I'm new, hubby is sick of me, would love some opinions :)

Rachelle · Mar 04, 2008 2:22 pm

Hi,

I'm brand new, have been reading for a few days and am so excited that I've found this place!

I'd really love some advice. We're building with W3stminster Homes, and their homes are very boring, no facade options etc, so I'm having to figure it all out myself.

We have bought a very small block (375) at Terrey Hills which is on Sydney's Northern Beaches (supposedly :wink:

)

So we've taken the Terrace home and modified it drastically, added some walls, a room at the back, alfresco etc. We've also reduced to a single garage to give us more grass out the back for the kids.

I'm really struggling with the Facade at the moment. Can I paste some pics and get some opinions?

Have never pasted pics (or posted for that matter) so not sure if this will work but here goes...

First some homes that we like the look of:

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Now I have four ******* drawings of our facade that I have put together. We can't afford to render at this stage, but we are using Urban One bricks, we think we like "Nougat/Silver", and they should appear fairly flat with flushed mortar.

1: Has two roof lines (middle section stepped in), with one gable roof and a full brick balustrade to the balcony:

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2. Two roof lines (middle stepped in), one gable, and an open balcony

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3. One gable roof, brick underneath, porch roof cantilevered

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4. Same as 3 but with rendering

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The questions I have:

1. One roof or two? Eg to step in middle for porch roof or have cantilevered roof
2. Timber panel to whole top floor, or just to half of front?
3. Full brick balustrade to balcony or not?
4. General comments, please be brutal
5. If we have the gable roof over the balcony does it need to cover the whole balcony?
6. Does it need some feature in it?
7. If we have the brick balustrade shoudl we have a timber handrail to tie the timber in?

Here is a townhouse we saw with two roof lines:

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Floorplan for good measure:
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Bricks (IRL the bricks are a bit paler, like a pale, mushroomy latte

)

Is it going to look ok? Honest opinions welcome. We did want a bit of an airy, beachy look, but not a cheap look.

Can't wait to read your responses.

Rachelle[/img]

Paula · Mar 04, 2008 2:44 pm

Welcome,
You will have a great time here, lots of good advise.

As for your facade...I'm having trouble with mine so I'm no help to you :oops:

You will get lots of good opinions from others.

Rachelle · Mar 04, 2008 2:46 pm

Thanks Paula, I'm looking at yours and was thinking exactly the same! Eg that I can't really help, but others are doing a great job!

ahuang · Mar 04, 2008 2:55 pm

Welcome Rachelle!

Personally I like the 2 roof one as it looks like there will be more space in the garage and your husband would definitely like that :lol:

But you might want to first check with your council about the ratio you could have for the area you could build. Make sure the extra space in garage still meets the ratio requirement.

Hope this helps!

Helyn · Mar 04, 2008 3:00 pm

Hi, Rachelle!
Loved your topic title, thought we were going to do some amateur marriage guidance for a minute :lol:

I don't have much to say about rendering and such but would just like to say I prefer the second facade option, open balcony, with the railing rather than the brickwork barrier, will feel less enclosed on the balcony and obstruct the view less and the slim streamlined appearance appeals to me more.

Rachelle · Mar 04, 2008 3:01 pm

Thanks Allan, the double roof won't create any extra space, poor hubby

He says he's happy with the single garage though, but I can see that we'll end up with both cars on the street!

Rachelle · Mar 04, 2008 3:04 pm

Thanks Helyn, we were definitely moving in that direction, that's why I was playing with pushing the entry in, a bit different too I guess. We woudl love stainless steel rope or whatever it's called, but it's a bit $$.

Then I became concerned about privacy as that's our bedroom, argh, too many decisions!

vanderlay · Mar 04, 2008 3:09 pm

Helyn

Hi, Rachelle!
Loved your topic title, thought we were going to do some amateur marriage guidance for a minute :lol:

I don't have much to say about rendering and such but would just like to say I prefer the second facade option, open balcony, with the railing rather than the brickwork barrier, will feel less enclosed on the balcony and obstruct the view less and the slim streamlined appearance appeals to me more.

Welcome Rachelle.

I agree with Helyn about the balcony, looks much nicer open. I would do the timber all alnog the top, will look better IMO!

donuts · Mar 04, 2008 3:12 pm

Hi Rachelle,

Looks like you've done lots of homework and research to come this far - well done.

I don't have much knowledge on what the best roof lines etc are, but I know what I like to look at

and personally, I think facade 2 looks the best too.

Out of curiosity, what is a cantilevered porch roof? And the brown lines going across the middle window on the top storey - are they a timber feature?

I love the first photo you put up too, with the glass going in to the roof line. Lovely!

donuts

Cookiemonster · Mar 04, 2008 3:13 pm

Helyn · Mar 04, 2008 3:14 pm

Rachelle

Then I became concerned about privacy as that's our bedroom, argh, too many decisions!

Can't see railing vs brick barrier will make any difference to privacy as brick would only be blocking view from outside of bottom quarter of window, ie say below knee height, and I presume you will have blinds or drapes closed at night.
I would want a netting curtain rather than just open window during the day for any front windows but that is a separate issue.

3timesbuilda · Mar 04, 2008 3:16 pm

Hi Rachelle,

In the 3rd pic of your likes, there is a nice protruding brown wall around the front door area with the light on either side. How about something like that with a single roof line and remove the balcony support? I also like the open balcony - perhaps a glass front?

sandra_canberra · Mar 04, 2008 3:21 pm

For what it's worth, I like the first facade pic too - the glass to the roof line and the open balcony.

Rachelle · Mar 04, 2008 3:36 pm

Thanks so much guys, the open balcony is a winner!!'

Cookiemonster I think a timber handrail would finish it off perfectly.

donuts - yeah, the brown lines are like timber shutters on the outside of that window, it's actually a WIR. The cantilevered roof is the porch roof that doesn't have a support, the one that sticks out with no supporting column.

Re the privacy Helyn, yeah you're, we'd always have drapes etc, couldn't walk around naked with the brick balustrade either

3timesbuilda, we're trying to keep costs down, I think they'd charge us a few thousand for building something like that? Actually I might have a play with that idea though, because we don't really *need* the balcony and with something like that we could get rid of it (and save $4k). I do like the idea of the glass balustrade though!

I love that window above the door, it means that the bedroom would have no ceiling, I'm hopeless with terminology, but it would have like an arched roof, wonder if it would cost a fortune.. mmm might have to ask

d@n · Mar 04, 2008 4:12 pm

Since your balcony is above the porch i'd be inclinded not to go full brick as it might look too heavy up top. An open balcony allows you to sweep out the mess that builds up.

PhoenixStar · Mar 04, 2008 4:16 pm

Welcome to the forum Rachelle...as you have no doubt found already, we're always happy to help out and offer advice, (qualified or not, mind you :lol:

) on just about any topic, with a bit of a laugh along the way!!! :wink:

By the way, i like the very first picture you uploaded. Great job with the pics for a newbie too....well done!!!

Looking forward to sharing your journey.....

dna · Mar 04, 2008 4:26 pm

Rachelle

I love that window above the door, it means that the bedroom would have no ceiling, I'm hopeless with terminology, but it would have like an arched roof, wonder if it would cost a fortune.. mmm might have to ask

Believe the term you're looking for is a vaulted or cathedral ceiling. I've seen some project homes with this type of ceiling so I wouldn't expect it to be prohibitively expensive, so can't hurt to ask for it :lol:

Also, I agree the open balcony is a winner, the other look too heavy.

Rachelle · Mar 04, 2008 5:08 pm

D@n, really good point re sweeping the rubbish off!!

Thanks Pheonix, yep, am loving those windows.

Thanks dna!! I'm going to ask them for a quote, wow it would add such a gorgeous feature to the facade!

Cabinfever · Mar 04, 2008 5:34 pm

What leaps out at me is the window in the middle. The horizontal straps across it have obvious echoes to the front door below, but to me it looks a bit like a doorway that has been boarded up. The fact that there seems to be a little ledge in front of it adds to the feeling of a blocked doorway onto an unfinished terrace. (Or perhaps I'm not interpreting the picture correctly?)

I think there's potential to do something much more interesting and "graceful" in that area at no extra cost. I'd give it some deep thought.

Rachelle · Mar 04, 2008 5:39 pm

Thanks cabinfever, yeah, I really see what you mean. The window doesn't need to be there, it's a WIR. I put the slats across it to add feature and to stop too much sunlight into the robe. Funny how this WIR with window conversation is going on in Paula's thread too. When I drew it up I thought it looked like a door.. hmm I'll have to have a think about it. Ideas welcome!