Advice? Layout / design software? Draftsman recommendation Melb
Billie Kamm
last year
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Kate
last yearpaige95
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Help with kitchen layout required
Comments (20)Hello. All ideas practical and an appliance cupboard is a must if you had in your previous house as demonstrated by previous comments. Microwave and mixers all away. A sliding door to pantry easy solution. Even one with timber frame (raw or painted depending on your finishes) and opaque glass is great as well. Not compromising on island bench is good. It is best to have drawers on both sides. Depending on your seating or not you can also re configure drawer at end but also keeping in mind power points are a must with an island bench. If you are of average height wall ovens great but not always suitable for someone who is below average height. I have an island bench without a sink which works really well, drawers each side and 2 stools at one end for my needs. The rubbish/recycle bin is a pull out dedicated drawer which is also practical. Sink and stove at the back. Make sure you get a good cabinet maker as well and decide everything beforehand....See MoreKit Homes Expectations/Build Advice?
Comments (21)I signed their Design Agreement in June which includes a non-refundable 1% deposit. I've had to walk away with nothing to show for it except the wasted money and time. From payment it took three weeks to get a consultation. I was talked through a concept, but they refused to provide even a rough sketch. In three weeks they promised a floor plan, 3D render and costing estimate would be mailed, a follow up Zoom meeting a week later. Three weeks later, no communication from Storybook, I rang and they said two more weeks. Two weeks later, no contact, I rang and they said one more week. One week later, they rang to say the 3D artist's computer monitor was broken, so it would be another week. I asked for the floor plan, but was denied. One week later I had a Zoom call with the concept and costing sent via email after. Their was very little reference to the design direction form I'd filled out, but was presented with a concept that looks lovely, but with decking and glazing along both the western and eastern sides would make for a very uncomfortable home - they don’t think so - just get a lovely umbrella! The concept was $50K outside my budget, due to increase in materials cost, and their costing under-estimate put it about $55K over budget. But their estimate to finish the build is not based on any evidence of local trades research and the reality pushed the project well beyond their estimate to complete. However, they have offered, if I pay them 50% more they will give me a new design within my budget. No thank you! Their biggest whinge is that Storybook has done all this design at a considerable loss. Not true, the “Services” vaguely referred to in the Design Agreement was more than 12.5% of my build budget. Then there’s the cost for the Kit. Turns out my custom design was a pre-exisiting design on their website. Along with that, they don’t guarantee the design won’t change or be passed by Council, nor meet bushfire and engineering standards. They are not giving back the deposit....See MoreWhere do you start?? house design advice
Comments (14)Jason.....3 factors: 1. your requirements/goals/"brief" 2. Budget 3. Site/context........these 3 things will define the project outcome/direction one way or the other...and that outcome/direction will depend upon how these factors are negotiated, balanced and managed..........I could go on for days about all this stuff, but as start, perhaps think about developing a home from the inside out, rather than the outside in, because if you do that it generally will reflect/respond to and be better suited to and derived from you, your needs and the lifestyle you seek. You already have some reference points (land, certain styles that appeal etc)...perhaps best you reach out/speak with some design professionals about your potential home and begin to hone in on your priorities and what aligns with your goals......... Be aware that you will be predominantly EXPERIENCING your home, rather than sitting outside with a cup of tea admiring it like they do in the Colorbond TV ads......so what it looks like, really should come from what it is internally....form follows function.....also arguably some of the beautiful European architecture is not necessarily that well suited to the Australian climate & environment......a house that deeply connects to the site/context, functions & performs to a certain level and "feels" great and appropriately balanced will provide an immeasurably greater living experience on many levels, as opposed to one that may look pretty in a brochure or on instagram, but in reality is disconnected to context, arbitrarily sited and configured or misaligned in various ways the homeowner's various particular & practical needs........ Fantastic & exciting opportunity..... Hope this provides some preliminary food for thought....feel free to reach out if you'd like some further direction/guidance Good luck! Cheers PD :) www.pauldistefanodesign.com...See MoreAdvice on kitchen reno
Comments (8)your arrangement looks good but after having had a wall oven i'd be reluctant to have below bench ovens so my suggestions include double stacked wall ovens next to the fridge and using the old corner pantry space for out of sight extra counter area for using appliances with a wall mounted microwave, wall cabinets and drawers instead of deep tall pantries (the MW located next to the ovens or next to the window so the door opens correctly for easy access) space under the ovens for a pot drawer, drawers under the cooktop for wide pantry drawers and the dishwasher and bin placed in the peninsular (means less space taken off the dining room) and is surprisingly easy to use compared to squeezed in beside the sink and this allows for custom corner cabinets that have one 450 wide door that makes access to the dreaded corner space so much easier and ideal for storing bigger appliances, big saucepans etc ..the corner cabinet in the peninsular can be accessed from either side and before committing to the depth of the cabinets facing the dining room, decide what will be stored in them as you may find that 30cms deep could be plenty for most supplies and/or you could have some cabinets and a small amount of stool space still allows for a 90cm - 1050cm peninsular and doesn't encroach on the dining room so much.......See Moredreamer
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