Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Oct 03, 2011 10:29 am So I moved into my current home early last year (as seen in this thread), and have lived there for just over 19 months. http://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20360 Last week myself and the wife went to an opening at The Eyrie park in Laurimar. The kids had fun winning prizes and playing around at the new park, and we got talking. Well fast forward a week and we have just signed up for a 719m2 block on top of the hill. It's so close to the shops and schools, is on a one way street with a park dividing the houses on either side and a stone's throw from the new park on the top of the hill, and the football ovals at the bottom of the street. Call it an impulse buy The block has a 3 metre fall over it, which I love as it lets me get the creative juices flowing Our current home is on a dead flat block of 665m2, so this house will allow more space for the home (less floor plate over multiple levels), as well as a bit more space in the backyard. With the unexpected arrival of our third child during construction of our previous home, we found ourselves using every room in the house, and always seem to get itchy feet when living somewhere for more than five minutes (it's surprising we lasted 9 years in our previous home !). I've been tinkering with some plans for the new block, so I'll post those shortly in their developmental stage before they get sent to a draftsperson. It was a bit trickier designing this house than the old one as I had to get everything working with the levels, as the block slopes both left to right, and front to back. So here I go again ! Blog is now up - http://www.jbdave.blogspot.com/ Re: About to do it all again...this time with a slope ! 2Oct 03, 2011 10:58 am Congratulations jbdave on your new purchase. I'm doing the opposite - going from a-side-of-the-hill block, which like your new block slopes side to side and front to back - no flat land here! My new block is almost flat - a 1 metre fall over 57m length is not really noticeable. The new block is a tiny smidge over 1/2 acre, and I'm looking forward to NOT having to build retaining walls. Variegated Re: About to do it all again...this time with a slope ! 3Oct 03, 2011 11:10 am Just looked at your blog and your thread. Looks like you sure love building! How about two staircases in this one <g> ?! "the block slopes both left to right, and front to back" Re: About to do it all again...this time with a slope ! 4Oct 03, 2011 11:18 am I enjoy tinkering with design more than building I must say Here are the preliminary plans I sketched up. A few alterations will take place I'm sure before sending them in to get "achitecturalised". The first picture is the site layout, and the next two the floor plan. The last picture is an example of what the front will kind of look like. The entry/kids/family areas are on one level. You walk up half a flight of stairs (approx 8 steps) to the master bedroom, and down half a flight to the garage. You then walk from the garage down to the lower level. It's hard to draw, but the door you see on the stairs at the garage level will be from the garage. The stairs going up to the bedroom are over the top of the garage ceiling (there will be a small bulkhead in the garage to hide the base of the stairs to make it all work). I am also tinkering with the kids area and I want to try and get a seperate toilet/bathroom area happening. The toilet and shower in the ensuite will also be flipped over I think. If i had the money, I would love to do something crazy and build downstairs in line with the pool. Then I could add a pool window to the rumpus/theatre area and watch people swim while having a game of pool ! I spent an hour on site last weekend checking levels, and a couple hours tinkering with the design to make sure it would work before signing contracts. I then spent another few hours over the weekend trying to finalise the design. Sorry for the crappy scans. The floor plan program I use only prints to pdf and I scanned the images. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ This is to give an idea on how the levels will be on the house. I'll probably have both a level path from the footpath, and steps from the driveway leading up to the front door. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Blog is now up - http://www.jbdave.blogspot.com/ Re: About to do it all again...this time with a slope ! 5Oct 03, 2011 11:20 am Quote: I'm doing the opposite - going from a-side-of-the-hill block, which like your new block slopes side to side and front to back - no flat land here! My new block is almost flat - a 1 metre fall over 57m length is not really noticeable. The new block is a tiny smidge over 1/2 acre, and I'm looking forward to NOT having to build retaining walls. The house before the one I am in now sloped 3 metres across the front, about 5.5 metres down the hill, and a whopping 8.5 metres diagnolly. Now that proved me a challenge ! Blog is now up - http://www.jbdave.blogspot.com/ Re: About to do it all again...this time with a slope ! 6Oct 03, 2011 11:21 am Oh, and any opinions, constructive critisism, suggestions welcome ! Blog is now up - http://www.jbdave.blogspot.com/ Re: About to do it all again...this time with a slope ! 7Oct 03, 2011 11:59 am Congrats on your new adventure, exciting isn't it? I love the ensuite/WIR in that they aren't separate (as most are) but can be separated (iykwim) so your clothes/belongings aren't affected by steam. At first glance the only other change I would make is cavity sliders where possible but particularly in bathroom/loo/laundry/WIR/etc, they are great space savers. I also like the powder room near the laundry, great for visitors and also when gardening to go in there without having to trudge through the whole house. The only other thing I would like (if it was my house...and it's not!!) would be a cavity slider on the back garage/foyer wall mainly because I dislike anyone at the front door being able to see into the house. Had someone at the front door the other day and she was trying her hardest to do exactly this, but I have twin cavity sliders from hall to living/kitchen and keep one closed most of the time but this day I had both closed. It's easy enough to do as you head to open the front door to those **** callers. Love the design otherwise...and they are only small changes anyway, which you may, or may not, like or want. Doesn't bother me either way!!! Good luck, will watch your progress. Re: About to do it all again...this time with a slope ! 8Oct 03, 2011 12:14 pm Thanks for the comments. Quote: The only other thing I would like (if it was my house...and it's not!!) would be a cavity slider on the back garage/foyer wall mainly because I dislike anyone at the front door being able to see into the house. There is a cavity slider between the pantry/stair wall, you can only just see a faint line on the plan. I did it mainly to avoid noise from the faimly rooms to the kid's areas. Blog is now up - http://www.jbdave.blogspot.com/ Re: About to do it all again...this time with a slope ! 9Oct 03, 2011 12:27 pm Oopps there is too!! Sorry!! Re: About to do it all again...this time with a slope ! 10Oct 03, 2011 2:06 pm Front looks terrific. IIWMY (as HappyCamper almost wrote) - I'd scrap the door from study/BR5 to bathroom - or make it a cavity slider, too. I'd put the ensuite vanity across the entrance to the WIR, making the ensuite a bit narrower. Or push the ensuite up a bit (over the RWT?). It's not just steam, it's walking thru to get clothes, hang 'em up etc. Have a sep door on the same wall as ens entry. Have his/hers walls of clothes and window/mirror/shelves between. Wouldn't have a window facing street in WIR - looks good from front tho, but you'll always be opening shutting blinds? hmm remote control on blinds linked to door opening?? Yes, need a separate WC for BR 2,3,4. Across the hall into the BR space?? Skylight in kitchen? Will that window near the laundry powder room get any light? I'd be tempted to put the shed closer to the RWT, the powder room behind the kitchen, laundry down a bit and have a little porch outside the laundry. Could that store behind the theatre room be a linen store - for the upstairs level? For every decision, there is an equal and opposite decision (usually his and hers). Enjoy the journey!! Re: About to do it all again...this time with a slope ! 11Oct 03, 2011 2:24 pm Quote: Front looks terrific. IIWMY (as HappyCamper almost wrote) - I'd scrap the door from study/BR5 to bathroom - or make it a cavity slider, too. It was kind of an ensuite door for the guest bedroom. If guests are staying however, they would have downstairs for themselves, so it's probably not required. Quote: I'd put the ensuite vanity across the entrance to the WIR, making the ensuite a bit narrower. Or push the ensuite up a bit (over the RWT?). It's not just steam, it's walking thru to get clothes, hang 'em up etc. Have a sep door on the same wall as ens entry. Have his/hers walls of clothes and window/mirror/shelves between. Wouldn't have a window facing street in WIR - looks good from front tho, but you'll always be opening shutting blinds? hmm remote control on blinds linked to door opening?? I've changed this. I put a door on the wall next to the ensuite door. I cant move the wall in the ensuite out further as it will stuff up the other walls. The back of the theatre store room wall is 2 storeys down from the back of the ensuite wall. Will play around with it. Quote: Yes, need a separate WC for BR 2,3,4. Across the hall into the BR space?? I have to add one. It's the one thing on the plan that annoys me. Quote: Skylight in kitchen? Will that window near the laundry powder room get any light? I'd be tempted to put the shed closer to the RWT, the powder room behind the kitchen, laundry down a bit and have a little porch outside the laundry. Could that store behind the theatre room be a linen store - for the upstairs level? The kitchen will get plenty of light. That wall between the pool and the kitchen has a 4 metre wide window in it. It faces west, which isn't good, which is why I have extended the roof line over part of the pool. The window near the laundry powder room will get light as you have to remember the shed is a storey below that window (not in front of it). The laundry/family etc area sits on top of the bed5/rumpus/theatre. The store behind the theatre is downstairs, so it really cant be used for much other than the theatre stuff. The luandry has a linen cupbaord which is about 2.4 metres long. I may also be able to add a linen cupboard near the kids rooms when I fit in the seperate WC. Thanks for the input ! Blog is now up - http://www.jbdave.blogspot.com/ Re: About to do it all again...this time with a slope ! 12Oct 03, 2011 2:58 pm We are at slab stage of our third build on a slope so good to read about others. Had a quick look at your current home - beautiful! I'm sure this one is going to be just as gorgeous. Loving your extreme pool idea. As my husband would say if I made a suggestion like that, "gee, you know how to spend money". Sounds cool though!! Love your floor plan and agree with changing a couple of doors to sliding doors as already suggested. I'm not too much more help because I really like what you have done but I think even though it is a big home and you will have plenty of space, I would definately put a linen cupboard in near the bedrooms/bathroom. (SORRY we must have been typing at the same time I jsut read your last post) Love to hear about the general colours/materials you are going for?? Pic of the block would be great too. Good luck with it all and I look forward to following your build. Re: About to do it all again...this time with a slope ! 13Oct 03, 2011 3:11 pm Our DS, is loving the new park, he is always there playing basketball, soccer, one of his friends at School won the design for the park. We are in Harrison's View, we had a slope of 1.5 across the center of the build, you can see our house from the park, then we have the other park at the top of the hill to the right of us. Your new home design looks brilliant, and the views will be fantastic. Re: About to do it all again...this time with a slope ! 14Oct 04, 2011 11:19 am Made a couple of changes. I reconfigured the kids areas to allow a seperate WC and linen. I shaved off about 100mm from a bedroom or two to do it, but they are still decent size (around 3.6 x 3.2 excluding robe space). The WC nows sits near an external door so it can be accessed from the pool area. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Blog is now up - http://www.jbdave.blogspot.com/ Re: About to do it all again...this time with a slope ! 15Oct 04, 2011 2:39 pm Personally, I liked the original set up of the bed 5/study with access to bathroom but that's just me. You can always use privacy locks. Also, new WC & Linen work well. The only problem that I see is that you don't have a window to the bathroom. If you do add one it will be on your front facade. Could you turn bed 3 and fit the bathroom in between bed 3 & 4?? Also, I like the change you made to the ensuite set up but I would be putting the door onto the wall between the ensuite and WIR. It has sort of been mentioned previously. Walk through the robe to get to the ensuite. We have had it that way in all our builds and it works really well for dressing/undressing before going into the bathroom. If you did that, you could even put the entry door into the robe on the other end so that you could then have the bed on either wall (move it round if you felt like a change). Maybe not, just a thought!! Something else to put out there: Have you considered swapping the dining and living, would have to change windows around a bit but just thought, you probably have nice views. Might be nice to sit on a lounge chair and look out your windows. I love your plan. I have typed a few changes that you may consider but overall I think your plan is great. I love looking at house plans.... Re: About to do it all again...this time with a slope ! 16Oct 04, 2011 3:15 pm Like rocketship I like playing around with floor plans too but my preference was for the ensuite/WIR in the first layout...then again I won't be living in the house so it doesn't really matter does it? LOL The ensuite/WIR doors in my house both open into the bedroom and were supposed to be changed but the builder didn't get the plans changed (long story). Dave I think the basic plan is fantastic and no matter how long you play around with it there will be changes to be made. Some years ago prior to our owner build I worked on the plans for 12 months (pen & paper back then, not computer) and finally got it right, fortunately we weren't in a hurry to get started and it worked out well, but every few days we would notice something else to change. LOL Re: About to do it all again...this time with a slope ! 17Oct 04, 2011 3:48 pm Is there a door to the deck/pergola outside the kitchen? (hope I've got my levels right this time) Bed 1 ensuite - try the shower in the WC space but push it into that deadish corner in the bedroom - you could have the glass panel but less likely to splash water on WC? Put the WC where the shower is, with a half wall or move the vanity up and put a WC room at the ens entrance. High window for the kids bathroom? Those bedrooms are a very good size compared to some display homes. Which way does your fridge door open? Re: About to do it all again...this time with a slope ! 18Oct 04, 2011 6:59 pm I'm sure this plan will change ever so slightly about 100 times before finalising Thanks for the input, a couple of suggestions answered: Quote: Personally, I liked the original set up of the bed 5/study with access to bathroom but that's just me. You can always use privacy locks. I had it in my old house, and I'm still 50/50 on it. More than likely the door will go back in Quote: Also, new WC & Linen work well. The only problem that I see is that you don't have a window to the bathroom. If you do add one it will be on your front facade. Could you turn bed 3 and fit the bathroom in between bed 3 & 4?? It won't fit unless I extend the house, and I don't want to change the floorplate. I haven't thought about windows yet, but in my current house the bathroom is in the middle with no windows (only a skylight) and it works fine. Quote: Also, I like the change you made to the ensuite set up but I would be putting the door onto the wall between the ensuite and WIR. It has sort of been mentioned previously. Walk through the robe to get to the ensuite. We have had it that way in all our builds and it works really well for dressing/undressing before going into the bathroom. If you did that, you could even put the entry door into the robe on the other end so that you could then have the bed on either wall (move it round if you felt like a change). Maybe not, just a thought!! I'm still not overly happy with the ens/wir. No doubt this will be changed - just a matter of how.... Quote: Something else to put out there: Have you considered swapping the dining and living, would have to change windows around a bit but just thought, you probably have nice views. Might be nice to sit on a lounge chair and look out your windows. I had it like that in my old house, and changed it for the new one. Much easier to watch tv when it's not in front of the window When we sit down to eat, then the views will pop. It's the reason why I haven't really thought of a window near the family tv area (but have one in line with the couch for the views) Quote: Is there a door to the deck/pergola outside the kitchen? (hope I've got my levels right this time) Yes you have your levels right. The door will be where the window is outside the powder/laundry. I may add a window for now and it I make it a deck, i can alway replace it with a door. Quote: Bed 1 ensuite - try the shower in the WC space but push it into that deadish corner in the bedroom - you could have the glass panel but less likely to splash water on WC? Put the WC where the shower is, with a half wall or move the vanity up and put a WC room at the ens entrance. I'm going to play around with this a bit I think. I changed the WC and shower so you didn't see the toilet as soon as you walk into the room. The splash shouldn't be a problem (we have a shower set up similar now without the toilet in front, and the wall doesn't seem to get wet. It will be about 1800mm away. Quote: High window for the kids bathroom? Those bedrooms are a very good size compared to some display homes. Could be an option if it works in front elevation. I like the bigger kids bedrooms as you cant fit all their stuff into a small room and eventually my eldest will want a double bed when he outgrows his single one. Quote: Which way does your fridge door open? Double door fridge. It's a big opening for the fridge so we don't have a problem with access. Quote: I love your plan. I have typed a few changes that you may consider but overall I think your plan is great. I love looking at house plans.... Thanks. I also enjoy looking at different things. Blog is now up - http://www.jbdave.blogspot.com/ About to do it all again...this time with a slope ! 20Oct 04, 2011 10:41 pm Which builder have you chosen (or had in mind) to do this build? A survey must’ve completed by a certified surveyor. This form part of every DA requirement 3 180425 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 18978 Hi All, We have recently purchased a sloping block (3.5m fall building envelope, 6m overall). Just wondering if you know of any good builders that you would recommend for… 0 890 |