DA approval

Just received an email from EB saying that our file has been booked in for estimating to complete the DA Check task.

It can take a couple of weeks before your final PCV is raised as the task is quite involved.

Another long wait!!

Final PCV or not?

Just received a PCV from Melanie for Di Lorenzo flooring - but they forgot to add the kitchen splashback and extra tiling for main bathroom. You really have to check everything as this was to be our final PCV....maybe not? Luckily we spotted this otherwise we would have no kitchen splashback or extra tiling in the main bathroom

Council approval

Yes we have heard from Eden Brae and now have council approval. Now to sign the final PCVs and get things moving to the final stage of the admin.

A quick update

Just checked out the council website and our application has moved from under assessment to decision pending.

And we received our costing for piering as we are building 1.5m away from the sewer. A nice surprise only $393.00. We were expecting to pay a couple of thousand.

Stairs

We decided to upgrade our stairs to timber.  Cost was $2,303.00 for maple treads, risers and stringers. The stairs will be stained Walnut.  Our balusters are of standard design:

Internal Selections - after HOG appointment

Front door

We upgraded to a larger size door at a cost of $968. Eden 4 2340x1020x40. We had a choice of 3 or 4 panels. We decided to go with the 4 panel door with clear glazing

Internal Paint Scheme

Taubmans Endure 2 coat in Martini

Living room painted Martini  by The Block contestants

Skirting, architraves and internal doors - Taubmans Crisp White.

We have decided not to upgrade the internal doors. They will be Corinthian Lifestyle Flush doors.

Kitchen

After meeting with Kitchen Culture in late February we finally signed off on our plans in late March.  Upgrades will be:

Provide overhead cabinets to cooktop run    $2,376.00
Provide bulkheads to overhead cupboards  $646.80
Provide a panel to rear of rangehood   $110.00
Provide a single lift up cupboard above fridge $530.00
Provide an underbench microwave  space with drawer  $ 425.00
Provide 2 deep soft close drawers next to oven    $340.00
Provide silk finish throughout kitchen - polar white  $1848.00

Drawings:

Kitchen splashback 

This was the hardest choice. It was upgrade with Di Lorenzo of $299.15

Tile is a MSR003 19x61 with a cream coloured grout Casagrout Totora

Kitchen benchtop will be Essastone in New Cairo which is standard

Flooring

We really wanted timber flooring downstairs to the front of the house (Bedroom 5, hallway, foyer, multi and lounge). We decided to go with bamboo flooring and the cost for upgrading with Di Lorenzo was $3808.00

Clever Bamboo - Natural

The remainder of the downstairs area (kitchen, dining and living) will be tiled.  

Stone Smooth 450x450 DC1195

Carpet area upstairs - the only upgrade was the underlay - gold rubber underlay $490.00

Surrey - Linen 520

Bathroom selections

We will be having three bathrooms - one downstairs and an ensuite and main bathroom upstairs. The only upgrade was in the main bathroom - we will be tiling higher around the bath to line up the tiling above the vanity (extra cost of $90.30)

Bathroom downstairs

Vanity will be 900m single vanity with laminex pure calcite benchtop and blackened limewood door. Here is a photo from a display home with similar colours:

Ensuite upstairs

Ensuite Vanity will be a double basin with Laminex pure calcite benchtops and blackened linewood doors. Similar to this picture from a display home

Main bathroom upstairs

Main bathroom will have a double basin with Laminex pure calcite benchtop and polar white doors.

Fingers crossed these tiles will not be discontinued when we get to tiling stage

Vanity will be standard except we decided on drawers for the ensuite vanity at an extra cost of $352.00

External Colour Selection

Here are our external colour choices

Bricks: PGH Cement which was an upgrade (Category B) $1235

Off white mortar also an upgrade $482

Roof tile horizon profile in Barramundi

Windows - Surfmist

Garage doors - Surfmist

Gutters - Woodland Grey

Fascia - Surfmist

Downpipes - Woodland Grey

Driveway - Gunmetal (cove texture finish)

Water tank - upgraded to the slimline tank 3000 - Woodland Grey - $1301

Photos for our block - 640m2

We settled on our block of land in Warners Bay on 18 December 2012

Modified plans of the Heathcote 35 Balmain facade

Modified version of Heathcote 35 - Balmain  facade

Elevation plans

Where Do I Begin?

We are currently waiting for our plans to be approved by Council... how long does this take? The plans were submitted on 14 March 2013 so we just have to learn to be patient.

Good news. Kitchen Culture and Di Lorenzo quotes have been signed off. Kitchen Culture drawings took about six weeks (can't understand why?).  Di Lorenzo Hamilton  (thanks Marie) were really helpful . We ended up with bamboo flooring for half of downstairs which was we really wanted and the cost was not excessive. I put my trust in her for the kitchen splashback as I just couldn't picture how it would look.  And I hope the colour of the bamboo flooring (natural) will look good with the stairs which we will be a walnut stain. So fingers crossed it will all come together.

Now we have done everything on our side, we are waiting for Eden Brae to get back to us on the final PCVs - moving an external gas point, changing the layout of the laundry cupboard so we can get access to under the stairs for storage and the most important one, the design and costing of piers from the structural engineers as the house is 1.5 metres away from the sewer down the southern side.