Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Apr 30, 2010 11:54 pm Hi Guys, I'm new to this forum. We have land and are still trying to decide which house to build. We love Henley's Monterey & Lexington and are having trouble deciding between the two. Whichever one we choose we will be adding the kids retreat as we need it!! Would love all your opinions out there of which one you preferred and why..and if you made any changes to the floor plan....hopefully your points will help us make our decision. Thanking you all in advance!!! Re: Henley.....Monterey or Lexington.....which do you prefer 4May 03, 2010 9:41 pm Go to photobucket.com and upload the pics/floorplan. Photobucket 'hosts' your images for you. Then copy/paste the IMG code in your post on the forum. I'm familiar with both the Lexington and Monterey floorplans but am not sure how they look with a kids' retreat option... Would that room at the back corner of the Lexington serve as your retreat? Or were you thinking another option? Re: Henley.....Monterey or Lexington.....which do you prefer 5May 04, 2010 9:21 pm Hi Chloe..we had a similar dilema..we originally got options sorted for the Monterey q1 and then 2 days before christmas we changed our mind and went for the lexington.. I just couldnt go past how beautiful ensuite and wir are...theyre amazing!!!!!! We originally thought the passage which connects all rooms was great , but it really is space which could be better used in the living areas....my partner is a chippy and so we put our heads together and also like you decided we needed a kids area... So we are knocking out the wall between the bed 3 and passage ( will keep robe for storage).- ps we have two kids...so only need two bedroom.... We also decided to change the study to guest room....so in go door and robe.... You could also use study for kids play area.if you wanted..as they grow it could become a study.. I will upload our plan...Let us know what u think... Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We have also changed tv area and alfresco as our backyard is more to the side of our house than the back... I dont know how old your kids are, ours are 5 & 7, and we thought that we didnt need to be right near their bedrooms....if there is an issue with the distance we could buy a baby monitor...but before we know it our kids will be wanting their own space....and so this design suited us. Good luck with your decision..let us know what you choose. Re: Henley.....Monterey or Lexington.....which do you prefer 6May 05, 2010 10:45 am Hi handmick, I thought I was sold on the monterey until I saw your floor plan! I love how you have swapped positions for the alfresco and the theatre room... it makes the alfresco more a part of the home. This was one of the main reasons why we weren't going to build the lexington. The casual area for kids is great too! As I mentioned in another thread I had started, a good friend of mine has already build the lexington and she has said she wouldn't want us to build one too... do you think that with some changes like yours, the house will be 'different enough' from hers? The Lexington really does suit us better because of the better sized study and the larger wardrobe. If we went with the Lexington we would only have to make a few adjustments compared to going with the monterey and changing multiple things about the plan. What are your thoughts? Re: Henley.....Monterey or Lexington.....which do you prefer 8May 05, 2010 2:31 pm Hi, I'm building Monterey Q1 and altered the option to theatre and meals area and therefore planning to use the theatre area as kids retreat. U can have a look of my plan as well. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ cheers, divya Building MONTEREY Q1 with Henley Deposit Paid. Color Appointment on 28 Oct'09 Tender Appointment on 11 Nov'09, Contract Appointment on 04 Dec'09, My thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=24442 My Blog :http://buildingmonterey.blogspot.com/ Re: Henley.....Monterey or Lexington.....which do you prefer 9May 05, 2010 10:28 pm trudy Hi handmick, I thought I was sold on the monterey until I saw your floor plan! I love how you have swapped positions for the alfresco and the theatre room... it makes the alfresco more a part of the home. This was one of the main reasons why we weren't going to build the lexington. The casual area for kids is great too! As I mentioned in another thread I had started, a good friend of mine has already build the lexington and she has said she wouldn't want us to build one too... do you think that with some changes like yours, the house will be 'different enough' from hers? The Lexington really does suit us better because of the better sized study and the larger wardrobe. If we went with the Lexington we would only have to make a few adjustments compared to going with the monterey and changing multiple things about the plan. What are your thoughts? Hi Trudy...good to hear we have helped you a little. I think your last points are crucial...it suits you & would cost you less...Really the Lexington & Monterey are very similar houses. I think the choice comes down to do you want the passageway or a larger ensuite & wir...only you can decide... The tv area to rear with side alfresco option (do you have big green book with Henleys standard options?) is a great option as it lets alot of light into the kitchen and living areas opening up to the outside... we set our door back a bit on the tv area so as to retain all the timber stacker doors that run along the meals external wall (non standard...but Henley only charged us for the doors). we have also requested that the column in the alfresco where the timber stacker doors meet be removed (is not load bearing so we hope it wont cost us much). similar to this : Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Dont let your friend influence your decision..if you like that plan go for it .. It's your home....With the options we are talking bout and different colours it will have your character. I cant tell you what to do..but I would choose it. Living area is 4610 x 5350, and tv area is 4270 x 4460mm http://handmick.blogspot.com/2010/04/h-and-micks-build.html https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=32840 Re: Henley.....Monterey or Lexington.....which do you prefer 10May 05, 2010 10:32 pm Trudy, I forgot to ask you what facade you like? we going edison facade...here is our building blog.. http://handmick.blogspot.com/2010/04/h-and-micks-build.html..have just started but its what we got so far. Let me know what u decide.. Helen Re: Henley.....Monterey or Lexington.....which do you prefer 11May 06, 2010 10:26 am Hi Helen, Thanks for the link to your blog, I'll be watching to see how our build goes. Love your splashback by the way We will definitely be going with the edison facade with front render ... I love that porch! It's like something we had in our home back in Sri Lanka. I have had a look throguh the options for the lexington and am considering the alfresco on the side and extending it a little further back so it's a bit longer. We will also have the cornerless stacker doors to the alfresco (love that look) ... like in the monterey display at mernda. The theatre room will be used as a music studio room for my hubby... there is just way too much musical equipment in our tiny usit at the moment and that doesnt include the drum kit that is currently being stored at my parents house! A question re: the butler's pantry... it is going to be in place of where the fridge would normally be. Does that move your fridge space to the side of the kitchen near the laundry door? I think we will have to flip our plan as our block land faces east and I want as much natural light in the living areas as possible. Trudy Re: Henley.....Monterey or Lexington.....which do you prefer 12May 06, 2010 1:55 pm trudy Hi Helen, Thanks for the link to your blog, I'll be watching to see how our build goes. Love your splashback by the way We will definitely be going with the edison facade with front render ... I love that porch! It's like something we had in our home back in Sri Lanka. I have had a look throguh the options for the lexington and am considering the alfresco on the side and extending it a little further back so it's a bit longer. We will also have the cornerless stacker doors to the alfresco (love that look) ... like in the monterey display at mernda. The theatre room will be used as a music studio room for my hubby... there is just way too much musical equipment in our tiny usit at the moment and that doesnt include the drum kit that is currently being stored at my parents house! A question re: the butler's pantry... it is going to be in place of where the fridge would normally be. Does that move your fridge space to the side of the kitchen near the laundry door? I think we will have to flip our plan as our block land faces east and I want as much natural light in the living areas as possible. Trudy Hi Trudy....wow Sri Lanka...that sounds interesting... It seems we have similar taste. We love the edison facade. Did you see it displayed at Mernda ( the older display homes which they sold last year)..I send you a pic... Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ ... This facade protects front of house from weather , and I think it looks best of bunch...we are facing west so we will get ensuite windows tinted ( probably all along front so they look the same)... Good idea to flip house so your living areas ar to the north.... you are right fridge will go next to laundry door ...it looks like a decent sized space so hoping there is room for mick to put wine rack in next to fridge.... Sounds like you may need some good sound proofing around the theatre room....funny that will be my hubbys domain as well, but he wants to put in theatre system...away from me clanking in the dishwasher he reckons!!!! poor love... I will let you know when we get price on cornerless alfresco...should be emailed to us any day now... Re: Henley.....Monterey or Lexington.....which do you prefer 13May 06, 2010 5:39 pm Hi Helen You are so helpful! Thanks for uploading the pic of the facade in Mernda. That's the exact look we are going for. Isn't there usually room above the fridge for the wine rack? That's how I have seen some of them. Not sure though. We are most definitely going to have to get soundproofing... people underestimate how loud a drum kit really is! I look forward to hearing about your quote for cornerless stacker doors. Have you thought about arranging for your wardrobe to be fit out with shelves, drawers, shoe spaces etc.? I was thinking about it the other day... might get Henley to hold off putting the rails in so I can get someone else to do the fit out fo rme with rails in the right places. With such a huge wardrobe I want to make sure I have ample space for my handbags, shoes and scarves! T Re: Henley.....Monterey or Lexington.....which do you prefer 14May 06, 2010 5:53 pm They are both really nice plans - although I don't understand why on both of them the laundry doors are offset from center (making the wall space where the door opens un-usable where it could otherwise have a thin linen or storage cabinet installed - or full width bench in the case of the monterey). Trudy - I wouldn't let what your friend thinks get in the way of what YOU want. You have to live with it. If anything, you can probably use each other for ideas and inspiration on home improvements and such as the years go by and you make changes here or there. Re: Henley.....Monterey or Lexington.....which do you prefer 15May 06, 2010 6:29 pm Hi somewoman, Thanks for your advice. Yes I have decided I will just sit with her and explain that the lexington really does give us everything we need so we can only go with that. Our friendship should be stronger than a floor plan surely! I am a bit unsure what you mean about the laundry... do you mean there should be a sliding door there instead? This is the only way I can see that a closet could be put in place instead. T Re: Henley.....Monterey or Lexington.....which do you prefer 16May 06, 2010 6:44 pm I think the door of the laundry in the lexington is off centre because that is how far the kitchen bench goes....there is an option to extend the laundry along the wall in question, but it is to the detriment of bedroom space.. Im going to wait til we are in to see how the space is used and I may add a bench or bench and cupboards later..But we have opted to go for extra cupboards above and below on the washing machine side.. Re: Henley.....Monterey or Lexington.....which do you prefer 17May 06, 2010 6:56 pm trudy Hi Helen You are so helpful! Thanks for uploading the pic of the facade in Mernda. That's the exact look we are going for. Isn't there usually room above the fridge for the wine rack? That's how I have seen some of them. Not sure though. We are most definitely going to have to get soundproofing... people underestimate how loud a drum kit really is! I look forward to hearing about your quote for cornerless stacker doors. Have you thought about arranging for your wardrobe to be fit out with shelves, drawers, shoe spaces etc.? I was thinking about it the other day... might get Henley to hold off putting the rails in so I can get someone else to do the fit out fo rme with rails in the right places. With such a huge wardrobe I want to make sure I have ample space for my handbags, shoes and scarves! T forgot to ask if you have been to ikea to look at their storage solutions...apparently they have an online software where you can arrange their products in your wardrobe space ( very clever)...also there is Howards storage world which is under ikea at Richmond ( sorry I am talking Melbourne Im not sure where you live - i shall go back and read your thread) and a new place called Store, I think..At present my stuff is falling out of my wardrobe so I am really lookin forward to being able to access it all....Imelda Marcos would love it!!!!!!!!!!!! which lexington are you building....we building Q1 ( the 2009 version) ? Re: Henley.....Monterey or Lexington.....which do you prefer 18May 06, 2010 8:42 pm The internal laundry door of the monterey is off center most likely to allow for the linen cupboard door. If it was centered there would be heaps of room for more storage on the wall the it opens against.
The external laundry door of the lexington is off center and blocks otherwise usable storage space that is framed on the other end by the kitchen. Both are simple moves of a door allowing a lot more storage room without changing any rooms or walls. Just the door location. Let me know if it's not clear and I'll modify the plans and repost them =) Re: Henley.....Monterey or Lexington.....which do you prefer 19May 06, 2010 8:49 pm The monterey. Both were in my top 5, but the Monterey was my favourite...and even liked it more than the one we chose but it was out of our price range at the time (knowing what we know now about our finances we could've done it but oh well)
Re: Henley.....Monterey or Lexington.....which do you prefer 20May 06, 2010 10:47 pm This is what I mean for the lexington: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ I've marked the proposed new cupboard space in grey, and you can see that the door is higher on the plan. Monterey original plan is not a problem, but the version above could add an entire wall of cupboard space just by shuffling the internal door a little closer to the existing linen cupboard Would any one know if Henley Homes is a good Builder to use I seen many reasonable but also many poor reviews With so many builder going bust I thought they would be a… 0 333 Anthony Firstly, wow you have put a lot of work into your list of questions! Great job and they are mostly valid questions that a builder should be able to answer. As… 14 9119 Black on light wood does look good. Not sure if it will be as long lasting as a steel finish? 6 4607 |