James and Jessica’s tips

Spend time on the lighting design. It’s not something you realise will make a difference until it’s too late. But it all needs to be wired in early on, you can’t do it later down the line. Think of how you will use the rooms, do you need a reading lamp, LED strip lighting for different times of day, a statement piece?

Visit as many houses as you can. If you see a house that you really like, approach the homeowners. They might be happy to show you around. Even if they’re not, you’ve nothing to lose.

Plan your utility room to be as large as possible. You will be surprised how much space you need will actually need for laundry, drying etc. Ours could be bigger and could use an area for drying clothes. We have a bathroom there where we have our hot water cylinder and our indoor unit heat pump. That room does create a lot of heat so to use that space and have some sort of ventilation would have been a good option.

New Build

Located close to a limestone quarry means the water is full of limescale, so water softening equipment had to be installed for safe usage. “When we were digging out the foundations the machines were pulling out limestone boulders the size of Nissan Micra cars! At one stage there was a concern that we might need to put in a raft foundation, but luckily, this proved not to be the case in the end.”

The couple opted for a modern country interior style encompassing lots of neutral colours and natural materials, such as the granite island, splashback and borders and timber shelving in the kitchen.

“We fell in love with the white floor tiles in the entrance hallway and kitchen. They were an expensive choice but worth it for us.”

Lighting choices were handed over to the electrician. “At the time this wasn’t a priority for us,” admits James. “But if I was doing it again, I would go to a lighting consultant and work out a tailored lighting plan.”

In terms of landscaping, their focus was on creating a space where their two young children and dogs could freely play. They prioritised spacious lawns over elaborate flower beds or intricate features. Privacy and aesthetics were addressed by planting hedges and trees. “Our driveway is finished, but we still need to lay the kerbstones,” says James.

Throughout the entire process, the support and advice of their parents and friends proved invaluable. “Many of them had expertise in various aspects of construction and their input helped us make informed decisions,” says James.

Timeline

Jun 2016

Site purchased

Mar 2018

Planning applied

Jun 2018

Planning granted

Sep 2018

Build start

Dec 2019

Build end and moved in

“While I managed to strike a balance between being hands on and trusting the professionals, my knowledge of construction allowed me to negotiate and haggle on certain costs. I’m grateful for the assistance we received, as it made the project more manageable.”

“Currently, our home is working well for us, although there are still some unfinished areas. It suits our lifestyle, but we will need to use the upstairs space once our children start growing.”

Building their own home was a labour of love and a significant achievement for James and Jessica. “It allowed us to create a space that reflects our style and meets our needs. We are proud of the effort we put into the project and the end result.”

“It’s a place where we can build memories and enjoy the company of our loved ones. Despite the challenges and occasional setbacks, we wouldn’t change a thing. Our home is a testament to our hard work, perseverance and the support we received along the way.”