Help, we need more ideas

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Hi
We are planning renovations to our existing house and are looking at basically doubling the size. First pic is a rough iPad of existing layout

We need

a bigger kitchen/ dining/ rumpus,
must have a butlers pantry for kitchen
a fireplace and wall for large TV in rumpus
Ensuite and WIR to main bed
Guest bed/ office
Sewing room
More storage for linen and general items such as suitcases, Xmas decs etc
A powder room easily accessible from the outside as we want to put in a pool.

We have the following layout from one designer but people we have spoken to" including builder, want to excavate our sloping land, (rear yard) this means we would be looking out kitchen/ dining area into a 1.5m retaining wall. This doesn't make sense to me when we could split level. We are on over 3900m2 of land so space is not an issue
I am on the second drafter, but this is not working. I want to go back to the first one, but hubby and I can't agree.....
Would love some ideas.......

Featured Answer

PRO

Angle Landscape Design

8 years ago

I have work in the building Industry for many years before venturing into Landscaping and Design. It come to this having a split level can be easy but you will need to think would you like to come up and down multi level home. I had a multi level home at Bonnells Bay (Newcastle) N.S.W. and found after living there for 5 year a bit of chore to go up and down the level so much. A single level flow better to go with a Alfresco Dinning experience, as if you have a guest at your house been entertain on the outside it make it hard to find a toilet if needed. I would say to your husband to weigh up the cost, it is simple and as follows

a retaining wall of one level, can be anything from stone or besser block or timber. These element will be what you can afford to do, the stone and besser are the most expensive of the 3 but require the less maintenance and last the longest. Timber can be low cost, but has the tendency to decay over time and has a life span of no longer then 5-8 year, depending on environmental conditions. A retaining wall of that height of 1.5m, tend to need a engineering spec to built and so my advise is to go for the besser as it the cheaper then stone. if your are concern on look of the besser, it can dressed up with stone looking tile or there a number of option to go for.
is to get the costing of doing a multi level home design. This can be costly too depend on if it going to be slab or bears and joist home, as the cost differ and different type of process have to happen. You got to ask yourself, is my house raise of the ground or is a slab that sit directly on the ground.

to put it to you as simple as I can, for a slab need steel and pier to be dug and so on, so if this is the case then with your current house is siting on a cut and fill which is common for this type of slab construction. Where a Bearers and joist system sit on top of a raised pier that come off the ground. this is what a lot of the older style home have, the only thing about this not a lot of builder and trades people do not how to do this as it a dying art of constructing house.

final option is to do a raise slab which raises like a retaining wall but in face bricks and a slab is pore on top but not seen form the outside and the face bricks continues

As for the design of your house it all up to what you want for a house, you have to ask yourself can I use this for the long term or is something I want rather then need. Sometime we over compensate for thing and the saying in design is less tends to be best. a flowing design is a happy one and can be more of a chore to go with something that is wanted then needed. A little tip for your kitchen, make shore that the sink, stove and fridge are in a triangle form from each other as this flow the best when cooking.

Any tip of knowledge on retaining wall just send me a message

Comments (8)

Fi and Phil
Original Author
8 years ago
Bump
mldesign0401
8 years ago
Just to start off, as far as your site goes, if you have the space to do so, I'd avoid split levelling the build, as it will cost more to do so, although it would create some interest for your interior, perhaps giving an opportun Try to integrate a step up into a larger living hub adjoining an indoor outdoor space at same level.

Im inclined to think about created a terraced outdoor area, so that the lounge appears somewhat encompassed by clever landscape and an ambient alfresco space. The coyness created by the effect of sunken interior, even though that would be all illusion, seemingly as the outdoors would effectively step up into two or three terraces, makes for a striking, individual build.

I tend to think your second plan, although meeting your key needs, is doing just that, ticking them off, and the flow seems a little boxy. It does group your services and provide a clear path to the segregated zones, but the central corridor is small, very long and the doors that open into it are not well thought of. I'd consider for one, making a better plan for the powder room, perhaps integrating the walk in linen into a walk through linen between powder and linen/mud room. Almost like a change room, but with concealed storage. If there's to be a pool, perhaps hooks to hang towels, open shelving and a Bench seat. The joinery is key here.

Same with the butlers, it's almost as big as the lounge?

imagine creating a recess on the lounge side with a central wall protruding for the to, so either side is flanked with stylish bookshelves or joinery to suit, the central protrusion in the lounge would actually be an alocove in the pantry side, to house your fridge! It would mean a bench could run either side of it, one end for a prep bench, sink and appliances, the other end entirely tall open storage....much better use of space, and creates dimension and interest to your interior layout.

My batteries about to die, so I'll check in tomorrow, but definitely need to think about an internal 3D to help work out the design details that will mKe you feel more comfortable about going ahead with the whole thing.
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Vy
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
problems with first draft..

1/ I would remove the sewing room and kitchen walls so you'd have one open space (lounge /dining /kitchen ) looking out to your terrace.

2/ regroup your bedrooms and sewing room to the other side..with master bedroom opening on to the terrace?

3/ if you group your two BIRs together you could have two WIRs instead?

4/ move your powder room out so guests don't have to go down the corridor to get to it.

second draft

1/ you're not making full use of your terrace

2/ your WC opens to terrace but backs onto rumpus too close for comfort ..my WC is behind my kitchen walls and yet could hear from my living area..

..like you I like the first draft better just need to rejig a few things
maykezza
8 years ago
what app did you use on your ipad for your floor plan , Fi and Phil ?
Fi and Phil
Original Author
8 years ago
Maykezza. Planner 5D on iPad. I paid for additional year access, although there is a free bit I think.

Was ok once you got used to it.
maykezza
8 years ago
thanks
PRO
professional rendering
8 years ago
Hi look for the option of extending using polystyrene as cladding will be rended and will look great

Help, we need more ideas

Angle Landscape Design

Comments (8)

Fi and Phil
Original Author

mldesign0401

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maykezza

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Help, we need more ideas

Angle Landscape Design

Comments (8)

Fi and PhilOriginal Author

mldesign0401

Related Discussions

Vy

maykezza

Fi and PhilOriginal Author

maykezza

professional rendering

COMPANY

EXPLORE HOUZZ

CONNECT WITH US

Fi and Phil
Original Author

Fi and Phil
Original Author