Example custom house plans design and drafting,
Owner Builder - Tamborine Mountain

The following example house plans were designed and drafted for an owner builder to incorporate the terrain and the owners design preferences. The house site falls away from the street with views and prevailing breezes available to capture. The street facade has european influence and transitions down the sides to a Queenslander style with detailed posts and columns.

The home design consists of 2 main floors both with extensive rear verandahs capturing the views and giving level and practical outdoor entertaining spaces. The front of the house is at street level allowing for access into the garage. Steeper than standard pitched roofs over the garage provides practical loft storage. There is no mains water supply to the housing estate so to meet and exceed the minmum local council requirements a water tank is sited at the lower level behind the garage and two further water tanks are sited below the lower verandah. The tanks are interconnected to ensure they all fill and can be isolated for maintenance. It was discussed with the owner that a fill point should be run from near the front boundary and a pipe run to the upper water tank facilitating easy access for water deliveries.

The upper floor contains the main living spaces and bedrooms, the kitchen and living spaces are open plan, however it is zoned so you still sense the separate functions. The kitchen is tucked around the corner so it, and its the daily use is not the first thing you see when you enter the home or when viewed from the main living space yet you still have the feeling of space throughout.

The kitchen has views from the front of the house right through to the rear over the dining area. The upper verandah is easily accessed from the kitchen area to give an easy flow from preparation areas through to the outdoor entertaining area.

The upper floor bedrooms each have direct access to the verandah allowing the occupants their own freedom to step outside without having to go back through the house.

The lower floor has guest accomadation complete with a wet bar and direct acces to the rumpus room, so visitors can cater for themselves.

The home owner builder spends alot of time working from home, so the studio / study has direct access to the lower verandah for a change of scenary within a few steps. Being an industrious family, a generous laundry doubles as a preparation room and a large larder and walk in linen caters for food and linen storage.

The retaining walls to the upper and lower floors, along with flat areas of gardens have been intensionally laid out for food plants and orimentals as well as herbs within easy access from the kitchen.

Much of the design has considered energy efficiency and from the outset with coming in at a 6 star rating. Part of achieving this was the use of extensive insulation in areas not hard to complete at the build stage such as anticon insulation below the roof sheets to keep the roof void cool and bulk ceiling insulation to make the room heating and cooling more efficient. Also an area of roof which is at the optimum orientation for solar has been intensionally laid at a lower pitch to increase its surface area enabling more solar PV than would have been available if the roof was at a consistant pitch.

Many areas of this house will be constructed from recycled building materials to achieve a desired weathered look. The verandah decking will be painted, so recycled painted decking boards can be obtained at minimal to no cost and then prepped and over painted. Timber and steel beams and posts with marks from previous uses are used. Even the verandah roofs are recycled galvanised sheets where the weathered look is desired. The detailed post brackets will be cut out from recycled hardwood stair treats. Of course there will be many new materials required however the mix of new and used materials will create the look and feel of a warm country retreat.

The home design plans, designed and drafted by SKETCH3D are modelled in a virtual 3D environment, and so include an interactive 3D walkthough at no cost to the client, used to explore and assist in the understanding of the design rather than trying to read 2D plans alone. A massive advantage for builders and home owners.

View further custom house designs. For your own "Grand Design" or to discuss your home extension ideas Contact us or call 0406 807833 for a chat and ideas about what could be designed into your home..