The other 'alf

I love the plans the architect has come up with. It will be really beautiful!

We have looked closely at them over the weekend and have no real major issues (cos it's just what we wanted!) I think however a few pictures would help to show what I am imagining.

I really don't like rooms with no windows so I imagine the dressing room to be a bit like this.... the torso wouldn't be a deal breaker..

This is kind of how I saw the stairs - for me, almost nothing is more.. This is another imagining.. if only two of us lived there it might be feasible but I can see smudgy finger prints everywhere... This is beautiful though.

Still waiting for the other 'alf's ideas/vision.

What If

The suspense over the last 2 weeks has been almost too much. Waiting to see what our "dream" home will actually look like after the architect had pulled together a set of plans has been quite tough. And the plans are everything we expected them to be.

But...

The "what ifs" have started...

For example, the stairs are as we expected but we aren't now sure if the stairs should have a "solid" back, or glass sides, or open tread. A solid back would allow us to "hide" away coats and boots and school bags. The glass and open-tread options would (potentially) be more stunning but less practical!

The dressing room has no natural light (as it is a walk-in wardrobe, to be honest). There is a strong desire from one half of the client pairing to put a slightly tilted Velux-style window in the ceiling of the dressing room!

And on the subject of light, the same half of the client pairing would like a window in the utility room, even if it is opaque.

And then there are the minor details. Will the new fireplace in the extension be capable of supporting a back boiler and the installation of a wood/multi-fuel stove? Does the walk-in larder need to be insulated to ensure it stays cool? Will there be enough light in the front bedroom? Do we need to decide on the colour of the window frames for planning approval? Black? Dark Grey? How do the doors work in the Master Bedroom and Kitchen (as they seem to be width and a half)? Are the windows in the Master Bedroom full height?

And then there are the cost issues. We are still furiously trying to estimate the total cost. Does the use of Zinc for part of the roof add a significant cost? How much will all that glass at the front of the hall cost?

Much to discuss and get decided.

The plans reflect our vision. But our vision is constantly evolving. That evolution, however, needs to come to a close ASAP. No show-stoppers though and everything is looking pretty cool (and the gang) so far.

We're Banking on it!

Well, we signed on the dotted line and I posted the mortgage application forms to the bank. Pity I didn't put a stamp on it (just realised as it dropped into the post box) . After a week it hadn't arrived and we had to call in in-person to re-sign. Anyway - job's a good one and we've got some money to pay for the house!

Now we're just playing the waiting game.... solicitor and architect....can't wait to get started!

Design Struggles

"It would be good to have a pool table somewhere" I said. "And where are we putting the piano?"

Innocent comments you would think, but they lead straight to "Stress City". Where, indeed, are we going to put the piano and where can we squeeze in a pool table. 3D Home Planning software hasn't really helped us lay things out in a manner which makes us thing "Yes - That's what we want!"

"I want to be able to work in the kitchen AND look out at the garden."

Sounds reasonable.

"I want a walk-in larder."

Okay.

"I want the living space in the extension to be beside the all-glass wall."

Yup. Got that one.

"I want a pool table."

"I want."

"I want."

Does this mean we have to extend further (with the obvious increase in costs)? Or do we have to sacrifice the downstairs utility room/larder combo? Or do we have to "cram" things in? Or is there another way to achieve everything that is on our wish list?

This may be one for the architect - we've hit an inspiration-free zone this weekend.

Talk of the architect reminds me that at least the hosue has been measured up for the production of the current plans. So progress is being made.

In other news, however, I seem to be struggling to find an insurer who will insure the building during the construction phase. Most companies are refusing to provide a quotation. Aviva stated that 30 days of non-occupancy would prevent them from quoting, for example. Must start phoning round some insurers this week.

Financing The Deal

It's nice dealing with people who are eager to help and I do understand the give-and-take nature of dealing with suppliers. They're nice to me. I give them business. To use a well-worn phrase, "simples".

Yesterday was a day for ensuring that my supplier of financers for my project was dealt with and what a painless process that was. Admittedly the meeting took about an hour longer than I was expecting but I'm terrible for underestimating these things.

By comparison, however, I wasn't expecting the following:

The bank, rightly, wanted an independent valuation of the property and we had a phone call from the aforementioned valuer as we were driving home from our meeting with the bank. That sounds very efficient to me! The valuer arrived at the property three hours after the bank meeting and took all of ten minutes to give the property the once over (and his blessing).

So, all that is now required (I believe) is a signature somewhere along a dotted line.

Now, if only the minor "issuette" surrounding the title deeds of the property can be sorted! Oh, and the architect finds the time to come and measure up. Oh, and we can find a builder who can perform the necessary in the required timeframe at the right price.

80s Stone Cladding - the Good, the Bad or the Ugly

Ugly methinks or maybe baaaad, never good. Tis gone from around the fireplace. I'm loving it!

On the slightly less good news front - some tiles fell of the bathroom wall and knocked a radiator off the wall. Keith has drained the system to prevent a flood! Ooops!

The pine panel ceiling has now been removed from the downstairs bathroom and I could see today that there appears to be insulation in the sloping roof. Lots of draughts though as there are a lot of little gaps too!

A Modern Home

I'm into my IT - it's what I do for a living - so it makes sense that my new home will be equipped with the latest and greatest gadgets. I currently enjoy a 50mb cable line into my home which comes in very handy with the work that I do, for example.

When it comes to home networking, I like the idea of having CAT5e/CAT6a cable running into every room in the house (with the possible exception of the bathroom, of course). Do I need to do this though? Won't wireless "cut the mustard"?

As I see it, I would like to future proof the house as much as possible. If I want to stream HD video, CATxx cabling would be beneficial. If I want super-fast backup capability for each laptop, CATxx cabling would be beneficial. If I want to play about with home automation technologies, CATxx cabling would be beneficial.

And then there is the option of using the home's electrical wiring to carry data signals using those spectacularly good 200mbs bridge devices - I use one at present and it works a treat!

So the options are:

• stick with wireless
• use the electrical system
• run dedicated CATxx cabling to each room

And when I get to thinking about it, I'll probably want to think seriously about a wired security solution and get that installed from the outset. I see ADT offer a solution for £450 with a £20 a month fee for remote monitoring and alerting though this is for a standard 3-bedroom house. Might need to spend a bit more time looking at all the options for both networking and security.