Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Sep 05, 2011 5:48 pm [quote][/quote]Well, now that we have titles (only 9 months late) I thought I should stop lurking, and have our own thread!
We are building with D. A., "The Samui", similar to the display "The Amari". We have made a few little changes (closing up the theatre which ended up being a major drama, but so far the only real drama with the builder) and altering the ensuite...just little things. Once I have scanned things, signed up with photobucket etc, I will add the plans etc. We had our pre-start on Thursday and I must say, it was FANTASTIC! First we were met by our amazing Sales Manager who we had met previously when he sorted out our above theatre room issue within a matter of seconds (after a few weeks of back and forth with the sales rep.). Then he went and made us coffees (since when do managers make coffees??? LOVE IT!!!) and we met with our pre start girl who we had met earlier when doing a touch base of colours. So glad we got her! I know it is their job, but she had great suggestions, able to get us great stuff without extra costs, suggested what to add in later and what was cheaper to add in now. She also suggested where an upgrade should be spent (and not too many places at all!). Didn't feel like she was after our money, making us spend more or anything like that. Just made us feel comfortable and that we were walking away with an amazing home! We spent 4 hours in pre-start and only spent an extra $400...$1000/hour...not a bad shopping spree! (Also add on our previous variation of $8000!)...so came away quite pleased! From both the variations our biggest expenses: 1. Increasing garage (already had it increased in length prior, but decided to increase the width as well) 2. We already had an upgraded Blanco 900mm range for rangehood,oven and cooktop...but increased to a double oven(on a wall) and an electric cooktop (I just prefer the streamline look and the ease of cleaning, and I find I can get an exact temperature better...just me!) 3. Our ensuite shower. We have converted it into a hobless shower and is going to look absolutely amazing! 4. Electrical. During pre-start we were really impressed with the standard inclusions that D. A. offer...from nice cornices, kitchen pull out hose spout and a great range of bathroom tiles. They have changed their tile boards (they don't do them now) so we had already picked them, but started again and we are even happier now with our choice of tiles and borders! I love that we never had to go to another shop, could select everything from the selection floor at head office, and just seeing what the upgrades were if we decided to choose them. We were extremely lucky when we negotiated our house to start with, had a good consultant and we were able to get a lot of upgrades at no extra cost! E.G we got reverse cycle ducted air con included at no extra cost. Also upgraded external doors, door locks, shower roses, alfresco height (will be stunning!), and a few other things. So far extremely happy with everything! Our settlement date on the block is on the 19th September...will be very glad when we get that through...we started this process October 2010, expecting titles in January and we would be in by Xmas this year! At least we will be in before Xmas 2012 (if I have not just jinxed us!!) Re: Our Build: Baldivis Dale Alcock 2Sep 05, 2011 8:22 pm Hi The Vans, Welcome to the forum. I went and checked out the home on the DA website and its looks wonderful, but can't wait to see how you have made your own personal tweeks along with your color selections. Look forward to watching your build Living in Sydney - Building in Melbourne My Thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=50518 Re: Our Build: Baldivis Dale Alcock 3Sep 05, 2011 8:38 pm Hi The Vans, I am looking forward to following your build as well, you are properly a month or two ahead of me, I can't wait to see your plans and color selection Re: Our Build: Baldivis Dale Alcock 4Sep 05, 2011 9:13 pm Sounds wonderful! Looking forward to watching your build. Casey + Gary + 5 kool kiddos + 1 funky Frenchie + 5 happy hens = barrels of fun in Muswellbrook Re: Our Build: Baldivis Dale Alcock 5Sep 05, 2011 11:00 pm Hello and welcome Sounds like you're going great guns. I can't wait to see your choices and build progress. I LOVE the Amari/Samui. It's just gorgeous. We were talking with DAH about building something very similar, we took them a custom design and thought we'd hit jackpot when they showed us how similar it was to the Amari. Unfortunately they weren't able to do our build in the end because we're putting a loft on it and are in a very high clay site, they passed us to WBN who then priced it out of our reach. It's a real shame because Dales had been fantastic, the sales guy was just lovely and it was such fun going through all the choices in one place - good to hear it seems to be consistent. Well done on getting them to close in the theatre, I look forward to seeing where you went with it. We took plans with an internal theatre to heaps of builders who just wouldn't budge due to the various regulations. Have you seen the Highbury display just down the road from the Amari? They have a completely enclosed, internal theatre - we hadn't seen many, but they're out there. Actually they also have a column-less, corner alfresco like the Amari - stackers not bi-folds though. Anyhoo, sorry I should stop blethering on in your thread, I'm just so excited to get to watch a Samui/Amari progress. Anise Build thread: /viewtopic.php?f=31&t=49109 Blog: http://thelofthouse.wordpress.com/ Re: Our Build: Baldivis Dale Alcock 6Sep 05, 2011 11:17 pm Can't wait to see your plans. We had title issues too, were due September and didn't come thru til April! Totally sucks , but once they start it's very exciting, makes the wait almost worth it! my new build thread- Ben Trager https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=89826 my switch build thread (2011) https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36569 Re: Our Build: Baldivis 8Sep 06, 2011 10:59 am Yes a central theatre was an absolute pain in the rear end!!! On our initial consultation with our sales rep we said we wanted a few things. Master bed at the rear opening up outside, a study, kids area, larger garage and a fully enclosed theatre. Pulling up the Samui he said we would be able to enclose it. Well, drama drama...it got to the stage where I just said we don't want the plan if it can't be enclosed. This is of course after months of working on the plans. So he wasn't too pleased and passed us onto the manager who quickly fixed our issues.
First solution was a skylight! OMG! Are you kidding me? Aswell as a skylight we needed to have a slit window. Then we were to just provide a skylight after handover, but with the slit and an open doorway. Then they had the slit, and two open doorways with glass doors at $1700 a pop! That is expensive and doesn't enclose our theatre! So not impressed, as we would just take off the $1700 doors (x 4) and put on solid ones after hand over. So eventually the most cost effective way to enclose it is: We have closed off the theatre along the wall opposite the kitchen wall, so that is now a hallway. We have two double door openings, one entering the dining and onto the computer nook, which is more of a kids activity (bigger then a nook!) After handover we install our double doors, either sliding or opening, still deciding but no hurry! So whilst not fully enclosed now, it will be. We chose to have the open doors into the computer nook/kids activity, as where we rent now, we have an activity area amongst the kids room (we only have one child). It is used as a store room for toys, as she brings all the toys into the living areas where she can see us. So we thought if we can open the doors, during the day she can see us straight through the theatre/dining/alfresco, depending on where we/I am. so hopefully the toys stay where they are supposed! Then of course at night we can close the doors for our theatre room, and delete sound! As she gets older, well, we have an eye on that computer!!! It also gives us more versatility. can be a more open plan, or a closed plan...a sitting area or a deluxe theatre! Unfortunately, my scanner isn't attached to my computer (new computer not everything installed) and I can't find the disk...will ask hubby when he is home. So will try to explain our changes! Other changes made: 1. Computer nook: we have added a 1500mm square wall near bed 4 door to enclose it more and give another wall to put furniture/toys against. We are thinking we will put up a nice glass feature here at a later date to enclose more but still keep in the light! (at no extra cost) 2. Ensuite: moved the shower so it is sitting next to the vanity unit and have a high window, not a long one. This allowed us to have a double shower size (not two shower roses though), which we have now converted to a hobless shower. So we originally had a nib wall between shower and vanity. Now that nib wall is full height, fully tiled, the whole shower area is fully tiled, flooring changes with a greater gradient for drainage and best of all...NO GLASS shower screen to clean! This also allowed us to extend the wardrobe/dressing area and have the entrance to the wardrobe at the bathroom end, where I believe it makes more sense to have! We have also taken out the shelving/rail so we can install our own shelving system later. We have also added a door frame thing to add a sliding door later on if we want. Making the shower hobless was a huge expense...I say we have a $2000 shower...maybe even more once you think of the cost of plumbing!) We moved the ensuite toilet door to the bathroom entrance to close off the ensuite. (no extra cost) 3. Alfresco: celing already had eaves fully around at 25 course, then a 28 course ceiling to give it two levels. We have then added a third level in at 31 course and the nice fan that we have yet to pick out will go in that and act as a real feature. (at no extra cost) 4. Living: we added a long awning window at the edge of the living room about 1 metre from the kitchen bench. Thought would add extra light/ventilation and also make a clear definition to the living room, and the wall looked boring! 5. Kitchen: moved the sink to the outer wall right next to the laundry wall. Moved the hotplates further down the bench too, so the hot plates up one end, sink up the other. Window is also above the sink. the island bench is now purely a bench. There are no cupboards underneath the island bench, but a bank of 3 pot drawers about 1m wide, and a bank of 4 drawers, again about 1m wide. Yes they are huge, and I think will look streamlined and lovely! we added a door to the pantry and a sliding door to the laundry to close it off. WIL also has a door added. In the pantry we have 4 shelves at the end, and 3 shelves along the side, deleting one shelf so we can fit our toaster/kettle/coffee machine etc in there, instead of wasting space on the benches. Our benches will be clutter free...they will be!!! We have also put a power point in the pantry to allow for all the appliances. (all of this was at no extra cost...instead we got a credit for the shelf taken out...but moving stuff, extra wide drawers aand all the doors...no extra cost) 6. Garage lengthened by 600mm and widened by 900mm and have a roller door at the back which will fit a vehicle through it. (at a huge amount of extra cost!) 7. Bathroom has a banjo bench over bath. (at no extra cost) 8. mirrored robes in bed 2/3/4 (at no extra cost) 9. Enclosed home office, needed to have double brick along the theatre wall to do this, but figure that is probably a good thing! Office gets used a lot and nothing worse then the sound of the TV annoying you...and since that wall will have the TV on it...a good result. 10. Master bedroom: changed window to sliding door. (at no extra cost) 11. Changed height of the front bedroom windows so they don't go to the floor, so we can add planter boxes afterwards. I think they are all the changes. Most of the main ones anyway! Was surprised how much there actually was! Then the changes to electrical...whoa! Thankfully we had an idea of what we wanted! And reading the thread on what not to miss, that was great! Some things we had already put in and others we hadn't thought of and certainly added (eg. manhole in the garage instead of a pokey little hallway, and power point in metre box for retic...obvious but not when you haven't built before, you just expect it in there!). Re: Our Build: Baldivis 9Sep 06, 2011 11:41 am Our colours:
We were quite sure what colours we wanted inside and out. Then we saw the Archer display in Souther River (Bletchley Park) and totally changed our exterior colours. We originally wanted Jasper colorbond...now we have the exact same colours as the Archer. They are... Colorbond roof/gutters/fascia - woodland grey (also doing the door in woodland grey (they have charcoal) White Cliffs render walls at 200% with the feature wall being Carobou (Solver Paints). White cliffs is an off white...maybe a dirty white and carabou is a dark brown...a bit like Jasper but a little bit darker. Surf mist for the garage door. changed the window frames from charcoal to storm front...as we have lighter bricks then they do. Bricks: cervantes Unfortunately, we didn't take photos of the tiles/benchtops etc we selected, Dale Alcock did and sent them to us, but they are on a PDF file so not sure how to get them on here. Bathroom: Smokey Sapelle Laminate cupboards with platinum micro top. Ensuite: Smokey Sapelle laminate cupboards with Antarctic Stone. Kitchen/Laundry: licorice linear cupboards with platinum micro top. http://laminex.com.au/colour-palette.ph ... inum-micro http://laminex.com.au/colour-palette.ph ... ctic-stone http://laminex.com.au/colour-palette.ph ... ky-sapelle http://laminex.com.au/colour-palette.ph ... rice-linea I can't see the names of the tiles, but basically in both bathrooms and kitchen/laundry...we have large white tiles for the walls...all the same...from the standard range. On the bathroom floor we have a tile that is a light brown colour and has a texture through it, called "Alph Laguna Atlantic" from Tile Expo. The ensuite is the same type of tile with the texture but slightly darker and called "Alph Laguna Wenge". We deleted the laundry floor tile so we have the same tiles we will have in the living areas. The border tile in the bathroom is a long mosaic glass tile with about 5 shades of varying browns. The ensuite border tile is a long thin tile which is a metallic gold look which has browns through it. It sounds strange, but it is very elegant, not garish. In both the bathroom and ensuite, the border will only be in the shower as a long strip. The bathroom border will also be in the laundry. All Tiles are from Tile Expo. Unfortunately I can't find them on the website. So if anybody knows how I can link a PDF file...that would be great! I think that is all the colours I can possibly tell you! Re: Our Build: Baldivis Dale Alcock 10Sep 06, 2011 12:14 pm Wow, sounds like you made some great changes! I'm pretty sure you can upload pdf's to google documents, but I could be wrong! my new build thread- Ben Trager https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=89826 my switch build thread (2011) https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36569 Re: Our Build: Baldivis Dale Alcock 11Sep 06, 2011 9:36 pm WOW!!! We definitely fell in love with Archer as well. We're building with home buyers though but we pretty much followed the outside colours as well, except for we choose Caribou for the doors and charcoal with the windows. I was a bit hesitant with doing Caribou for the doors, but I can't change it now, I just hope it turns out alright!! Hope you have a nice build Vans Srichz Re: Our Build: Baldivis 12Sep 06, 2011 10:54 pm Srichz, we were considering Caribou for the door too...but then thought we would go straight with the woodland grey...don't know if there would be any difference from the charcoal that they used...looked almost the same! But I guess as we are going with Storm Front for the frames, the woodland grey will look fine. Caribou door will tie in with the feature wall nicely!
It is good to see the colour scheme exactly how you want it. Our original plans with Jasper were all in our head. We knew what we didn't want it to look like, and we had an idea of what it would look like, but not 100%. Seeing the Archer, we know it will look good! Why change a good thing? Especially when desgned by experts! Good luck with your build, and I hope you aren't building in our area...or on our street, or our houses will look too similar with the colours! LOL Getting the scanner drivers so I can sort out plans! Can't attach the PDF for tiles as yet due to too much info being on them! Will sort it out soon! I am too proud of our house to keep it a secret! Re: Our Build: Baldivis Dale Alcock 13Sep 07, 2011 8:29 am Wow! That sounds amazing! Casey + Gary + 5 kool kiddos + 1 funky Frenchie + 5 happy hens = barrels of fun in Muswellbrook Re: Our Build: Baldivis 15Sep 12, 2011 11:21 am we now have unconditional loan approval for our land and settlement should be next monday. Just need to sign all these documents for the mortgage! Final plans etc are in to us, and all at the shire. Yippee!
Re: Our Build: Baldivis 16Sep 12, 2011 6:35 pm Grrrr a little whinge which I know DA will fix...they got our laminates wrong on the addenda (couldn't read her own notes???) so I sent an email stating the correct colours, and still didn't get them right when she ammended the addenda! Grrr! Just holds things up unneccesarily!
Good news though, only $300 to upgrade to colorbond fascia/gutters/downpipes. Very happy with that! Re: Our Build: Baldivis Dale Alcock 17Sep 12, 2011 6:40 pm I knew they would change it...and it is all fixed...right cupboards/tops for all rooms...that was quicker then expected! Re: Our Build: Baldivis Dale Alcock 18Sep 12, 2011 9:18 pm Awesome! Casey + Gary + 5 kool kiddos + 1 funky Frenchie + 5 happy hens = barrels of fun in Muswellbrook Re: Our Build: Baldivis Dale Alcock 19Sep 12, 2011 9:46 pm Woohoo, good luck for settlement my new build thread- Ben Trager https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=89826 my switch build thread (2011) https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36569 Re: Our Build: Baldivis Dale Alcock 20Sep 13, 2011 6:34 pm The Vans Grrrr a little whinge which I know DA will fix...they got our laminates wrong on the addenda (couldn't read her own notes???) so I sent an email stating the correct colours, and still didn't get them right when she ammended the addenda! Grrr! Just holds things up unneccesarily! Good news though, only $300 to upgrade to colorbond fascia/gutters/downpipes. Very happy with that! Sorry to ask, is there a major difference if doing the fascia,gutters and downpipes colorbond? Rather than just the woodland grey paint? Don't worry we're building way far from your place. Our case it's so bad for the moment we finished our pre-start on that day, they wouldn't allow us to change anymore and afterwards when I forgot something, I was asked to pay a variation fee of 240. oh well.... DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair That laser level looks lovely! We bought one for less than a quarter of that price off eBay. It worked really well for us and it's still going now, five years later. After… 1 16704 It's possible but a soak well is usually much larger. Your 'soak well' only holds 424 litres when full. What is your soil type? Soak wells need sandy soils. 10 8983 Need advice on the backyard plan above. Should I excavate and cut all of the dirt to level with the house slab or semi-excavate as per photo above? Both left and right… 0 24831 |