Let's take a step back

Well, the budget report came in and it's not good.  After moping about the place for a couple of days, grumbling and muttering about big mortgages etc, what we need to do now is come back to reality.  Clearly the way to cut the budget is to use as much of the existing building as we can, as it is.  The problem for us is that at the top of our wish list, was high ceilings and this house, being a typical project home from the eighties has flat eight foot ceilings, except in the lounge area, where there is a raked ceiling. So, it's back to the architect to regroup.  Before we meet with him though, we need to revisit our brief and see what we can and can’t do without.

Show me the money!

We had our third meeting with David, the architect today and he has come up with a concept plan for what will be an absolutely beautiful house.  I am less than thrilled though, as I have a sinking feeling that it will be way over budget, as he seems to think that to achieve our brief, we would be better off demolishing and rebuilding.  Now, while I am all for this, the budget says "NO!" I have been in a position before where we built and lived in an amazing house with an amazing mortgage to match.  Never again - the stress nearly killed me.  Every meeting of the reserve bank would have me breathing into a brown paper bag.   Before we go any further, we will need to price it.

Dreamy house - nightmare mortgage