Hi, we have actually built a luxury 4 bedroom container home from scratch. It had a master bedroom, walk in robe, ensuite, laundry, living area, study, bathroom, toilet, alfrsco etc and ended by being quite large. We bought existing containers and converted them. As a builder, we understood the challenges of getting it to comply, but as MB has said, the challenges were huge. The engineering reinforcement and cutting of corten steel with a plasma cutter was a whole new learning curve in practicality. The realities of dealing with condensation /insulation and wiring are another. My strong suggestion to you is to either go through a specialist container builder (there is one in Victoria from memory) or use another method. Here's a piccy of what we did.... Ensuite

Hi Joy, Not sure where you are but can offer you a few tips. Before you engage a designer, try a little simple research of your own if you haven't already. In any city there are display homes/apartments open by builders with the latest yet affordable styles and colours. A weekend spent walking through (the new displays only) will soon give you the ideas of what you like or don't like and what you think goes together. And it's free... Another alternative is to attend home opens for houses similar in style to yours that have been well renovated. You can often see a cool idea or use of materials that doesn't go overboard. The main thing for it all to 'feel right' is to have a style that suits the existing house, works with the the new decor and yourselves. This sounds hard but with the right use of colour (paint) and some materials it is amazing how you can connect old with new. Your designer can guide you with this. For example, we have just finished the conversion and major extension of an american influenced 100 year old cedar clad home into a Hampton style throughout. In some areas, the original skirting is different as we chose to retain the character to what we put through the extension. As we have the whole house painted the same, it isn't noticed by anyone unless we point it out. We have crafted some doors to match the old and updated the handles to an antique brass throughout. Again, a consistency. The consistency in some areas can camouflage necessary (eg budget) compromises. Once you have the idea of your likes and dislikes, you can easily ideasbook a few things. As they say, a piccy tells a thousand words. Good luck!

Even just reading the questions you posed in this discussion made me nervous. I know NOTHING.

Trent, what that builder is telling you is rubbish - they could provide whatever breakdown & information you are requesting if they want to.......but some just don't want to or can't be bothered......the best builders will disclose information and be completely open, honest and transparent as to the components and the margins - the dodgy ones won't open their books because they don't want you to see what's going on, and usually this indicates there is something they'd prefer to hide......... Builders/trades are masters of manipulating the owner. That's a generalisation and of course there are the rare good ones, but they are harder to find than the rest of the bunch - I've seen it and heard it all :) Good luck and if your about to jump into this stage of the game make sure you have your BS meter charged up... Cheers PD :)