Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jul 27, 2015 6:05 pm Hi All, I have been reading all Metricon threads religiously and following all the blogs! I thought it is about time I share some my building journey to help others building with their building. As the title suggests we are building a Franklin 40 Resort (47 squares with modifications). We are building in the Northern Sydney suburbs. With a frontage of over 23m it was a challenge finding a house that can fit the block! This is our third and most likely forever home, Mr.F and I with the two kids decided to build our dream home + a pool. We purchased a property in May 14 and rented it for 6 months. Signed contracts with M in May 15 and had all approvals/selection signed off by end of 2014. Knocked down in Feb 15 and handed over to M in Mar 15. Due to access issues post build and the pool only being 1.2m from the outdoor room, we had to install the pool in after site cut and piering by M. So M had to stop work and start again, albeit a few delays with the pool due to poor weather etc. M started on site again towards end of May 15. We are now almost at the end of the frame stage. SM advised frames will finish by mid this week and we should have the Hebel delivered this week . Some details of the build Main changes to the floor plan. 1) Added an guest bedroom on the ground floor with en-suite and WIR - mainly for my mum and MIL who stay with us. They can't really handle the stairs. 2) Increased the depth of the first floor at the back added an en-suite to 1 bedroom and WIRs to both bedrooms - Our not so little girl will have the bedroom with the en-suite and WIR and our son will have the other bedroom with the WIR. 3) Upgraded the outdoor room to the Grand outdoor room. 4) Increased ceiling height to 2.7m for both ground and first floor and door heights to 2340 5) Upgraded the stairs to semi-cantilevered with chestnut stain to match front door. Same as the Glendale display in ED Park. The stairs is a feature for Franklin so wanted something nice 6) Added a Butler's pantry 7) added shower to the powder room - given we have a pool, our "new friends" using the pool can use the powder room to shower. Ground floor Plans Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ First floor plans Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ As we preferred the rendered look and after much research we decided to go with Hebel through out the house. Our façade Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ External Selections Roof tiles - Gunmetal Gutters - Basalt Eaves - Surfmist Outdoor ceiling lining - Lexicon quarter Main render/Garage/Fascia/Rainwater tank - Surfmist Feature - Charcoal Light Portico detached piers - Feature tile Belgique structured dark finish Aluminium Windows/Doors - Citi Garage Door Style - Tuscan long plank Front door - Hume Savoy X26 with sidelights and Chestnut stain (translucent glazing) Generally really happy with our decisions/selections. A few misses (don't we all have them...real first world problems!!!) and concerns are 1) Forgot to add a window to the garage - very silly but we have a door that leads to the side of the house from garage so not a huge issue! 2) Rebate the stacker doors - kicking myself for this as I read this in one of the blogs when our file had moved to construction and it was too late to add. Wish M had suggested this when we did our initial plans. 3) Room size - Mr F thinks I am nuts, I am keen to have a double bed and a study desk in the kids rooms and preferably a nice chair for them to sit and read (well more like play games on the ipad) a bit worried if a 3.22 x 3.77 and 3.32 x 3.77 rooms are bit too small for this. Given we have WIRs with sliding doors I think it should be ok, thoughts?? 3) The opening adjacent to the stairs leading from entry to back of the house - The display homes (with similar stairs leading from the entry like Glendale, Hudson, Phoenix etc) have about a 1.3m opening that from the entry to the back of the house. We had incorrectly assumed our opening would be the same. When we saw the frames it looked like the opening was just over 1m. The wall behind the stairs is load bearing and cannot be shortened. This is how it is showed in the plans !! A bit concerned if this will make the entry look like a rabbit hole! We were keen to have a very open plan feel to the house. I am really hoping it looks ok after plastering, given our ceilings are 2.7m high I have my fingers crossed! This is one thing I am STRESSED about! re issue 3) I would really appreciate if you are Glendale/Hudson/Phoenix and have done your plastering please let me know what your opening size is and if it is around 1m does it look small? Please post pics if you can. Those of you still finalising your plans, please check this. The plans don't specifically show the measurement for the entry so double check this. Other handy hints/upgrades 1) When you do electrical make sure you reduce the height of the power points in bathrooms. They will install it at 1.8m or something above FFL which means it will be about 1m above the bench top. 2) Install power points inside vanity to charge tooth brushes, shaver etc. 3) We have added shelves to one side of the island bench on the end where there was no waterfall. I just loved that look in the M display home 4) added under-tile heating to master en-suite, daughter's en-suite, main bathroom, main living areas down stairs. 5) Used wall cavity spaces to add niches/shelves where possible. 6) add outdoor power points to use for x'mas lights and garden lights. 7) out door taps to the front and back (we added an extra one to the front) Capped water/waste/gas point in outdoor room for BBQ/outdoor kitchen I am sure there are few more....but can't think of them now. We had a change in SM couple of weeks ago, so waiting to meet the new SM and for our walkthrough. Apparently the official 1st walkthrough will only be after Hebel is completed - is this is case for everyone else?? Next post to cover internal selections Re: Building Metricon Franklin 40 Sydney 2Jul 27, 2015 8:09 pm Congrats Franky! Your house design looks huge and awesome! Actually we we considering on building the Franklin design too. This was due to a potential block of land which is very wide and as such would fit the franklin design. I will be following yr thread to see the transformation! Orpheus Building the Metricon Glendale 38|Sydney Re: Building Metricon Franklin 40 Sydney 3Jul 27, 2015 8:51 pm That is one big house! Sounds great We didn't get a gas point in the alfresco but I actually wish we had now. We also should have added an extra outside tap, we extensively discussed where to place the two we got but never even considered just adding an extra one... Will you be sharing your internal colour selections too? Jen (& Dave) Plantation Bronte, Ormeau Ridge, Gold Coast QLD 12/03/2015 - Commencement... 26/08/2015 - Handover! viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76446 Re: Building Metricon Franklin 40 Sydney 4Jul 27, 2015 8:56 pm Franky, we had the same issue with the opening for the Glendale as well especially the wall under the stairs. So we decided to choose the open Cantilevered stairs and remove the wall under the stairs completely and replace with a clear glass panel. This way we can see all the way from the front door entrance to the dining/living areas. build thread - viewtopic.php?t=78328 Orpheus Building the Metricon Glendale 38|Sydney Re: Building Metricon Franklin 40 Sydney 5Jul 27, 2015 9:37 pm Hi Franky Just found your thread. Subscribing it. What a lovely BIG house. Will read up on your upgrades etc Metricon Glendale 38 - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=75696&p=1298363#p1298363 Selections: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=75696&start=60 Tiles - p25 Re: Building Metricon Franklin 40 Sydney 6Jul 27, 2015 9:56 pm What a huge house Franky and love your modifications! We are building the Glendale 38 in the south west so looking forward to following your build. Please do share your internal colour selections Re: Building Metricon Franklin 40 Sydney 7Jul 27, 2015 10:04 pm Franky, do you mind uploading high Def photos of yr floor plans please? I can't seem to read them as they are blurry. Thanks! build thread - viewtopic.php?t=78328 Orpheus Building the Metricon Glendale 38|Sydney Re: Building Metricon Franklin 40 Sydney 8Jul 27, 2015 10:21 pm Yes i want to have a closer look too Metricon Glendale 38 - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=75696&p=1298363#p1298363 Selections: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=75696&start=60 Tiles - p25 Re: Building Metricon Franklin 40 Sydney 10Jul 27, 2015 11:38 pm Thank you guys...building a house is always so stressful I've never second guessed myself so much!! Orpheus good work picking the issue with the staircase. I wish we had...I'm really hoping ours does not look too small. Worse case we will need to do some sort of opening in the wall post handover and make it a feature not the end of the world. Will need to figure out how to upload high res pics tomorrow. viewtopic.php?t=78985 Re: Building Metricon Franklin 40 Sydney 11Jul 28, 2015 1:45 am Fantastic floor plan Franky, your kitchen island is lovely and deep, the ceiling height you will have up through your void will be amazing, any plans for a pendant light there? Really like the walk behind WIR in the master such a clever use of space, does your ensuite have a cavity slider? Ours doesn't and I regret it now. Lovely external colours, they go so well together. Congrats on nearly finishing your frames that must be exciting. Love to see some colour selections and items you are selecting for your home, when you get a chance. Re: Building Metricon Franklin 40 Sydney 12Jul 28, 2015 10:25 pm Hopefully the below plan pics are bit better Internal colour selections as promised . We had the hot right now promotion and took the tile and carpet package. This is one long post so grab a cuppa and start reading As you can see the we have gone with the grey and white theme for the external and wanted flow through the similar colours for internal. Plan is to add colour via furnishings, art and deco. I've also done mood boards (lol never heard of it before I started building!) I've shared as well. External tile for portico and outdoor room Tile used on the two detached piers in the front facade Internal walls - whisper white. Ceiling and cornices - lexicon quarter Doors, architraves skirting - whisper white semi gloss Main floors -we absolutely loved this tile. Matt porcelain tiles 600m x 600m. Is a soft white tile with smudge grey veins the photo does not do justice. Carpet - Wool Salerno twin waters. We also upgraded the underlay to 10mm foam as we were keen to reduce the noise between the floors. Soundproofing cost too much $$$s Internal doors - flush panel for all doors other than Powder room, WIL and master bedroom upgraded to Hume HMC11 stained in chestnut to match stair and front door with translucent glazing Stairs - same as the one in Edmundson park Glendale. For those not in Sydney Powder room wanted to add some drama and excitement Vanity - wall hung and new graphite Benchtop - caesarstone Osprey Tiles - floor to ceiling. As per mood board below feature tiles (200 x 600) and dark grey floor tiles(600x600) Feature tile for one wall. The tile used in the main area floor will be used for the 3 remaining walls Frameless shower screen Mizu bloc overhead shower with straight arm WC - Kado Lux with hidden cistern Tiled floor waste Shower niche Mood board Kitchen/butler's pantry This was hard as we were not keen on a white kitchen. Our current kitchen has laminex smokey sapelle and stipple smoke, we love this look so went for something similar Bottom cupboards/ pantry cupboard- new graphite Top cupboards/ shelves in butler's pantry- blackened linewood horizontal grain Benchtop - CS organic white Kickers to match cupboards Cooktop - upgraded to fisher and paykel Splash back - blackened mirror and fixed window Mood board Butler's pantry splash back - tile looks a bit cream/brown in the photo but it is actually a light grey. Laid in a brick pattern Laundry Under bench Cupboards/broom cupboard/Kicker - new graphite Benchtop - organic white Sink - Clark 48ltr edge line Mixer - posh solus MKII Laundry splash back tile Main bathroom Vanity - Wall hung. Blackened linewood Benchtop - CS osprey Tiling - wall to ceiling for 3 walls and plan to paint the 4th wall as a feature. A white tile with prominent grey grains (300x600) for the walls and bath hob and dark grey floor tiles (600x600) Mood board WC - The Gap Roco Semi frameless shower screens Tiled waste Shower niche Standard built in bath Standard shower Guest ensuite - same selections as the main bathroom with with no wall to ceiling tiling. The tiling in shower is the grey/white wall tile. Princess ensuite as this was for my daughter wanted something light and airy. Vanity - Wall hung. laminex Silver Strata Benchtop - CS Ice snow (sparkle....sparkle!) Tiles - Floor tiles light grey floor tiles 300x600 Floor to ceiling only in shower with 2walls same floor tile and one feature wall with mosaic tiles WC -The Gap Roco Semi frameless shower screen. Shower niche Standard shower Mood board Master ensuite Vanity - Wall hung. Blackened linewood Benchtop - CS osprey Tile - dark grey floor tile 600x600 and same tile for wall 300x600. Feature mosaic wall tile for the wall behind the free standing bath and shower niche. Wall to ceiling as part of Hot Now promo excl WC WC - The gap Roco Frameless shower screen Shower niche Freestanding bath - Kado Arc 1730 Shower head - porches cygnet square twin shower rail part of hot now promo Mood board still WIP viewtopic.php?t=78985 Re: Building Metricon Franklin 40 Sydney 13Jul 28, 2015 10:29 pm Looking great franky! Can't wait to see it come together Sent from Tapatalk Jen (& Dave) Plantation Bronte, Ormeau Ridge, Gold Coast QLD 12/03/2015 - Commencement... 26/08/2015 - Handover! viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76446 Re: Building Metricon Franklin 40 Sydney 14Jul 28, 2015 10:36 pm I'm afraid the layout diagrams are still unclear. It might be the image size which is too small and hence when I zoom in it is very blurry. build thread - viewtopic.php?t=78328 Orpheus Building the Metricon Glendale 38|Sydney Re: Building Metricon Franklin 40 Sydney 15Jul 28, 2015 10:38 pm Orpheus Building the Metricon Glendale 38|Sydney Re: Building Metricon Franklin 40 Sydney 16Jul 28, 2015 11:17 pm Thanks all.....I can't wait to see it all come together too....patience is a virtue we need a large dose of it when building! Btw - frames finished today (hooray!!) got the txt and invoice pronto . Hebel installers were already on site to M. viewtopic.php?t=78985 Re: Building Metricon Franklin 40 Sydney 17Jul 28, 2015 11:29 pm Tribe7 Fantastic floor plan Franky, your kitchen island is lovely and deep, the ceiling height you will have up through your void will be amazing, any plans for a pendant light there? Really like the walk behind WIR in the master such a clever use of space, does your ensuite have a cavity slider? Ours doesn't and I regret it now. Lovely external colours, they go so well together. Congrats on nearly finishing your frames that must be exciting. Love to see some colour selections and items you are selecting for your home, when you get a chance. Hi Tribe, Thank you for the complements . We did increase the kitchen benchtop to 1200m. We have allowed for a pendant light for the stair void (it has a timber noggin). We don't have a cavity slider for the master ensuite nor were we too keen on it as the WC has a door and the shower is well hidden. The franklin display is Ballina did not have it and it looked great......perhaps I am being swayed by the looks over practicality viewtopic.php?t=78985 Re: Building Metricon Franklin 40 Sydney 18Jul 29, 2015 7:30 am Love your selections franky! We will also be going for white/grey theme for our internals so im really looking forward to seeing yours come together. I must do mood boards aswell before our internal colour selections Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=78449 Re: Building Metricon Franklin 40 Sydney 19Jul 29, 2015 9:56 am Thanks Phoenix Rose, I like your externals colour selections it all goes well together. Good luck with the council it is such a nervous wait. Have your started prepping for internals. Studio M and Electrical appointments are back to back. Best to be prepared as much as you can. I found the internal wall colour hard to choose too many choices especially if you want white!!! I bought plaster board cut it up into 6pcs and painted three coats of various samples to help with the decision! viewtopic.php?t=78985 Re: Building Metricon Franklin 40 Sydney 20Jul 29, 2015 10:02 am Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Frames done. It is so amazing to see the house in 3D after looking at the plans on paper and making so many decisions!! They've started putting the metal rods to install Hebel.....can't wait to see the Hebel go up. I hope we have plenty of ️️️ in Sydney viewtopic.php?t=78985 No idea about the driveway question, but your price for a house that size including landscaping seems very good! 1 3883 Hi, First of all, thank you to this community for sharing your thoughts and opinions. We are in early days of our pre-contract stage for Metricon Doulton and we are… 0 3746 Hello All 🙂 We are planning to start our journey of construction our first home. We zeroed down on Metricon and henley homes based on design suitable for our lot and… 0 1059 |