Good luck with your selections! Make sure you start your thread too so we can all see the pics

bon · Aug 19, 2010 8:19 pm

Well this week things have finally started happening!

On Monday our piers were done - we came in under our allowance so thankfully no unexpected cost there. Below is a pic of the wonderful guys from Entire Concrete doing their thing

Today our pods were done although I didn't get a photo because it was dark by the time I went and had a look ... but the BIG NEWS is (weather permitting) we get SLABBED tomorrow :z:

I will be sure to take lots of photos this weekend

Fingers crossed we have some frame happening by the end of the month.

woodduck · Aug 19, 2010 9:45 pm

Good luck for tomorrow, dont forget to sign your name on the corner of the slab!

gavmer1 · Aug 20, 2010 3:16 pm

Hey Bon,

Fantastic news and great to see things getting further along!!! I did start a blog also, check it out in my signature! I dont know if i have seen them somewhere else but, did you post your internal colours?? I am always curious as to what others are doing...

Gav

bon · Aug 21, 2010 5:19 pm

Well no slab on Friday - fingers crossed for Monday. I will be signing - thanks for the reminder Steve

Great work on the blog gav - I will be watching it closely! I haven't posted my internal selections yet - am keeping you all guessing (jokes ... just been lazy but I'll get to it soon).

Hoping to have slab photos on next week!

gavmer1 · Aug 30, 2010 9:25 am

Hey Bon,

How goes it all????? Im hanging to see those internal selections! What did you do with flooring??

bon · Aug 31, 2010 6:33 pm

Hi Gav

Well everything is flying along - I have just been too busy to post.

Our slab was poured on Monday 23 August and our electricity was connected sometime shortly after.

On Friday 27 August they started putting up the steel frame - I did a driveby at lunch and the roof trusses have gone up today. YAY!!

I will post photos as soon as I get a chance.

I will post our internal selections (including tiles and carpet) too. We got all our flooring through the builder - lazy I know. We went with polished porcelain tiles (60 x 60) to the entry and family area and carpet to the rest of the house.

I LOVE your selections gav especially the tiles (and wish I had thought of an undermount sink)!! You should have your electrical next - chase them up and try and get any appointment that has been cancelled. When we went through they were running late and doing electricals as variations after the contract was signed - best for you and your lender to know the total sum now than face a budget blow-out after electricals! Good luck