Sunday, March 3, 2013

The finer details of Display Homes

Today we visited Spring Farm to look beyond WIRs and Kitchens (the first two things I look at when viewing at Display Home). I particularly wanted to see the towel rails in the bathrooms and how many down lights were included throughout the Sheffield.

Gary was helpful as always and available to answer our many questions, FYI stone bench tops in the kitchen are included in our package.

Down Lights
In the Sheffield 23 there are 79 down lights. At approximately, $129 per LED light that's a total of $10,191.00.

Bedrooms 2, 3 & 4 have 4 down lights per room.
Bathroom - 5
WIR - 2
Ensuite - 3
Main Bedroom - 8
Hall Way - 5
Laundry - 2
Rumpus - 8
Alfresco - 4
Entry - 3

The dilemma of the towel rails
After our last visit to Spring Farm we were driving home and I couldn't recall where the towel rails were in the ensuite. As it turns out there are none on display in the Sheffield 23. The only available space is beside the toilet, which I'm not keen in doing. I've drawn up a plan for a change in the bathroom, which I'm yet to hear if it is possible and the cost involved. This will reduce the size of the shower and provide a wall space for towels to hang.

Sheffield 23 Ensuite, Spring Farm 
 

 Sheffield 23 Ensuite, Spring Farm
 
 
Shaving Mirror
Hopefully we'll be able to have a shaving mirror in the ensuite. This will maximise storage.
At this stage, we have to look into getting it through Eden Brae and having it recessed into the wall or doing it after hand over.
 
 Drysdale, Spring Farm
 
Bathroom
I'm not particularly keen to have the window in the bathroom to meet the bathroom. I've requested the window to be adjusted.

 

 
 
Provision for a hand towel? 
 
 
Again, the towel rail is in close proximity to the toilet. I was thinking that a towel hook could be placed next to the shower and the towel rail could go above the bath.

 
 
 
 
On a side note, it is preferable to have floor to ceiling tiles around the shower.
 

 
Another location for the towl rail, above the bath.
 
 
Height of tiles in bathroom
 
 
Drysdale at Spring Farm
 
 
The tiles we narrowed down at DiLorenzo's are similar to those shown above.
 
 
An example of towel rails above the bath
 
 
 

McDonald Jones, Gregory Hills
 
 
Decisions Decisions 
I like the tiles in the Lincoln 35, Gregory Hills. Next time we're at DiLorenzo they'll be able to tell us what tiles they are and how much... then it'll be a decison between floor boards and tiles. 
 
 
 
Kitchen Appilances
This is the 900mm oven provided in the kitchen upgrade, as shown in the Lincoln 35 at Gregory Hills. We've requested a plinth instead of the legs.
 

 
Lounge
As a result of extending the WIR, there will be a niche in the lounge room similar to the one shown in the Lincoln 35 at Gregory Hills
 
 

 
 
The TV and Entertainment Unit look a bit bland, the below display could be incorporated into the niche. I'm not sure about the above shelving, but the down lights and Unit are appealing. 
 
McDonald Jones, Gregory Hills
 
 
Laundry
The below laundry is on display for the Sheffield. Given there is no Sheffield 25 on display it is difficult to know the extact size of the laundry.
 
The decision of having a sliding door or hanging door has it's pros and cons. After seeing the McDonald Jones fit out I think I would prefer the hanging door to allow for bench top and cupboards. The only changes I would make would be a broom cupboard. If this is possible it is yet to be determined.
 
 

 
McDonald Jones, Gregory Hills
 
 

Other considerations
 
Stacker Doors
I'm hoping to have the frame level with the flooring. My reasoning? To be able to transport George (Electus Parrot) in his cage into the house. Not sure if this is possible, but it's a compromise. I would like George inside the house, however he is so messy with his food Mr H would prefer he stay outside in the new house.
 
 
 
 
To increase or not to increase, that is the question??
Once you've been shown the alternative, it becomes a focus when viewing Display Homes. The biggest one is the Entry (and the waterfall edging on the island bench).
 
The extended height of the ceiling in the Entry - yes or no?
It makes the enterance grand, but one change creates more changes... changes to the height of the doors in the Main Bedroom and the size of the entry door.
 
Question: Does changing the height of the entry ceiling also result in a height change in the facade? 
 
 
 
Walk in Robe
One of the first changes made to the design of the house was the WIR. At our first consultation the length was increased by going into the lounge room. After our next consultation which was unplanned at Spring Farm, Gary suggested reducing the Main Bedroom door opening and extending the WIR further.
 
It would be so much easier if I could see the results of the modification before going ahead with it. Preferably, I would like a king sized bed in our Bedroom.
 
On the To Do List measure out my existing wardrobe space to see how it compares with the new WIR.
 
 
Another alternative
My clever Aunty suggested moving the adjustments along - who needs a rumpus, family and lounge room???
 
This would allow for alternative design for the ensuite and maintain the original size of the lounge room.
 
The only 'con' would be preventing the rumpus room to be closed in (i.e. creating the ulimate man cave).
 
Hopefully we'll be able to discuss the possibilities at the Tender Presentation.
 
 
 
 
 
 

4 comments:

  1. Hi Renee,

    We are also going to build the Sheffield 25 and have found your blog so helpful. Thank you. Can I ask what the oval shape thing is in the drawing above next to the shower in the ensuite.
    Cheers, Alison

    ReplyDelete
  2. Afternoon Alison,
    Apologies for the delay in replying. I didn't even know I had a response.

    The oval would be the toilet. My Aunty did a quick drawing whilst on the phone to me one night.

    I'm glad I've been able to help. How have you found the building process? What stage are you up to so far?

    Regards

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for the reply. We have just had our tender appointment last Tuesday. Need to cough up the money this week! Our main problems have been finance without selling our current home-I have no allowance for upgrades in my tender, but we are going to sell our current house and move in with mum and dad temporarily, so hopefully then we will be right. We are using your idea to extend the WIR into the bedroom. We have changed our study to be like the Sheffield 23 (smaller), and put framework for double doors around lounge room. Since we will have a long, narrow hallway, we might need a nice pendant light to spice it up. Making the study smaller allowed me to include a second pantry on the other side of the fridge (to store saucepans and other kitchen overflow, board games etc). This only cost an extra $650 including shelves which surprised me. I am hoping this extra storage will alleviate the need for expensive overhead cupboard and we will just put up floating shelves either side of the rangehood to store our plates etc. Our start date is early September. We only exchanged on our land yesterday!!! All a bit scary. Thanks again for the blog. Have you had colour appointments yet?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Evening Alison,
    Congratulations on your tender. Handing over money is never fun.
    Wishing you all the best selling your current home.

    I tried to maximise the size of the WIR as much as possible. Hopefully it will be adequate at the end of the build.

    We've yet to attend HOG re: kitchen. I'm hoping to increase the size of the pantry (if that is possible). I like your idea of adding extra storage.

    It is rather difficult to visualise the home finished. I wish they had the 25 on display, rather than the 23 at Gregory Hills.

    If all goes to plan we'll be starting July/August.

    Congrats on exchanging on your land. Yes, scary and fun all rolled together.

    We go back to EB on Friday to sign the contract and from there we begin colours (that's going to be testing). I already find it difficult to make a decision.

    You could pop over to the HomeOne forum for lots of helpful people building an EB home http://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=54159&view=unread#unread. Hope to see you there :)

    ReplyDelete