Yes we have all our bedrooms with WIRs and en-suites in our new build. It is going to save us a lot of mediating between our 3 daughters who fight constantly over the 2 bathrooms they have now.
Browse Forums General Discussion Re: Are you building a "Mcmansion"? 61Mar 09, 2012 8:32 pm Our Building on 118 acres in South Gippsland thread - https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=54556 Re: Are you building a "Mcmansion"? 65Mar 09, 2012 10:07 pm 2010, June : Land bought (1700sqm, battleaxe block). That's it so far! We're in the design phase .... Re: Are you building a 66Mar 09, 2012 10:08 pm 2010, June : Land bought (1700sqm, battleaxe block). That's it so far! We're in the design phase .... Re: Are you building a "Mcmansion"? 67Mar 09, 2012 11:14 pm Pete_n_Pet Does that mean you have 4 bathrooms for 5 people? Who cleans all the bathrooms?? Ummmm not exactly .... we have another bathroom off the mud room downstairs as well as a powder room in the entry foyer and the guest room/office above the garage has it's own bathroom and then we have a bathroom in the pool pavilion. So we have 7 bathrooms and a powder room all together. Cleaning bathrooms is not my area of domestic responsibility thank god. We nearly had 8 bathrooms as I had to talk my better half out of having his and hers en suites for the master bedroom Our Building on 118 acres in South Gippsland thread - https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=54556 Re: Are you building a "Mcmansion"? 68Mar 09, 2012 11:34 pm drpopper Pete_n_Pet Does that mean you have 4 bathrooms for 5 people? Who cleans all the bathrooms?? Ummmm not exactly .... we have another bathroom off the mud room downstairs as well as a powder room in the entry foyer and the guest room/office above the garage has it's own bathroom and then we have a bathroom in the pool pavilion. So we have 7 bathrooms and a powder room all together. Cleaning bathrooms is not my area of domestic responsibility thank god. We nearly had 8 bathrooms as I had to talk my better half out of having his and hers en suites for the master bedroom Well, if you can have 7 bathrooms, I suppose personally cleaning them is a moot point. I wouldn't want bathroom cleaning to be my domestic responsibilty either if we have 7 bathrooms. Too funny! At least your partner will always find a spot to have his "quiet time" and know he won't be interupted, hee hee! 2010, June : Land bought (1700sqm, battleaxe block). That's it so far! We're in the design phase .... Are you building a "Mcmansion"? 69Mar 10, 2012 1:28 am So I'm building a house, it's our dream house, there is 3 of us, My Husband, My 5 year old Daughter and Myself, it's everything WE wanted, is it huge, big, small, tiny?well that doesn't matter we are building it for ourselves! No-one should care but us! So my advise for the original poster, build what you want and you can comfortably afford, you are the one that has to live in it. Re: Are you building a "Mcmansion"? 71Mar 10, 2012 10:22 am ^ Bearing in mind that building new houses is a significant way to drive the economy, therefore maintaining our relatively affluent society for our children and grandchildren to live in... I certainly do not advocate that everyone has to build a Mcmansion to attain this. Everybody should live within their means, whatever it is. But if a person was to build a larger house with a larger roof to enable a larger solar panel system to be fitted to it for example, and that system exported electricity most of the time, doesn't the whole world benefit? Geoff - Decophile. Re: Are you building a "Mcmansion"? 72Mar 10, 2012 7:08 pm Pete_n_Pet Eager You raise a very good point though, jodge. What do people classify a McMansion as? I have always assumed McMansions refer to the building of a large house on a small/standard block (eg. probably 700sqm or less) such that you only have a hankerchief lawn and have built to the boundaries such that you can shake hands with your neighbours without leaving your house. The house itself looks very similar to all others in the street, one of 5-6 common design used in the neighbourhood and normally has a huge imposing entrance (usually with non-structural pillars) and often has lots of rooms that have a single purpose and are not used a lot. My mum once made an observation that McMansion estates belong to the middle class and are simply a cashed-up version of a housing commision estate. She also said it's not a new phenomenom as these types of estates have been around since the 50's, although there seems to be minmal/no backyards any more compared to a few decades ago. We lived in a 70's McMansion estate (I suppose you could call it) when we were growing up. We are looking at blocks around 700sqm and they are the large blocks that are being subdivided! And by the way yes we are going to build a large 4br house on it and I'm still hoping for more than a handkerchief of lawn. Current: BUILDING - finishing soon! Re: Are you building a "Mcmansion"? 73Mar 10, 2012 8:56 pm Ms_Teapot We are looking at blocks around 700sqm and they are the large blocks that are being subdivided! And by the way yes we are going to build a large 4br house on it and I'm still hoping for more than a handkerchief of lawn. when I was growing up in Brisbane, the standard suburban block was 800-900sqm. Now they are being subdivided into 2 lots (400-450sqm) and anything over 500sqm is considered large. 2010, June : Land bought (1700sqm, battleaxe block). That's it so far! We're in the design phase .... Re: Are you building a "Mcmansion"? 74Mar 11, 2012 12:53 pm tjilpi ::: Why would you not want your kids to leave home?? It is part of growing up to spread tour wings and get out on your own. I certainly wanted to get away from my parents sooner than later. Learning to share bathrooms/ tv's and other things, teaches kids how to work in a group. Then is that why we should be sharing houses, even after we grow up? I know there are certainly adults that should learn how to share. The push to 'spread your wings' is what is driving demand for more space and housing - leading to all those things in the rest of your post. The default shouldn't be to move out, it should be to stay in. Moving out as you say just consumes more resources and I'm sure an extra ensuite in and effort to keep a house together is going to consume much less resources than building a whole new house to put it in. Are you building a "Mcmansion"? 75Mar 11, 2012 3:03 pm Well maybe we just have an exceptionally close family and also want that for our kids. Our inlaws have just built a house directly in front of us, my parents live around the corner as does my sister. I lived at home until I was 25 and my husband was 30. We both travelled extensively and I was able to buy a house, he land and then build. Without the support of our families we wouldn't be in the position we are now. If we can do the same for our kids so be it. (and ps I was one of 3 girls living in a 9sq home with my parents. It taught me not a lot more then how squishy it is to share bedrooms and 1 bathroom). Some things are worth waiting for. Re: Are you building a "Mcmansion"? 76Mar 14, 2012 7:04 pm tjilpi That is where we all need to change our thinking. There is nothing we build in this world that doesnt affect others, unless it creates no emissions, sources its products totally from the site where it is being built, requires no loan to be built and requires no fossil fuels for heating, cooling and access. The GFC was based on people who built or purchased houses that were nobody elses business. But when cirumstances changed and they couldnt pay their loan, it became everyone elses business. The world is one large community. There are all sorts of reasons we should consider others when making decisions as big as building a house. If for no other reason to consider the world our children and grandchildren will live in. Very well said. To the people who choose to build and live in McMansions.... Reminds me of a song.....Can Get Lonely in My Mansion : Goes a bit like this........ This is my home, Probably cost more than all of ancient Rome. (Still I’m alone.) No one to float With me in my pool or my lake, or my moat. Some abodes, they make people coo, Make them buzz. Some Xanadu, Mine Xanadoesn’t intrigue the town. No one will ride on my merry-go-round. (No one.) They run away. It never ends. And all I have Are gargoyle friends. So beautifully carved Out of volcanic stone. (Still I’m alone.) All they can do Is fountain the wine from the winemaking room. I presume that everyone’s mad. Just tonight, the gala I had Was a delight, but nobody came. It must be their fault, who else can I blame? (No one.) They run away. It never ends. And all I have Are gargoyle friends. The things I build Do not impress The outside world. It hurts me, yes. It can get lonely… (Lonely in my mansion.) Yes, it can get lonely in my mansion. They run away, It never ends. It can get lonely… (Lonely in my mansion.) Yes, it can get lonely in my mansion. When all I have Are gargoyle friends. Do-de-do-de-do-deh-deh, do-de-do-de-do-deh! Do-de-do-de-do-deh-deh, do-de-do-de-do-deh! Shut up. Fine. This is my home, Probably cost more than all of ancient Rome. (Still I’m alone.) No one to float With me in my pool or my lake, or my moat. Some abodes, they make people coo, Make them buzz. Some Xanadu, Mine Xanadoesn’t intrigue the town. No one will ride on my merry-go-round. (No one.) They run away. It never ends. And all I have Are gargoyle friends. So beautifully carved Out of volcanic stone. (Still I’m alone.) All they can do Is fountain the wine from the winemaking room. I presume that everyone’s mad. Just tonight, the gala I had Was a delight, but nobody came. It must be their fault, who else can I blame? (No one.) They run away. It never ends. And all I have Are gargoyle friends. The things I build Do not impress The outside world. It hurts me, yes. It can get lonely… (Lonely in my mansion.) Yes, it can get lonely in my mansion. They run away, It never ends. It can get lonely… (Lonely in my mansion.) Yes, it can get lonely in my mansion. When all I have Are gargoyle friends. Pat. Re: Are you building a 77Mar 15, 2012 7:39 am You only live once, so let's indulge for today, and leave the worrying to our grandchildren. They will fix up our mistakes. They will adapt through Darwinian selection and technological advancement...if there is still a planet left to be saved. I can just picture the 'tree huggers' and 'save the whales' groups cringing their teeth. Re: Are you building a 78Mar 15, 2012 11:13 am I can just picture the 'tree huggers' and 'save the whales' groups cringing their teeth.[/quote] Isn't that a mixed metaphor, like "it's not rocket surgery?" And I like gargoyles. They help provide safe passage between the realms (for those who travel to such places). Not me, my name is not Shirley MacLaine. "Whoever says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain!" Re: Are you building a "Mcmansion"? 80Mar 15, 2012 9:18 pm tjilpi In a perfect world it would be great if people could ascertain their budget, then, within that budget (whatever it may be) build a house: of a size that allows a design individual to the block (for maximum energy efficiency) in a suburb close to their work or school or with access to good public transport (to minimize use of cars) with as many locally and sustainably produced materials as possible. Generally, this would require a smaller house than what you would get with a generic build as the design fees are higher, as are the costs for materials from local and sustainable sources. Not only good for the environment, but also good for the economy, as you are supporting local product It is the cost of land that is the problem, not the material cost of the dwelling itself. Because of the constant stream of people heading to the CBD for their jobs, if you want your own house then you are forced to pay a million bucks to buy a house close to and with good links to the city, or something for less than half of that near the fringe, with all the associated social and environmental pitfalls. Most people have no choice. Decentralisation is the answer, even if it is only within the metro area. Main suburbs like (in the Melbourne area) Box Hill or Ringwood should be developed with mega-high rises, both residential and commercial, to help spread the load. Populist Greenies such as the sometimes resident Geoffrey Rush should have no say in the proposed developments of genteel suburbs either, just because it might impinge ever so slightly on the view from ye olde 1/4 acre block establishments close to the city that no-one can afford anyway. An 8-storey high rise on top of a heritage listed railway station 10 k's from the city? Yep, go for it, say I. McMansions happen because it is more affordable for people to build their creature comforts within the walls of their new homes on the fringe of suburbia, compared to the comfort of having enviable amenities on hand from living in close-in suburbs. Geoff - Decophile. Looking to start the journey of becoming an owner builder in SA. Feeling pretty (overly) confident on the building and construction details, but really struggling to find… 0 5786 No. It's not original. Circa early to mid 90s would be my guess and maybe even as late as early 2000s 1 3664 A question. Im in Queensland and building a new home. We managed to reach practical completion 6 weeks ago but we haven't heard any date for handover yet. Who should we… 0 3054 |