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We had our hearts set on a beautiful Merbau deck for our outdoor room – at least until we came across an article in a recent Better Homes & Garden magazine.

Merbau is a very oily and very durable hardwood that is particularly resistant to termites. No wonder why it has become the wood of choice for decking and outdoor building. What keeps us from committing 100% to the decking is the cost ( around $350/sqm) and ongoing maintenance. We really do love the look, but the ongoing maintenance may prove to be an issue. And oh, by the way, we’ve got a dog, and likely another once we move in. I don’t know how well the wood will stand up with these guys racing across it. But what really threw us for a loop was an idea we saw in Better Homes & Gardens.

Pavers are simple, generally easy to maintain, and relatively inexpensive. When designing the new home we thought we’d go with decking for sure. We still will have the front porch decked in the entry way, but our thoughts may have changed for the backyard. We’re now thinking of paving with dark grey pavers (matching our roof and step stones around the side of the house) and framing them with Merbau slats.

But what look do you like? Vote now for the style you like best. We need help!

Well, we’ve bought the land, and we’ve started to get to know the neighbours. Yet we’re still around nine months from even being able to move in. It’s weird to stand where your kitchen will sit, or where guests will stay, and know that we will soon start calling this plot of dirt and weeds – home.

Here’s a few shots from our countless trips out to Stonecutters Ridge. Soon all these empty lots will start filling up with homes and families. Pretty crazy, huh?

So, we’ve really just started when you look at the entire build process. Even so, it has been fun, but then again we haven’t reached the building stage yet. How will it change, over the next nine months?

We’ve decided to build the Metricon Liberty 42 out at Stonecutters Ridge in North West Sydney. It’s a relatively new neighborhood with the first few homes only slated to be finished within the next few weeks. It’s all a new process to Megan and I, but it’s something we’re both looking forward to. We’re not sure what to expect, but we’re sure to learn heaps over the entire build process.

While the look of our house won’t exactly match the above picture, it’s pretty darn close. We’ve decided on the Plantation facade and although we’re not rendering the house, the brickwork color matches the color very close, and the other colors are pretty similar. We’re set to submit our colors to the developer later this week, and then hopefully to Council by Christmas. Here’s hoping it all goes smoothly.

Over the coming months we’ll update this blog to track our build process. It’s going to be an interesting experience, for sure.

Would you look at this. Our house has been sold! Today is the end of the cooling off period, and it’s all official! It’s been an adventure trying to get this place sold, in the current economic climate and all. But we’ve learned quite a bit as well. What works, and what doesn’t.

Ultimately we’re excited (and relieved) to have this place sold, but it comes with a hint of sadness. While we got engaged and got married while living in this place, we technically were married overseas, so the attachment isn’t there because of that. Where the attachment does lie is with Jake. He was brought home to this house, and this is where he grew up. It’s where he saw his first thunderstorm and hid under mummies legs. It’s where he drove dad crazy when he’d rip up the garden. But I think he’s excited to go to the new place. Everytime we drive out there and he gets out of the car he runs and runs and seems pretty happy.

Fortunately, so are we.

This house was good to us. So were the neighbours. We’ll miss them too, but they can come visit.

In an attempt to save money, and have our property listing stand out, I decided to take the house photos myself. I wasn’t sure which would be used, but thought to send across a few and let them decide which to publish. For nostalgic and sentimental value, I’ve posted them here.