Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Feb 21, 2013 2:20 pm Hi everyone, my fiance and I just purchased a lovely block of land in Jervis Bay. The dimensions are 29m deep x 32m wide, so almost a square. After taking into account setback requirements, it leaves us with roughly 20m for the length of the house. North runs along the left side when looking at the house from the street. We are going to put the whole house on the southern side.
I'm pretty passionate about having the northern side for living areas and keeping the south for bedrooms, however after playing around with layouts it doesn't all fit and they house starts to get wide. Many conventional floor plans are longer than they are wide. I grew up in a two storey home and have since only lived in apartments, so I have no experience living in a single level home and how sunlight behaves in them. We've been to many display homes, but I'm not convinced that they give an accurate example of light due to all the down lights. I'd really appreciate any opinions / advice on any of the following: 1. Does anyone live in a wide (15m+) single story and what is their experience with light reaching the middle of the house? Often kitchens are positioned there after looking at lots of plans and I'm not sure if they are dark? 2. We are struggling to decide which room(s) to put at the front. I'd like to put a living/sitting room there but then the bedrooms get squished. What are the experiences of people having their main bedroom on the front or even the 2nd, 3rd bedrooms? I'd appreciate your thoughts on why you chose that configuration. Thanks in advance for anyone who offers advice Re: Room configuration ideas for house on shallow block 2Feb 21, 2013 2:59 pm we have a wide frontage i think it is around 28m we put the main bedroom ensuite and a retreat ?music room with a triple garage at front. we have a custom house so this may be something to consider also w have plenty of light for the kitchen ( what we have seen so far) you can check out our thread below it will show you the plans etc of house. our plan is split level on the inside and from the outside it look single level. we have lots of light due to the big windows we have in some rooms. the theatre room has no windows at all to keep it very dark. Re: Room configuration ideas for house on shallow block 3Feb 21, 2013 3:55 pm Thanks 1rocky for your reply. I have been following your thread and looking back at your plan I can see some similarities to some layout ideas that we have, especially the kitchen and bedrooms behind the garage. I agree with the custom build, I forgot to mention that we are doing this. The front of your house looks really well proportioned and the views! It's great to be able to see what it's like in real life, not just on a plan. It's really helpful. Your house looks fantastic, you must be so excited to be at lock up. Re: Room configuration ideas for house on shallow block 4Feb 21, 2013 4:08 pm thanks southernhighlander. after many months it is great to see what the house is really like. have you picked a builder yet also do you have picks of your land if going custom jot down all your ideas and what you would like in a home let the builder know and if he is like ours are able to come up with a fantastic plan to suit you. if you like several home plans of builders you can always cut and paste what you like together. Re: Room configuration ideas for house on shallow block 5Feb 21, 2013 4:36 pm We are pretty set on our builder but it's not 100% confirmed yet. They have built many houses in the estate and are a pleasure to talk with and really helpful. Thanks for the advice on jotting down all our ideas. I think I have written an essay already! It really is the most exciting part, anything is possible, reality hasn't hit yet haha. As for pictures, hmm let's see if I can figure this out... This is the block, looking directly at the front of the (eventual) house Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And we are two minutes from this! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Jervis Bay custom build - plan ideas for shallow block 6Feb 21, 2013 5:48 pm OMG those photo's brought tears to my eyes happy tears... I grew up on the south coast. Many a sunday morning was spent laying on the beach's at JB reading the newspaper... ah memories.... Bondi Beach may be wonderful and beautiful but.... too many people, too loud, dirty water plus bus and car fumes.... JB beach's... perfect... many a time I would be on these wonderful beach's by myself, nobody tripping over you, young men were there to swim not to show off their bodies, young girls were there to swim, relax and have fun not show of how great their figure was. The water so unbelievably clean, pale blue and crystal clear... oh how I envy you. Sorry I was day dreaming there for a little while. Which part of JB? Hyams, Vincentia, Bristol Point? My advice in regard to what to build and where to put bedrooms/living areas.... research, research and more research... Have a look at every floor plan that you can, not only builders that build in your area but builders from other states just to get an idea of the 'flow' of the rooms and what suits you. What ever you decide to build, you are already on a 'winner' buying in that wonderful part of Australia.. Good luck with your build, I will follow with envy... Re: Jervis Bay custom build - plan ideas for shallow block 7Feb 21, 2013 6:38 pm Hi Carak, thank you for your kind response! I'm so excited you share our enthusiasm for Jervis Bay. It's so beautiful and I completely agree about your Bondi Beach comment, it may also be lovely, but people are just there to enjoy themselves, no one is 'people watching' or being judgemental... that's if people are there at all!! Plus the locals are so kind and happy to have a chat. I have to learn to stop applying my time-poor, impatient Sydney mindset when I'm down there. 20 minute wait for a coffee... no problem! I would have loved to grow up there, you are so lucky. We spent last weekend watching hundreds of hermit crabs look for new shells in the surf (must have been the annual re-homing for hermit crabs party) and exploring Milton. We have bought in Bayswood, Vincentia. It's set just inland from the beach, in a little community surrounded by bush. I have actually been following your thread from the beginning and all the troubles you are having. I've been a bit shy to post on other threads, not sure why really. Wishing you the very best for your tender, I really hope everything comes together for you soon. You certainly deserve some good news! I grew up in Castle Hill and went to school in Normanhurst so we've done a swapsies! Thank you for your advice to research. I will certainly study many floor plans. I think I am starting to go cross-eyed from looking at them for too long Re: Jervis Bay custom build - plan ideas for shallow block 8Feb 22, 2013 9:39 am WOW I have just been on Google Earth checking out where Bayswood is... That area has really changed, not sure if that is good or bad... Good for you though, great part of the world. The beach we went to I don't think had a name and we found it by driving down a very 'uneven' track and walked through to the beach... we called in Secluded Beach because that's what it was, nobody seemed to know about it.. It's all changed now... they even have a road, car park etc. and a name - Greenfield's Beach.. I'm sure you have been there, go again and imagine walking through the bushy track and walking onto the beach with no one there and then spend the whole day there with not one other person... ah the good old days.... It really is a small world though, we lived in Castle Hill until about 3 years ago... Good luck with finding a plan, research, research, research.. Don't worry about going cross eyed it is better than being blind about a design that doesn't suit you. Thanks for you best wishes for our tender, as so many have said, building is like a roller coaster, so sooner or later we must get to the top (and stay there) and see the good views. Re: Jervis Bay custom build - plan ideas for shallow block 9Feb 22, 2013 9:58 am beautiful beach side you have i have visited jervis bay and vincentia. already your place reminds me of home here in coffs. you have definitely picked a top notch place. land is so level which is great. have you inquired about your bushfire rating? jotting down is great for any odeas you have . our little cars boot is full of papers and items we have found for our house. do not be shy post away all the best for your tender and carak Re: Jervis Bay custom build - plan ideas for shallow block 10Feb 22, 2013 10:10 am Great location.... trying googling Gemmill Homes & have a look at their Coronado Design.... I have fallen in love with this one myself or tho it doesnt fit our current block or plans... My thoughts were to add in windows to both the lounge & master bed to take advantage of the northern sun Re: Jervis Bay custom build - plan ideas for shallow block 11Feb 22, 2013 2:23 pm Carak - Agreed, I'm grateful we get to build there but the area is special because it's unspoiled. The Bayswood development was not received with open arms by the community. I completely understand why and I admit to much guilt about the removal of any bushland. There's a lot of design convenants, wetlands, ponds, a lake and bushland corridors so I guess they did what they could. I'm a keen green thumb so I'm going to take it upon myself to maintain the natives and ponds around our block and encourage frogs. It might be crazy but we are only building on one side of the block and leaving half to keep as a native garden and veggie patch! I have been to Greenfield's Beach. It is absolutely stunning and I can see that it would have been secluded without the road and parking lot. It was empty for us too but that's because it was blowing a gale and freezing. Only we were silly enough to be wandering around in that sort of weather. 1Rocky - Thank you. You are in a beautiful part of the world too! Yes, land is level-ish. I think there is a very, very slight slope but we have just ordered a soil test and contour survey so we'll know more then. I have checked out the bushfire rating and although I don't know exactly how it works, from the diagram it's mostly BAL 19 but then on the southern side there's maybe a 1m strip BAL 29. My fiance does work with the company that came up with it all and they have offered to help, either way there's going to be cost involved. Pauankim - Hi and thanks for your suggestion. I had looked at Gemmil recently but had completely missed the display home designs. Wow, I can see why you like the Coronado, it's amazing. The pictures of the actual house show a lot of light and a nice flow. I would also add the windows where you suggest. I'm putting it in the 'inspiration floor plan pile'. It's a shame you love it and it doesn't fit. Have you seen the Abrolhos? That loft would be entirely impractical in terms of heating but wow that home looks nice What stage of building are you currently at? Re: Jervis Bay custom build - plan ideas for shallow block 12Feb 24, 2013 3:11 pm Hey southern-highlander we're still in the dreaming stage lol will live & learn through everyone elses builds for now Tossing up between a knock down rebuild or reno extension as we're on acreage & cant do an off the plan due to passive solar & views etc living in the bush on a hill has its constraints..... making our minds up & getting knocked about by lifes ups n downs sometimes I think it'd just be easier to move into town & start again when I saw that design & fell in love with it! Time & funds will eventually tell for us lol I look forward to see what design you come up with tho Re: Jervis Bay custom build - plan ideas for shallow block 13Mar 11, 2013 5:17 pm Ooh, you did get JB land! Congratulations!!! I am sad we will not get to be neighbours though! Maybe I will have to move there, how absolutely stunning! We go down that way frequently (down to Milton and Ulladulla) however I have never been to any of the beaches around JB. Keep us updated with your thoughts about house plans Re: Jervis Bay custom build - plan ideas for shallow block 14Mar 26, 2013 12:44 pm Congrats on the Bayswood block!! Have you checked GJ Gardner Shoalhaven out?? They are fantastic. They have a display down there too. We are just getting ready to settle on our block at Twin Waters Re: Jervis Bay custom build - plan ideas for shallow block 15Mar 26, 2013 3:58 pm Thanks Room2Breathe. Congratulations on your soon-to-be-settlement! I'm happy to have a homeone 'neighbour'. I was actually planning on messaging you after doing a search on any forum members building in the area and found you had chosen GJ Gardner Shoalhaven. We certainly have checked them out and will be building with them also. I agree, they are fantastic. The salesperson we have been chatting with for a while now (even before we were considering buying in the area) is just a really nice, genuine guy. My fiance and I feel we could discuss any query/concern/idea in a constructive fashion. Half of Bayswood is built by them so I can see the quality firsthand and have asked around the estate for feedback, all positive. How far along in the house selection process are you? Are you doing a custom plan? Look forward to following your progress. Re: Jervis Bay custom build - plan ideas for shallow block 16Mar 26, 2013 7:51 pm southern-highlander Thanks Room2Breathe. Congratulations on your soon-to-be-settlement! I'm happy to have a homeone 'neighbour'. I was actually planning on messaging you after doing a search on any forum members building in the area and found you had chosen GJ Gardner Shoalhaven. We certainly have checked them out and will be building with them also. I agree, they are fantastic. The salesperson we have been chatting with for a while now (even before we were considering buying in the area) is just a really nice, genuine guy. My fiance and I feel we could discuss any query/concern/idea in a constructive fashion. Half of Bayswood is built by them so I can see the quality firsthand and have asked around the estate for feedback, all positive. How far along in the house selection process are you? Are you doing a custom plan? Look forward to following your progress. Thats fantastic to hear!! Will be great to have someone to chat with Did you go to the info evening?? Maybe we already met lol We are looking at a highly modified Coolum 236 (ends up about 250sqm), but only recently decided that i MUST have a big WIP - so trying to work that into the plan etc too. We were going to do B33chwood but i just cant find anything like the quality of gjs! Our home consult lady, is actually a friend of mine - great coincidence! No mates rates unfortunately haha ETA - sorry, we are up to waiting to settle on the block & finding time to get back to our broker to talk the next bit But have been doing alot of work on our plans with Gjs. Re: Jervis Bay custom build - house design stage 17Mar 27, 2013 5:39 pm Room2Breathe - No, we didn't go to the info evening. We are based in the city so it was a bit far to go. Did you find it worthwhile? Did your friend at GJs work at Bayswood in another role previously? If so, I know her too. I wouldn't be surprised, everyone knows EVERYONE in that part of the world!! I like the Coolum and yes to the WIP! I've had a play around with that plan as a starting point. We have plenty of time to design as we aren't building for a bit. We have lots of things we are really sure we would like but then can't figure out a way to configure a plan to accommodate it all. We were also considering the same builder as Kelbelle in the SH but changed our minds when we bought our block in JB. ideal house depends on the site and location as much as internal floor plan....what is the distance from the house to all four boundaries, where is north, describe your… 3 15165 I'd get the gutters to match your roof and pipes to match the paint - otherwise they become a feature. Nice pick with the paint colours! 1 34269 6 55346 |