Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Mar 30, 2015 8:57 pm I've been enjoying following some of the builds on here so thought I would add ours. We have well and truly started with the frame up and roof on. However, things have slowed down over the last month as we are waiting for our windows. Our scope is an energy efficient modern country home for a family of five. Some of the features we are including are: - north facing aspect with double glazing - long narrow house to optimise northern aspect - skillion roof with celestial windows for air flow - polished concrete floors with hydronic heating - internal thermal mass wall - lightweight cladding including dulux exsulite foam system, colorbond, and timber cladding I'll try to add our plans and elevations next. viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76666 our custom build on 25 acres Re: 25 acres 2Mar 30, 2015 9:28 pm Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We will also be adding a verandah along the length of the north elevation, above the windows. viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76666 our custom build on 25 acres Re: 25 acres 3Mar 31, 2015 10:37 am Following! We building on acreage too. Not as much as you - only 5 acres! Have you got any piccies of your block would love see your views! Who are you building with? Re: 25 acres 4Mar 31, 2015 11:11 am Oh wow, your not wrong in saying your plan in similar to ours, isn't it great to have the room to spread out the house to take advantage of both views and the northerly aspect. What state are you building in? What is the room closest to your master? Is it a parents retreat or nursery? Do you have an entrance or are you going to rural way and not bother? We did discuss not having one but ended up with one in the end. After seeing your plans I wouldn't worry about the thermal wall bricks being too dark, it's nice and open in the family room and having a big northern window in the rumpus, the room shouldn't be dark at all. I would go for the recycled bricks they will make a great feature. The more I look at it the more I shake my head at how similar the layout is to us - great taste hey really looking forward to following. Oh and yes some land pics too please!! My build thread: Custom build on 40 acres viewtopic.php?f=31&t=75656 Re: 25 acres 5Mar 31, 2015 2:52 pm Nikkis2000 I look forward to following your progress also. We're building with a local custom builder. MnT the room closest to the master bedroom is a walk through office. We have an entrance down next to the garage but that is one thing I would probably have done differently in hindsight. We were of the opinion it wasn't a big deal being a rural property but now I don't know. MnT your comment on your thread about keeping the fireplace brick wall and the windows the main feature makes sense to me also. I think adding a second feature wall as well as some wood in the kitchen may be all too much. Off to add some pics of our block. viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76666 our custom build on 25 acres Re: 25 acres 6Mar 31, 2015 3:16 pm Some pics of our block and the start of our build. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76666 our custom build on 25 acres Re: 25 acres 7Mar 31, 2015 3:32 pm Oh wow, so beautiful and green. Do you plan to graze the land? My build thread: Custom build on 40 acres viewtopic.php?f=31&t=75656 Re: 25 acres 8Mar 31, 2015 3:42 pm Today, the two things I'm trying to decide on are the recycled brick feature walls and the kitchen appliances. We have an internal double brick wall planned between the rumpus room and the hallway. I'm debating whether to render this or whether to keep it as a recycled brick feature wall. However, we also thought we would do a recycled brick feature wall in front of our fireplace which is on the eastern living room wall. I'm now thinking that having the two brick feature walls will be too much / too heavy. I do want an airy and spacious feel. MnT was saying on her thread that they will render their internal double brick wall and let the fire place brick wall and the windows be the feature. This makes sense to me and I think this is what we'll do. My second dilemma for today is the kitchen appliances. I've been looking at Miele but I'm not convinced they are still the quality that they used to be. We recently bought a fridge and freezer that is currently leaking. I am still considering their 90cm induction cooktop. Has anyone had any experience with these or have any other recommendations for induction cooktops? I'll also check out the kitchen threads. I've been reading a lot of good things about Neff ovens so I'm quite keen on those however it looks like I missed a good promotion they had going in Jan - $1999 for a pyrolytic oven. viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76666 our custom build on 25 acres Re: 25 acres 9Mar 31, 2015 3:46 pm MnT it's certainly not this green at the moment!! The last few weeks it has really dried out. We did have some cattle on here but we took them off to pull down fences while we build. We will leave it now until we have finished our house and get fences back up. Are you grazing? viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76666 our custom build on 25 acres Re: 25 acres 10Mar 31, 2015 4:07 pm Yes I know what you mean, our grass is getting rather 'crispy' at the moment. Where are you building? - happy for you to PM me if you don't want to mention on the forum. No we have decided not to graze as my husband helps look after 1000 head of sheep (amongst other things) at work and the last thing he want's to worry about when he gets home is more stock. And after our neighbours cattle got onto our property for only a few hours and I saw how many humungous cow pats there was I scraped that idea too But the main reason is that we signed up with Greening Australia for their 'Whole of Paddock Rehabilitation Program', they seeded a large proportion of the block with native seeds at their expense but we are not allowed to graze for the 1st 5 years then the next 5 years has to be on a paddock rotation basis. But we are glad that we have an excuse not to graze as I know it would be hard work. My build thread: Custom build on 40 acres viewtopic.php?f=31&t=75656 Re: 25 acres 11Mar 31, 2015 4:12 pm admodra Today, the two things I'm trying to decide on are the recycled brick feature walls and the kitchen appliances. We have an internal double brick wall planned between the rumpus room and the hallway. I'm debating whether to render this or whether to keep it as a recycled brick feature wall. However, we also thought we would do a recycled brick feature wall in front of our fireplace which is on the eastern living room wall. I'm now thinking that having the two brick feature walls will be too much / too heavy. I do want an airy and spacious feel. MnT was saying on her thread that they will render their internal double brick wall and let the fire place brick wall and the windows be the feature. This makes sense to me and I think this is what we'll do. My second dilemma for today is the kitchen appliances. I've been looking at Miele but I'm not convinced they are still the quality that they used to be. We recently bought a fridge and freezer that is currently leaking. I am still considering their 90cm induction cooktop. Has anyone had any experience with these or have any other recommendations for induction cooktops? I'll also check out the kitchen threads. I've been reading a lot of good things about Neff ovens so I'm quite keen on those however it looks like I missed a good promotion they had going in Jan - $1999 for a pyrolytic oven. You can always wait to see what mine looks like and change it if you don't like it although the way things are going you might be done before me. Sorry can't help much with the appliances side of things as we went full gas oven & cooktop because we are using LPG bottled gas. From what I hear induction cooktops are great to use. My build thread: Custom build on 40 acres viewtopic.php?f=31&t=75656 Re: 25 acres 12Apr 01, 2015 1:30 pm Hehe MnT. I'll be watching your build very closely! I just cancelled the extra bricks so we're back to the feature recycled brick just being behind the fireplace. One more decision made. viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76666 our custom build on 25 acres Re: 25 acres 13Apr 01, 2015 3:02 pm And many more to go......... My build thread: Custom build on 40 acres viewtopic.php?f=31&t=75656 Re: 25 acres 14Apr 03, 2015 1:23 pm So, still no windows this week. They've now said they will be here by next Thursday so we'll see, I'm not holding my breath because they had said they would be here the start of the week just past. Frustrating !! But at least in the meantime it's given me a chance to finalise a few more things I was still deciding on. viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76666 our custom build on 25 acres Re: 25 acres 15Apr 03, 2015 7:45 pm Unfortunately you get used to not believing any deadlines given, if they are on track it's a bonus! I am really looking forward to seeing the external of your house, what colours have you chosen? We initially had a bit of colorbond cladding to break up the long facade but after our costs blew out too much that had to go, along with the closed in garage and a curved roof. My build thread: Custom build on 40 acres viewtopic.php?f=31&t=75656 Re: 25 acres 16Apr 07, 2015 4:21 pm I've just posted a post under the Kitchen Corner for help on our kitchen design. Here's the link. Love your thoughts! viewtopic.php?f=16&t=76806 viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76666 our custom build on 25 acres Re: 25 acres 17Apr 07, 2015 4:24 pm MnT the colorbond cladding will be Woodland Grey, with a lighter browny grey render (we haven't chosen this yet) and silvertop ash wood cladding. I hope I will be able to show you some pics in the next couple of weeks! viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76666 our custom build on 25 acres Re: 25 acres 18Apr 07, 2015 5:45 pm Colours sound good, I think they would work well. I find that external colours are the hardest to pick. My build thread: Custom build on 40 acres viewtopic.php?f=31&t=75656 Re: 25 acres 19Apr 07, 2015 6:15 pm Oh wow the silvertop ash cladding is beautiful!! Following your build Re: 25 acres 20Apr 07, 2015 10:57 pm I agree MnT - exterior colours have been really hard to choose. Have you chosen your render color? I think I remember reading that you have. We initially also liked the surfmist colorbond but we really like the rustic look of the Woodland Grey and think it tones in well with the mountain behind us. Thanks Trees. I love the silver top ash cladding too. We will just have it in two areas externally - on the rumpus room and under our front alfresco area on the living room wall. We're just a bit unsure how well it will wear and how much maintenance it will take so wanted to keep it a manageable area for reoiling etc. We're also using some inside, around our island bench. viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76666 our custom build on 25 acres go upvc window frames ensure insulation under colorbond. not just sarking, lighter color roof also not sure if you have seen this viewtopic.php?t=5823 last couple of pages… 4 110591 10 years ago was a different software than we use now. it has had a lot of changes over the past years. Improvments to the software and changes to how Nathers models need… 8 1545 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 34273 |