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Original poster

If you were building a new house, what would you put in it? Please recommend anything from boilers to lights to appliances.

162 replies

Apatite1 · 28/03/2015 13:47

The title says it all. Looks like we are building from scratch. House will be about 2500 sq ft. I now need to make a zillion decisions.

If anyone can recommend anything from their insulation to their furniture, I'm all ears.

In particular, we really need guidance on:

Underfloor heating
Engineered wood flooring
Carpets
Ventilation systems
Lighting plans
Joinery for dressing room and library
Stair makers
Kitchen companies and fitters
Bathroom companies and fitters
Landscapers
Paint
Granite suppliers
Tiles
Aluminium window suppliers
Sliding door suppliers
Burglar alarm systems
Fire alarms

Really, any tips are very welcome. There are so many companies, I've no clue who is good and who isn't. I don't mind expensive services, as long they are worth it, we will try to budget them in.

Thank you all!

OP posts:
ChristmasName · 09/04/2015 06:11

Make your playroom bigger and nicer than you think. When your kids are little they want to be where you are, if you want toys to stay in the playroom so do you.

IhadsexwithanelfinIceland · 09/04/2015 09:45

The National Self Build & Renovation Centre is in Swindon and does a free self build educational tour on Saturdays @ 12noon.
Could be worth a trip

Facepaintphobic · 09/04/2015 15:56

Something I've had before and really miss in this house is floor to ceiling cupboards in the utility. They were fitted with pull out larder fittings and it made everything very organised, nothing got lost at the back and you could see if something had run out.
The washing machine & tumble dryer were raised up too - less bending- with a pull out shelf next to them for folding.
One day I'm going to recreate it here!Smile

cressetmama · 09/04/2015 15:56

A friend has a hot shower attachment outside, but it's for her dogs! I am still Envy

Original poster
Apatite1 · 09/04/2015 16:10

It's crazy at work, will pop back this evening to reply thanks all!

OP posts:
Lioninthesun · 09/04/2015 16:13

I finished my build last year. Main thing that annoys me now is that I let the builders talk me out of an A frame roof - there are so many struts you can't fit anything up there. They told me it would be a lot extra to have bigger frames and more man power/how could they get the beams up etc etc. I'd much rather have spent 2/3k more and had a proper roof space and the possibility of having another small room up there if needed.

Agree re storage space - I have a window seat with cupboards all around and underneath, under stairs cupboard and a built in desk and cupboards along another wall and still need more!

I can recommend Kahrs engineered wood flooring, but we had a lot of trouble with delivery as no where in UK stocked the oak I wanted so had to have it shipped from Sweden. Then when it arrived we had 2 different colours which they refused to believe and it took 5 weeks to get someone out to confirm it (all the while saying we should lay it and just accept it was 'slight tonal difference'!) which delayed the build and meant my skirtings couldn't be put in properly. Luckily I told the builders not to keep laying it as I would have had to pay for their work! In the end it was fine but as it was the last thing to do it really made it stressful. However a faulty part under the bath went 2 months in and flooded through the ceiling and it hasn't popped/warped or anything and works really well with the underfloor heating and is fine near wood burners. So it's a great product but try to make sure you don't have to send out to Sweden for the shade you like as the aftercare takes forever!

CloserToFiftyThanTwenty · 09/04/2015 16:16

Dishwasher drawers

Lioninthesun · 09/04/2015 16:39

Oh and I'd agree a utility room/side door entrance is very handy. I have all of our coats/sun hats/buggy/beach stuff/laundry bottles and shoes in ours with a marble bench seat and a mini butler sink down low for muddy boots or things I don't want in the kitchen sink. It's also been handy for little people with muddy/paint covered hands who can't quite reach tall sinks.

I also have the tumble above the washing machine all built in too. It reduces the noise a lot and you can literally lift it out and in IYKWIM.

shovetheholly · 09/04/2015 17:26

Ohhh, I'd love a utility room.

If you are intending to stay for a long time (and it sounds too nice to leave!) I would definitely have a long hard thing about longterm sustainability. I'm not just saying this in a goody-twoshoes way, but in a very hard-headed practical one. We are going to reach an environmental crisis in the very near future, and there will have to be some kind of taxation system to deal with environmental impact. So if you do everything you can now to reduce your footprint, it will not only pay for itself by current standard, but it will future-proof your home for the political changes in our systems that are inevitably coming. I would definitely look at passivhaus construction, at insulating as much as you can including ecofriendly windows, generating your own power using solar/wind/ground source heat pumps, biomass boilers, at grey water systems that use the shower water to flush the loo etc. etc. etc.

BackOnPlanetEarth · 09/04/2015 17:48

I had a walk in airing cupboard once - lots of room for linen and bulky things like suitcases. I loved it.

I've got a cold room in my current house. It's not air conditioned but is designed to stay cool year around. Its kitted out with open shelves and I keep all the bulky kitchen stuff in there - everything is easy to reach and easy to find.

Doreta2G · 09/04/2015 18:06

Apologies if I've repeated anything, I've only scanned the thread.

In ours, I love the zoned heating so you can have upstairs timed to come on at different times to downstairs.

We didn't really think enough about lighting. We have too many overhead lights that we don't use. But I love the rooms where was have lamps that are controlled by wall switches (are they called 5 amp plugs?)

Would agree about storage. Where will you put coats, boots, buggies etc if you have kids?

Water pressure is another important thing. I think mains pipes come in different sizes. So get the one that will give you the best shower pressure ( you can tone it down with the shower itself to save water but once a small pipe is in, its a pain to change!)

Good luck - sounds exciting!

Lioninthesun · 09/04/2015 18:14

A walk in wardrobe is handy too! Make it wider than you think though as you need to have the hanger space and be able to walk in, take a look and walk about freely without feeling squashed!

BL00CowWonders · 09/04/2015 18:25

We've just had our utility finished. The outside door swings outwards - I had to fight with the builders and windows man but it's wonderful! It'll be the dc main way into the house and gives us a space for shoes ( not even going to try for shoe racks - box on the floor is enough) before they get to the hallway.

And I'd say that if you trust your builders, listen to their recommendations. Ours have come up with invaluable tips - best one is parliament hinges instead of pocket doors.

CPtart · 09/04/2015 18:50

Depending on the outlook - windows on two walls of the master bedroom if possible. We have one large one overlooking the garden at the rear and two smaller ones either side of the outside wall.

Addictedtohotbaths1 · 09/04/2015 20:17

Log burner was the best thing we've installed - don't go cheap. Chesneys are brilliant and beautiful to look at.

No cupboards on kitchen walls only base units and wall of larders, looks so much nicer than cupboards over head. But be wary of getting a local company to make them, we used a local joiner and the paint finish has chipped and looks rubbish now.

Nice radiators (modern take on cast iron) smart low profile light fittings and sockets - the small touches really make a difference. GET ultimate screwless sockets dissapear into the wall rather than stand out like chrome etc.

Sensor spot lights that come on when you enter and turn off automatically when no movement is sensed.

Karndean and Amtico flooring is brilliant, warm underfoot without underfloor heating, virtually indestructible and very forgiving.

Don't have carpet in the dining room with kids, it gets trashed. I wish I listened to my sister on that one.

Somewhere to park the buggy, e.g. Nice big hallway, I dream of that.

Hidden bin store so you don't have to look at rubbish.

Addictedtohotbaths1 · 09/04/2015 20:20

Dimmer in the bathroom for relaxing baths!

Lioninthesun · 09/04/2015 20:27

Yes, make sure you have a wide hallway and stairs - modern stairs can be very pokey and carrying laundry upstairs/kids etc is a mare. If they are in front of the door it looks far better too IMO. My friends comment on the fact they can park two buggies in the hallway and still walk through, so it does make a difference!

SASASI · 09/04/2015 21:06

Appetite maybe so! I'm even more jealous now lol but seriously huge congrats & I am getting as much out of this thread at you are rubbing hands in glee

nightswift · 09/04/2015 21:16

Watching and marking my place - builders arive next week - conversion of bungalow into 2 storey house. Ours has taken so long to get going the playroom is now a preteen x box room !!

We are thinking of having power sockets with integrated USBs in the kitchen /diner/ livingroom and also the bedrooms - has anyone put these in?

wallypops · 09/04/2015 21:25

Our kitchen dining room has nearer 20 plugs. Round the table too for computers etc. we basically live in the kitchen.

perfectlybroken · 09/04/2015 21:35

Well I know nothing about building houses but my dream house would have:
A high up oven, so much better than bending down
A utility room
A conservatory
a downstairs toilet
Dimmer switches in the living room
Waist height plug sockets
A balcony somewhere, just for fun

Nydj · 09/04/2015 22:56

Google stairs storage for ideas on using space under and within stairs for storage. I have serious fantasies about the various ideas out there.

BreeVDKamp · 10/04/2015 08:06

Aaaahh this thread is amazing, Apatite I am so jealous!

Just wondering what everyone uses their USB sockets in the kitchen for??? I think I'm being dense. I can only think of one use: to charge phone/iPad etc with...? Think I'm missing something!

Floellabenjamin · 10/04/2015 09:15

Apatite- would you mind if I PMd you to ask about your builders? I am building down the road from you and am looking for building firms.
Superb ideas on this thread.

Original poster
Apatite1 · 11/04/2015 23:36

I'm finally back. Manic time at work has coincided with complete exhaustion from pregnancy. I fell asleep on the sofa today! Thank you all for the extra tips, I hope this thread is useful for everyone.

Flo, I'm hesitant to recommend my builders, as they haven't built anything yet! I'm happy to give recommendations when they are done, but couldn't in good faith do it yet. It could all go wrong still...

We are a heavily Apple family (2 iPads, 1 mini iPad, 2 iPhones and 2 MacBooks!) so usb points would be useful.

I'm off on holiday on Monday to family in Spain, looking forward to being a bit fussed over before coming back and starting the build the week after Smile

OP posts: