Hi, I'm new to the forum

[Jakira]

Looking forward to reading your suggestions and advise and hopefully making a contribution myself. I definitely need lots of help! Here is where we are at. We are in the process of building a new house, as Owner-builders. We do have a builder helping us but I am project managing the build and I also designed the house myself. This is a first for me and I have no experience.....crazy? Well yes probably, but I am enjoying it...most of the time. As it is all new I do sometimes wonder if I make the right decisions. It is quite scarey at times :confused: So would love it if I could run my idea by people who know what they are talking about.
I am trying to attach house plans but they are too big. Can someone please tell me how to reduce them or point me in the right direction. Thanks :o

[Julie-Ann]

Hi Jakira welcome to the Decorating Forum:). You are very brave taking on such a big project. We would love to act as a sounding board for you. No question is too small.:)
To reduce the plans try a website called Picnik (http://www.picnik.com/). You can upload the image and resize it. The problem with reducing it is we then can't see the detail. So before you resize it - duplicate it, crop it in half, making each version the other half of the image (I hope that makes sense), then resize the cropped images. If you have any problems you are welcome to email the plans to me and I will do this. My email is jah@dbj.com.au Look forward to seeing what you are building:).

[Jakira]

Thank you Julie-Ann. I think this worked:clapping: I will have a go at putting the front facade plan on too. Love to hear what people think of the plans. We are building on 3 acres so plenty of space. We are going for a Homestead look.

[Tiffanyjane71]

welcome Jakira
like Julie Ann said your veyr brave, cant wait to see what you have , look foward to seeing it :thumbs up:

[Julie-Ann]

You have reduced and loaded the plans perfectly:thumbs up:. The only catch is we can't see all the detail:(. We are nosey and like to see everything:o. If you take this image and crop it into 2 halves then we can see it better. Any problems you know where I am:D.

[Jakira]

Thanks. I'll do that....crop plans in half and re-post. I might need to do the same here? Let me know if you can't see this one....

[Jakira]

See how we go this time....

[Julie-Ann]

Well done Jakira:clapping:. Even these old eyes can see all the detail now:D.
I love your foyer - it looks nice and wide. I love the placement of the fireplace. Love the ensuite - this is one of my favourite layouts:love it:.So many great features in the house. I just wasn't sure what was in the room next to the WC near the minor bedrooms?

[Jakira]

Do you mean the walk thru area so people can access loo from outside too. We plan to put a pool in one day and this will stop kids going thru the house to use the loo.
Or you may mean "bed 4" which won't actually be used as a bedroom. We are calling it the "Playstation room" at the moment....just a kids area but too small to call a rumpus room.
Glad you like the plans...it took me 2 years to design and I love it. I had an architech look at them and he only wanted to change one thing and that was have 3 metre ceilings instead of 2.7m. I do still worry though that once built it won't look so great!!!

[Julie-Ann]

Yes I wasn't sure if it was just a walkway or if there was a basin or something there too. Great idea to have outdoor access for a pool:thumbs up:.
I love the 3mt ceilings. If you have the measurements for the rooms we are happy to review those for you too. But it really looks great. I wouldn't worry that it isn't going to look any good:).

[Jakira]

Thanks. We actually aren't going with the 3m ceilings 'though, it added too much to the cost. So it's 2.7m.
I am planning on putting a small, narrow basin in that walkway (so they don't need to go into the bathroom to wash hands). Also thought I'd put lots of hooks for beach towels. The basin I'm looking at is from Ikea...Lillangen washstand/basin combo W63 x D27 x H93cm $259.
The ensuite is pretty extravegant but I love it. I always wanted a freestanding bath. The wall behind I want tiled in something WOW and I'll have a floor mounted spout.

[Jakira]

Entrance 2mt wide
Lounge 3.8 x 5
Bed 2 is 3.8 x 4 (plus WIR 2.7 x 1.7)
Bed 3 is 4 x 4
study 3.6 x 3 (plus WIR 2.5 x 1.3) poss. 4th bedroom
master bed 4 x 4.4
ensuite 4 x 3.5:love it:
WIR 3 x 2.5:love it:
living/dining/kitchen 12.5 x 5
pantry 3 x 2
laundry 2 x 4.5
Bed 4/PS room 3.5 x 3
Bath/WC 3 x 3
Alfresco 13 x 3

This plan has changed so many times since I first started. It has been this now for about a year and everytime I look at it now there is nothing I want to change and I :love it:
Too late now anyway the slab is about to be poured:eek:

[Julie-Ann]

Entrance 2mt wide Perfect - lots of light will be in the space.
Lounge 3.8 x 5 very good size.
Bed 2 is 3.8 x 4 (plus WIR 2.7 x 1.7)good size.
Bed 3 is 4 x 4good size.
study 3.6 x 3 (plus WIR 2.5 x 1.3) poss. 4th bedroom good size for minor bedroom or study.
master bed 4 x 4.4 that's fine.
ensuite 4 x 3.5:love it:very generous.
WIR 3 x 2.5:love it:depends how many shoes & handbags you have to store lol.
living/dining/kitchen 12.5 x 5should be fine depending on your furniture. Have you measured your furniture to see how it is going to fit in this space? Allow 50cm for dining chairs to pull out. Allow 75cm - 1mt wide walkways between furniture.
Bed 4/PS room 3.5 x 3Good for this purpose.
Bath/WC 3 x 3 more than enough space.


I love that idea for the walkway. Have you seen the ceiling mounted spouts for a freestanding bath? Super cool:love it:.

[Jakira]

Yes they are amazing. Husband is not happy about the price of the floor mounted spouts...I'll see what he says about these!!!!! And will do some furniture measuring today. I do want a new lounge suite! Thanks for help.

[Kel]

Welcome Jakira - thanks for sharing your plans & measurements, very exciting, please continue to share as you go along!

Kel
http://ourhomebythesea.blogspot.com

[Jakira]

Thanks Kel. Will do.
We are just waiting for the building inspector to get back from hols next week then the slab will be poured and we are on our way.....after two years of planning!

[Julie-Ann]

Jakira have you seen those freestanding baths where 1 side is flat not curved? That side sits flush against a wall so you can use a wall mounted spout.

[Jakira]

A wall mounted bath spout would be a cheaper option But I would like one like this.....Actually this is pretty cheap anyway. Do you think the quality would be any good???

[Julie-Ann]

I couldn't read the description. Can you copy and paste it? Does it say if it is Wels rated and what brand it is?

[Jakira]

This is the only description they give......

All chrome, Full brass made base, Eye-catching design, include fitting, you'll be able to appreciate both the beauty and performance of your bath spout for years to come thanks to solid brass construction and quality chrome finishing. We are confident to give 12 month replacement warranty to assure you this is the best quality bathroom product.

•Watermark Product
•Material: Solid Brass, Chrome Finish
•Hand Shower Rail provide convenient solution for bathroom use
•12 months replacement warranty
•Connection: Hot & Cold Flexible Hose Connection (like normal mixer tap)
•Dimension: see picture for detail
•RRP from showroom over $1000
•Matching bathroom accessories can be purchased from my ebay store.

There are several sellers selling these on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_trkparms=65%253A12%257C66%253A2%257C39%253 A1%257C72%253***20&rt=nc&_nkw=bath+spout+freestanding&_sticky=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_sop=15&_sc=1

[Clare1]

Welcome Jakira . Love your plans !!

[Julie-Ann]

Jakira as far as I understand all taps need to have the Watermark and a Wels rating to be legally installed. I would ask does the packaging say if it has a Wels Rating. I also would ask the brand name. But the Wels Rating is the most important thing to clarify.
Let us know what they say.

[Jakira]

A few different sellers have this for sale. They all use the same photo but have slightly different descriptions. Osman's list it as Lollypop brand and Wels approved, Aust. Standard, 5 yr warranty on cartridge and 1 replacement warranty. They have it for $386.10 plus freight.
None of the others mention Wels but do say Aust. Standards approved and give 5 or 1 yr warranties. Osman's seems the best. Anyone heard of this seller?

Clare1 thanks for the welcome. It's starting to get exciting....we met with the concreter and excurvator guys today. I will start taking photos to post.

[Julie-Ann]

I would go for the one that actually says it has the Wels rating - just to be sure.
I haven't heard of that brand before but I will ask around for you:).