LONG time between posts .. signed Estimate away :)

Well well well it has taken awhile but we have signed the estimate and ordered the soil test and now we are the ones waiting :) We have received the literature emailed that had so many of my questions answered in it that delayed us in deciding. Now I can see the fittings I know what we want to upgrade, what we will leave to do at later date etc. Would have been so much easier having this information sooner as so many other builders did provide the literature earlier. Hoping to hear from Metricon soon on the soil report ...

WIR

WIR we have altered a little too. I was really wanting natural light during the day so we have moved the two tall skinny windows from the bedroom into the robe. Either side as you walk in is hanging space. Half way down the left of the WIR is the only ensuite entry with either a 820 CSD or opening door. Looking straight at end of WIR on far wall, right next to both hanging sides the skinny windows are placed, in the middle we will have a future shoe / bags storage built but for now just a chest of drawers will go there. For noise reasons of a CSD I think we are leaning towards the door for the enuite to be normal opening door and the entry to WIR would be door and a half size. Again pictures will be uploaded once I can present them on the blog

Life of a kinder kid - cut and paste!

Life of a kinder kid ... well for one day ... half a day .. anyway ... I was trying to visualise in my mind the changes I needed to suit our family and in the end I went basic ... copied pages, white out, scissors, glue sick and went to town! I am keen to hear your ideas on our changes ... anything that has or hasnt worked for your designs.. It took me a lot of moving little bits of paper to get the ensuite right. Our ensuite for sleep pattern is practical and the entry is half way into the WIR. As you enter you are looking at the far left wall having an enclosed toilet with window in the toilet room. The toilet must be a self closing, back to wall toilet design - I love these! The far right wall is a large shower with niche, ceiling rose shower with a hand held shower head also. We will be placing a frosted strip on the glass shower door for that extra bit of privacy (there are 4 kids in this house afterall) To the left (backing onto bedroom wall) is the vanity. Wall to wall but with only one basin. We will have two trays - a his and a hers for everyday items that can be lifted and vanity wiped clean quickly. To the right as you enter the ensute will be the normal sized spa bath. A large window will be over the bath to light the bathroom. We will have self closing exhaust fans, tastic heater and looking into a heater duct in either the ensuite or the robe. I am wanting to do floor to ceiling tiles but want to find out if the wall can be prepped now and painted or prepped and left and we can add remaining wall tiles after handover. Has anyone done this before? I'm keen to find out if you can just add tiles over paint easily after handover. I cant add any pictures as yet, once I have the rooms confirmed I will be able to add my visuals to the blog ..

Mud room - who has one? Im so excited about the thought of it!

I love the idea of what enters at the door, stays at the door. Hats, bags, jackets, shoes etc will be stored as per the need / season only in the mud room. The mud room will be straight from the garage into the hallway. It will be fitted out later and just left as a large alcove for now with bulk head. The plan is to place a bench seat with room for shoes in a basket underneath and hanging above hooks for bags / jackets. On the sides of the alcove will have some storage magazine type holders for each of us. It will contain notes / folders needed to LEAVE the house as notes notes notes from 4 kids at school is a constant task I keep on the kids about. The end of the alcove will have a sliding door so it can be closed off from sight and will make the very long corridor seem a little less long ... a normal opening door would have the risk of slamming shut if wind or a/c got a hold of it ... Do you have a mud room?

About us ....

I have started this blog for your help ... any help with issues you experienced we could learn from, but also for any great ideas. We are a family of 6 with 2 boys and 2 girls. One thing we are creating is a small ensuite off the laundry (instead of WIL) to create 1. bathroom for the boys. 2. access to toilet / shower from outside via laundry. Laundry door to house will have a lock on it we can lock house safely for insurance purposes. Storage is very important and we are making robes larger for the girls. Mud room area as you enter the hall from garage is being created also. From entry door at front of house the left will have cupboards to place coats, shoes, shoes, more shoes, bags, off season items in. Both lounge and rumpus rooms will access from the hallway with large cavity sliding doors to create illusion of space when they are open and privacy / noise control when rooms in use. What are great ideas you have thought of?

Thank you to all the stories, tears and triumph moments I have been following.   We have chosen the Denver 36 and paid our $1000 and now getting everything we want in the contract done now ... Before we sign away and are locked in
Please please share any stories if yours with us
Will begin my first blog tomorrow as just setting it all up today :)