Final draft and first purchases.

After 3 more drafts we are finally there! We have a design that we are happy with that will meet our meagre budget. Both Geoff and I agree that we actually prefer the new design even though it's not quite as grand as the original draft. 

It's still keeping to our concept of a silvered timber clad rectangular barn shaped building. No eaves, lots of windows. We've given up the mezzanine for standard height walls. This has saved us a lot of money. We are using scissor trusses to give us the raked ceilings throughout the house. Double glazing has given way to single pane low-e glass in our many floor to ceiling windows. The glass gives us 75% efficiency of double glazing at half the cost. We have a lot of glass.We have such an amazing view you can't not have the windows. I hope we don't regret this decision if we struggle to heat the building. 

We have kept some of Dennis' best ideas from the original draft - the sun corridor between the view and the kitchen and laundry. The large walk-in pantry. The garage with covered walkway to the house entry. 

I really really like it.

I have started to buy things for the house - somewhat prematurely. But I have little else to do at the moment. Planning and building a house is an all consuming project.

  

I ummed and ahhed over my kitchen and bathroom taps for ages. Should I get safe taps or the ones I really really like? I'm happy to say I went with the ones I really really liked!! I'm a demon at getting the best price so I shopped around and I'm pretty sure I got the best price going for some pretty funky tapware.  I think I'll reveal them when the house is finished. Gotta keep you guessing!

I'm having mild anxiety attacks about it all. It has been a dream of ours for so long. I can't believe it is finally happening. I wouldn't admit it until now but I think a part of me always thought we would never get here.