ᐅ If Building Again – What Would You Do Differently?

Tom1978 schrieb:

I don’t understand what you have against ceiling spotlights

Why? So far I only have some issues with ceiling spotlights, or rather, I would avoid them next time. And I already gave the reason, because it was specifically asked for. I don’t understand your question.

Tolentino schrieb:

Best burglary protection: look like you have nothing.
So, park an old/small car in front of the house and keep the luxury car behind the house.
Place a CRT TV facing the street in the room.
Don’t renew plaster immediately if it looks a bit worn out.
Don’t have a robotic lawn mower, but mow manually with a reel mower instead.
Don’t have the landscaping professionally completed before moving in; rather spend years just shifting soil around on weekends.
Use Euro pallet(s) as a front porch and terrace base, possibly covering them with artificial turf—but not the kind with blades, just a green carpet.
No concrete or steel pool, only an inflatable pool from Pearl.
No Steinel lamps, but outdoor and garden lamps from Action!
And when on vacation, of course, don’t lower the shutters (they don’t help, as already mentioned). Better yet, don’t go on vacation at all; spend the entire summer on inflatable sun loungers in the garden with the noise of a cheap radio from Bangladesh (China or Malaysia would already be too expensive)...

You’re probably right, but I’m not sure my wife would still want to build with me with those prospects.... 😳 😱
So I’d rather make the windows smaller and invest in RC3 security class, even if I could get the pallets and CRT TVs for free... 😎

I also don’t think shutters are a good burglary protection, so RC3 is definitely better. For our new build, we will use fixed glass panes wherever possible; we won’t make many windows openable—a point I still had missing on my list.

Hangman schrieb:

This is off-topic, but I’m really surprised coming from you. You’re our beloved shutter-, heritage conservation-, and plush-Pinki... so how did you end up with ceiling spotlights???

(Cute description, thanks for that. 🙂 ) My husband loves them, and I love my husband. ;-) They are meant for initial orientation; I can place as many table and floor lamps as I want. 🙂

Unfortunately, we can’t install pendant lights because due to a sudden 15.4% price increase we have to give up the additional floor height. I’ll mention the price increase a few more times. ;-)

driver55 schrieb:

From my point of view, this (again) leads nowhere because it’s too individual.
Otherwise, all houses would look the same by now.

There are many things that lead nowhere but are still fun. ;-)

(Read only if you are 18 or older!!! Otherwise, contraceptives would be unnecessary, for example. ;-) )

kati1337 schrieb:

I wouldn’t miss electric roller shutters for functionality even today, as we rarely use them. However, I simply find the straps visually disturbing.

I completely agree with you that the straps are visually disturbing. In my opinion, the importance of electric roller shutters depends on the size of the windows (or doors) and the residents’ age.

motorradsilke schrieb:

In the open-plan area, they only go down when we go to bed, ...

Why do you lower the roller shutters in the open-plan area when you go to bed? Is there a practical reason? In our previous house, if any shutter was down at bedtime, I always raised it so daylight could come in first thing in the morning. Basically, I’m not a big fan of closed roller shutters and so far hope to keep them mostly open in the new house.

motorradsilke schrieb:

In all other rooms, they are lowered after dark.

May I ask why? Thanks.

Pinkiponk schrieb:

I always raised all the roller shutters in our previous house whenever any were down before going to bed, so that daylight could come in right away in the morning.

This also works if the shutters (all or just some) are lowered at dusk and then all raised again at bedtime. They can then be opened in the morning.

Pinkiponk schrieb:

Why do you lower the roller shutters in the open living area when you go to bed? Are there practical reasons?

I'll answer from our perspective; we do it the same way.
Our roller shutters close automatically in the evening and open in the morning, with manual adjustments if needed.
The reasons are mainly perceived: it would be noisier if there was a break-in, provides thermal insulation, and privacy.
If we’re just standing naked by the fridge, that’s fine; and also if the neighbor doesn’t have shutters, no problem 😉 .
In midsummer, we like to leave the patio doors and windows open for ventilation and cooling down, but before that, the shutters go down, leaving a small gap.
We once had a stray cat under/behind the waterbed, and mice tend to wander in following their noses as well.
So, everyone does it as they prefer.

@kati1337 ... between the large open living area (kitchen to TV) and the closed kitchen, there is also the option of having the cooking and dining area as one large space (ideally facing the garden) and the sofa/TV in a separate closed room. This way, the TV is not disturbed when the dishwasher runs after meals.