DA Approved!

Yah! Bravo to council for doing this in...11 days!

We are signing construction certificates papers today. I hope all that goes really quickly and we can break ground in early 2011.

Happy days.

The land is officially ours!

Settlement occurred at 2.30pm today. Yah!

Plans are in council and all is going well. Now the real pressure starts. Especially in February as we have all our bills and rent and mortgage. Anyway happy thoughts today. Yah!

House Number

I was worried that we would get number four. Not that I'm Chinese but still the thought freaked me. Here is what  numerology says about life in a six 6 home. Sounds all good to me.

The 6 is the most loving of all numbers. It is harmonious will all other numbers, and is committed, caring, sympathetic, protective, and nurturing, as well as responsible, self-sacrificing, and undemanding. It is domestic, marriage and family oriented, and community conscious. It is the teacher and the healer.



You'd better have a green thumb as this number demands greenery!  This is the home of the gardener, especially for one who loves to beautify he home and grounds with lots of flowers. Make this a place of beauty and love, for that's the natural vibration of the 6.

When you move into this address unpack everything you own for you're going to be here for a long time  for this is a number of stability. It won't let you go easily either so choose wisely... Artistic and creative people like it here, as well as newly married or moving in together. Any creative talents you possess will come to the surface and demand expression. There will be an upsurge in creative energy and the desire to make money from your new-found abilities or, the opportunity to make money from talents already recognised but undeveloped. Linked to the planet Venus in Astrology with Taurean's and Librans attracted to this number and if you make friends with either sign, your life will improve out of sight! If born in Taurus or Libra this is the place for you - you're home - spiritual, mental and material...


Interestingly, when visitors come to stay they often extend their visit, you've been warned! Keep in mind the old axiom - "guests like fish go off after three days." Remember this saying when inviting family or friends to pay a visit for unless you set the ground rules re: length of stay - they'll never leave... Don't allow your life to become monotonous whilst living here and if you're a lover of children this is the address to have all the neighbourhood kids come to party! Don't fall into the trap of competing with the 'Joneses' be yourselves and entertain the kids with clowns, ventriloquists, scary movies or stories. House or apartment (even lot) number six is all about the theatre and the theatrical profession.


Family pictures from wall to wall. A 6 dwelling is a family "nest". People feel safe and warm and understood in a 6 house and anyone is considered family here. Most likely a beautiful home in decor, the female members of the household will rule the roost and nobody will mind. Pets, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are drawn to this house and delicious smells create happy memories for all. There's an air of sophistication here as well and of following the "status quo". Tradition, ritual, gentlemen and gentlewomen, rescuing, healing and nurturing resonate to 6. Good for nurses, social workers, childcare workers, grandparents, retirees, and close-knit family life.


Good luck colors for this home are: Light Blue, Royal Blue, Lilac and Hyacinth. The kitchen and the family room are the most highly trafficked so make these comfy and inviting. It's best if they're connected. A big backyard for BBQ's is important too!

Kitchen Cupboards

After getting about 10 different glass door types and finishes quoted and much thought we have decided we are not getting the glass cabinets in the kitchen. I would have liked them but they are just too expensive and we have other things to spend our money on.

Like...

We are getting the canopy range hood, Michael has said yes. I am thrilled to bits. It's going to look really, really nice.

We have movement for sure.

Land is registered...finally.

Solicitor is planning on settling by 20.12.10 or sooner.

Builder has submitted DA to council on 3.12.10. We had no idea it had occurred so it very exciting. I have not told Michael yet as he is busy at work. Bugger!

Once they get the DA from council there is about a six week wait to organise - construction certificate, Sydney water building, engineering certificate and do a final construction check. Hopefully council will have approved our DA whilst Casaview are closed and it will be waiting for them when they re-open. They return on 23.1.11.

The only issue now is RAIN. 2010 has been the wettest in Sydney for years. Hopefully the rain will have it's turn over Xmas and then go away. As Dora and Boots sing - rain, rain go away, come back another day. I must do the Dora dance.

We may have movement

We spoke to our solicitor and it looks like our land should register next week. The other group awaiting registration registered last week. I'm so excited and hopeful. Pleeeease God let it be next week.

Majestic but not "our" majestic

A pic of the good looking under construction house that I am ogling at the moment. The one with the slate. The one that nearly made me ask Michael for slate. Gorgeous white slate. It  really is nice IRL. This photo does not do the house justice.  It pops IRL.

Registration delays have equated to six months!

We have had word that registration will be at the end of the year. With the xmas close down plus six weeks in council that means we will not start our build until around March. We were orginally supposed to move in around late March. I would never buy unregistered land again. Not that we plan on building again, ever.

I am loving these pavers

Looks better in real life

Water Pump Installed

0Water pump is finally installed and working well. Yes!

Landcom are now saying registration won't be until the end of the year but we cannot get anything more definative.

One issue resolved, now onto the next.

The builder thought we would have started the build by now. Looks like we are 6 months behind orginal schedule. Grrrrr.

Now thinking positivly, the advantage is our money is earning excellent interest whilst it sits in the bank. Chi ching!

The winner is...

Hip Hip

It's a nice medium grey colour

Monument out - Woodland Grey in

Exterior house colour selections

Sorbetto brick(surfmist and white with it)

 gutter - woodland grey

fascia - surfmist

window frames - white (with white shutters later)

 

Our bagging colour was going to be Taubmans Dutch Metal but we are, well I am, second guessing that.

So I am getting a few sample pots to try tomorrow.

Contenders are:

Not our house but this home has many of the coloures we have chosen.

Gunmetal roof - woodland grey gutters - sorbetto brick - charcoal driveway - surfmist render

We don't have any stained timber or slate. I personally don't like the brown with this colour combo and I have said before the slate will date. Although at the moment my favorite "under construction" house has this gorgeous pale cream and almost white slate on the front pillars and it looks AMAZING. I even contemplated asking Michael if we could change all our colours and have that slate. I should take a photo. I will take a photo. It's almost complete.

Water Pump Update

Just quickly. I have not heard back from the builder officially but I did a drive past on the weekend and the water board have started the job. Hole dug, area fenced off, pipes and pump looking stuff all there.

I went past on Friday arvo too but there were no workers. I guess being a Friday at 2.30pm they were at the pub!

Front Elevation

Kitchen Tap

Dorf Kytin Single lever mixer tap for kitchen. It's a goodin'

Doors and handles

Our front door. We were going to get glass but everyone seems to have the same cookie cutter front door everywhere you look. So we chose this one. It's more traditional but still contemporary. Paint will be colour matched Surfmist.

This is our external door handle

Internal door handles like this in brushed chrome(chrome pictured). I don't fancy having to clean little finger prints off shiny chrome handles throughout our home. Dirty chrome will drive me INSANE!

There may be light afterall

I spoke to Casaview who have been quite helpful this afternoon. It's certainly not their fault this water issue but it is there problem as they have all these clients waiting to build. Casaview informed me they have 11 DA's waiting to go to council. They are just sitting there waiting on that sub division being registered. They said they have been concerned as well and want this resolved ASAP. Otherwise they will have to do basix again and they also don't want all their clients waiting to start building much longer. I guess it costs them money and time too.

So where is the light? Landcom have finally got an answer from the water board and they say they have plans to install the pump at the end of this week. Casaview should know by early next week if this has taken place and they will then inform us late next week. Hopefully everything will go according to plan.

I raised the issue of them building the same house next door to us and they said they are planning to do that but that they will make sure that the colour selections are completely different from ours. That we have chosen first so the next client will have to have something different. This is a minor relief but until I see both being built and that they are in fact different, I won't be completely at ease. There is also another Majestic(our design) in our street, our small 12 house street but she assures me it is a Majestic Mk11 model and is slightly different in design on the front. I don't want to live in mushroom city. The brick, gutter, fascia selections are one factor but I guess with the other factors in play like rendering, bagging, slate, paint, roof tile styles, window styles plus all those colours there will be many factors varied. We will see.

Trouble has started

We have encountered a few issues this past week and we are not happy.

We have just found out that the water on our land is a trickle and the water board need to install a booster pump to rectify the problem. Until this is done council will not register the land. We cannot exchange or settle until the land is registered. Landcom say they were told 8 weeks ago that it would be rectified in 4 weeks! Now they are saying that it might not happen before Xmas and not to be surprised by this. What are they joking! No they are not! So we may have to rent until this time next year not as planned until March/April next year.  We thought they would be breaking ground for the slab in October and now find out more like January. So frustrating. Then this morning our solicitor said that these things can go on for 12-18 months, add 9 months building to that and that is 2 and a quarter years! 27 months!OH F#$^&%$%&&^$%&*& many swear words here. I am freaked out!

I feel as though our life is on hold. We can't plan anything! Not having a timeline is frustrating. Anyway if we don't get into the house until, let me do the maths...December 2012 or January 2013 then we can't move forward. We are stuck. OMG Chloe will be four and she isn't even two for six months. Oh man. I am freaked.

Then to top it off I found out by chance they are planning on building the exact same house as ours next door to us. Michael thinks it will be fine with all the different details but who knows if there will even be a house now. I feel very low.

Movement

As we were doing the very last check and clean of our beloved Callicoma on Monday Casaview called to make the appointment for our colour selection. Through the tears running down my face I managed to make the appointment for this Friday. Michael can't do it any other day. It was a timely phone call and did remind me why we moved in the first place but I still cried as we shut the door and drove up the street.

Yesterday we got our electrics plans to play around with.

We signed the land contract on Monday arvo.

We have movement!

Bagging

We are having the front of the portico bagged and painted. Yah! Paint colour to be decided.

See some you win, some you lose. It's all about the balance.

Kitchen extras decided

So we are not having the glass cabinets. They cost about 2 grand which was ridiculous so they are OUT. The silver kickboard was only $300 but Michael isn't keen now so there wasn't a point. No canopy range hood. I really, really wanted it but Michael doesn't. I have also been looking at various kitchen designs and have got used to the slimline style. It will work with our kitchen well.

Included is

1. wider caesarstone bench 920mm plus add 3 meters of bench top
2. extra cupboards
3. moving sink and dishwasher 
4. kitchen extension to end wall
5. 820mm high kitchen cupboards to suit the higher ceiling height

It's going to look nice.

Something is happening

We signed the variations and preliminary drawings on the weekend.

And drum roll...the contract for the land arrived. Far out it is huge, over 100 pages long. We are seeing conveyancer on Monday to go over it properly. It's exciting.

What's New Haven About!

New Haven is just dedicated to the specifics of building our new house. So everything to do with the land, builder, actual building and colour selections etc. I have decided, after trying to have three blogs(what was I thinking!) that I  will not keep much on the side bar as it is too hard to keep all the new additions up to date. For my fav blogs, day dreaming, inspiration or all the goss on the move or anything else plus Chloe updates go to http://sweetpeatobe.blogspot.com/ that's my main blog.

I am thinking once the house is handed over and we move in I will keep New Haven as an archive about the build.  That's the idea.

Our Block

We are wondering if you will still see some of the rolling hills once it is all built. The block is fairly high. Of course unless some person builds a double storey behind us. That would be awful!

Exterior Colours

We decided after much debate to not go with the crema brick. It's nice and classic but I couldn't decide on the other colours and I didn't want everything to be cream. Michael wanted black which I didn't want this time. I just don't think it would look as good as out current homes facade and I didn't want to feel disappointed. We saw the new house built by another couple in all cream and it looked so bland and dull. Neither of us liked it. Plus I really wanted white windows and that would look crapola.

So we have decided that this is going to be the colour scheme. The only thing up for debate and decision is whether to use the charcoal brick named espresso as a feature on the front portico (Michael's idea) or to bag and paint in mid grey (my preferred option).  

Actually it is going to be quite different to any other house in the area, hopefully in a good way. I didn't want a stock standard house facade. The facade on our current home is so lovely and it is going to be hard to beat so I am hoping that going completely different this time will pay off.

It is hard to get a real idea from the samples below as the brick will make up 60% of the colour so it is a bit disproportionate but you get the drift. I'm actually excited. I can see it finished in my head and it looks good.

The kitchen is going to be great, money dependant of course.

Meet with Mario from Brindabella on Friday. Spent an hour and a half going over the changes we would like. He had a few drawings ready from our telephone discussions.

I wanted a white kitchen but then saw alabaster and it looks so much like white but a bit warmer that I started swinging towards it. Looked at Caesarstone benches. Still like osprey but also like white shimmer it is osprey but with a shimmer, very nice and different. Also liked white snow. Michael likes them all. Am off the cracked pepper as different samples have different composites of aggregate in them and the one I saw on Friday had a lot of black which I didn't like. Anyway made preliminary decisions.

Variations include(essential)

moving sink
moving dishwasher
adding breakfast bar of 1.5meters(there wasn't enough bench space)
adding extra cupboards
caesarstone benches at 92cm depth not 74cm.
add to over head cupboard height(not essential but recommended as ceiling height is 2.945 and bulk head would look strange they say).

Other options I would love are: polyurethane doors(I like satin), glass overhead cabinets and canopy range hood. Michael would like silver kick boards. Michael isn't as into the range hood or glass cabinets but I am. So we just have to wait to see what the first lot of variation costs are like. I guess they can be justified if they are in budget but I'm really not sure the budget will allow the changes but a girl can dream big can't she. Some compromises will have to be made and these items are luxuries not essentials.

So on Sunday arvo I started to feel a bit better(I've been quite sick) so Michael asked me to go to the show home up the road from us so we could look at the benches in the house there. When we got there low and behold they had the kitchen I dreamed of sitting right there with the same colours and everything we have already chosen or would like. High ceilings, white cupboards, bulk head, osprey caesarstone, same door handles, double sink, lots of bench space, silver kick boards, polyurethane doors(I like satin), glass overhead cabinets, 900mm oven with gas cooker and canopy range hood. IT LOOKED AMAZING. As I said I won't get it all but it did look super and even with what we are already getting it's going to look great. I'm so excited. 

More praise for Casaview

Again Bill at Casaview has been great. He met with us last Friday with no appointment, spent ages with us discussing our needs and then got our second  lot of drawings back to us by yesterday. Speedy.  I just spoke with him again and he went over some small tweeks he has made to the drawings.

The kitchen wasn't quite what we wanted and even with the changes it looks too small as I said earlier. So I called the kitchen company Brindabella Kitchens and Mario called me back within minutes. He was extremly nice and accomadating and I have an appointment to work out what we want on Friday of this week! He will then do a quote for the variation, he said within a few days and then we will know if it is possible. Wow that's service for you hey.

Mario at Marvel Tiles also without an appointment spent some time advising us and letting us browse the show room, even though our tile selection won't be for a couple of months at least. He was chirpy and helpful and likeable.  

And I forgot to mention that Marian the sales person, besides her intial mistake which was in our favour,  was very helpful, friendly, kind and warm. Great to deal with.

I am loving casaview and associates at the moment. Really if you align yourself with good people it truly reflects so positivley on you or your company. I hope this is an indication of the build experience to come.

Just a couple of changes. Ha!

Preliminary Drawings B

New drawings showing:

split level

new changed windows

larger family room

larger bathroom

second linen press

larger wardrobe

slim line water tank

two steps at rear

kitchen - which is wrong - needs more changes. It's not what was dicussed, well kinda but not.

So far Casaview have been great.

Firstly their sales person when I made my initial enquiry stuffed up and told us the package was $7K cheaper than it was supposed to be. I enquired on one lot in our to be street and she directed me to another saying I had it wrong. Now apparently I was not wrong but she was. When this came to light and they realised what she had done, they called us to explain and after a few calls, with no stress on our part honoured the cheaper incorrect price. I have to say I think this was great.

Secondly, I spoke to Bill the architect at Casaview today about various things and he seems so lovely. He returns my calls promptly and takes his time to discuss our needs. He has done this since my first contact with him last week. So far so good.

We got the quote for the split level today, which may I say was done within a week, thank you to Rob. I was a bit scared as I have heard horror stories of variation quotes taking forever but it seems Rob has it sorted. Anywho...drum roll...it is totally doable! YAH! Michael was right! Yah! So we are having the house split level. It is going to be lovely. Almost the entire house will have higher ceilings. 500mm higher than the norm. This reduces the level at the rear of the home. It may even remove the need for a deck completely which will save us a bundle because there is stenciled concrete included. Bill is checking the new elevations to be exact and will get back to us soon. I can see it now, the high ceilings will certainly make the space seem much larger which helps as our home is not going to be huge. 26 squares if I didn't mention that previously.

We will be getting our new drawings once we decide what to do with a few other areas under discussion. This is a direct paste from Rob's email to Michael and myself. "Note – the alfresco enclosure will be drawn on the next set of dwgs you receive."

Yah I am soooo excited! Now if I could just learn or unlearn how to stop mistyping the word "teh" or sorry the! Please forgive my lazy brain and fingers.

House Facade

The illustrated house on the title is for illustration purposes only. Our facade will be different.

1. No slate - it's very expensive, will date and is not a priority for our budget. Maybe bagging or different brick - not sure yet. We may just bag ourselves later when we see the finished home.
2. No tiny square windows. We will have a third long window in its place. We think they look dumb from the interior.
3. We have requested french style windows. Of course a modern look a like, not actual french windows.

Window example. Gosh I love that tumbled brick but Michael doesn't go for it.

Preliminary Garden Design

After much discussion preliminary garden design(very basic) but teh ideas are there.

House Colours

I went over to the display room today and had a first look at the colours for real.

Found a lovely paint. Taubmans - moonlight frost

Mixed n match the colours Michael and I have been discussing for the exterior and to me the cream and dark grey seems to work better with the brick than the light grey, white and dark grey. Another couple were in the SR at the time and I asked them and they agreed. Of course Michael will have to have a look himself. I brought home some samples for him to have a look at so it will be interesting to see what he thinks.

I saw samples of the Caesarstone tops, most are lovely. I saw the Osprey and Snow both are how I imagined but what was a real surprise and not even on the spectrum - Cracked Pepper. Oh it's so nice. I don't know how it would go with everything else or Michael's opinion but I liked it.

1.cracked pepper(much nicer in RL 2. osprey(much whiter in RL) 3. snow(white)

I went to the tile place which is two doors away and had a look. Wow lots of nice tiles are included so I can't imagine the endless possibilities. I saw gorgeous main floor tiles in a cream stone look. Oh la la. The tiler was there and said on the diagonal will cost about $6/sm2, that adds around $470, not sure if that is workable yet with our other changes but we don't have to decide on tiles until the frame is up, so a while yet.

I saw gorgeous blue glass mosaics(not included) but divine and tempting. A really nice white matt tile with a stripe pattern impressed into the tile(included) for the kitchen, something I never imagined but also really  tempting. Modern taupe and grey striped bathroom tiles that just said wow factor. The tiler said we can have them as a feature(inc) he would work them in for us. If I was choosing today and alone I could have gone classic and chosen tiles in 20 minutes or I could have made more on the pulse choices but that would have taken all day. What will win for us? The classic plan that doesn't date or the on a whim what we like now? I wonder what Michael will like? We had no probs picking tiles for our current home so hopefully it will be the same.

Speaking of extra costs we are awaiting so many price variations and have not heard back anything as yet. It makes it so difficult as to know where to spend money or cut it.

We need the cost on the split level and/or the cost on the deck and pergola. We need a cost on the kitchen extension. We need costs on retaining walls and possibly painting Chloe's room a different colour to every where else to save me the hassle after we move in and the carpet is down. 

I had a lot of fun looking around today but I didn't see nearly half the tiles. Michael is having a day off soon. Guess where some of the day will be spent?? I'm guessing much to Michael's disdain but I LOVE IT.

Interior colours

This is a direct copy form Sweet PTB really it needs to be over hear.

For the interior I like white. I was talking to Michael about the kitchen and I said white cupboards, white tiles and white caesar bench. I like snow and osprey. He just walked off saying and I quote " white, white, white and more white, everything is going to be WHITE!". Owww sorry, I thought you knew I liked white but at least I am not trying to "shabby chic your life!". There will be NO shab, maybe a little chic but I would like a classic but modern look.

I still love Ikea so there will be ikea too, I can't help myself and I have no intention of disposing of my current furniture whilst it is in perfect condition so there will be ikea. I am hoping that through some clever design, bargain finds, second hand fixer uppers and a little muscle to be able to have a lovely, lovely decorated home that doesn't cost the earth.

Now remember this is what I would like. Michael still has to have his say but this is my blog so this is what I want, whether I get it is another thing but indulge me please.

So you know I want a white kitchen, that goes for the bathrooms and laundry as well. I like cream natural looking floor tiles the same as in our current home. Large format for the living spaces laid on the diagonal with a border. A similar colour smaller format tile for the bathrooms/laundry. I am thinking either dark taupe carpet or possibly dark grey, I like it's ability to disguise any marks. Off white walls and trims. White furnishings with some natural timber pieces to warm the space. Cream and white couches. I have also been thinking too much white may look cold or lack some depth with the all white kitchen and so many white furnishings and pale walls and floors so I think we should splash some colour about the place through pictures and cushions and ornaments. Things that can be changed easily should we tire of them. Maybe a couple of feature walls. I was thinking taupe in the family room but that doesn't add much colour, I just had an idea - pale icy turquoise for the family room I can see that now, Oh that would be lovely. Dark blue like almost navy would be fabulous in the media room, very moody and would set the scene for dark DVD viewing during the day. I wonder if Michael would go for either of those, he is pretty adventurous with colour. Michael wants to add doors to the media room to block out the light and I think the blue would absorb more light. I'll have to talk to him about colours once we move into the house and see how the light plays in each room. For now it's all white on white with a bit of cream, taupe or grey I guess.

It's so exciting. Of course the house won't be what it is supposed to be when we first move in. I wish I could fast forward five years and have a peek around. I would love to see the garden too. Oh this is so exciting.

House Plans

Original plan from builder

Our first rough lot of changes to the plan

Brick colour

Crema by PGH

What's happening stage 1

for the start of whats been happening follow the link to my other blog

http://sweetpeatobe.blogspot.com/2010/07/we-are-in-cooling-off-period-house.html

New blog

You may be a reader of my other blogs Sweet Pea to be or All things Bambini  or you may be a new reader only interested in homes etc. You can read more about my family at Sweet Pea to be. Since we are building a new home soon I have decided to create a new blog. it will be dedicated to the building of our second home so we can look back and remember all the details plus it will be a great "scrapbook" of sorts. The house is being built by Casaview Homes.

A little background as to how we got here. We had been tooing and froeing(?) about what to do next, install a pool, extend our current home, sell, build, buy or stay and then Michael saw this great deal on realestate.com for a great house and  land package.  We looked into it and thought it was a sweet deal, then the government stopped stamp duty on newly built homes under 600K and well, we couldn't resist the added sweetness, so the decision was made.

At this stage we have just received our preliminary drawings which have gone back to the architect for him to make the changes we have asked for. I am hoping that this building process will result in a quality and quickly built home and that all goes smoothly without too many extra costs. That's what I am hoping for. Oh and I hope there is a dash of fun thrown in along the way, after all this should be an exciting time for our family.

Here is our family