Top 10 Must-Have’s In Your New Build
Top 10 Must-Have Items You Should Consider When Building or Renovating Your Home
When embarking on a build or renovation project, it is crucial to carefully consider potential upgrades to enhance the overall functionality and aesthetic appeal of your space. Upgrades can range from incorporating smart home technology for increased convenience to selecting high-quality finishes that elevate the look and feel of your interiors. Assessing where upgrades can have the most significant impact within your budget is key to achieving a result that aligns with your vision while adding long-term value to your property. By strategically integrating upgrades into your build or renovation plans, you can create a space that not only meets your current needs but also accommodates future lifestyle changes.
The top 10 must-have items include:
Energy Efficient, Off-The-Grid & Smart Home Upgrades:
Integrating energy efficient and smart home features are a great way to create convenience and to save money in the long run. Take passive house design as an example, where all features of the home are considered in order to design a home that is sustainable in heating and cooling. You could also consider solar energy, electricity/renewable resources and water tanks in order to reduce your environmental footprint. And smart home upgrades like censored or app-controlled lighting, blinds, security systems and door locks to increase convenience and save on energy.
Bathroom Shelves & Niches:
Gone are the days in bathroom design where there’s no place to store your shampoo, soap or razor, making it an important feature to ensure is factored into the design of your bathroom or ensuite. A shelf is my general preference if you have the spare 100mm to include it, and by creating a ledge in the shower, behind the bath or vanity it gives you flexibility with your tiling features as well as a simplistic long line to draw your eye.
Quality Flooring:
Quality flooring choices might look like choosing a 100% wool carpet over selecting a synthetic option, or an engineered or hardwood timber vs a vinyl. It’s really important to understand what your values are and where your budget sits, as with anything there are pro’s and con’s to each option.
Floating Vanities:
Incorporating floating vanities into your bathrooms, assists in creating the illusion of a larger floor space - regardless of how big or how small your rooms are. They are also an easy upgrade that give you a high-end aesthetic, and if you can’t do a floating vanity due to plumbing constraints, ask for a tiled recessed kicker and you’ll get a very similar look!
Statement Lighting:
There’s nothing quite like a beautiful pendant light or wall sconce bringing personality to your build or renovation. Selecting well-designed and well-placed lighting fixtures that illuminate key areas effectively can transform the mood of each room with the flip of a switch and takes your home to another level of good design.
Pull Out Bins & Laundry Hampers:
Pull out bins may seem like a no-brainer, but I always recommend double checking that these are included in your cabinetry plans and add one in if there’s not! Laundry hampers may also not seem like a necessity, but I guarantee after you’ve had one you won’t look back! These are ideal for decluttering laundries and keeping your dirty washing and unsightly baskets out of sight, and a hot tip - if you have space for two this makes sorting laundry into lights and darks or kids and parents a breeze.
Integrated Appliances:
Integrated appliances are a highly undervalued element of your kitchen design, with a hidden fridge/freezer and dishwasher the two main appliances I would recommend integrating if your budget allows. They seamlessly integrate in to the cabinetry, providing you with more space, the ability to have your fridge and freezer separate as well as it creates a consistent aesthetic in the overall look and feel of your kitchen - no more jarring fridges and unmatched appliances!
Customizable Cabinetry and Ample Storage Solutions:
Install customised cabinetry to maximize your storage and enhance the overall functionality of each space. This includes considering where certain pots and pans will be stored, the height of the jars you purchase for your pantry shelving, and how you can maximise your space with built-in low boy cabinets to store board games or the tv. I also highly recommend built in cabinetry to assist in grounding the space, rather than cluttering it with various pieces of furniture.
Engineered Stone Zero Silica/Porcelain/Natural Stone Benchtops:
Your kitchen and laundry bench tops are key areas to upgrade or select stone for, and I would highly consider the pro’s and con’s of each material and how it fits into your budget and lifestyle. These two key areas are work-horses for the home, and often need to be durable, easy to maintain and beautiful to look at, and hence sometimes laminate bench tops are simply not enough.
Square-Set Ceilings:
Square-set ceilings are usually an upgrade for most builders as they require more time and attention to detail, however I have found that incorporating these throughout your build or renovation (if possible) can change the look and feel of the space giving it a more contemporary edge. You can also finish your cornices with a shadow line to really add drama to your ceiling.
Ceiling Mounted Curtains & Sheers:
This is a bonus tip because you made it to the bottom! Ceiling mounted curtains or sheers are always possible to be installed at a later date, but please ask your builder before they begin framing out to make sure that they include the appropriate support inside the walls/ceiling for this to occur. Long lengths of fabric draped from the ceiling ensures that the walls are not visually ‘cut’, elongating the lines and drawing your eye upwards, creating a very pleasing aesthetic.
Overall, if you’re just at the beginning of your renovation or build, it’s really important to create a list of all of your ‘must-have’ items and the slightly less important items (including your partner/loved one in this process is really important as well if you are building/renovating together to ensure you are on the same page).
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