ohsix' House

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

We just don't use our microwave a ton. Occasionally 1x a day, sometimes 1-2x a week. 3+ years later, I've never needed to clean the thing.

I'm guessing Wes' family is similar in that regard. Also, this is a huge reason why we decided to hide the microwave in a cabinet. No need to see something 24-7 that we use somewhat infrequently.

eeven73 · Posted: Dec 30, 2014 8:40 am Post subject:

If you would be willing a summary of things you learned, things you would do different would be awesome.

Wife and I are looking into building(really kind of dreading) and would love some fresh perspective. I certainly will be going the quality(methodical) contractor route as I also will plan on being in what we build for the foreseeable future.

Bambamski · Posted: Dec 30, 2014 9:04 am Post subject:

I think there's always a long list not matter what you do eeven73. I know for our kitchen reno we wished we would have added another small sink in the island and one more set of plug ins on the other side of the island... The electrical is easy enough to do, just been too lazy I guess.

eeven73 · Posted: Dec 30, 2014 11:15 am Post subject:

I understand and wasn't really thinking fine points(how many outlets, or where the kitchen should be, more overall dealing with whole process.

ohsix · Posted: Dec 30, 2014 11:21 am Post subject:

eeven73 · Posted: Dec 30, 2014 11:36 am Post subject:

^ Thank You.

We have been dinking around with an architect trying to get our wants on paper and I totally get your points here. So frustrating to discuss something, confirm it twice during discussion and then get something different on paper because of xyz that I usually don't care about.

Maybe I need a different architect. Laughing

Earlier you said he bid 1.3M and you were expecting +10% I think you said your deal was 14% so he got 160K for 18 months work, right? I don't think I would feel too bad about that.

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

eeven73, we're probably going to build as well. I asked ohsix almost the same questions on PM...LOL! I guess maybe it would have been more beneficial to put it out on this thread.

ohsix · Posted: Dec 30, 2014 2:27 pm Post subject:

jjaszkow · Posted: Jan 01, 2015 1:24 am Post subject:

First off ... beautiful home ohsix. It turned out amazing.

ohsix · Posted: Jan 02, 2015 10:36 am Post subject:

I would suggest a 2nd dishwasher if you're considering it. In hindsight, I wish I had put in 2. We considered it, but thought we'd value the cabinet space more. We ended up with way more cabinet storage than we need and one on each side of the sink wouldn't have looked bad IMO.

After breakfast, our dishwasher is usually about 30% full so we don't usually run it. After dinner, it's 110% full and some things won't fit. We had some friends over for new year's eve and I think I ran the dishwasher 3 times yesterday.

One other thing I would change is taller garage doors. We went with 8'x18' doors and I wish I went with 9'x18'. Our garage ceilings are about 11' tall so there's a fair size gap between the doors and the roof line on the outside. I have a tallish motovan (my wife calls it a creeper van) that won't fit under the doors. I keep it at my shop typically, but it would be nice to have the option to park it inside when I have it at home.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Holy sheot that thing is awesome. May I suggest a different paint scheme though?

vette74 · Posted: Jan 02, 2015 11:29 am Post subject:

ohsix, Nice house glad you are finally moved in. The time frame is actually normal for revisions for Architects and Engineers. It generally takes us 1 week to a month get revisions done at my company. It is the nature of the beast. Out of curiosity how much did the Architect charge to design your plans?

ohsix · Posted: Jan 02, 2015 12:12 pm Post subject:

vette74 · Posted: Jan 02, 2015 12:41 pm Post subject:

That is a fair hourly rate. We don't do a lot of homes like yours most charge by the SF here. However, most architects don't go into the detail of picking everything out before the house is built like y'all did typically that is handled during construction however you get more errors.

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

jjaszkow · Posted: Jan 04, 2015 11:13 pm Post subject:

Okie Boarder, we moved the location of a couple of windows (reflected correctly on plans) and a slight adjustment to one of the rooflines (truss engineer made an unauthorized change that we were not happy with). Both relatively easy fixed since we identified them as issues immediately.

We aren't building a house nearly at the level of ohsix's place, but it is nice for the area and is completely custom. As to not totally hijack this thread, I can certainly describe it more in PM or another thread if you want more details.

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

So, as we prepare a few things for ours, I wanted to ask a question in this thread. I've never thought about the whole "wired" type house and never saw a real need for it. What are the different intents and purposes for all the networking and the dedicated "server" room? Can someone give me some key points or cliffs notes on it?

wakeboarderdave1 · Posted: Jan 23, 2015 7:02 am Post subject:

Do you want to have to run ethernet or other cables to all those rooms after you have put up dry wall? The server room serves as a centralized point where all of your runs (rooms) would connect to a central location where your router or modem is.

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

I understand the aspect of not running wire, but I'm trying to understand why you need it in every room. What uses are being planned for with wiring every room?

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

if you have to ask, you don't need it.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

OK, that makes a lot of sense. As it stands right now, we don't operate with rooms wired, but I can see the point in future potential. I know that wire isn't very expensive at all (we use it a lot for install projects at work), so it doesn't seem to be a big deal to add up front.

fish6942 · Addict Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 603

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

LOL, uh no.

nmballa · Posted: Jan 24, 2015 5:25 am Post subject:

I did wire my house but I don't think I would again. I ended up using just a single port and everything I do has gone wireless.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

nmballa, it's about flexibility. Being able to put a centralized video or audio system... Being able to string wireless access points around (especially in a large home like ohsix has)... Being able to put that Dish Network (or whatever) box in any room without worrying about wiring...

It's just one of those things where if you don't do it, you will likely regret it later.

I have a wireless cable box in a guest room now because the previous owners of my house cut a wire somewhere in the attic... let's just say that it is not optimal. Neutral

goofyboy · Posted: Jan 26, 2015 8:23 am Post subject:

Hang on... So, you're saying that I could take one of my little hopper boxes, move it to my server closet, and send that one signal out to different rooms if I am all Cat 6'd in my house??

I am new to all of the home networking / home automation stuff.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

goofyboy, with the right equipment, yes. You'd need some way to split or switch the signals, but it can be done.

http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=101&cp_id=10113&cs_id=1011308&p_id=8160&seq=1&format=2

ohsix · Posted: Jan 26, 2015 11:53 am Post subject:

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

That is fantastic.

For goofy's purposes, he could do a "dumb" version which just used the HDMI to ethernet splitter I showed, then leverage the UHF remotes that come with the Dish equipment and just put the remote in the room where he wants to control the TV.

I love the idea of centralizing all A/V and networking equipment into one place like Wes has. If I was building a home, this would be a priority. Get all that equipment put away nice and neat, and all you see in each room is a neatly mounted HDTV and a remote.

Technically I could already do this with the wiring already in my house (cat5e drops to at least one location per room) but I'd have to take up space in my closet which would be a non-starter with the significant other. Laughing

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

I don't recall seeing the kitchen cabinets open, so forgive me if I've missed that. Did they paint inside the cabinets as well as outside?

ohsix · Posted: Jan 27, 2015 11:22 am Post subject:

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

OK.

How do you like all the can lights? and, are they wired up in zones?

jjaszkow · Posted: Jan 27, 2015 7:24 pm Post subject:

I am big on having everything wired and as automated as possible. My previous home had all audio / video in a central location (utility room) with every source accessible from every location within the house. Was really nice, if we wanted to have the game on, we could have sound and video on in every room. If we wanted to watch different things in different rooms, that worked too. Having Cat5e cable to every location made it really easy to backhaul HDMI and IR to the utility room.

As others have mentioned in this thread, it's MUCH easier to put the wires in while the walls and ceiling are open versus when everything has been closed. I actually wish that I had network in some of the closets of the last house to place WiFi AP's.

The new home will have a bit more automation. Watch TV in the living room (with all of the east facing windows) in the morning ... hit a single button on the phone or remote, and blinds close, certain lights come on and the TV starts. Same thing in the afternoon and the blinds stay open, lights stay off and TV starts.

ohsix · Posted: Jan 28, 2015 5:52 am Post subject: