Building a custom home and went unique with color! what do u think
Michele Wells
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Michele Wells
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Building a New custom Home - Don't think I can make it!!
Comments (35)Decisionmaker and all others who are having a rough time, I hope things get better soon my heart goes out to you hearing your stories and frustration. Someone compared this process to pregnancy and childbirth and I think that is true. Dreamed of, prayed for, all that fun in 'planning' :), then when you are actually expecting it is so exciting then it is so scary, then you feel sick for...months...then you feel better then the last weeks drag on and on and finally you don't think you can take it and then after great work and pain you get the greatest gift you have ever known and forget all the bad things and feel the joy. I hope you will all feel the joy SOON. For myself, I tend to be a 'researcher' and feel empowered even in the midst of a stressful situation if I am prepared for it and know why things are happening. So I am wondering, if you could share what in particular has caused you the most stress and if you could have done anything to avoid it or if it is just a part of the building process? Beehappy2007, I immediately thought of The Owner Builder Book, and Amy Johnston's Book when you asked about resources so there is a second recommendation for you. As for your land purchase, I am sure a lawyer will tell you this, or even an escrow officer: get a title report and make sure there is a provision for title insurance in the contract. You might also check on the availability of utilities and water. If there are going to be higher than average costs for septic, utilities or water or if there are zoning restrictions or easments it can affect the 'usability' of the land and therefore affects the value. Bellamay, From this and other posts I have read from you, you seem to be a builder with integrity that truly cares about your customers and others who are building homes. Perhaps you could share from your point of view how some of the stress and heartache can be avoided...or at least lessened? I know I would appreciate any helpful advice on how to have a smoother build and I'm sure others would too. Thanks....See MoreBuilding a new home, what do you think of location?
Comments (30)The lot is too close to the busy intersection and main road. In addition to the privacy and noise issues already discussed, think of this: 1) Car exhaust/pollution. There is an intersection right there..and some cars will be waiting for the light. You will likely get more pollution due to this. Smelly and unhealthy. 2) 35 MPH speed limit. Just because this is the posted speed limit, it doesn't mean that all cars obey the speed limit. In times when it is not congested, I bet some cars go 45-50 MPH..and some even faster. 3) Burglars: I have seen some stats that says burglars often pick homes that are nearest the main road, because they can exit the subdivision quickly. Also they can monitor your work pattern easily. 4) Pets: If you get a dog or cat, if that pet gets loose, it likely will make it to that main road and get hit by a car. 5) Wrecks. You will hear some wrecks that occur at that intersection. These will occur. They don't sound pretty. At high speeds, the sound is horrible, especially at night and if there are any people screaming for help. I used to live on a main road and the wrecks were bad. 6) Sirens: Because the lot of off the main road, you will hear every cop car/fire engine/ambulance that is passing by with siren on. 7)Do you ever plan to open your windows? If so, you will hear traffic and might smell the exhaust. 8) Resale for the house, that close to the road, will be lower. Lots of buyers would not even look at the home because it is so close to the road. 9) Those few trees in the back hardly count as wooded. It is just a basic small lot (too close to the main road) with a few trees in the back....See MoreNotagalley has morphed into a U shape -what do you think?
Comments (24)To sum up the changes from a week ago, it's now "Light up one big counter" and "Make the drawers a.b.a.p." rosieo, no matter what you do, you have a handle on the big things. I don't know if you will be happier with the range here or there; it may be a minor thing compared to all the other things you have figured out. In your set of images, photos 1 to 5 show the kitchen is in a windowless corner of the house. With a mirror on the wall you will get more light into the kitchen, coming from another angle. This makes a difference. ((B.t.w. Photos 1 to 5 make me think the footprint of the house is still in flux: I saw a storage area behind the pantry.)) Knowing now what I now know about your house, I would go to ikea for wood counters, for the price (way less than stone) and quality. Nobody has ever said anything bad about them. With the money saved, you can buy more of other things. If you have the money, you could have two single dishdrawers. When open to full drawer extension (or partially), they take up less space than a 30"high dishwasher panel. And, you cannot hit your shin on them. If you are certain that dishes will often go first to the sink (+disposer) before going to the dishwasher, you could justify putting the sink closer to the end, and the dishwasher on the other side of the sink. 500mm drawers If you go with the layout now shown in photo #10, know this: Your dead space corner could be reduced in size, if your counters were only e.g. 23.5" on top of 21" cabinets. Ikea drawers only need 21" space from front to back. Ikea 500mm length drawer slides are identical to the current model of Blum 500mm length drawer slides, and the drawers are almost identical, with an Ikea soft close damper added. I have them. I also have some of the longest possible Blum drawers: they're more spacious, but not a way way great thing to have absolutely. (p.s. length in this paragraph is the length of the gliders = depth of cabinet = distance front to back). If you went with the range-at-end, and then traded the range for a smaller one, you would have an easier time getting in and out of the corner it blocks. Is exhaust venting in your kitchen plan?...See MoreBuilding a deck - what do you think?
Comments (60)Julia, when you put the slider was there any residual affect to your inside floors? If I do something similar, I am hoping there is no problem with existing hardwood as I am not ready to sand or re-screen. I will most likely put the deck in first as we don't have the money quite yet for the slider. The installer said there should be no damage to my deck but I forgot to ask about inside issues. I think the painting the surrounding trim around the windows black helped tie it all together. Before the deck and new slider, how did you get from the kitchen to outside when grilling, etc.?...See MoreMichele Wells
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