Over recent years, our perspectives on how we live in our homes and use our living spaces have changed, driving a surge in home renovations. There’s a desire for more functional, agile and purposeful living spaces that can accommodate the requirements of family time, private time, working from home and entertainment. More recently, the rising costs of living are seeing homeowners investing in the expansion and improvement of their existing homes.
“When it comes to renovating our homes, many homeowners are primarily concerned with the look of the property, however we need to expect more from what is one of our biggest investments,” says Ben Tass, director of Tass Construction Group. “With shrinking lot sizes for new homes and many families building granny flats or adding areas for multi-generational living, it’s important to maximise and optimise limited spaces.”
Whether you’re building or renovating your first home or your forever home, it’s essential to consider key elements that create an optimal living environment. Here, Ben gives his advice on designing for contemporary life and style:
Have a clear vision
Before starting the renovation process, figure out the inspiration for the form and function of your home. What problems are you trying to solve with the renovation – is it more space, better joinery or connection to the outdoors? Think about how you want the space to feel. Remember you are building a space of connection, a living space to share with family and friends. The way you want it to feel will influence the form of your home.
Know your budget
A common mistake that people make when renovating is not having a clear budget and realistic expectations of what this can achieve. Start off with a solid foundation, as it will be difficult to rectify mistakes along the way. It is essential to understand and balance the cost of labour and materials, as it will make budgeting easier.
Define the look
“More than ever, homeowners are pushing the boundaries when it comes to the style of their homes. In the past few years, we have seen an increase in the desire for modern design from our clients,” said Ben. “In particular, we are seeing the minimalist trend extend beyond aesthetics to create an environment that fosters calm and serenity, offering private spaces that serve more as a relaxing retreat.”
Modern minimalist design embraces open plan living that facilitates better family connections. This design philosophy is centred around clean lines, muted colour palettes, and a decluttered space that prioritises functionality. To achieve the modern look, focus on elements that give you visual enjoyment – it could be big windows, timber floors, embedded textures or simple materials. A soothing monochrome palette also adds to this sense of calm. Accent your interiors with modest, quality furnishings that are simple and aren’t distracting, and restrict artificial colours and complex patterns to areas where you want to make a strong and specific design statement.
For modern living, low maintenance material choices are key. This trend reflects a growing preference for practicality and efficiency, as individuals seek to enhance the aesthetics of their living spaces while simultaneously minimising the time and effort invested in upkeep.
Create a consistent interior and exterior
Exterior building materials play many roles. They need to be beautiful, long-lasting, keep out the elements, fit within budgets, work with our thermal requirements, as well as define our personal design style.
“The façade is your first impression of a home and can give instant street appeal. It is incredibly important to get the scale and materiality right here to make sure you are coming home to an inviting space,” said Ben. “However, the exterior does more than just look good; it’s there to protect your home and your family from the elements, and provide thermal insulation, so it’s important to consider all these factors when choosing your building materials.”
Less is more when it comes to creating a modern exterior. Focus on clean lines, minimal ornamentation and pare back with only a few finishes that contrast well with one another. Consider symmetry and whether you want a completely symmetrical design or one that plays with proportions and cantilevers for visual interest. “When choosing exterior materials and colours, stick to the rule of three. Choose no more than three different materials and three colours for a modern timeless look.”
To achieve a consistent look between internal and external spaces, try to carry elements such as textures, colours and materials across both areas. Minimise the number of materials used internally and add personality to the space with a few statement pieces that resonate with you.
Design categories help give a home a general direction, but as with any home design, the most important part is the owner. Make sure you understand the basic tenants of your look and then feel free to experiment and personalise in a way that stays true not only to your chosen style, but also to what you really want in your home.
Modernising an older home
Adding a modern extension to a traditional home has become increasingly popular. An important consideration is to marry the old and new well. Focus on creating a clear delineation between the existing building and the new addition. Often, this means a level change internally and a material change externally to help experience the transition between spaces.
Whether you’re renovating to make room for a growing family or to get more out of your home, it’s important to plan in advance so that your renovation process is streamlined and you feel ready to make the decisions that create the house of your dreams.
-Tass Construction Group is a multi-award-winning boutique design and construct firm specialising in custom new builds and high-end renovations in the suburbs of Sydney.
