If you were building your own house.. what special features would you add?
237 replies, posted
Intercom in every room with the master in the kitchen or in the entrance hallway.
I planned out my dream home something like ten years ago. Need to modify the basement floorplan so there's a walk-in room under the garage for all the servers.
why not a movie room? a big projector screen in a room with those big reclinable sofas, or maybe even nothing but those huge pillows (i forgot if they have a name in english or not, is it beanbags?), and add stuff like one of those little popcorn machines and places to store your dvds and stuff
[QUOTE=Zukriuchen;42432495]why not a movie room? a big projector screen in a room with those big reclinable sofas, or maybe even nothing but those huge pillows (i forgot if they have a name in english or not, is it beanbags?), and add stuff like one of those little popcorn machines and places to store your dvds and stuff[/QUOTE]
I take it you didn't read his architect brief
[QUOTE=Ldesu;42432622]I take it you didn't read his architect brief[/QUOTE]
reading is for nerds why would i do such a thing
both stove and oil heating, both have their own uses at different times of the year
we have cubby hole attics on both sides of the house, and they're extremely useful. not very hard to reach like the top attic is, and anyone in their bedroom has direct access to an attic to store old things in. proves to be useful especially when you need to store christmas decorations etc.
[editline]6th October 2013[/editline]
and walk in wardrobes with mirror doors. my dad makes them all the time and they own. big mirror without cluttering the room, and is functional at the same time
[editline]7th October 2013[/editline]
and yea, open floor kitchen and sitting rooms are a bit of a frustration sometimes. around lunch if you're trying to watch something you can't hear the tv well at all. over the summer we knocked down the center portion of the wall seperating ours and it's been troublesome on ocassion, but it's brilliant for the mornings. get a cup of tea, breakfast while catching up with the news on TV, get the fire set etc. without having to leave the room. but if you're going to do it, get a large sliding door/temporary seperator.
"EV charging in the Garage." You thinking about getting an EV, Garry? If so you should look into whichever manufacturer you're interested in. They might have high power connection options.
Tesla has the high power wall connector: [url]http://www.teslamotors.com/charging#/highpower[/url]
Nissan has something like it too: [url]http://www.nissan.co.uk/GB/en/vehicle/electric-vehicles/leaf/charging-and-battery/charging-nissan-leaf-and-battery.html[/url]
The other big companies coming out with EV's probably have something similar. (Honda, Smart, BMW, Mercedes off the top of my head)
[QUOTE=OvB;42436464]"EV charging in the Garage." You thinking about getting an EV, Garry? If so you should look into whichever manufacturer you're interested in. They might have high power connection options.
Tesla has the high power wall connector: [url]http://www.teslamotors.com/charging#/highpower[/url]
Nissan has something like it too: [url]http://www.nissan.co.uk/GB/en/vehicle/electric-vehicles/leaf/charging-and-battery/charging-nissan-leaf-and-battery.html[/url]
The other big companies coming out with EV's probably have something similar. (Honda, Smart, BMW, Mercedes off the top of my head)[/QUOTE]
Eventually. I think we just really need to lay the cables to there so the power is there.. and then let the market settle until there's a universal one.
Speakers in every room, music follows you throughout the rooms
RGB lights controlled by a raspberry pi (with switches ofc)
[QUOTE=OvB;42436464]"EV charging in the Garage." You thinking about getting an EV, Garry? If so you should look into whichever manufacturer you're interested in. They might have high power connection options.
Tesla has the high power wall connector: [URL]http://www.teslamotors.com/charging#/highpower[/URL]
Nissan has something like it too: [URL]http://www.nissan.co.uk/GB/en/vehicle/electric-vehicles/leaf/charging-and-battery/charging-nissan-leaf-and-battery.html[/URL]
The other big companies coming out with EV's probably have something similar. (Honda, Smart, BMW, Mercedes off the top of my head)[/QUOTE]
I'd just hook up a [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEC_60309"]Industrial power connector[/URL] for when EV's become practical and affordable.
Fuck all kinds of proprietary standards, and agree on a universal and common one already.
Yeah there really needs to be a standard that doesn't suck. All the proprietary connectors are going to hurt the EV industry.
Hidden midget sex dungeon.
17 midget sex dungeons.
[img]http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Frankenstein-Knife-Switch-HUGE-LOOKY-/00/s/ODIwWDE2MDA=/z/7GoAAMXQAI9SLQ1z/$T2eC16F,!zcFIeBIrlpmBSLQ1yqm9Q~~60_35.JPG[/img]
Use these with a small 24v transformer + contactor for lighting in each room, so it wont electricute you, but will still look awesome and work :D
[QUOTE=A_Pigeon;42448471]Hidden midget sex dungeon.
17 midget sex dungeons.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=nuttyboffin;42451643][IMG]http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Frankenstein-Knife-Switch-HUGE-LOOKY-/00/s/ODIwWDE2MDA=/z/7GoAAMXQAI9SLQ1z/$T2eC16F,%21zcFIeBIrlpmBSLQ1yqm9Q%7E%7E60_35.JPG[/IMG][/QUOTE]
It's like they were meant for each other.
[QUOTE=A_Pigeon;42448471]Hidden midget sex dungeon.
17 midget sex dungeons.[/QUOTE]
So, one hidden, 17 in plain view?
[QUOTE=S31-Syntax;42456796]So, one hidden, 17 in plain view?[/QUOTE]
Well you have to have something to show off...
[QUOTE=nuttyboffin;42451643][img]http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Frankenstein-Knife-Switch-HUGE-LOOKY-/00/s/ODIwWDE2MDA=/z/7GoAAMXQAI9SLQ1z/$T2eC16F,!zcFIeBIrlpmBSLQ1yqm9Q~~60_35.JPG[/img]
Use these with a small 24v transformer + contactor for lighting in each room, so it wont electricute you, but will still look awesome and work :D[/QUOTE]
put it in a dark room with a suspicious looking chair
there is a few things i would and wouldn't do in a new build.
things i would do:
1)explore heating options, underfloor is ok but its not as cheap to run as a boiler/ radiators. but radiators are ugly, i saw a program once, on this program, someone ran hot water pipes through the skirting boards as heating, apparently more effective than radiators and cheaper than underfloor.
2) have a large rainwater/greywater tank(s) for water recycling, using it to flush toilets and to water plants. many new builds incorporate these systems into houses. less fresh drinkable water wasted and costs less on your water bill.
3) consider acoustic properties of rooms (more so if your gonna build in a HIFI) build or buy athletic acoustic panels to defuse and trap sound where needed.
4) have a plan to expand the house if you ever decide you want to in the future, so plan what wall needs to go and build it so it can be taken out without damaging anything else.
5) limit or even take out all corridors, they waste more space than people think.
6) A few extra rooms, they could be empty, but they could be converted to bedrooms/guestrooms or playrooms for the ankle biters
7) smart systems in the house. for example a building i visited recently does things like detect if anyone is in the room, if not, it turns off the lights and stuff. this could be expanded to heating so your not heating parts of the house your not using, saving energy and money.
Things i wouldn't do:
1)solar panels, simply put there expensive and not that efficient, in fact you will never see a return on your money with them if you buy them now. wait for a alternative such as solar paint or more efficient and cheaper panels, though if you don't mind the money loss then there a good idea.
Okay, this one's a simple one, and I've mentioned it to you before, but it'll make a lot of difference.
Concrete walls.
It's a small thing, but you will save so much in heating/cooling costs, you'll wonder how you lived without them. They're something like 60% more efficient than traditional fiberglass insulation, and not much more expensive.
They're also sturdier, less prone to leaking, less prone to damage, and you can integrate some really neat features... Like modular track systems for your laminated wood wall panels.
Oh, and each wall can act as a load-bearing support, in case you wanted to, say, build a floating desk the length of a room.
[QUOTE=woolio1;42465549]traditional fiberglass insulation[/QUOTE]
wat :v:
You're thinking about glass wool, dude. Fibreglass isn't used for insulation
[QUOTE=Ldesu;42466124]wat :v:
You're thinking about glass wool, dude. Fibreglass isn't used for insulation[/QUOTE]
I think there may be a slight cultural difference here... In the United States, Fiberglass most certainly is used for insulation. It's also used for rigid objects, provided you mix it with resin.
[url]http://www.lowes.com/Building-Supplies/Insulation-Accessories/Fiberglass-Insulation/_/N-1z11ppz/pl?cm_sp=Building%20Materials-_-BuildingSupplies|PopularCat-_-Merch|PopularCat_Fiberglass_Insulation&cm_cr=Insulation-_-Web+Activity-_-Insulation+Top+Flexible-_-SC_Insulation++Accessories_TopFlexible_Area-_-10514061_1_#[/url]!
[QUOTE=woolio1;42466747]I think there may be a slight cultural difference here... In the United States, Fiberglass most certainly is used for insulation. It's also used for rigid objects, provided you mix it with resin.
[url]http://www.lowes.com/Building-Supplies/Insulation-Accessories/Fiberglass-Insulation/_/N-1z11ppz/pl?cm_sp=Building%20Materials-_-BuildingSupplies|PopularCat-_-Merch|PopularCat_Fiberglass_Insulation&cm_cr=Insulation-_-Web+Activity-_-Insulation+Top+Flexible-_-SC_Insulation++Accessories_TopFlexible_Area-_-10514061_1_#[/url]![/QUOTE]
Yeah, same shit different name.
[QUOTE=woolio1;42465549]Okay, this one's a simple one, and I've mentioned it to you before, but it'll make a lot of difference.
Concrete walls.
It's a small thing, but you will save so much in heating/cooling costs, you'll wonder how you lived without them. They're something like 60% more efficient than traditional fiberglass insulation, and not much more expensive.
They're also sturdier, less prone to leaking, less prone to damage, and you can integrate some really neat features... Like modular track systems for your laminated wood wall panels.
Oh, and each wall can act as a load-bearing support, in case you wanted to, say, build a floating desk the length of a room.[/QUOTE]
Drilling holes is a PITA with concrete.
And if you later decide you'd like a window or a door in the middle of a blank wall, then it'll be a even greater pain in the arse.
Concrete is cool and all until you decide to hang some shelves.
Fuck concrete.
[QUOTE=Super Saiyan Yerbs;42465495]Things i wouldn't do:
1)solar panels, simply put there expensive and not that efficient, in fact you will never see a return on your money with them if you buy them now. wait for a alternative such as solar paint or more efficient and cheaper panels, though if you don't mind the money loss then there a good idea.[/QUOTE]
You can definitely see a return with solar panels, you just need quite a few of them.
[editline]9th October 2013[/editline]
Unless the sky is overcast for a good portion of the year
[QUOTE=Pelf;42468446]Unless the sky is overcast for a good portion of the year[/QUOTE]
england.
[QUOTE=chipset;42468333]Concrete is cool and all until you decide to hang some shelves.
Fuck concrete.[/QUOTE]
Drilling and setting screws in concrete is cake, you just need concrete anchor bolts and a good carbide drill bit with a powerful drill.
[QUOTE=Van-man;42467194]Drilling holes is a PITA with concrete.
And if you later decide you'd like a window or a door in the middle of a blank wall, then it'll be a even greater pain in the arse.[/QUOTE]
Having lived in a house with concrete outer walls for a portion of my childhood, I'd be inclined to disagree with you. Drilling into concrete is no more difficult than brick or masonry, it just takes the right drill bit.
Same for hanging shelves. Measure the holes, use a masonry bit, and it's no more difficult than drywall.
The door or window thing, however... Is a good point. There's not a lot of changing it once you've poured it, so my suggestion would be to make sure you've got enough doors and windows.
[editline]9th October 2013[/editline]
[QUOTE=Autumn;42468719]england.[/QUOTE]
Or Germany!
Oh, but wait, they get a significant portion of their energy from solar panels, don't they?
