Choosing the right home design for you and your family

Building a home is likely one of the biggest life investments a person can make and when it comes to finding the right home design, understanding land orientation, lifestyle and budget become fundamental considerations.

As new and revised architectural trends and influences enter the property market, it is important builders update and be more creative with designs to keep pace with the constant behavioural shift in buyer needs and preferences.

Choosing the right builder partner is essential to your home building journey. The right builder can help you find the right design for your block of land and shape it around you and your family’s needs.

With more than 40 years’ experience, G.J. Gardner Homes has evolved to become Australia’s favourite local home builders and experienced providers of custom home designs for growing families. This vision has positioned builders like us to offer a diverse collection of homes and services for customers to create a space that perfectly suits their lifestyle and changing circumstances.

Narrowing down designs

Once buyers have chosen a location for their dream home, now comes one of the most important questions; what is the right design for the family’s lifestyle, and will that design work with their land?

The land itself plays a key role in guiding builders on addressing site constraints and optimising solar orientation, leading to more economical and eco-friendly construction options. Designing a home in tandem with the land’s orientation by using the north-facing aspect, for example, allows the home to use the sun all year round without enduring direct sunlight.

When designing the floor plan, the size and shape of a block will have the most influence on the type of design most appropriate for buyers. A small block will save buyers money yet allow families to live closer together whereas if features like an alfresco entertainment space or in-ground swimming pool are essential, the length of a block will be important.

With a focus on shaping a home around the families we build for; we aim to curate a design that is both unique to certain requirements and budgets. Understanding the level of decision making involved with designing a home, we are committed to offering real flexibility, with over 360 boutique home designs available to choose from and customise to incorporate features important to customers.

Accommodating changes and shaping building plans to suit a customer’s needs and budgets is essential for any builder. Oftentimes, changes can be achieved with no or little expense, depending of course on the significance of the changes.

To work with a builder that is flexible in its approach and able to offset cost for one item by making change to another, can offer you a great building experience resulting in a home that will be a joy to live in, without exceeding your budget.

Separating “musts” from “wants”

While functionality is key, personal touches are what makes a design feel like a home. During the construction phase, it is essential to involve customers in the design process to ensure the space accurately reflects everyone’s tastes, preferences, and more importantly their lifestyle.

Reflecting upon how a family operates can help establish priorities in the home design process. Whether it is a gourmet kitchen for cooking enthusiasts, a dedicated media room for movie nights, or the presence of private spaces for peace and quiet, understanding how a family will use the space helps narrow down design options.

By writing a list of “must haves” such as number of bedrooms and the “nice to have” items such as a dedicated gym room, allows for a customisable floor plan that fits within the budget while still reflecting the family’s unique preference. When going through the design process it is important to consider the family’s current needs, while also keeping in mind the possibility of future changes, such as a growing family or accommodating elderly relatives.

A future worth designing for

Considering future generations by looking at the way each demographic operates individually and together with other generations is important for the longevity and sustainability of any design.

The design preferences of future generations will likely focus more on sustainability and savvy homes infused with technology. This includes using energy-efficient building methods and materials like solar power and battery storage, coupled with automated lights, heating, and cooling systems that can be controlled wirelessly through phone apps. Having power at their fingertips will be something that appeals greatly to the younger generation and in turn become and “must have” item.

Having a diverse portfolio of designs that tailor to different life stages and market demands allows builders, like G.J. Gardner, to stay in the ball and adhere to any generation of home buyer.

Across our Australian network, the business has observed an increased demand for innovative flexible home designs to cater to the lifestyle needs of intergenerational households, typically referred to as multigenerational living.

With this market demand, we have seen the necessity to have designs that cater to multiple generations under one roof. For instance, our intergenerational series which is primarily tailored for families to live together longer, allows the younger generation to maintain living in the home.

Choosing the right home design is an important decision that involves a balance of practicality, aesthetics, and future needs. By defining family lifestyles, exploring architectural styles, embracing customisation, and seeking professional guidance, buyers can confidently create a home that is both tailored, functional, and enjoyable.