Lord Greyabbey

@AliG Yes, I am conversing with @ETC about design options both inside and out - a lot to think about, and a lot of good ideas being bandied about. Will post some updates once we get to that point. But in summary, much happier with the current direction the design is travelling in!!

Thank you! Yep, I think you've summed it up pretty well. There is a lot going on with the design, it's somewhat bitty. I think I'm somewhat in limbo til I solve it. The glass by the chimney - appreciate what you're saying, but that end of the house has the view right out over the fields, down a bit of a hollow and you can see Strangford Lough and the Mourne Mountains in the distance, so I wanted that as a bit of a wow factor, and the ability to walk, and stand and look out. Plus our ponies/horses will be out in front, so be handy to keep an eye on them too!

Thank you! It's sort of round the corner from Mr Miller above, so I'm in good company. I don't feel like radically altering anything, just not quite 100% satisfied yet.

Yeah, we will see the back wall every time we drive in! The back of the house will be looking out at the hedge and someone's field behind. Our land is all to the front and side. Edited to add, the wee jutty out roof on the below was for a car port thing at the back door, that was frankly a bit weird, so we removed that.

@joe90Yes, the room with the chimney is double height vaulted ceiling. We added the tall floor to ceiling glass and moved the chimney to the outside of the house, from the original plans. Agreed, the side with the weird gable is a bit odd, but don't forget in 3D it is stepped out, as the house is T-shaped. (The sloped roof there being the ensuite and dressing room for the downstairs bedroom). I might swap the stone cladding in that area for timber and just keep the chimney in stone. Might add a bit of more interesting mix. Had a quick play there, removing a rear dormer and changing the other windows to be separate sash style like the cottage above. Don't know if the wall with the back door in it is a bit too plain now...

Making some good points chaps. In fairness the T shape of the design works quite well with the outlook over the fields. Seemingly there were objections in the past to this development so I don't feel like rocking the boat or redoing grounds works. The more i think about it, the more I think streamline the dormers to some extent, and the ones that remain try and detail towards traditional cottage feel. I think there is just quite a lot going on, on pretty much every side of it. Here's another example of 3 dormers that look good to me (traditional and unfussy) but then it is also nicely symmetrical whereas the back of mine is lob-sided.

@ProDave Size-wise, I don't think it is too big. We are coming from a big old house that is probably 500+ sq ft bigger, with 5 receptions. Anyway, the pp is already granted and founds are in the ground, so I am stuck with the outside footprint. But yes I agree the design is quite bitty and I see what you're saying about the bigger style dormers. Mmmm 🤔 I guess I am trying to work out what I can alter (ideally simplify) without having to re-apply for new permission as the wait times here are pretty horrendous. I think I will need to bug the architect again 😬

Yes, I do like the traditional style. Skeiling is a new term to me, but yes my thinking is along the lines of simplicity, especially when there are potentially 6 of things to consider. The big one on the front in the Home Office room, I am actually thinking the Velux Cabrio balcony could work well. Would give me the ability to stand outside and chat on the phone whilst working! But then you end up with quite a big expanse of boring looking roof. The current design at least matches the eaves of the gable beside it. Be nice to have the skills to fiddle with the design drawings yourself.

@joe90 A lot of stuff in the area is similar i.e. all a bit forgettable, or else moving towards the modern white render/grey window contemporary box stuff which isn't really my thing either. Bit too clinical. This recent build is popped up for sale recently outside Belfast and piqued my interest - their 3 'dormer' windows in a real cottage style finish is lovely.

Hi guys, So the story is, we have managed to get a site that has full planning in place, and founds in, for the below 1.5 storey house in a field. The designs and planning were done back in 2007 so we have done some work over the summer with the original architect to update the looks and give some thought as to how to build to modern standards (probably timber frame). Our lender will be Ecology so we are targeting a SAP rating of 88+. I'm mostly happy with where we have got to, albeit still not in love with it. Though I think that stems from the fact that I very much like our current house which is 100 years old with 10 foot high ceilings and period features. But, that's my problem really. Anyway, my main concerns are: 1. The amount of dormer windows - I think this stems back to the Irish thing where houses in the country are meant to look like traditional cottages. Whilst I really dislike sloping ceilings upstairs, and dormers do at least help out a bit, I'm conscious that there are 6 of the things here, and they add complication (build and air tightness) and expense for what real gain? Would I actually be better with say a few Velux Dormer Systems instead or in fact just simple regular Velux's? https://www.velux.co.uk/products/space-makers/dormer 2. The overall design to me still feels a bit late 90's/early 2000s. I guess I am torn between tweaking it be more "proper traditional" or more full-on modern - albeit I'm not sure how well it lends itself to the ultra modern look. I just think from a design perspective it's a bit stuck in no-mans land. The bottom two elevations being the ones that I can't warm to really. 3. I don't want to get carried away with the build. I'm not looking for bragging rights, it's more a case of moving to the countryside for land, and having the kids horses on-site beside us. I guess ultimately I'm a bit torn and procrastinating, and conscious that we also want to be building a sand arena, and stables etc, so if we can simplify the house build that could free up a few more quid for other stuff. Comments and suggestions welcome!!

Some great advice and feedback here folks, very much appreciated. Much to consider. Having digested things and asked about, it also occured to me that there's no reason I couldn't do both i.e. UFH downstairs and radiators upstairs. There's some funky looking rads out there these days. Really it'll only be the kids upstairs anyway, and if it's zoned/thermostatic valves it'll do the job fine, and give somewhere to dry clothes (I know you shouldn't but I'm just being realistic!!) I'm gathering prices for this, along with solar and heat recovery and ventilation systems, as it makes sense to do this now and future proof ourselves.

UFH - seems to be all sorts of stories, experiences, viewpoints out there on this one, so please help me decide. Background: planning a new 1.5 storey 2500sq ft timber frame house with concrete upper floor. I'm not actually averse to radiators in a room as it's what I am familiar with, and we presently have a 100 year old house with 20+ cast iron radiators which are both a nice feature, give out great heat and are handy for drying clothes on! (Yes I know, but we do) UFH - seems complicated, a lot of buried stuff that if there is fault means difficult (expensive) remediation works and having had a copper pipe leak in a concrete slab before, I'm very aware of the hassle that causes, plus time to heat up/cool down the slab seems to be a common gripe. At the same time I need to hit a SAP rating of 88+ for our Ecology mortgage. Question is: 1. Is UFH just a given these days for a modern eco home? i.e. suck it up and get on with it, quit worrying about nothing; or 2. Is the old school approach of radiators on the walls actually a feasible option in this day and age?

Maybe worth checking DIY Kitchens too. Lots of good recommendations from a different forum I am on. https://diy-kitchens.com/

Great thread!! And house looks fantastic. I'm beginning the journey, not far from you it would appear. Between Carrowdore and Greyabbey. Be good to pick your brain at some point if that was possible...

Hey, thought I would sign up, say hello and see what I can learn. Current status: - Site with FPP and with some agri land for horses - Pulling all the paperwork together for the bank - Working out what needs done about an element of shared lane access - Liaising with planning about what is needed to build stables and sand school - Speaking to timber frame companies, builders, and estimators to tee up the build All this is happen while I simultaneously ponder the price of materials and whether or not there is a pending recession, as well as try and finish up projects on our current 100 year old house restoration, getting it ready to sell. So yeah, few things to obsess over in coming months. Planning is for 1.5 storey affair, complete with my pet hate of sloping ceilings upstairs. Still coming to terms with leaving 10 foot high ceilings in all rooms, and bay windows, to go to a new build bungalow with rooms in the attic, aaaarrrgh.