Welcome to our journal. We would like to share with our family and friends the journey we are embarking on, building our home.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

OUR BUILDER

We have chosen to build "The Mandalay" by a local builder, Aaron J Homes. It's 29 squares with everything I wanted in a home - walk in pantry, en suite, alfresco, 2 separate living areas etc, etc. I have spent 9 months planning my home with them and have my fingers crossed the building stage will go well.

www.aaronjhomes.com.au

OUR BLOCK





18 January 2010 - This is photo of our little street, well it's actually a "Close". There are only 2 blocks in our close.


18 January 2010 - This photo is taken standing on our block looking up the street to the rest of "Stage 24" in our estate.


15 April 2010 - Our gutter's and lamp post are in and the bricks to the right (on the pallets) are ready for our road to be paved.


19 April 2010 - The paving has begun.



20 April 2010 - Paving almost finished.


22 June 2010 - The block all fenced and ready for Titles.


22 June 2010 - Our soil tests have been done.

COLOUR SELECTIONS

Exterior Colours

Bricks: Mist (Boral)
Roof: Gunmetal (Boral)
Garage Panel Door: Woodland Grey
Gutters: Woodland Grey
Fascia & Downpipes: Windspray
Infills: Windspray
Render on Portico: Thunderbolt (Wattyl)
Windows: Andoic Grey
Front Door: Scorpion (Wattyl)

Interior Colours

Kitchen, Laundry & Study
Cabinets: Polar White Silk (Laminex)
Benches: Silver Strata (Formica)
Kickboards: Brushed Silver (Formica)
Splashback: White Gloss

Bathroom & Ensuite
Cabinets: New Graphite (Laminex)
Benches: Diamond Gloss Pure Mineralstone (Laminex)
Tiles: Minimal Platinum
Shower Niches: White Gloss

Walls: Alabaster 1/2 strength (Wattyl)
Woodwork & doors: Purest White (Wattyl)
Ceiling: White
Carpet: Darkstone (Bedrooms & Activity Room)
Floor Boards: Bamboo (through the rest of the house)

THE BEGINING


After 9 months of waiting, our block will finally be ours tomorrow- One more sleep!

I first found the house I loved, being only the 3rd display house I walked into, back in mid October 2009. Then the hunt would be on to find a block of land to suit. I found our block on the internet only a week later. It was in the estate I wanted, it was in my budget, it was a great size and I would be close to family and friends.

The land would not be ready and titled until mid 2010 so that gave me plenty of time to renovate and sell my current home and plan for the new home I wanted to build. I put a hold on this block and got straight to work on the old house. The old house was renovated and on the market by late January 2010 and sold 10 days later in early February. The pain of renovating now a distant memory! I put my 5% deposit on the block on 16th March, now while waiting for titles it was time to get busy choosing colours etc for the new home. I had my daunting colour selection on 31st March. After much chopping and changing I made my last final decisions on 21st June so now everything was ready to go to contracts and for my drawings to be done. I received my contracts and drawings 8th July and had them signed on 11th July. To keep myself busy while I wait for the building permits etc (we are hoping for a site start in 3 weeks) I am creating this blog for family, friends and visitors to follow our journey of building our new home. This will be a our dream home, for myself and my son - just the 2 of us!