Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jan 26, 2013 1:27 am We are building our home and there is an option we can choose either alfresco or theatre ($1500 extra cost) of size 3m*5m. Can someone suggest which is of better value? We have a lounge + family already there in the plan, BTW! Thanks in advance! Re: Alfresco or theatre 2Jan 26, 2013 6:46 am having the lounge and family already. i would go for the alfresco. but i think it comes to personal choice, if you go the alfresco area yo could get stacker doors to really open up the house . do you have a plan of the house you are thinking of? i really like the idea of alfrescos and the outdoors . Re: Alfresco or theatre 3Jan 26, 2013 7:00 am If you've got a lounge & a family area, definitely go for the alfresco. We have lounge, family & theatre and the lounge probably won't get much use! Our alfresco is on the side of the house, it opens the place right up and we get some amazing breezes up, as well as shelter from elements which keeps the house cool. Built the Seaview 36 with Rawson Homes - Read about it on my blog http://lamaisondemorgan.blogspot.com.au/ Re: Alfresco or theatre 5Jan 26, 2013 9:44 am I'd probably go with Alfresco - BUT .... then ask what the theatre would cost - its just another room afterall. Re: Alfresco or theatre 6Jan 26, 2013 10:17 am Definitely the Alfresco. A 5x3 theatre room is also a bit of an odd shape. In regards to future resale, theatre rooms come in and out of favour and don't appeal to everybody where an outdoor/alfresco area is always an asset to a home. Good luck! ----------------------------------------------- http://pab34newdigs.blogspot.com.au/ ----------------------------------------------- Re: Alfresco or theatre 7Jan 26, 2013 10:38 am I think its all about outdoor living, you already have both the lounge and family room. But put a couple of nice sofa beds in the theatre room, have doors and you now have another bedroom for the quests you will almost certainly have. Re: Alfresco or theatre 8Jan 26, 2013 11:11 am Thanks guys, we were thinking to convert the alfresco into theatre and probably we could use it as a guest room as well. we also plan to make a pergola to one side of the house later. I am not sure how this plan appeal in a resale point of view? Any suggestions? Here is the plan http://www.simonds.com.au/home.php?mid=137 Re: Alfresco or theatre 9Jan 26, 2013 11:22 am On my ipad it comes up as a double storey? I like the alfresco idea too. Use the $1500 you save for fancy outdoor blinds and you'll have a great indoor / outdoor room. Each to their own, whatever works best for you and your family. Let the family vote? Re: Alfresco or theatre 10Jan 26, 2013 1:08 pm We're building a small 3x2 and had the choice of a theatre or alfresco, we went the alfreso but have put in a tv point so we can be out there watching tv if we want. It also will make it feel like a bigger backyard space. Depending on your block if you still have enough backyard to add something you might be able to have both. But Looking at your plan it might be a little odd to have the theatre off the living area.... You might need to consider the internal layout if you were to have the theatre room. Re: Alfresco or theatre 11Jan 26, 2013 4:30 pm I'm going to go the other direction and suggest the theatre. I don't see the appeal in alfrescos personally. Very much flavour of the moment but it's a fully roofed room without any walls and I think it's a considerable expense for little return. If I want the outdoor dining/BBQ experience I'd much rather sit on a timber deck in the sunshine without the roof overhead. Breakfast on the weekend out on the deck in the morning sun appeals to me. But that's my personal preference. A home theatre on the other hand can be a home theatre, a spare guest room, a study, a library, a music room... well... it can be anything. You'll never regret having an extra room available, and the alfresco.. to be fair, the people I know who have them rarely use them. It's often too windy and unpleasant (particularly in new estates). It can be a good intention of "Oh yeah we'll do lots of BBQ's out there" and just never get around to doing so and ends up the place where you have an outdoor setting getting filthy and neglected, your spare gardening tools and your gumboots, and a place for the dog to sleep. If you're a big believer in outdoor entertaining and will do it frequently then the alfresco might be the thing for you. If you have the space for a separate outdoor area with a deck and/or pergola then I'd do that personally, especially if you think having an extra room to the house might be a little more useful to you than an expensive to build space that may get infrequent use. Completed a knock down and rebuild in northern Melbourne. Handover completed 27/09/2013 and now moved in. Re: Alfresco or theatre 12Jan 26, 2013 4:42 pm Bluesuede I'm going to go the other direction and suggest the theatre. I don't see the appeal in alfrescos personally. Ditto. Too hot, too many flies in summer. Mosquitoes at dusk. I just don't see the appeal or practicality, nor do I see many people using theirs. That said, a 3x5m theatre is an odd shape... too close to the TV one way, not wide enough for a decent couch in the other. Maybe have it used as a spare room/study and turn the family room into a theatre... ? Re: Alfresco or theatre 14Jan 26, 2013 5:02 pm What state/area are you in? That could make a big difference to the need/want for a covered outdoor area. Most people we know have and use an alfresco area, but we're very big on entertaining, plus I have children so it is great to have a covered area for them to play in. Could you look at closing in the rumpus area or using the living room for a theatre.. then you could keep the alfresco and have the best of both worlds My build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=65324&p=1032514#p1032514 Re: Alfresco or theatre 15Jan 26, 2013 7:49 pm I'm not sure if it's the right floor plan I'm looking at, it's a double story with family and living rooms downstairs and a rumpus room upstairs, is that right? If so, I would convert the Living room into a Theatre room and get the alfresco. That way, you'll have a theatre, alfresco, a family area AND a rumpus room. I honestly don't think you'll need another indoor space, you'll never use it. Settlement: 10.02.13 Slab: 06.03.13 Frame: 08.03.13 Lock-up: 05.04.13 Handover: 03.06.13 Build thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=59555 Brisbane Photography Re: Alfresco or theatre 16Jan 26, 2013 8:10 pm Yes you are right? But I guess its good to have a formal living at the front? Also if I convert the alfresco to a theatre, I could use it as a guest room downstairs. I am not sure its of better value. I will be getting a pergola done after the house is completed. I guess it could be a good idea? Re: Alfresco or theatre 17Jan 26, 2013 8:39 pm MalinViktoria I'm not sure if it's the right floor plan I'm looking at, it's a double story with family and living rooms downstairs and a rumpus room upstairs, is that right? If so, I would convert the Living room into a Theatre room and get the alfresco. That way, you'll have a theatre, alfresco, a family area AND a rumpus room. I honestly don't think you'll need another indoor space, you'll never use it. I agree with this! If you really want to convert the alfresco, I would make it a 5th bedroom/guest room/study because I think another 'living area' would not get used. Personally though, if i was looking to buy a place, I would prefer an alfresco under the main roof, but that is just me. It is a beautiful plan, all the best with your build My build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=65324&p=1032514#p1032514 Re: Alfresco or theatre 18Jan 26, 2013 9:29 pm I am another to agree with the living room conversion.... Formal living rooms are not that high of a priority these days are they? If you purely think resale, I think you would get more with a home theatre than a living (when you have the family and rumpus already), but even if a buyer wanted a formal lounge, they have a low cost easy conversion back to a formal living should they choose. It's very expensive to add an under roof alfresco and probably unrealistic post build, so having this will also hold more value. I would go the Alfresco. Once you're in if you really want a home theatre then the living room is your space. For this reason I would look in to not leaving the living open square set and get the builder to add some nice glass sliding doors that you can close when required. You have 4 rooms upstairs - an improtant question is how many of you are there - are all 4 rooms filled?.... if that's the case, then I completely understand the spare bedroom instead of alfresco. If not make one of the upstairs a spare room and a study and have the outdoor alfresco. Blog: http://cbcbuild.blogspot.com.au/ Building Thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=62155 Re: Alfresco or theatre 19Jan 27, 2013 11:58 am I'm on my phone and can't see your plans but just wanted to add my 2 cents. We use our alfresco every day but rarely use the theatre as we also have a lounge and kids area. Ours is a 3 walled alfresco with doors from dining (bi fold), lounge and main bed. Even great to sit out in winter with a gas heater. Regarding resale, I wouldn't buy a house without an alfresco. Re: Alfresco or theatre 20Jan 27, 2013 1:31 pm We don't have a theatre but we do have what I like to call a multipurpose room and we also have meals, living and an alfresco. However if you already have family and rumpus rooms I would not be adding another living room. I agree with someone above who said it would be wise to make it a study or 5th bed or else I would have an alfresco. I like them much better than patios because they are part of the house so you don't get issues with where/how to attach, guttering problems (or trying to clean the gutters between the two), and you don't have to worry about trying to get council approval later. I plan to have blinds down the track on our alfresco so we can sit in it year round but it will be a great place to sit on warm nights and watch the kids/dogs play in the garden while we entertain. 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