Kitchen splashbacks
Posted at 2:08 AM | Filed Under Home Design
Kitchen splashbacks: Why do we use them, are they really needed, and what kinds are out there?
The kitchen is a fairly messy area in many households and generally a difficult space to keep clean due to all the water and grease that goes with food preparation. A smooth surface allows for easy cleaning and thus [...]
Building products and fire ratings
Posted at 4:52 AM | Filed Under Home Design
One thing that constantly frustrates me as a professional in the building industry are fire ratings and requirements for building in bushfire prone areas; especially for windows and doors.
There are 4 levels of construction that a building may be required to comply with depending on your location to the bush or fire source (AS-3959-1999: [...]
American shingles
Posted at 12:18 AM | Filed Under Home Design
As an alternative roofing material to tiles and colourbond, consider American shingles, a commonly used roofing material in the United States and Canada. They are made from a base of asphalt and each shingle is recyclable at the end of it’s life. Shingles are lightweight in comparison to tiles and have a high level of [...]
Beachside housing styles
Posted at 9:39 PM | Filed Under Home Design
Touring around France recently I spend time in various coastal towns. I was impressed with the quality and consistency of the local beach side residences.
Unfortunately there is less aesthetic in Australia. Beach side housing is often a 2nd (holiday) home and owners often come from different demographics. They build what they can afford with little [...]
What’s wrong with Australian domestic architecture?
Posted at 11:34 PM | Filed Under Home Design
I am on holidays in Europe right now and I’ve got to ask: What’s wrong with Australian domestic architecture?
The more I travel the more I realize how much boring contemporary residential architecture there is in Australia. There are too few attempts to step outside the brick veneer mindset that seems to have taken a pathological [...]
DIY decks and patio design
Posted at 7:31 AM | Filed Under Home Design
Outdoor living areas like decks and patios have the potential to improve the usability of your house more than you would think possible, but there are a few essential design considerations you should consider before you invest your hard earned cash.
Where is North? Orient your balcony to the North or North-East. Avoid locating decks and [...]
Housing affordability
Posted at 12:38 PM | Filed Under Home Design
My partner, a Canadian ex-pat, is convinced that most Aussies are mad. One of his reasons for this is that he believes we pay far to much for our homes.
Because he is an engineer he likes to make his point with numbers and statistics. For example,according to a report he read the average Australian family [...]
Home construction costs - just how much will they be?
Posted at 12:22 AM | Filed Under Home Design
The most common question my clients and friends ask is: “How much will my new home or renovation cost?” You would think there is an easy way to determine an answer to thus simple question, given the maturity of the construction industry, but you would be wrong.
Building professionals and architects will balk at this question [...]
Seven deadly sins of home design
Posted at 10:35 AM | Filed Under Home Design
There are seven common mistakes that people make when designing their home and here are some ways to help you avoid them.
The 1st deadly sin: Not orientating living spaces to the North.
This is the biggest mistake most people make when designing their home. There is nothing worst than living in a home that is cold [...]
DIY Renovations
Posted at 11:41 PM | Filed Under Home Design
So, you’ve decided to renovate and you have decided to do as much as you possibly can yourself.
As an architect who has done it myself a few times (both for myself and helping-out friends) here are some pointers:
Put your money first where the water is; the kitchen and bathroom.
Start with a small task. Build up [...]
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