Category: Building Design

The way you design your home’s floor plan and layout affect your home’s potential, in a number of ways. It is an essential part of the building process and is one of the key features you must consider for your home to be accommodating to your lifestyle and suitable to your family. Because building a home is an expensive investment, many homeowners decide to design the home’s layout on their own. While this may sound economically smart, in reality, it isn’t. A home’s layout, like any other phase of construction, needs to be professionally planned to be effective.

The layout of your home affects and is dependent upon your lifestyle, your family, what you use your home for (is it purely residential or do you intend to use it as a form of income?) and how you want the interior of your home to appear. There are three main types of floor plans that you can choose from:

• Traditional
  • Many people who live in older homes are used to this type of floor plan. The floor plan has the same amount of space, but more walls, making it less free-flowing.

• Contemporary open
  • Most modern homes have this layout as it provides a greater free-flowing feel and allows spaces to appear larger. Additionally, it creates a more together feeling as it allows people to feel closer to each other.

• Custom
  • With a custom layout, a floor plan is created according to what the homeowner desires. They can choose whatever material, colours or fixtures that they want as well as customise the floor plan.

If you decide to plan your home layout with the help of a professional, we’ve come up with some valuable tips that will help you to develop a home layout that will fit the needs of you, your family and your lifestyle.

3 tips to help you plan your home’s interior layout

Get to know the sizes that each room should be

Understanding what the general size of each room should be before you begin to plan your layout is important as it can affect the flow that you want in your home. The general size of a space in addition to the measurements of doors and hallways will help you to decide what area of the layout you should dedicate to which space. For example, if you are committed to a large kitchen and a large dining room, then they are likely to benefit from an open floor plan and be situated near to each other on your layout. In addition to the location of rooms and impact on your floor plan, the general size of rooms can help you to decide what kind of furniture you can fit into the room and what customisation details will work. For example, small rooms benefit from light colours and large rooms carry dark colours well.

Set up a focal point in your home

All homes benefit from a ‘natural’ focal point. We say natural because you also have the option of adding in artificial focal points like an accent wall or art. A ‘natural’ focal point refers to the nature surrounding a home or a view. Planning your layout around the positioning of a window that allows you to take advantage of a breathtaking view is a smart idea. It instantly creates an atmosphere and directs you to the room that would best benefit from a focal point i.e. the room that you spend the most time in. A room with a large window and amazing view would benefit from an open floor plan that allows a visitor to be instantly drawn to it.

Pay attention to how you want foot traffic to flow

There are specific factors that impact the foot traffic in your home: having roommates, entertaining frequently and preferring privacy in your home. Each bodes well with a different floor plan which ultimately impacts your day-to-day life. If you intend to have roommates for a prolonged period of time after the construction of your home, then, you may prefer a traditional floor plan that offers privacy in specific areas of the home. However, open floor plans are more attractive to prospective renters (in the case where you opt to rent your entire home). Homeowners who entertain often will benefit from an open floor plan that allows guests to move around freely.

At ES Design, we work with you to ensure that you get exactly what you want from your property. We know how important the design and layout of a project is, especially if your livelihood depends on it, and thus, will work to ensure that we provide you with the best advice and guidance possible so that your development potential is maximised. To find out more about our services call us on 0460 000 000.

To receive your home or building design plan, our design team goes through a design process that allows them to present a comprehensive design plan that is functional, includes all of your requirements and is compliant with the Building Code of Australia (BCA), Australian Standards and Building Fire Safety regulations. Our design process also allows the application to acquire council approval. For builders and property owners, the design process can be incredibly daunting and overwhelming. In this article, we’ll outline the stages of our design team’s process. This should clarify the process, from conception to construction.

Why is the design process important?

It may seem odd to have an entire design process simply for the design plan for your building. However, the process is more intricate and complex than you may realise. The building owner’s wants and needs, the property’s purpose, the various state and council regulations and the specific site all play a part in the design and must be considered during the planning process. Here are a few specific reasons why the design process is important:

• To ensure that the design plan reflects the owner’s specific needs
• To guarantee compliance with the BCA, Australian Standards, Building Fire Safety regulations and council requirements
• To scout the site and ensure that the design plan is suitable
• To ensure the best chance of Development Application (DA) or Complying Development Certificate (CDC) approval

5 stages of the design process

Stage 1: Project brief

In this stage, we meet with our clients in order to determine their needs and listen to the specifications that they have. We will discuss your proposal and explore the smoothest pathway to your overall objective for the property. It is likely that the design team will suggest different options from what you may initially want. These options will be based on your needs and future plans. According to your project, you may require a sewer diagram, survey or section 149 certificate before the design team begins.

Stage 2: Site visit

If the design project is a renovation, then we will need to scout the existing building and its environment to investigate the kind of designs that can be done. A drawing of the existing building will be done and then, the team will get started on creating solutions for your project based on the current space. Site visits are done for new builds as well to develop the best possible solution for your project. It is important to remember that based on your site, some things may not be possible because of geographical limitations or council requirements.

Stage 3: Design brief and preliminary design

Our team will examine your scope of works in order to get a comprehensive summary of what is needed for your plan. This is the design brief. Once this is completed, then sketches are produced, edited and amended and then finally, a preliminary design is sent to you, our client. Any changes needed must be made at this stage.

Stage 4: Approval

Once all amendments have been made and you are entirely satisfied with your design plan, then we have arrived at the design approval stage. Our team will proceed to document and detail your plans. They will also begin getting quotes from consultants who are necessary and relevant for your design plan. Depending on your project, the team may have to contact engineers, heritage consultants and accessibility construction consultants.

Stage 5: DA or CDC lodgement

At the final stage, your plan will be lodged along with necessary documents required for either DA or CDC approval. Our team will organise a quote from a private certifier or alternatively, you can decide to lodge with the council and pay the application fee. We will also complete all application forms for you. Once lodged, the last thing to be done is to wait for approval.

At ES Design, we work with you to ensure that you get exactly what you want from your property. We know how important a building design and renovation project is, especially if your livelihood depends on it, and thus, will work to ensure that we provide you with the best advice and guidance possible so that your development potential is maximised. To find out more about our services, call us on 0460 000 000.

Designing, building and renovating your home is no easy task. It can be exhausting, overwhelming and put pressure on your pocket. For developers, a tight budget is usually the most difficult constraint to overcome. However, in a world of new and innovative materials, finishes and furnishings for the construction and building industry, the possibilities have become endless for building designs and renovations, even when on a budget.

At ES Design, our team is trained to advise, design and execute your wishes regardless of your budget. As we have been in the industry for over two decades, we have developed a few tips and tricks for executing a cost-effective building design or renovation. In this article, we’ll outline these budget-friendly solutions so that you can afford your dream property.

6 budget-friendly effective building design and renovation tips from our team

#1 Solar passive building design

In line with sustainable trends, solar passive building design is a great way to remain cost-effective for years. Bear in mind that the initial cost of a solar passive building design is high, however, it pays for itself and in a few years, you’ll be benefiting from low utility costs. 

A solar passive building design involves using effective insulation and orientation and sustainable materials in the design of your property. For example, the awnings or eaves of your home should be used to reject sun and direct ventilation in the summer, and vice-versa in the winter. Concrete flooring and reverse brick veneer keep the heat absorbed and out of the interior, limiting the need for air conditioning. A solar passive building design is incredibly effective in Sydney where sunny days make up the majority of the year and is a smart investment for anyone looking to save money in the long term.

#2 Only build what you need

It’s easy to get carried away with a building design or renovation plans. Property owners get caught up with trends and elaborate, but unnecessary, additions such as theatres, en suites and game rooms. If you have the budget, then, of course, go for it! However, if you’re looking to cut back on your costs, then deeply consider what is needed for your lifestyle, family and future plans. Kitchens, laundry rooms and bathrooms are usually where costs are high because of expensive finishes, so consider either reducing the number of these rooms or its space. For example, do you need an ensuite guest bathroom or does a half bath suffice?

#3 Use timber frames

Consider using a timber frame for your renovation or construction of a house extension. Timber frames are sustainable, incredibly quick to build, saving you money on construction and labour costs and are extremely affordable. There are several finishes available, making it extremely likely that you will find an option to suit your aesthetic.

#4 Understand that being an owner-builder is not always cost-effective

When owners become builders, it’s either because he or she wants to supervise everything, or he or she thinks that it is a cost-effective option. However, the latter is often untrue. While you will save money by not having to hire a builder, you run the risk of spending more money than you need to because of your lack of industry knowledge. A professional builder has connections to better deals and will know what options are more plausible and economical. Additionally, you will more likely than not be torn away from your actual job, which is a loss in income for you. While the choice is yours, we highly recommend hiring a professional builder.

#5 Remember less is more

As mentioned previously, the urge to add all the bells and whistles to your property can cause you to spend unnecessary money. Our team understands that too minimal a design can result in a boring home, however, simplicity in construction has both a structural and design cost advantage. When a building’s design involves intricate cantilevers and setback, the cost can quickly rise because of wall misalignment and extra support needed below. Be simple with your design to save on costs and end up with a structurally functional and beautiful home.

At ES Design, we work with you to ensure that you get exactly what you want from your property. We know how important a building design and renovation project is, especially if your livelihood depends on it, and thus, will work to ensure that we provide you with the best advice and guidance possible so that your development potential is maximised. To find out more about our services, call us on 0460 000 000.