5 reasons why Carlisle is better than Porter Davis

5.  The inclusions are AMAZING. Laminate timber floor is now STANDARD with the promotion in lieu of tiles, Semi-recessed basins & funky taps are STANDARD in all bathrooms including rail shower heads & a dumper PLUS rail shower in the ensuite.
4.  When thrown a time consuming question to answer, our CLE (client liaison executive) let me know that she wouldn't have a result until the following day - as in she emailed after 5pm and let me know that!
3.  The range of options is 200 times better than PD. They have colours other than brown on offer, two brick suppliers, and the upgrade prices are 50% of PD prices.
2.  There's a spa in our ensuite and it wasn't an UPGRADE.
1.  The girls at Spectra (colour selection centre) ACTUALLY know what they are talking about, are incredibly helpful and seriously love their jobs.  When we went for our colour browse, they roam the floor in between appointments offering assistance.

We cancelled our PD contract about 6 weeks ago and the refund cheque turned up on Wednesday after 4 requests.  To date we have not received a breakdown of costs that they have withheld from our deposit, but in their defence, we have only asked for this 3 times.

I am loving this experience so far.  Carlisle Homes - you get the big tick from me!!!

Colours, colours, colours

Yep, you guessed it.  We're off to pick our third lot of colours on Thursday, but this time it's Carlisle style!

We've decided to go with one of the "freebie" facades and jazz it up a bit.  









And colour-wise we're thinking charcoal roof tiles (Monier Barramundi, traditional profile),  Austral "ash" bricks, stacked stone to the front projection in those nice warm rust tonings (I think it's called Delhi Bronze), Jasper windows and garage door, a burnt orange render or rust effect cladding on the portico and possibly a stained timber pivot door.  Gutters in "ironstone" to match the roof.  Fascia in Sufmist, mostly to give definition above portico and projection.  Downpipes either Jasper or Surfmist.

The big question... to render or not to render?  Although the bricks are light (with white and rust coloured flecks which you can't see on the image), would a solid, light colour provide a nice contrast against the stronger autumn tonings?

How can it be so difficult to combine two people's tastes into something that won't make people point and laugh (or gag) when they walk past???

One thing I do know for sure... our colour consultant is in for a pretty torrid day on Thursday.  Maybe I'll fake a sickie (and go to work) leaving Loz to do the selections?  Good plan???

Totally guttered...

...at least our road is!

After months of nothingness, we pop down today and we've got water & electricity to the block plus gutters throughout our entire stage.

There are trees along the entrance road to our estate, one family has already moved into stage 5, and the footpaths are about 1/3 completed in neighbouring stage 7.

At this rate, we may have a 2010 site start - too exciting!