Don't put your design dreams on hold. Seize the day!

If anything this pandemic has taught us is that the future is uncertain and we need to embrace life. Living in close quarters with other members of your family and spending more time at home now, this is the perfect time to revisit how you want to live. It is a great time to collect your design thoughts for your home revamp.

Is your dining table a makeshift office, classroom and craft room?

Here are 5 ideas to start your Design Dream of a Renovation Project.

1. Create a scrapbook/lookbook - these days collecting your ideas can be done on Pinterest, Houzz or another app. Having an area where you keep images you like can be a great starting place to refine what your style and design bent is.

By visualising your ideas you can start to see a new future

2. Decide on the amenity you need. As we face lockdowns and a new environment the home has taken on new functions. Deciding how you use your renovation space is an important step. While as an architect I can assist you with how the home functions and looks, you need to scope out what you really need. Understanding that is best done by creating a list of needs and rooms. This should take into account your family lifecycle and plan for the next 10-15 years. Will your kids still be living with you? Do you need to plan for the care of your parents? Are you likely to be working from home more in the future?

3. Get your original plans. Having your original plans from your local council is a great first step. It will assist you in knowing where the walls and boundaries of your property are and if there are any issues with the building envelope.

Ask your local council for your house plans

4. Inspiration is everywhere. Now is the time when we have more time at home to look for those little ideas that can change the way you live and make it easier. Looking on Instagram, Pinterest and housing magazines can create some new ideas and inspiration.

Know your style and aesthetic

5. Set a realistic time frame and budget

Most renovation timeframes are over a year. The permits and approvals can take 6 months depending on your council and plans. It is good to have a realistic timeframe so you can plan your life and key events around the renovation. Setting a budget is more difficult and you may need to scope your project first and then get a quantity surveyor to price it.

So as you can see there is a lot you can start to do to plan your renovation. Use your time wisely and start the process today.

How we are dealing with Corona virus and renovating

While Australia is well placed to fight the COVID virus it has changed the way we work and live.

The survey, of more of 2,200 Australian homeowners using Houzz, found that nearly two-thirds of homeowners (62 percent) – who were in the midst of a home renovation or design project when the coronavirus pandemic was declared on March 11, 2020 – were able to continue with their renovations. Only two percent cancelled their ongoing project. 

I have found that most clients are keen to continue with their plans and being at home more has created a sense of urgency.

Image source: unsplash ionut-vlad

As we have moved to working from home, the need for the balance between open plan and seperate working spaces is more important. While some families may have opted in the past for a fully open living, dining and kitchen area, now some are opting for that seperate study area as a priority.

Image source: Unsplash tran-mau-tri-tam

Others are wanting that space for their extended family with a kitchenette and seepage bed and lounge area so they can take care of their parents or even have a space to isolate.

Photo by Blackfish Homes Ltd. - Look for family room design inspiration

Whatever your priority, one thing for sure, COIVD has placed more importance as our home as a multifunctional space that can be a retreat and sanctuary but also a rear that we can be productive in for work.

How house design has changed due to COVID restrictions.

Since the Coronavirus the use of our homes has changed.

Searches for “small offices”, “garden offices” and “desks” went up significantly.

Here are some key trends that have been uncovered during this time.

1. Flexibly is the key - becoming crucial for homes to have multi-purpose rooms with dedicated workspaces or spaces that can easily and quickly be reconfigured depending on the time of day. We are spending more time at home so zones need to be functional and flexible so they can be used for relaxing working and or exercising

2. Automated and contactless - this trend was already on the rise before the COVID but this become more of a home design requirement. Electric blinds, smart tap, smart homes, virtual assistants like Alexa and Google Home as well as cleaning robots are all considerations now.

3. More than sustainable your home needs to be energy efficient and a healthy home. Health conscious materials are now a consideration for the build. From low VOC paints to antibacterial building materials are some examples of how this trend could manifest in the home.

4. The garage that can be the multipurpose room: that is now the granny flat, yoga room or sunroom. Flexibility in having a space that can be used for a extra space is worth gold.

How to make the most of the Corona Virus Lockdown to plan your reno.

We are all stuck inside for so much more time than we are use to. If you were planning to update your home with a renovation this is valuable time you can use. Here are 5 tasks you can start while you are in lock down.

1. Ask your council for your original plans. You need to have your original house plans so your architect can see what envelope we are working with. This will also confirm your land boundaries and any pits or council services that you can’t build on.

2. Start a crap book of ideas. These days you call them Mood boards but you can start one of these on Pinterest or Houzz. This gives you time to consolidate ideas about what you like and dislike. This will be very useful as you work through the design pallet and room functions.

3. Talk with your partner. We all have time together, but it is amazing how many couples haven’t totally agreed on the needs of a new renovation. Locking down those key elements takes discussion.

4. Contact your Architect. It takes time to build the plans for your renovation. You can use this 4-6months to get your plans done and finalise any permits through council. Most architects can still meet with you (all be it 1.5 metres apart) or can conduct zoom meetings online. Building 3D models allow you to walk through your project before it starts out on site.

5. Decide on a budget. The hardest step is often determining a realistic budget, but it is an important step. It helps define the design scope, finishes and sometimes timing of the renovation. By being transparent about your budget, your architect can work within that and provide a estimate of costs using an expert quantity surveyor.

So time is ticking. When you are bored at home, why not set up a Pinterest page and start collecting ideas. Ring your council for plans and book a time to talk with your architect to get started.

5 Tools To Make Interior Design Made Easy.

I guess we all have that special combination of ideas that make our houses feel like homes, however there is a difference between your design and having a guiding hand to assist you make the best design ideas shine.

These days there are many tools that you can use to create your ideal home. Let’s look at some of these.

1. Haveny.com - This website service while based in the US currently has some great ideas that you can leverage. Take their design style quiz to narrow down your concepts into design categories.

2. Floorplanner

Floorplanner lets you design and decorate your space in 2D and 3D, which can be done online and without having to download any software. While its interior decorating function is an excellent feature, the strength of this tool lies in its functionality as a floor planner. Then, once the floor plan is completed, you can switch view and decorate the space in 3D mode. You can Auto-furnish feature to furnish your plan with a few clicks or pick furniture items one-by-one from our library that has over 150.000 3D models to choose from.

3. Colour911 - iOs $4 app

Create and save color palettes for your next decorating project with the Color911 app. Color specialist Amy Wax has generated more than 80 downloadable color themes, but you can also create a palette based on a photograph taken on your device and organize favorite colors into folders, then share with friends or designers by email.

4. Pinterest is one of the best places to create mood boards. A collection of images on different rooms can start the story of your hew space and make it easier when you are dealing with other professionals to see your ideas. It is a great place to look for inspiration.

5. Morpholio Board - Moodboard

Awarded “Best App,” Board is the interior designer’s dream software. Called “Ideal” by Interior Design, “Addictive” by ELLE DÉCOR and “Stellar” by Design Milk, Board combines your perfect product library with powerful tools and the mobility to work or present anywhere.

Celebrities share their renovation stories with Houzz

If you are in the mode of renovating then you will have heard of the Houzz app. The latest from Houzz is they are sharing celebrities stories of where the celeb has used Houzz to collect ideas and find the right architect, builder or designer. It is a great idea to share these stories as it show cases their service and makes the content extra juicy.

Here are a couple below that I liked:

Mia surprises her parents with a refurb of their apartment

Kristen surprises her sister with a house reno.

Is now the best time to renovate your home?

The Reserve Bank of Australia cut official interest rates to a record low this month. Just 1.25 per cent. Of course, if you have your money in a high-interest savings account, a rate cut is terrible news. If the banks pass on the rate cut to you, your money will earn less interest than before.

Need more space?

Given the latest drop in interest rates for home loans dropping to around 3.5% and a term deposit only paying between 1.7% and 2.4% maybe your best time to invest in your home renovation is now?

New kitchen any one?

If you have cash tied up in a term deposit or as a lump sump you can redraw, with interest rates falling now might be the perfect time to do that renovation you have been putting off. These are three key considerations about when deciding whether or not to renovate your own home.

1. Affordability: Do you have the funds available?

2. Seasonality: Can you get the trades at an affordable rate?

3. Timing: Do you have the time to commit to working out exactly what you want? No - then it might be good to book a design chat!

Picking the right light?

Lighting is often the last part of a project that a client thinks about, however I am always designing to maximise the natural light. Lighting really has a functional and a ambient purpose and so it is worth consulting a lighting expert when designing your home. Picking the right lighting feature is dependant on function and personal tastes. Here are some tips to follow:

1. Pulling the design together. Sometimes the lighting is simple and understated and sometimes it is the key to pull the design together. Working with colour, shape and size a light is a chance to draw attention.

2. Frame a space - a lighting feature can frame a space, like a dining room or a reading nook.

3. Lights can be invisible - but still create drama. Track lighting or LED under a bench or staircase and can really set a mood in the evenings.

4. Colour and materials - are really a chance to show off your style, especially in the kitchen and bathrooms.

Narrow spaces can be delightful sanctuaries

Photo by Rebecca Lu Photography - More kitchen ideas

Photo by Beyond Beige Interior Design Inc. - Browse powder room ideas

Photo by sorensen architects - Look for living room pictures

If you have a Victorian style home with that narrow hallway or your home is on a smaller lot of land you know all about narrow spaces. There are many ways to use these spaces well and create a special space in your home. Here are my top ideas.

1. Squeeze in more storage - we can never get enough storage space and that shelving unit can be any dimension and still be very useful.

2. Use of side gardens - often the blind side of the house gets little attention but we forget that we often look onto these spaces. Creating a lush green haven can really make a view go from dull and boring to wow and beautiful.

3. Working from the edge of a space to edge can provide just enough space for a power room especially when you can build on your lands boundary and push the wall out a metre or so.

   4. Built in furniture can really free up a space. It is a great way to provide more seating an a cosy atmosphere.

4. The use of mirrors can amplify a space. It reflects the light and makes a space feel bigger.

5. Light is another trick to make a space feel bigger. If you don’t have windows, skylights are another great idea

Interior Designer - We can all do it, but here are some key tips to follow as guidelines

Collect ideas and products you wish to include

Storage is a key consideration

Consider use of outdoor spaces and greenery

With the tools like Pinterest and Instagram and TV shows on home renovations the sources for ideas for your interior has exploded. We can all now be interior designer. Here are some good ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

LookBook of key colours and textures

• Great ways to create cohesion and flow in your home design is to create a LookBook or Pinterest board for each of your rooms you wish to renovate. In here you can collect ideas, images, colour schemes and see how all of this comes together to create a”look” or theme.

• Think mood. the feeling of your home is really what you want to express in an interior design. Are you relaxed, sophicated, contemporary, classic or beachy? The mood of you home is conveyed in the ideas you collect.

• Make some key decisions that will shape your look. Some key decisions could include”

  • Lighting style.

  • Power points and door handles.

  • Metal finishes and fittings.

  • Neutral paint or fabric colour.

  • Window coverings.

• Don’t forget the outside. Bringing the outside in is a real trend. Not just the natural light but the greenery of outdoor planting. Extending living areas beyond with sliding doors and pull up windows is another key consideration.

• Enlist a professional. While we can all create a “look” and know what we like having a professional eye can really pull it all together. It is a challenging job and having that independent consultant can be worth it.

Traditional, boho bathroom

Some of my key renovations which might give you some more ideas for your Lookbook!

To sell or renovate?

With house prices falling flat over the past few months it is not surprising that growing families are accessing their need to renovate or move with more caution.

Some of the considerations around moving include:

1. The cost of stamp duty

2. Conveyancing ($800 to $1,300)

3. Marketing ($6,500 to $8,000)

4. Agent fees (two to three per cent of sale price – for example $15,000 on a $500,000 home)

5. Property styling your house to a sellable standard (property staging companies can charge up to $6,000 depending on the type of furnishings required and the length of time it takes to sell). 

6. expenses such as agent's commission, legal fees and stamp duty, loan fees and removalist fees. as listed above could be 10% of the property’s price

Some of the considerations around renovating include:

1. Overcapitalising - spending more on your home than you will make back. To avoid this get an appraisal from a local real estate agent. Let's assume your house is worth $600,000, and the average price in the street is $800,000: you could safely spend $200,000 in renovations. That's just over double the non-productive costs of moving house.

2. Better appliances and lowering energy costs

3. Builder doesn’t do a good job or finish the job

4. Cost of living somewhere while the build takes place.

What ever your decision make sure you do it totally informed. To understand the time, cost and functionality of your home renovation book at time with me to chat.

Victorian Stamp Duty costs

Creating smiles for Melbourne Renovators

There has never been a better time to renovate. See our video and let’s get started.

Tradie prices fall by 44% - bargain time to renovate.

As double digit falls in housing prices continue the cost of trades like electricians, plumbers, builders and alike has fallen by up to 44% according to ServiceSeeking.com.au's co-founder Jeremy Levitt.

“Demand for builders has fallen by more than 40 per cent. Bathroom renovations were also hit particularly hard, with demand falling 35 per cent followed by a 25 per cent decline for bricklayers and a 20 per cent dive in requests for electricians.”

So if you are after a bargain to renovate that bathroom or kitchen, then it’s time to get going. Drop me a line for a design chat or call me on 0418100872 to get your plans sorted so you can take advantage of these record low building prices.