Recently I told you that we have submitted hopefully our last set of plans to build our dream home! Since submitting them I have been pinning away over on Pinterest and have become homeware obsessed all over again!
I thought I would share some of my hallway inspiration with you today but hopefully you can give me something in return… Who are your favourite interior designers? Where do you love shopping for homeware? Who are your favourite interior bloggers?
I need inspiration to keep me going!
So the last time I blogged about building our dream home in Northern Ireland was June 2016! 19 months ago! Time really does fly in but honestly not a lot has happened since then. They do say self-building is a long process.
Shortly after we received word that our outline planning had been passed, things went on hold as I found out I was expecting Annie. We knew building was a stressful process and so was having a baby, so we didn't want to add more pressure and stress into the pot! However, after passing the 3 month mark I got excited about the prospect of building our dream home for Baby Hill so we hit the ground running again!
In late March 2017, we submitted our second set of plans (our first set was for our outlining planning and our second then was what we actually wanted to build – the fun part!) We had no idea were to begin designing our home and spent many, many months creeping on houses on Property Pal and nosing around show homes. It took around 4 months before we designed, what we thought, was our dream home.
We knew we wanted 3 or 4 bedrooms, an open kitchen-dining-living room, a good room etc but beyond that we really didn't have a clue so we needed help, and a lot of it! Thankfully my mum and dad have built two homes and they really became our guiding light in the entire process. Dad and my brother also work in the building trade so they were amazing in giving us ideas and inspiration on what might work and what might not.
Now they say the line of a self-build home never goes straight and boy are they right. Shortly before Christmas we found out that it is pretty unlikely we will have our plans passed. WHAT?! All that hard work and months of planning was down the pan! Somehow though, we weren't disappointed. Yes, I know that may sound crazy, but after having Annie Carl and I quickly learnt what was our dream home as a single couple was definitely not our dream home as a family and we really wished we could have changed our plans.
Low and behold, this weekend we have finally settled on our ideas and designs for plans number 3. Can it really be third time lucky?! I will keep you posted!
We are still no where near being able to start building our dream home (what on earth takes planning so long anyway?!) so this week I have been curbing my inability to be patient by looking up our dream kitchen. I really couldn't decide if I wanted to continue the dream country theme throughout the house or to tackle an ultra modern theme but I think I have finally decided on the first. There is just something so home-y about a country cottage style home.
Ok, so let's go right back to the beginning. I always new I would build my "dream home" when I was younger and my dad and I had always planned it and talked about it. However, I don't think I realised then how un-idyllic the whole process actually is.
When we first got engaged we never even thought about starting the process. We were lucky enough to already have a home to live in rent free so we wanted to make the most of it as well as that I was completing a Masters at the time so there was definitely enough going on. Hats of to anyone building & planning their wedding at the minute. Seriously, planning a wedding isn't nearly as stressful as building.
Carl & I decided to start the whole process around a year ago and to just take it slow but we are still no further on, so if you are just starting to think or consider building my big tip is to definitely have patience (I have none of it).
The first big thing was to choose where exactly we were going to have our site. Depending on what your basis is for building you may have choice but you may not. I researched lots of different architects but decided to go with 2020 Architects. I had followed them on Pinterest and Facebook for a while and after seeing Michael on Grand Designs building his dream home I thought "yeah he gets it" so we decided to go with them.
Richie came out initially for a free consultation. Carl, Dad and I showed him the site and he was immediately able to tell me where I could & couldn't build. We discussed lane ways and all the little bits (or so I thought they were little) that we had never even thought of.
We submitted our outline planning after only a couple of weeks talking with Richie at the beginning of November. I loved their no-nonsense attitude, they really just get the job done.
I kept checking the online planning portal and checking in with Dorothy from 2020 Architects, on how planning was going. I knew it was a lengthy process but I think I was always afraid it would get rejected so I tortured her for any changes (sorry Dorothy!). We finally got word our outline planning had been passed in April and of course I was buzzing!
Next stop was designing our dream home so I will get writing and fill you all in next week. I'd love to hear all about your own building experiences so please feel free to like & share.