The Ornamental Overhaul – Building Your Home for Substance and Style

Anyone who has spent a weekend or two roaming through display homes will have realised that many builders seem to be working from the same playbook – create an enticing external facade but make the interiors all the same bland, cookie cutter style. For those seeking a home with character or points of difference, this sameness can be disheartening.

Home builders who have the flexibility to allow buyers to tailor and customise their homes internal fixtures, finishes and features are handing back the creative reins – enabling buyers to stamp their new homes with their unique personality.

According to new entrant to the market Hoot Homes, the time is ripe for first home buyers in particular to expect something more for their money. An affordable home or house and land package, shouldn’t mean compromising on desirable, quality inclusions such as:

● Butlers pantry

● Full ensuites

● Walk-in robes

● Multimedia integration

● Smart home functionality

● Environmentally sustainable design

● European appliances

● Caesarstone benchtops

Building a solid base

When building a home with a builder or choosing the finishes for a house and land package, you are setting the basis for all future interior design selections. That means priority should be given to both the quality standard of fixtures, fittings and flooring. 

Ideas which can create a stunning canvas for you to work from, include:

● Architectural details such as mouldings, decorative skirting boards and architraves

● Natural stone finishes – if budget is an issue, there are some wonderful options for flooring and tiles which mimic the real thing superbly

● Waterfall benchtops

● Uplighting for kitchens and bathrooms – lighting can be an affordable way to transform rooms into the realms of breathtaking!

● European appliances – always desirable, always stunning

● Well planned, complementary outdoor entertainment and leisure zones

● Feature contrasting timber:

○ Room dividers

○ Storage nooks

○ Built-in entertainment cabinetry

Adding some magic

It is often tempting to play it safe when designing the interior of a home, but there’s always room for creativity. As an example, while standard downlights are a wonderful way to create subtle atmosphere throughout the home but in select rooms, there is scope to use dramatic light fittings such as drum shades to introduce colour, elegance or character.

Lighting can also be used to stunning effect in the kitchen where pendant light fittings are available in a range of dramatic shapes and colours, only limited by the imagination.

Let the sunshine in

The entrance of natural light can be the single most influential factor in creating mood and impact within internal spaces. As an example, a home built with an orientation where too much afternoon sun enters a living space, can make the room far less comfortable.

Alternatively, rooms which have a poor entrance of light can feel gloomy and uninviting. Look for builders who offer something a little different in their window designs. Think about not only what you are looking out on, but also who is looking in. This is particularly relevant for rooms fronting the street.

Entertaining and leisure

Whether a first home buyer or seasoned professional, the outdoor leisure zones of the home are a vital component and need to be situated and designed for maximum comfort. Cafe doors and retractable glass walls are in strong demand by new home buyers. Positioning should give you a pleasurable aspect from every window.

Integrated audiovisual and multimedia equipment is a wonderful inclusion in outdoor leisure spaces and can be designed to work within zones such as outdoor kitchens. Consider the orientation of these areas and factors such as protection from the elements (wind and rain). Groundwork for electrical conduits, reticulation and plumbing should be included at planning stage to avoid the disruption of retrofitting.

If you are a first home buyer seeking to build a home which is both affordable yet a cut above the average, make sure you find the best builder to realise your dreams. They should listen to you to identify the ideal floor plan and features which will provide your family with the most comfortable, functional home – both now and for many years to come.

Tags: New Home, Renovation

Category: Dream home, Housing