Mod my house, pimp my pad…

Im currently in the midst of a self build.
As others have said, insulate like crazy, that way it doesn't matter what sort of power you use to heat as youll hardly use any of it anyway.
Wetroom is easy to do at this stage too. A good shed is obviously top priority.

That is the sensible bit, now for the all important frivolous extras 😀

I'm building some proper speakers into the wall of my kitche/family area. 12" subs in huge ported cabinets which will live under a bench and mids and tweeters above, built into solid plywood boxes behind the plasterboard.Add the appropriate crosovers and voila, boomin system for the price of a decent set of floorstanders..
Im using a Myryad MI to power it, built into the wall with the body of it in a cupboard behind for easy cable access and airflow round it.

I'd rather spend on this than a system which plays music throughout the house. Have you ever listened to in wall/ceiling speakers??
My brother in law spent £6000 on one of these systems and now has the pleasure of crappy sound playing down onto his head in every room. He likes it though.

Ive also got a star ceiling kitto use as a nightlight in the upstairs hall/gallery.

Thought about CAT 5 but can't really see what Id ever do with it so didn't bother.
I've seen these shower tv screens. Does anyone really watch TV in the shower?

A guy i know in Denmark has an area to clean his bike in his basement. Hose is plugged into hot water and we just wheeled the bikes in and washed the bikes in the warm and dry. This makes such a difference after 3hours on a cold and wet ride.

I as many have said i would also put in cables for speakers and probably network the house.

How about a network of crawlways and hatches in the ceilings, containing cats that could be tasked with watching you masturbate?

They could be combined with the cables for the over-head sound system, so that as well as having the same music playing down on you wherever you went you would also be observed by puritanical cats.

The possibility of actually realising a long-standing internerd meme in physical form is also quite exciting. You might be able to get lottery funding for it.

it might require a lot of cats.

it might require a lot of cats

Introduce a shift rota?

I've seen these shower tv screens. Does anyone really watch TV in the shower?

This is another example of all technicological progress in our society being driven by porn, isn't it?

If your question is "does anyone really watch grot in the shower?" I should think the answer was "no" before the advent of the shower tv screen, and is now "hell yeah". 🙂

"does anyone really watch grot in the shower?"

Nah.. the hot water means you end up with "silly string".. 😯

Take a look at what's available in home automation. It's something I'm trying to get into. Still amazed at the money people spend on interiors and neglect the bits you can't see.

Have you considered erecting a platform for storks to nest on? 🙂

This is a round billiard table with a stripper pole in the middle. If I had more space I would certainly be considering one. It might be possible to arrange it so that storks could nest on top of the pole.

Genius. Though that pole looks awful short. Is it only for midget strippers?

Best sort.

that gives me flashbacks to a stag party, in a city bar hired for a saturday night, lots of bankers, a troupe of midgets and the olympics. I wont go into any more detail but it felt very wrong.

😯

Picturesque village for your midgets. 🙂

Now that you boys have sorted out the technical things and infrastructure, it's time for the ladies to add a suggestion or two.

Lots of storage A dressing room with en-suite.
Big utility, next to a downstairs shower/cloak room.

And a nice lady from oooop North (that's me) to make all your soft furnishings, you know interlined curtains etc. I'm way cheaper then the curtain makers in your area.

Just love the barn.
Can we all come for a house warming in a year?

dressing room? this isnt france c.1800 you know! 🙄

No soft furnishings in the whole house. Some integrated blinds but that's it. No-one can see in, so if anyone wants to sneak into the field and perve at me running around naked in front of the windows, you're welcome.

Can we all come for a house warming in a year?

hahha. That's my timetable jinxed then! Thank you! 😉

another pic fo ryou

heated bathroom mirror so it doesnt steam up after a shower
heated outdoor tap for washing the bike
indoor bike workshop

Some integrated blinds

Shutters.

How did you find the barn and where abouts is it so we can all look on google earth?

I dream of doing this one day.

With all that space in the field why not go for one of those ground heating systems?

Shutters and integrated blinds are all well and good.
You'll need some softness in there, fabrics, cushions, a nice rustic hand made wrought iron pole in the sitting room, with big heavy lined curtains – lovely.

Stop being so fuctional. 😉

Oooh and a pony, that field is big enough for a small Shetland or Welsh mountain.

Stick these in the field:

unnecessary soft furnishings are vile

Agreed iDave. However the odd cushion or nicely covered chair or Roman blind makes a room look, well softer.

Have to say, I like the idea of a dressing room. I sort of have one, as my wardrobe is in the spare bedroom. It's nice to keep sleeping space very uncluttered, which I don't seem to be able to manage if it also contains my clothes. 🙂

It's nice to keep sleeping space very uncluttered, which I don't seem to be able to manage if it also contains my clothes.

I have the same problem but it's my wife, not the clothes, that is the problem. She's not the tidiest of people – apparently the floor is where we keep clothes, and the bedside table thingys are for assorted crap.

shutters:

the driftway opening (south facing) is 4m x 4m. SHutters would be too severe.
Getting blind integrated into the double glazing to control solar gain.

Im not a fan of heatpumps because of the reliance on electricity and the high capital cost per kWh. I was initially interested but smarter people than me in here guided me in the right direction

there's no place for twee soft furnishings in my house. Its not going in Country Life you know! 😉

have the same problem but it's my wife, not the clothes, that is the problem. She's not the tidiest of people – apparently the floor is where we keep clothes, and the bedside table thingys are for assorted crap.

I have, over the years with the delectable Mrs North, concluded that:

1. We are both messy, though she is more messy than me.

2. I make the same mess in the same places.

3. She makes random mess in different places. I tell her it is like tidying up after a child. In fact, if we had a child, they would be tidier.

I tell her it is like tidying up after a child. In fact, if we had a child, they would be tidier.

Both my children have inherited my wife's ability to leave clothes, plates, books, remote controls, keys in the last place they happened to have them.

*grits teeth*It's adorable*grits teeth*

at least you know for sure the children are hers.

dp

Bees.
There's gotta be bees.
I'm thinking some kind of transparent glass beehive, maybe as a kind of air conditioning thing.
And you've not said no to tigers…

Ive got bats. Lots of the feckers. Im now licenced to f*** with them too 👿

Bees.
There's gotta be bees.
I'm thinking some kind of transparent glass beehive, maybe as a kind of air conditioning thing.

Our local little museum used to have a glass sided bee hive, right next to the stuffed bear. I used to love that as a kid.

Bees are on our list.

I've got bats. Lots of the feckers.

Could be worse, I've got rats.

you can eat rats though

Gotta catch them first.

The one that hid in our toaster moved so quickly I missed it.

Oh, and what a nice barn. It probably was near where we camped last summer.

Have you thought of a moat?

Dressing Rooms are de riguer these days apparently – I still said no.

Utility Rooms with an outside door are a good idea as clothes can straight into a washing machine from biking etc.

Proper pantry larder with airbricks – you can add a food prep area, a friend has done this and included a marble surface for pastry making! You could also add a chute directly from here into the compost bin outside.

A mate has a boys toy room and he has installed a urinal – which saves a bit of hassle.

Could be worse, I've got rats.

Inefficient, but some grain, a high up spot and an air rifle is a satisfying method.

Less warfarin for dogs/children/goats/bees to consume by accident.

Yes – forgot about a boys room, we have one, it's really fantastic. I can lock them away and forget they're in there.

Also have bats, mainly in the bat box we built outside.

Still think there should be a small pony in that paddock.

Brother & Sis-in-law Stoner's pony – may be borrowed for mowing duties:

Half the field will be laid down to garden, the other half will be planted up as orchard/paddock. Maybe get some bees and all other manner of flora and fauna.