Narrow Lot Home Designs Perth

Within Western Australia there is a lot of space. But within Perth we are seeing an increase in the amount of people buying a decrease; a decrease in block size that is. Perth is seeing a rise in the amount of people purchasing, what is referred to, as a narrow lot. These are lots that are smaller and have narrower frontages. Sometimes even as narrow as 9m, therefore we see that Perth home builders are creating very functional and beautiful narrow lot home designs Perth.

When thinking narrow lot homes it can be easy to think that the home must be small, but with these incredible narrow lot designs Perth you can see how you can still live big on a narrow lot. Here is a few ways you can increase your narrow lot potential when designing your home.

1. Use Glass – Large Glass windows, and large glass doors to the exterior will make the outside of your home come in. Flooding your home with natural light will bring a sense of space to what can often seem like tight spaces. Sitting in your lounge room or dining area looking out large windows (or doors) over your garden areas can bring a sense that your lot is bigger than it is.
2. Make the indoors, outdoors and visa versa – When it comes to a narrow lot home you cannot just get a home design and slap it down. Good Perth home builders will design the home with the lot in mind the whole time. Every bit of space on that lot needs to be considered and used to its highest potential. So how do you make the indoors outdoors? Consider the living room and balcony. Maybe you use bi-fold doors so you can open up the space and make the living and balcony become one. Or if a pool was involved you could do the same and create the illusion of endless space.
3. Think up – Obviously with a narrow block (possibly even 9m) you have some restrictions in how wide you can go for your house design. But instead of thinking width, why not think height. You can create more space by building up. Great Living Homes specialises in two storey narrow Lot homes. They have the smarts and technology to build two story narrow lot homes faster and cheaper than most builders. By building a two story home you have the ability to incorporate high ceilings and even high window openings to create the feeling of space. From the outside your house may seem smaller, but from the inside it will feel like a palace.

When thinking about narrow lot home designs Perth and perth home builders, think great living homes.

Recommended Reading: https://www.greatlivinghomes.com.au/blog/what-to-look-for-when-finding-the-best-home-builder-in-perth/

https://www.greatlivinghomes.com.au/blog/key-points-to-finding-right-home-builder-in-perth/

A few common mistakes to avoid when building

There are many things about building a new home that are amazing and exciting. But there are some common mistakes that are made by the designer / home owner that can and should be avoided. We often think that our builder or someone else is going to help us avoid mistakes, but mistakes are inevitable and often out of our hands (especially with custom built homes); but it is a good thing to be informed and ready for anything when building your home. So here are a few different mistakes people make when building their new home.

Dollars over quality

When it comes to custom homes or building in general you must be very sceptical of the ‘cheapest price’. Because in building the cheapest price is rarely the best value and it is definitely not the best product. Money is still important and builders still need to be competitive in their pricing, but when it comes to the home you will be living in, going the lowest price is not the best idea. If at the beginning stage of building your home you save a few thousand by choosing low end products, you will forget about those thousands saved when those products don’t hold up through the first few years of living in your new home. Also enquire of your builder if you can see previous or current projects using the same products.

Unique is good, too unique is very bad

Design is something that every home owner wants to be a part of and even though you could choose a house off the builder’s plans, chances are you will still want to make some changes. In saying that definitely add design elements that are going to best reflect your personality and season of life, but do not over complicate the design. You need to consider your home’s value and possible resale, even if you plan on living in it for the long run it will eventually need to be resold and if the design is too unique then that is going to make it harder than it needs to be to resell.

Time your changes

While on the subject of design, it is very likely that at some point you are going to want to change something about the design. For example, you may want to add a walk in robe where there wasn’t one, or maybe even a whole other bedroom. These designs are all possible but they need to be made in the planning stage and avoided in the building/construction stage.  You can make them in the building stage but it is a lot more expensive and could potentially make your mortgage repayments higher.

As mentioned earlier, mistakes will be made, but if you can avoid mistakes on your end that is going to make your building journey one to be remembered and not a nightmare that goes on long past you moving into your new home. Consult a good quality builder like Great Living Homes, who are also custom home builders Perth, and ask the difficult questions to avoid mistakes. 

Building Budget Tips for Homes

When it comes to building a new home (for single or double story homes), no matter what kind of person you are, where you live or which builder is building your home, one thing remains consistent and that is the presence and importance of a good budget. It can be all too easy to lose sight of your budget during the build process due to uncertain factors or unusual circumstances. There are a few tips though that you can have up your sleeve before going in to deep and losing sight of your budget. We have compiled a few for you.

1. Extend your margin

When you sit down to do a budget, think through all the things you can about what you need money for, once you have done that add a couple of thousand or more on top as a “buffer”. You never know how many unexpected costs may arise that you need money for. If those costs do not arise, then you have a little extra money at the end. But it is better to over budget than under budget. It can help as well to have a rough idea or maybe a copy of the single or double storey house plan you are going with.

2.                  What are your non-negotiables?

Before you begin construction it is worth your time to sit down, and whether it be by yourself or with the person your building with, figure out your non-negotiables. What do you not want to change? or what do you HAVE to have. There are always a few things that people do not want to compromise on, for example these can be things such as: a guest room with a bathroom, polished floors, timber floors, certain light fittings, a pool etc.

3.                  Study up and be prepared

With anything in life that involves a large amount of time and money adequate research needs to be done. One way you can research is to visit display homes, even if the builder you are going with doesn’t have display homes, you might as well drop into some other builders display homes and have a look at the features. Some features that you had your heart set on may not be as appealing in person, so it is worth looking around. Another approach to research could be to ask any family or friends who have built a home before. They would have incredible insight into the whole process along with home builders in Perth and what’s worth putting your money and efforts into and what is not worth it.

4.                  Swap or trade

Staying within your budget can be tough, so be flexible and willing to swap what you wanted for a less expensive product. For example, maybe you really wanted high end marble bench tops but it doesn’t sit in your budget, ask your builder for other options. Maybe they can suggest a less expensive stone that has a similar look and style without the extravagant cost.

Ultimately if you know your non negotiables and are flexible on the rest you can build the home of your dreams. It is important to choose the right builder as well, a builder who is willing to help and communicate with you through the whole process. See Great Living Homes website for amazing one and 2 storey homes in Perth and their house plans.

Design Trends for Your Modern Home

Most people building or planning to build a luxury home Perth are looking for the latest trends and modern designs. Whether that is in colours, type of furniture, technology, or even building materials, there are always trends. Building your home with a company like Great Living homes allows you the access to modern ideas and also the ability to adjust your design to suit your design needs. So what are some of the design trends showing up this year for new homes? We have put together a small list below.

Green Is a Go

Green is a go both in the flora sense and also the environmental sense. Firstly flora, it is no secret that if you walk into a café or a funky restaurant you will see nice artificial plants that make the room seem both comforting and natural. Greenery or even the colour green adds depth and warmth to your home. We recommend jumping on the artificial plant bandwagon and making your house that little bit more fresh. Going green also refers to the popular trend of making your home more sustainable and environmentally friendly. This can be done through the use of solar panels, rainwater tanks and even steel framing. Go green for your new home.

Creating space where technology cannot go

Technology has gotten fast and invasive very quickly. Its advancement has caused many people to look for places where they can be tech free. In your new home why not create one of those spaces; it’s called broken plan spaces. You can custom design your house with cosy little offset rooms that can be made into tech free nooks. You can use these rooms for reading, doing a hobby or just socialising. Adding features like a hammock or day bed can also help within these spaces.

Embracing New home technology

On the flip side to the above trend is the trend to make your home a lot more tech savvy. Making the most of the technologies that are available is something that can create an ease to your home environment. In recent years technology has advanced to allow a streamlined and functional operation within your home, it’s referred to as a smart home.  Basically allowing you to control almost everything from your mobile or tablet device. There are many luxury home builders Perth who can help you with new home technology.

Flexible Rooms

Flexibility and versatility is a great feature popping up in homes today. With a growing amount of smaller houses being built on narrow lots there is more of a need for rooms that can serve two purposes. These dual rooms for example could have a fold out sofa in them, a television and a desk, therefore creating a bedroom if necessary but otherwise a nice little entertainment room. Dual rooms are a definite trend for anyone building a smaller home, or just looking to maximise space.

Whatever the design trend or house feature be sure to talk to experienced luxury home builders in Perth and Mandurah homes like Great Living Homes. We want to help you get into your dream home.

Building an Energy Efficient Home (Home Builders Perth WA)

Have you ever wanted to build a home that helps minimise your energy bills? Want to help the environment? Want to save some money? If you have answered yes to all of the above it sounds like you need to build an energy efficient home.

There are many house designs Perth has to offer, but you need to choose the right design and the right builder to build an energy efficient home. Here are 10 top tips to building an energy efficient home. 

1)     Save the water!

There are so many products now that have been designed to save water, e.g. taps, shower heads. Use them throughout the house. You could also install a rainwater tank for your washing machine, toilet, or for watering the garden. 

2)     Insulation revelation

Both Perth builders and Mandurah builders will offer insulation for your new home, but don’t just take their word for it, do some research and consider upgrading to high quality insulation. It is the thing which keeps your house warm in winter and cool in summer.

3)     Direct your home right

Orientation is a big one. In the summer there can be cool breezes (e.g. sea breeze) and in the winter you want to grab as much sun as possible.
We suggest orientate your house to capture these natural cooling and warming elements. A good tip is design so your living areas face north.

 4)     Shading

Eaves are a great way to shade your house, when you look over your design look at the placement of the eaves. Also consider patios, pergolas and awnings; all of these are great options for keeping the direct sun out in the summer and provide some cover in the winter rain.

 5)     Glaze those windows

Windows can be both heat absorbers and heat deflectors, when building an energy efficient home it is advised to reduce the number, and the size of the windows on the west and east walls.

Double glazed windows can also help, but it is best to ask for window professional advice when it comes to double glazed windows.

 6)     Landscaping

The grass out the front and the plants in your garden can be large water wasters. If you have the budget get yourself some nice artificial turf, it is quite nice and realistic these days and is comfortable for kids to play on.

Also when it comes to your garden, plant drought-tolerant plants in the garden to reduce that water waste, you could also use some native plants to add some Australian flair.

Ultimately there are quite a few ways you can build an energy efficient home. Some that we did not cover explicitly are; thermal mass, lighting and appliances. Majority of home builders perth wa will have a good idea about how to minimise your energy consumption.

Is your New Home A Quality Built Home?

In the housing industry and amongst Perth and Mandurah Builders there are common issues that can arise in terms of quality and it is important for any new home buyer to be aware of them. The reason for this is because there is a constant tension within any building company between quality and profit. The old saying ‘you get what you pay for’ is very true in house building. Therefore quality must come at a cost. When you see an advert that seems too good to be true for a new home, you will basically be looking at a new home which lacks quality, and within a short period, you will see some of the following issues arise with your new home.

●       Cornice Cracking – This type of cracking happens for reasons such as ground movement and building settling which in turn causes expansion and shrinkage. Minor cornice cracking is not of structural concern but should be regularly observed. Great Living Homes have had some cornice cracking, but it is unavoidable with brick homes and some custom design homes. This cracking is due to the different materials moving differently with temperature and moisture changes.

●       Ceiling Collapsing - “Causes of ceiling collapse may include incorrect access and use of the roof space; the use of inappropriate materials; or poor workmanship.” Building Commissioner Peter Gow said (https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/announcements/causes-and-warning-signs-spontaneous-ceiling-collapse).

●       Wall Cracking – Wall cracking can occur both inside and outside. This can be caused by many things. A major one in Australia is our hot weather and lack of rainfall. Restricted moisture in the soil has a considerable impact on the structure of your home. Cracking can also be caused by sun exposure or plant root systems tasking moisture from the soil.

●       Leaking Claddings – Just recently we saw a large amount of apartment buildings in Melbourne have water leaking problems. It was said that Shoddy materials (a certain form of cladding) and poor workmanship were the causes faulty homes.

●       Leaking Windows – Generally caused by a lack of over hangs and poorly installed or missing flashing. If a tradesman is rushed or maybe runs out of materials the mind set of ‘it will be ok’ can sometimes arise. But when it comes to flashing around windows this is a must.

●       European house borer - European house borer (EHB) is a pest of timber including pine, fir and spruce. If allowed to become established it can cause major structural damage to buildings that have been built with untreated pinewood or substandard products. EHB (also known as Old house borer) is found in Europe, Middle East, South and North Africa, South and North America, China and Asia Minor. The EHB was first discovered in Western Australia in 2004. The pest is suspected to have come into Western Australia in imported pine timber as larvae.

All of these and more issues have arisen within Western Australian housing recently and amongst home builders Perth, other than unavoidable cornice cracking none of these issues have been found in a Great Living Homes build. Why? Because the owners are directly involved in the build and at Great Living Homes the highest priority is not profit at any cost. We use high quality materials and good trades to see great houses being built all around the Perth and Mandurah areas. 

Landscaping For Narrow House Designs

Narrow lots create a number of challenges for those who own them, firstly in designing a home to fit on a small space without making the home feel like a prison, secondly in making the block appear larger than it really is for the all-important resale value and also in creating an attractive landscape to suit all needs of the home's occupants. Here are some helpful tips for creating a landscape to compliment your narrow lot house design.

Gardening experts suggest that using every inch of your land will help your block seem larger than it is, this includes that little patch out the front of your home between the footpath and the curb (if you happen to have a footpath out the front of your home). Utilising this verge space to plant ground coverings such as low-growing succulents or perennial flowers helps to add interest and colour to the front of your home as well as lengthening the size of your yard.

If you have a two storey narrow lot house plan you could create a vertical garden of climbing plants to brighten up a bare external wall of the home, or draw attention upwards making the yard feel bigger. Vertical gardens are also useful in covering up ugly fencing and adding a focal point to an otherwise boring space. Using focal points such as water features, winding paths, seating areas and bold tropical plants helps to distract the viewer from noticing the small plot of land.

Lawn is not an essential part of a backyard, so if you don't need lawn in your yard then replace it with lots of different, attractive plants of various sizes and shapes; plants with large leaves can help you change the scale of your yard. Make yourself a miniature forest with footpaths winding through it to allow for garden maintenance and easy access, maybe even a hidden seating area where you can go to sit and read a book without being disturbed!

Use interesting or attractive materials to build pathways, especially if you have a neglected side yard. Paths that can help you to link the backyard to the front yard will add to the feeling of a lengthened yard, particularly when there are several different elements to appreciate along the way such as hedges, vines, seating areas or water features. Outdoor seating areas should be located further away from the house in order to give the impression of a larger yard.

A popular way to maximise the use of outdoor space for a narrow lot home design is to divide the available yard space into distinctly separate zones because this way all areas are more likely to be used; zones may include a vegetable garden or greenhouse, a fire pit, grassed areas for kids to play on, a patio or feature garden. If possible, use bamboo screening as a way to block out views of neighbouring yards and keeping your yard feeling cosy and intimate.