Like others in this forum, I have learnt a lot from this forum and thought I would also document our house build journey. So welcome to our build.
Our journey began last year Nov/Dec when we bought around 600sqm land with house which we intended to demolish and build our house.
Choosing Thomas Archer Homes was kinda destiny. To cut to the chase, I had seen the owner of TA's house facade few years earlier on one of our many walks in the neighbourhood and was visually stunned with the facade. I told my wife that I really liked the facade and wished one day we will have something similar. Fast forward few years and when I started to look at builders, the choices were Carter Grange, Hallbury and Thomas Archer. When I came to know the house that I had initially liked was from TA, I was biased towards TA
but I did engage CG and Hallbury and got initial Pre-sales quotation. Speaking to few members of this forum and my initial bias towards TA was enough to convince us to sign up with TA for our build.Design of the house:
Our block faces east and we wanted to maximise our northern side and also had few other requirements. We looked at TA's Hive design and customised it to suit our requirements. To TA's credit they didn't charge any fee for the changes.
Original Hive
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅
Our Customised Hive
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅
The facade which won me over. Our house facade is exact replica except for the timber colour which is Licquorice if I am not mistaken. The concrete is a smooth finish render (upgrade)
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅
This is our staircase
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅
Our Inclusions/Upgrades
1. 2.74m ceiling to ground and first floor
2. Straight run staircase with glass balustrade to staircase and void area
3. Recessed corner stacker door
4. R3.1 sound screen insulation between bedrooms
5. Velux fixed skylight to ensuite
6. Square set cornice to ground floor and cove cornice to upstairs except for bathrooms which are square set
7. Additional frameless shower to powder room
8. Bosch ovens, fully integrated dishwasher, 80cm Flex induction and Schweigen undercount range hood
9. Evolution 200 insinkerator
10. Supernatural range (Primordia) kitchen island bench
11. Daikin reverse cycle ducted air conditioning
12. fully tiled bathrooms. Master bathroom tile is Marmi classic Pulpis grey. Powder room feature wall is terrazzo.
13. In-wall cistern toilet suite
14. Timber flooring glued from Made by Storey (Truffle) for ground floor except Bed 5
15. Jetmaster 6X fireplace with custom joinery (will be doing marble to fireplace post hand over)
16. Joinery to study
17. All black hardware
some of our colours/products
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅
Few tips for others:-
tip1:- I had asked for 4 months settlement so that I could finalise and get the plans ready as much early as possible
tip2:- Get abolishment of utilities done if property is vacant before the settlement and also to install underground electrical pit irrespective of if current owners live there or not.
tip3:- Get quite a few demolishers quote since they vary quite a bit. we found Dig Dig demolition to be best bang for buck.
Timelines so far:
Nov 19 - Bought property in auction
Jan 20 - Signed Thomas Archer
Mar - style appointment. Signed In the swim for concrete pool build
Mid March - Receive Tender
End March - Settle on house
May - Demo complete. Contract signed with TA
Early June - construction of swimming pool was supposed to start but had to postpone to summer months due to water and silty
soil around 1mtr depth during digging
Mid June - Site started
Louise Robinson
Blacktea2sugars
BigDaddy
