OMG so frustrated with LMCC. I want to track and seriously maim the pedantic bureaucrat handling our DA! Last time I posted we were looking at having to address the gum tree next door. We'd been so pre-occupied with whether the Norfolk Pines on our block were going to be an issue we overlooked the gargantuan proportions of the gum tree next door!
We had a chat with the neighbours who own the gum tree (No.8) and asked them how they felt about it being chopped down. Felt a bit guilty as at the same time we were fending off the neighbours on the other side (No. 4) who want to get rid of our two substantial Norfolk Pines. No.8 ended up agreeing it would be best for all concerned for the gum to go as it was also located over a sewer main and they have plans to build a large shed and a pool in the next couple of years anyway.
As per LMCC directive we hired an Arborist who said there were 2 options - chop it down or keep it and build around it with special foundations etc. Guess what the council preferred? Plus council required full detail of the slab construction together with a further report from the arborist saying he agrees to the construction details. As we understand it, this type of detail isn't really required at DA stage but we are beholden to the almighty bureaucrat :(
The main concern with council delays is losing our builder to other projects. He has already checked with us whether he could take another 6 week project which we agreed with, and just as well we did! Four weeks left on that project and we are looking pretty doubtful to be ready to start, given engineering and private certification of the construction certificate still remains to be done.
At this stage we are planning to get the DA under the current scenario while the neighbours lodge a DA for removal of the tree. If they are successful (they've been told they won't be) then we'll amend the DA. The irritating thing is that we will pussy foot around to build around the tree, then in a couple of years when the neighbours want to build the shed/pool it will be removed at presumably great risk to our roof, which by that stage will already have some almighty dings in it from branch fallout!
On a positive front, we are absolutely loving living in Redhead, the neighbours are all really friendly, so it looks like we've made the right decision. The other positive is that presumably our Norfolk Pines are fairly safe - No.4 couldn't get rid of them even if we agreed to it :) :) :) Gosh I'm a hypocrite!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday, November 29, 2010
29 November 2010
Our DA was submitted to Lake Macquarie Council in early October and we are still waiting for approval. The plans have been referred to the Rural Fire Service which is standard for a bush fire prone property. Apparently we might need to get an aborist to do a report on the effect the development will have on the neighbours gum tree (i.e. will it die if we hack a few major branches off).
The other exciting news is that we moved into the house this week, somehow managing to cull enough stuff to squeeze in! It feels like a holiday every day which is great. Don't really feel all that motivated to go to work though :( The kids drove us absolutely crazy with the move and spend most of their waking hours asking where things are now located etc etc. I guess things will settle down over the coming weeks.
It looks like we might have found our builder, who we met with tonight. He can start in early February - that is if we have the all clear from Council by then! Here's hoping his referees back him up..
After a brief battle of wills with Mike, I hired a landscape designer [Cliff] a couple of months ago as I really don't know what I'm doing with this block of sand. I'm used to clay soil back in Adamstown. True to form Cliff is taking forever to come up with something. The architects took 5 weeks to create a house but the landscape designer is up to about 9 weeks and produced zero. Oh well. Have worked with him before and he is worth waiting for.
Also have our former interior designer staff member [Mel] on the job. She visited the house again on Friday and will be helping decide all sorts of stuff. This is the design brief I gave Mel:
External
Retaining wall to backyard – material and colour
External existing house colour/material if bricks removed / extension colorbond cladding colour / windows/doors to extension and existing/roof/guttering
Fencing material/colour [have asked Cliff to look at this but will run past you]
Front porch railing/flooring (stairs to be removed and come out from door – think Cliff was doing something a bit interesting so not coming straight out but will run past you when I finally hear from him!]
Front path/driveway materials/colours [have asked Cliff to look at this but will run past you]
Internal
Flooring – polished concrete colour/aggregate etc / timber flooring
Paint colours
Kitchen cabinetry etc
Bathrooms – kids/ensuite/powder
Laundry tiles/cabinetry/floor
WIR cabinetry
Feature lighting (most will be downlights)
Built in cabinetry for TV / ecosmart fire
Blinds
Curtains
Anyway, keeping a few people busy!
The other exciting news is that we moved into the house this week, somehow managing to cull enough stuff to squeeze in! It feels like a holiday every day which is great. Don't really feel all that motivated to go to work though :( The kids drove us absolutely crazy with the move and spend most of their waking hours asking where things are now located etc etc. I guess things will settle down over the coming weeks.
It looks like we might have found our builder, who we met with tonight. He can start in early February - that is if we have the all clear from Council by then! Here's hoping his referees back him up..
After a brief battle of wills with Mike, I hired a landscape designer [Cliff] a couple of months ago as I really don't know what I'm doing with this block of sand. I'm used to clay soil back in Adamstown. True to form Cliff is taking forever to come up with something. The architects took 5 weeks to create a house but the landscape designer is up to about 9 weeks and produced zero. Oh well. Have worked with him before and he is worth waiting for.
Also have our former interior designer staff member [Mel] on the job. She visited the house again on Friday and will be helping decide all sorts of stuff. This is the design brief I gave Mel:
External
Retaining wall to backyard – material and colour
External existing house colour/material if bricks removed / extension colorbond cladding colour / windows/doors to extension and existing/roof/guttering
Fencing material/colour [have asked Cliff to look at this but will run past you]
Front porch railing/flooring (stairs to be removed and come out from door – think Cliff was doing something a bit interesting so not coming straight out but will run past you when I finally hear from him!]
Front path/driveway materials/colours [have asked Cliff to look at this but will run past you]
Internal
Flooring – polished concrete colour/aggregate etc / timber flooring
Paint colours
Kitchen cabinetry etc
Bathrooms – kids/ensuite/powder
Laundry tiles/cabinetry/floor
WIR cabinetry
Feature lighting (most will be downlights)
Built in cabinetry for TV / ecosmart fire
Blinds
Curtains
Anyway, keeping a few people busy!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
The finishing touches to the plans...
Over the course of the following weeks the look and feel was further developed and to my great relief was looking just as sensational as Mel said it would...
June 2010...drumroll....here's what the architects came up with...
I have been more than a little slack in updating over the course of the past very busy few months. The architects came up with their grand plans about 5 weeks after we gave them the brief. It seemed like ages so I was thrilled to hear from them when they wanted to get together to show us what they had come up with.
I must admit when the architects presented us with their concept I was a little shell-shocked. This is the initial imagery:
While Mike loved the general concept I felt like it looked too much like a hospital or commercial building and a lot heavier structure than what I had anticipated based on the relatively light weight concept pics we'd provided as inspiration. This image was without all the materials added and looked more clinical I guess. My staff interior designer assured me that with appropriate warmer tones and cladding it would look sensational. I still had my doubts but should have trusted her insight as she really does have great visualisation skills...
I must admit when the architects presented us with their concept I was a little shell-shocked. This is the initial imagery:
While Mike loved the general concept I felt like it looked too much like a hospital or commercial building and a lot heavier structure than what I had anticipated based on the relatively light weight concept pics we'd provided as inspiration. This image was without all the materials added and looked more clinical I guess. My staff interior designer assured me that with appropriate warmer tones and cladding it would look sensational. I still had my doubts but should have trusted her insight as she really does have great visualisation skills...
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The Architects brief
Surprisingly for us, Mike and I actually agreed on a couple of things. One was to get an architect involved in the revamp. Secondly, which architect. Maybe we've grown up?
So I got in touch with Shane Blue from Bourne + Blue Architecture (www.bourneblue.com.au) whose work we've admired for some time. He specialises in eco friendly homes, with lots of timber, louvre windows and northern orientation featuring in most of his designs. Right up our alley.
We decided to rent the Redhead place out for 6 months to allow time to complete the finishing touches to our current house (prior to selling it) and get the plans through Lake Macquarie City Council. Apparently the LMCC phase could take a while.
First up Shane said don't wait until the house purchase settles - he and a surveyor should both get in there asap to take all the necessary measurements and photos for the concept and DA.
Not long after the house settled we had our first face to face meeting with Shane, and we also met Claire, one of the project architects working for him. At this meeting we handed over a combined wishlist with mandatory and preferred items. Basically Shane needed a packed lunch to get through it. This is what it looked like:
And we also handed over a collage of inspirational images, including our favourite from Shane's prior projects. Here it is:
warm industrial aesthetic
Outdoor shower a must!
So I got in touch with Shane Blue from Bourne + Blue Architecture (www.bourneblue.com.au) whose work we've admired for some time. He specialises in eco friendly homes, with lots of timber, louvre windows and northern orientation featuring in most of his designs. Right up our alley.
We decided to rent the Redhead place out for 6 months to allow time to complete the finishing touches to our current house (prior to selling it) and get the plans through Lake Macquarie City Council. Apparently the LMCC phase could take a while.
First up Shane said don't wait until the house purchase settles - he and a surveyor should both get in there asap to take all the necessary measurements and photos for the concept and DA.
Not long after the house settled we had our first face to face meeting with Shane, and we also met Claire, one of the project architects working for him. At this meeting we handed over a combined wishlist with mandatory and preferred items. Basically Shane needed a packed lunch to get through it. This is what it looked like:
Key targets |
Strong connection with the outdoors |
Warmth, light, privacy |
Solar passive design - northern orientation, eaves, cross ventilation etc |
Cohesian between existing house and additions |
Low maintenance |
Things we love: |
Clever design |
Creative use of inexpensive materials |
Polished concrete |
Asian style/way of living (see pics attached) |
Window highlights |
High ceilings |
Louvre windows (with flyscreens) |
Large sliding doors preferred over bifolds to outdoor area (like boomerang house) |
Recycled timber accents |
Ply eaves/ ceiling / wall panels |
Fibre cement / weathertex / corrugated iron cladding |
Mandatory |
4 bedrooms incl. master |
Open plan living/dining/kitchen |
Master with ensuite incl. bath |
Bathroom close to kids rooms |
Multi-purpose room to accommodate desk/book storage / tv / sofa bed |
Fans throughout |
Covered outdoor entertaining area |
Outdoor shower |
Preferred |
Skullery/pantry area and separate laundry off kitchen |
Plenty of light in master bedroom, WIR, shower separate to bath in ensuite |
Ensuite with outdoor outlook (maybe can open to outdoors somehow) |
Skylights in areas where don’t need blockout - laundry/skullery/bathrooms |
Separate loo near main living area |
Kids rooms not visible to visitors entering |
Kids bathroom to have separate WC |
No need for air conditioning (in extension) |
Concealed clothesline |
Big laundry |
Lots of storage |
2 car garaging |
Outdoor area adjacent to living area |
Few as possible levels |
Storage considerations: |
Kitchen - primarily for entertaining and cooking |
Some cooking ingredients eg sauces/herbs |
Appliances etc - sink/stove/oven/fridge/coffee machine/kettle |
Good storage for waste & recycling - concealed sliding bins |
Plasticware, serving platters, cutlery, glassware, bakingware |
Freestanding bench with room for 3 barstools |
Skullery/pantry - primarily for storage and preparation |
Most cooking ingredients and bulk food |
Small appliances eg toaster, griller, breadmaker, dishwasher |
Good crockery & cutlery |
Wine storage |
Storage for paperwork - file drawers, corkboard |
Cleaning equipment, drawers for medical, sewing, giftwrap etc |
Linen eg tablecloths napkins, tea towels |
Don't like: |
Sameness |
Stacked stone/aubergine/curved roves |
Too many different roof lines |
Houses that show off - complicated design for sake of it |
Flies/mossies |
Big/lots of rooms that don’t get used |
Low ceilings |
And we also handed over a collage of inspirational images, including our favourite from Shane's prior projects. Here it is:
Modern asian street appeal
environmentally friendly aspect / connection with outdoors
lots of timber accents
warm industrial aesthetic
Outdoor shower a must!Saturday, July 10, 2010
2 June 2010
The house settled today - naturally we had to crack a bubbly with friends to celebrate. Today is the first time the kids have seen the inside. Not impressed with the size of their bedrooms in particular and the house in general. They've got used to the idea of moving now and love the idea of being close to the beach. For now anyway! Tom's too busy playing footy in his new backyard to take part in the obligatory shot with the sold sign:)
27 April 2010
We'd been looking for a place in Redhead for ages - a beach suburb just south of Newcastle. We first started looking about 10 years ago, couldn't find the right thing and put it off until a couple of years ago when the search began again.
After a tip off from an agent that a place was coming up on Redhead bluff, we quickly snapped it up before the auction sign went up. The children looked at us in stunned disbelief. It was actually happening. We really were going to leave behind everything our children knew: our home of 13 years, our neighbours who had become close friends and even the height measurements of the kids on the architrave in the bedroom. What were we thinking of?
She's definitely an ugly duckling. But hopefully our architect can turn her into a swan. Please??
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