[hifiphones]

Which system did you use for your lighting controls?

[CJCymru]

I just came across this thread this morning and spent an hour reading every post. It's looking really good, and very inspirational project indeed. It's amazing what projects you can achieve! I will carry on to follow as well.

More photos please!

[stephen_]

Coming along nicely.

[S2Tigger]

Originally Posted by hifiphones

Which system did you use for your lighting controls?

The lounge (AV room) and kitchen each have a Graficeye 6 circuit dimmer controller, the lounge also has 6 RGB lights, 4 at the rear and 2 either side of the TV controlled by a wise wireless controller. I intend to add some more RGB lights around the TV.

The rest of the house uses GET electronic dimmers, about 2 circuits in each room. Our bedroom has 4 circuits.

I was hoping to use a whole house solution, but the budget didn't quite go that far...

Darren

[S2Tigger]

If this is boring....skip it

Door surrounds coming along nicely

Master bedroom, cladding in progress

Me playing with morph program ;-) Rear of house, from old to new

Darren

[S2Tigger]

Just a written update today, only so many pictures of door frames and skirting you can take

The carpenters still continue to make good progress, the wardrobes for the kids bedrooms are arriving middle of next week along with the solid oak for the underside of the beams

Have provisionally booked the tilier for first week in Feb to tile the whole of the ground floor.

I am in the process of ordering the sliding gate for the drive....

Darren

[Scorpion3d]

All I can say is I love your house and love the colours you have chosen have a 1 bed apartment and went for simple colours of black and white for most things think it makes it look crisp and modern like the mix of red which you have aswell only found this thread a while ago and have looked through all of the pics lovely house cant wait to see it fully completed esp the AV room

[S2Tigger]

Originally Posted by Scorpion3d

All I can say is I love your house and love the colours you have chosen have a 1 bed apartment and went for simple colours of black and white for most things think it makes it look crisp and modern like the mix of red which you have aswell only found this thread a while ago and have looked through all of the pics lovely house cant wait to see it fully completed esp the AV room

Thanks for the comments, I can't wait for the AV room either Question is..do I go for original plan of panasonic VT20 or wait for new second generation model.......

Darren

[J-a-m-e-s_7]

Originally Posted by S2Tigger

Thanks for the comments, I can't wait for the AV room either Question is..do I go for original plan of panasonic VT20 or wait for new second generation model.......

Darren

Hi darren been admiring your thread for a long time. Your house is amazing, i regularly check for updates and more pics I think at some point in my life im going to have to give the self build thing ago lol. Lovin all the pics

With regards to the panasonic vt20 it looks like no expense has been spared with the rest of the house so why start now with the tv..if you get what im saying. (Even though the vt20 is a beast of a tv i think i'd probably wait for the latest and greatest model

Keep the updates coming!!
James

[Scorpion3d]

Yeah being honest I would wait for a 2nd gen 3d tv because at the moment I have a Panasonic AE-4000 which is for most of my viewing with a 120" screen will be waiting a while and then possibly thinking about getting a 3d tv due to the whole I dont know if this is going to be as big as HDTV I like the whole 3d concept but think having to wear 3d glasses would wreck my head would love to see if they could make it watchable without the dam glasses but in sayiong that you dont want everything else done and have no tv depends on how long it will be till you are fully in I suppose

[S2Tigger]

Originally Posted by Scorpion3d

Yeah being honest I would wait for a 2nd gen 3d tv

Originally Posted by J-a-m-e-s_7

With regards to the panasonic vt20 it looks like no expense has been spared with the rest of the house so why start now with the tv

Half of me tells me to wait and get the 2nd generation, the other says, get the VT20 and then upgrade my Epson 8700UB to a 3d projector....That was really the point in buying a projector....to watch films on....as it is I would be using the smaller 50" panosonic to watch 3d material and the 86" projection to watch hi def non 3d material

The choice can wait a few months....so watch this space.......

Darren

[S2Tigger]

ok, for those of you that want more photos, I'll post all I take, for those not really interested in the non AV stuff, flick past this post !

So I mentioned earlier that we're looking at electric gates for the front drive, this is the type of gate we are looking at, it is a cantilever sliding gate, pictures below of the font view and rear view...(pictures copied from the suppliers site Heritage LDK, they said I could use them mods)

Master bedroom

Front guest bedroom

Landing

Master Bathroom

Kids bedroom

Downstairs bathroom (don't think I've posted one with a toilet in place!)

The leak we had, now fixed...

Downstairs bedroom ensuite toilet now on...sink was going in later today

Darren

[nsemple]

Looking great mate

[S2Tigger]

Quick update....

Electrician wired up the RGB LEDs over the last couple of days..
TV end of lounge (sorry for poor pictures, iphone not too good)

Other end of lounge

Master bathroom

Master bedroom ensuite

The cladding of the beams is almost complete....
Master bedroom

Daughters room

Master bathroom

Sons room

Landing

Guest bedroom

Downstairs ensuite now finished

More updates soon.....

[karltimber]

Nice screw-hole finish on the oak

can the rgb led lights colour be changed - depending on the mood ??

Looks fab - really does.
Will you sell the plans after you're finished

Excellent,

k.

[S2Tigger]

Originally Posted by karltimber

can the rgb led lights colour be changed - depending on the mood ??

All the RGB lights are connected to WISE controls, I can have any colour I like I can save 8 colours of my choice as presets or set it to cycle through all the colours at different speeds. I can also stop at any colour and dim down to any level.

Originally Posted by karltimber

Will you sell the plans after you're finished

Sell them, you can have them if you like
With every build there are compromises, we really wanted a house, but due to planning constraints we had to compromise on a dorma bungalow

Thanks for your comments.....

Darren

[adraym]

amazing progress mate seriously looking forward to seeing the final product, as I bet you are...

I'm not sure if this has been asked but if you dont mind me asking what has this cost you to build to date?

Of course if you dont want to answer I completely understand...

Also did you use a kit home company?

[S2Tigger]

Originally Posted by adraym

amazing progress mate seriously looking forward to seeing the final product, as I bet you are...

I'm not sure if this has been asked but if you dont mind me asking what has this cost you to build to date?

Of course if you dont want to answer I completely understand...

Also did you use a kit home company?

Hi, thanks for the comments

The SIPS structure was supplied and errected by Lowfield Timber Frames, and yes we are featured on their website Must get them to do an update and there is a little error, we have 5 not 8 bedrooms!! The frame cost £54k and that included the errection as well

I've said it before, but the team at Lowfield are brilliant, we are a first time selfbuilder and they probably did a shed load of work that they really shouldn't have, but the advice they gave was spot on. Unlike some companies, once we had signed the contract, the back office team (the ones that probably did most of the leg work leading up to the build) were just as good (if Garry (Sales guy) from Lowfield is reading this.....you are just as informative!)

If anyone is considering a selfbuild and looking at either a timber frame or SIPS, give these guys a ring and at least get a quote!! They have a small stand at the National Self Build Centre in Swindon... a good place to visit for ideas and contacts...they run alot of events which can be had for free, don't ever pay for the events...contact one of the companies who have a stand and get some free tickets

Cost so far....alot total build will be in region of £250k

Darren

[Darrenraymond]

Such am impressive build mate. Flicked thorugh all your photos there and im really impressed. Cant wait for the end result...

[S2Tigger]

No more pics till next week....

The electrician has put the grafic eyes in

Got to visit the joiner tomorrow to finalise the door designs, already decided what we want, but he just needs to double check, also need to confirm up what type of doors are in some of the rooms....for example the AV cupboard will have a folding door to reduce the opening space needed in the room.

The design for the study is finished, just needs signing off

Tilier still on schedule for next week and drive guy should be here in the next few weeks.....just need to go in house over weekend and scrape the floor ready for sealing.....

Darren

[S2Tigger]

Quick update.....bathroom mirrors went up...

Same mirror, different bathrooms

Darren

[EndUserChap]

I've just joined this forum looking for a bit of advice on my own system and spent an entire hour reading this epic saga, with pics, of this amazing pad coming together.

What an awesome thread.

I'm just glad I got to see all this in one hit!

Well done sir!

[S2Tigger]

No pictures in this post

Electrician finished for six weeks...only the kitchen, utility and LED lights around the house to finish off....leaving the LED lights off so we can get the skirting on and then all the LEDs will be put at the same height ... The garage electrics will be completed when the drive is finished...no real hurry for this at this point...

The floor has now been scraped ready for the tiler on Wednesday...will probably not get any tiles down this week, the floor needs to be sealed before the tiles are laid...the underfloor heating has been turned off while the tiles go down...just turned up the heating upstairs to keep the tilers warm

Will take some photos if I see anything interesting happening

Had to put up a quick post, the thread went onto page 2

Darren

[samo8076]

Stunning, absolutely stunning. The whole house is looking superb, and the detail is at another level. Really looking forward to seeing the finished masterpiece. Cracking job matey.

[S2Tigger]

Originally Posted by samo8076

Really looking forward to seeing the finished masterpiece

So are we The build seems to have taken forever.....we are on the home run now....

The tilers were in this week, only for a couple of days, but have put 2 coats of seal on the floor and marked out the whole downstairs.....apparently the layout of the tiles means very few if any small pieces of tile, we should have almost all full tiles....he did ask if we planned the house around the tile size

The gate for has been ordered and the drive guy confirmed for Tues/Wed of next week.....we visited the joinery this morning, he has made 2 sample doors for us to sign off....one with glass panels and one solid..the door with glass panels has double glazed units in, this makes the glass panel thicker and makes the door look alot better than a single sheet. We have also opted to have a satin finish to the glass....I would post a picture, but did not have my phone with me

The carpenter has been booked for 23rd Feb when he will start upstairs with the doors, wardrobes and then move downstairs for to finish off with doors, study and stairs.......

The stone for the patio has been ordered and should arrive w/c 21st Feb...

I'll post some pictures next week as the tiles go down and the drive takes shape....

Darren

[Mdre83]

Absolutely stunning mate

I've got a few questions if you don't mind, the door frames/beams whats the colour?
Could I ask where you purchased the frames/timer or is it all from Lowfield?

Would love to change all our current frames/doors to this.

The tiles you have used in the downstairs en-suite, do you have a link to them. Looking for something similar?

Cheers,
Martin

[S2Tigger]

Originally Posted by Mdre83

Absolutely stunning mate

I've got a few questions if you don't mind, the door frames/beams whats the colour?
Could I ask where you purchased the frames/timer or is it all from Lowfield?

Lowfield only supplied the initial SIPS frame and supporting beams.

The beams have been clad in oak (oak veener on MDF on the side of the beams and solid oak on the bottom of the beams), the oak is all natural, only receiving a coat of clear lacquer. The door frames/skirting are solid natural oak, no stain has been used, just a coat of clear lacquer again.

The oak was supplied and prepared by Andy Gee Joinery. His workmanship is A1, we visited his joinery and looked at his work before ordering and we were blown away by his quality and customer service. He tells you as he sees it, no bull!! Has given us loads of ideas and advice, he was the one that suggested the detail between the clad oak on the side and the solid oak on the bottom....

Originally Posted by Mdre83

The tiles you have used in the downstairs en-suite, do you have a link to them. Looking for something similar?

These tiles are travertine, I'll look out the invoice to find the exact type, but they were purchased locally at Tiling and Flooring Centre. If you ring them and speak to Jan and mention me (Darren who just purchased loads of 3cm thick limestone) and she should be able to sort you a good deal....we didn't really think local companies could get us good deals, but how wrong we were !! Support your local companies...search the web, find the best price and they can usually match it or most of the time better it....due to the quantity of stone we ordered, Jan managed to get the delivery to site for free

If anyone else has questions, fire away

Darren

[knefas]

Really lovely the RGB! The house it's really coming along nicely...

[phil5366]

Darren,

I hope your going to buy another plot when finished, otherwise what have we got to read each day!

Looks stunning mate.

[S2Tigger]

Originally Posted by phil5366

Darren,

I hope your going to buy another plot when finished, otherwise what have we got to read each day!

Looks stunning mate.

Thanks Phil.....No chance of buying another plot....I think I've got the self build bug out of my system , having said that, my grandfather did it 17 times

I hope things are going better your end? I do hope you can put behind you what happened and move on...I am following your thread and I hope to see big things from you

Darren