Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Nov 15, 2014 10:14 am Have been on this forum off and on for years and I love it.
I love that there are everyday people passionate about building, involved in the process and happy to share their ideas, ups and downs, tips and style with others. But there are also experienced professionals willing to give advice and direction and sometimes a polite slap down!!. About us. 4 Monkeys 2 large 2 small. Building our 'forever' home in Adelaide, eastern suburbs. Last home was steel frame and new one will be too. Our block 920 sqm not flat - we are going to build up the rear about 200-400mm but with a lovely E-W orientation. But with terrible E-D soil and a large tree we needed to accommodate. We have spent almost a year with a plan that has gone through at least 50 versions till we have arrived at ours. Have gone to council twice plan in hand for advice which was very helpful. It is quite a big house but we hope and think we have used the space wisely. It is a house designed for us and the way we live. We signed our contract this week with Adelaide Designer Homes. We went through a six month process with two builders looking at the same house. We chose them on word of mouth, internet information, steel frame and gut feel. ADH was chosen in the end, in large part to our lovely and helpful building consultant, a transparent, consistent process and good word of mouth reviews. Our style is really simple, plain and low maintenance because that's what I like, it's practical and not most important but in the mix cost!. Here's the plan, it has changed (room sizes) very slightly but otherwise this is it.... And the inspiration pic for our façade. Told ya it was simple. It begins Re: House for 4 Monkeys in SA. 2Nov 15, 2014 10:36 am Lovely Bluesteel! The plan looks great, incredibly functional layout. The facade is elegant and classy. I love the timber. We have Pgh licorice as our feature brick and I love them. Really warm earthy brick. Looking foreward to seeing it come together Thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=66299 Slab: 16/6/14 Frame: 4/7/14 Roof: 22/7/14 Lock Up: 20/8/14 Fixing: 26/8/14 PCI: 9/10/14 Handover: 20/10/14 Re: House for 4 Monkeys in SA. 3Nov 15, 2014 11:02 am Yay, you're ready to go! Congratulations! I love your facade and all the lovely northerly living areas. And what a fabulous kitchen ... All that bench space ... And a funky utility/store space in a great spot We wanted a steel frame initially - one of the main reasons we chose McCracken (almost Weeks Peacock -- lovely homes). I've heard good things about ADH Can you explain the main BR ensuite, it looks unconventional to me (I LOVE unconventional) I just wonder if I'm seeing right. Also ensuite off living. What have you got planned for them We may be building together (timing). Yay! Re: House for 4 Monkeys in SA. 4Nov 15, 2014 11:08 am Thanks guys!! That's so funny I didn't realise its the version with no toilet or basin in the ensuite. Its quite conventional. But you never know it could have been the ultimate wet room just a shower and a drain...... Will change pic.... Ensuite off living will eventually be a room for a grandparent should they choose to live with us or need to. Tomcat it was actually your built up block pic that changed my mind from split to lifting the rear of the house up can't wait to see your house. Re: House for 4 Monkeys in SA. 5Nov 15, 2014 11:27 am I wondered that about the shower off your living space. Great idea! Yeah, the 'down in a hole' look is a bit weird all so exciting. Is the brown puppy moving in with ou monkeys then? Re: House for 4 Monkeys in SA. 6Nov 15, 2014 11:29 am The brown puppy was like our old puppy from long ago, pre small monkeys. New house will definitely have a new puppy, small monkeys have already chosen a name. Won't be a lab again though I still find hair 15 years later........ Re: House for 4 Monkeys in SA. 7Nov 15, 2014 11:35 am Haha, they're all hairy. My husband and I were just talking about going to the RSPCA or AWL today to get a girlfriend for Sid. Double trouble! But we've decided to wait til we move now. Dark floors are good Lol Re: House for 4 Monkeys in SA. 8Nov 15, 2014 2:51 pm Yeah we are thinking of having 2 dogs but will do one at a time and make sure we all cope. Eeek don't say dark floors just ordered and received our flooring its mid brown. It was a price too good to resist!! Integra floors in QLD were so helpful. Will just have to get a midbrown dog Polyflor Expona, Colour Wandoo. We had cushioned vinyl in our last house, loved it but it dinged lots so going stick down plank. Would have gone looselay if I found something I liked. Re: House for 4 Monkeys in SA. 9Nov 15, 2014 5:09 pm That's a lovely floor... Gorgeous. I wish I'd gone a bit lighter, ours are mid to darkish. They look great, but I mop quite a lot! Lol We have the two puppy dogs. One is 9 and half and one is 5. He (the youngest) was bought to keep her company, as when my husband and I first moved in together, she was used to being at home all day with his retired parents, so we worried she'd get lonely with us being at work all day, and her used to a busy house. They're great mates and do keep each other company, but I'm sure she'd like some peace sometimes now she's getting on in years! Hehe Thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=66299 Slab: 16/6/14 Frame: 4/7/14 Roof: 22/7/14 Lock Up: 20/8/14 Fixing: 26/8/14 PCI: 9/10/14 Handover: 20/10/14 Re: House for 4 Monkeys in SA. 10Nov 15, 2014 5:42 pm Yes, that's a lovely floor. Mid is good ... Yes a middie dog. Or one white, one black. Hehe yes, I get that D ... Love the doggies! Re: House for 4 Monkeys in SA. 11Nov 16, 2014 5:55 am Yep, we love dogs too. My Mum who loved our old dog to bits is waiting not so patiently for us to build and get a dog. She couldn't get one herself because Dad refused to go through the loss again at the end So should I take a flooring sample when I look at dogs..... I take them everywhere else.......just kidding I don't......yet.... Re: House for 4 Monkeys in SA. 12Nov 16, 2014 6:51 am So I thought would put up my kitchen picture - or what I have in mind! Re: House for 4 Monkeys in SA. 13Nov 16, 2014 7:12 am Blue steel that all looks great. How exciting! Why don't you match your new dog to the carpet? I wish I had done that lol Re: House for 4 Monkeys in SA. 14Nov 16, 2014 9:02 am Thanks joanne! We are having vinyl in the whole house so I should be safe matching dog to floor !!! Re: House for 4 Monkeys in SA. 15Nov 16, 2014 10:18 am That looks fabulous Bluesteel!!! And what a great idea to do a mood board like that! I'm trying to render my *whole rooms* in Photoshop and InDesign and it's taking for ever. Don't think it's possible ... I think you have to have a plan/idea ready (like you have) then when you find something that fits and the time's right, you just buy it. Yes????????? Any tips, gladly welcome!! You seem to know what you're doing Re: House for 4 Monkeys in SA. 16Nov 16, 2014 11:00 am Hey TC, I used google sketch up with very basic skills to draw kitchen then cut and paste it to paint then pasted all my wishlist things and selections. I am fairly sure what I wanted but first decided on my floor ( which for me made it clear what to choose) and went from there and decided within the builders standard. Our last house had a red splash back and red accessories this house I want grey and yellow. When we just sold our house anything I bought to dress that house was to use in this house. i find the mood board helps me to visualise and keep up the excitement otherwise i find it sooooooo painful. Have a mood board for most rooms will add one by one! So a pretty low tech mood board but does the job Re: House for 4 Monkeys in SA. 17Nov 16, 2014 9:17 pm It's great! I'm getting too hung up on finding all the right bits. Then I started doing a budget calc Now I've decided to just get the absolute basics down then add the bits after as I find them (or can afford!) And make sure I don't buy anything unless I can visualise exactly where it will go. Hmm, we'll see Re: House for 4 Monkeys in SA. 18Nov 17, 2014 10:11 am Wow... That looks fabulous! I love the colours and design you have planned. Oh and grey and yellow look magnificent together. Can't wait to see that come together Thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=66299 Slab: 16/6/14 Frame: 4/7/14 Roof: 22/7/14 Lock Up: 20/8/14 Fixing: 26/8/14 PCI: 9/10/14 Handover: 20/10/14 Re: House for 4 Monkeys in SA. 19Nov 17, 2014 10:13 am TomCat It's great! I'm getting too hung up on finding all the right bits. Then I started doing a budget calc Now I've decided to just get the absolute basics down then add the bits after as I find them (or can afford!) And make sure I don't buy anything unless I can visualise exactly where it will go. Hmm, we'll see I think if you get the basics right and buy what you love it will look amazing. I've seen your inspiration pic it's very beautiful. Thanks deluxes! I figure if I keep grey as the base can always get rid of yellow when I get sick of it or change my mind...! Re: House for 4 Monkeys in SA. 20Nov 30, 2014 7:52 pm Life has been busy!! Have signed contract, plans have been corrected awaiting engineering to be corrected (minor things) - hopefully this week (is that too optimistic ???) - to council. All selections booked for this week and one appointment next week. Have to book for final appointment in the new year. Felt like I was going mad with my obsession with colours, the lady at kitchen selections (went to have a look) - was very supportive of my two visits (that's not that bad.......) she said I could decide with her. I really wanted to be sure of what I wanted prior to going. All my choices are locked down - few upgrades expected in the kitchen - but most of what we wanted is in the contract, I've chosen all standard tiles except for a small area of mosaics. Demolition was approved last week. Have to get onto demolishers - electrical abolishment booked in for next week. Looking forward to things happening. Have to chase up fencing quotes and contact neighbours and get some quotes for survey of boundary to be done. Anyone used a surveyor in Adelaide that they were happy with in work and price? Your build is relatively simple, I believe your job can be easily done by a good building designer, you really do not need to pay for the architect. Remember, architect's… 3 10927 Building a new home, and looking for a garage builder (home builder not contracted to do this). Someone to build steel garage (double), colorbond, including supply and… 0 3246 |