Hi all,
Just wondering if anybody has used or can recommend an interior designer in Melbourne for our new build?
We are building a Hamptons style home with modern touches, and although…

If you're on a fairly tight budget then you're in a bit of a predicament. With the suburb and size of the block you can't really build a budget home…

Sitting on a gold mine there. Unless the home has some sort of heritage charm worth saving, I'd be knocking it down and building something worthy of such a blue…

Yeah some photos would definitely help.
Regarding issue 2...how was this not picked up long before completion? Elevations of the windows would've been on the plans. Failing that, did you…

We have. And the quotes we got were out of our budget for the home we wanted. Also added to the cost of electrical and plumbing fit out.
I'd love…

Thanks for the replies so far!
So I spoke to the draftsman and as stated above, there's a million things that get taken into account when determining the energy rating.
In our…

Hi all,
We're currently in the back and forth between the builder and draftsman and the energy report has come back with a 6.2 star rating. The minimum required is 6.
The…

I won't speak to the benefits or drawbacks of double brick construction, but to answer your question of keeping the bricks exposed throughout the house...
Purely a personal opinion but I…

There's plenty of options besides brick.
Fibre cement weatherboard? Hebel?
It's not as if brick has good insulating qualities so you're not losing anything by swapping it out.

Haha I was thinking the same thing. But seriously, I'd be getting a cable run to both sides anyway, at least if you have a double garage. Won't cost all…

Also, find out the manufacturer of the windows and ask them directly about security screen installation. Sounds suspect not being able to add them after installation.

You could save a large amount by getting all electrical and A/C done after handover.
However you'll need to plan for it during the build to make it easier. Get in…

Do you have an EV in mind? Some manufacturers use different locations including the front of the vehicle. Look up models you're interested in and base your decision off that.

Is your floorplan set in stone?
The Sanden heat pump is a split system unit. Meaning the evaporator unit (very low profile) can be placed outside, on a wall or roof.…

Fair enough. If you still have a few areas in need of hot water that's are spaced further apart take a look at a hot water recirculation system.

Yes that's correct single phase and 3 phase will still consume the same if they have the same rated output. I only mentioned it as it's the one you linked.
Unfortunately…

Do you really want it on display in the house? You could mount it in the garage or within one of the linen cupboards in the house.

Keep in mind that's a 40A 3 phase unit.
Very convenient but will suck a lot of power.

I had insta gas at an old rental. That wasn't exactly cheap to run either.
I guess it's one of those things where you'll need to compromise somewhere.
Heat pump: extremely efficient…

They use a lot of power. You also use most of your hot water when the sun isn't up so unless you have a battery, solar isn't much help for…

It all comes down to cost and it's additions like these where Metricon make their money.
Electrical you'll need to be picky depending on your allowance because they charge a fortune…

Have you asked them?

Something like this is always going to come down to price. It's going to need to be custom and it's not going to be cheap.
If you think the view is…

There's two particular areas where we have gone bigger than standard.
1. Garage:
This will be used as part workshop, part gym, part garage, so big as possible is the brief.
2.…

All bathrooms will have exhaust fans which are ducted externally.
I may also put in a skylight.
Also, to answer the above regarding climate I am in Victoria.
I have tried…

Hi oklouise and thanks for the detailed suggestions.
Just curious do you do this for a living?
Our block is 18x47m (1 metre setbacks on sides and 5 metres from front to…

Highly doubt the likes of metricon or Porter Davis would do it, but it's a fairly common and standard request for a builder with a bit of flexibility who aren't…

You say the house is north facing, yet the entire living area is south facing. Have you given any though to the solar orientation and what rooms will benefit?

We will also be fitting out all robes ourselves after handover so we've left them out.

We've never really been too concerned with having a separate room for the toilet in the ensuite, a bit more separation from the bath perhaps, but not really sure how…