The Entertainer

Do you prefer being the host rather than the guest? Before you build, it’s worth thinking about the inclusions that will make hosting easier. There are a few features regular entertainers can’t do without – well, you could, but it’ll likely mean stricter guest lists, longer set up, and even longer clean up (arguably the worst part).

Open Plan Living

One of the most important features of a home built for entertaining is an open plan living, kitchen, and dining area. As the host, you’re often flitting back and forth from the kitchen, and having an open plan design means you won’t have to abandon your guests. You can continue to entertain while cooking and cleaning up. Traffic flow is also important to think about if you plan to host large gatherings. Open plan living and wide walkways help to avoid bottlenecks and ensure your guests don’t feel claustrophobic.

Indoor & Outdoor Flow

Having easy access between indoor and outdoor areas makes entertaining easier. You can open doors to allow guests to float between the alfresco and house, and don’t have to leave the party every time you need to grab something from the kitchen. If space allows, we recommend large sliding or stacking doors, letting gatherings expand naturally.

Storage

We can’t stress this enough, it’s infinitely easier to keep a house tidy when you have places to store things. When everything has a home, you don’t have to stress about decluttering your bench or table before guests arrive. Imagine having so much storage that some cupboards and drawers are almost completely empty – it’s possible, and you don’t need a huge block to achieve it, just smart storage solutions.

Bathrooms

Anyone who’s ever run late to a party (even at your own house) can imagine the horror of having to ensure your bathroom is spotless once you finish getting ready. With a dedicated powder room off the main living areas, you don’t have to worry about hiding your things from guests before they arrive. It’s a game changer.

Floor plans for The Entertainer: The Don, Inception, Vacay

The Family Plan

You may have noticed your friends upgrading their cars and homes as their families expand, and well, there are reasons for that. Despite being small, kids tend to take up a lot of space and have unique needs. If you have a young family (or are planning to), here are the main things you should think about when building:

Open Plan Living

In case you haven’t noticed, we’re big fans of open plan living. Open kitchen, living and dining areas will allow you to keep an eye on your little ones while you cook and clean. It does mean,however, that you’ll have to listen to kids’ TV shows as you do, so we’ll let you decide for yourselves.

Zoning

Keeping main living areas and bedrooms separate is always wise when you have a family. That way, you can put the kids to sleep without worrying about waking them, especially if you’re entertaining.

Flexibility

Having a spare room that can be used as a bedroom, theatre, playroom, or study is invaluable. Your kids’ (and family’s) needs will evolve as they grow, so it’s helpful to have extra space that you can adapt as required.

Storage

Toys, clothes, and schoolbooks all need a home. Smart storage will help you keep your family’s belongings organised and easy-to-access when needed. We recommend thinking about things like shoe and school bag storage – you may want a storage cupboard or roomy entryway where you can stash these things.

The Family Plans: Cartel, Adair, Mr Big

The Enthusiast

We’ve never felt more qualified to write about anything. If you’re a fellow enthusiast, whether your kryptonite is cars, fitness, recreation equipment, or more, here are the features we recommend:

Spacious Garage

In many Australian cities (Perth especially), we’re fortunate enough to have the space to be able to house cars indoors, protecting them from the elements. If you’re a car enthusiast, we recommend giving yourself the space to store multiple vehicles (keeping in mind that you may add to you collection – we hope you do!), the equipment you need to maintain them, and other things generally kept in the garage – think tools, Christmas trees, and more. If you’re more of a fitness enthusiast, having space in your garage where you can set up a home gym gives you the convenience and flexibility to train whenever it suits you.

Zoning

It’s bad enough when someone drops weights at the gym – imagine hearing that at home, and worst still, while you’re sleeping or trying to relax. If you plan to use your garage as a home gym, mechanic’s workshop, or something equally as noisy, we recommend choosing a home design that has your garage positioned away from the main bedroom and living area.

Built-in Storage

Built-in storage is essential for keeping both your garage and home tidy. If you’re a car enthusiast, it allows you to keep tools and equipment neatly out of sight when not in use, soyour collection can take centre stage when guests visit. If you’re more of a leisure enthusiast, having somewhere to store your recreational equipment is priceless, unless you want your kayak to become a feature in your living room.

Floor plans for The Enthusiast: Quad Father, Indulgence, Wingman

The City Lover

If you love the hustle and bustle of urban areas but don’t want to compromise on your floor plan, we have good news for you: you don’t have to. We have plenty of floor plans suited to narrower blocks typically found closer to the CBD. Here’s what you should think about when working with a smaller land size and moving into a densely populated area:

Smart Storage

We all know how it goes – “you never realise how much stuff you’ve accumulated until you have to pack it”. Don’t make the mistake of assuming you won’t need the storage space; make sure your floor plan accounts for built-in storage, or where that’s not an option, allows room for additional storage. This is particularly important in smaller homes, which can quickly feel cluttered.

Natural Light & Noise Control

Noise control is crucial in busy areas and can mean the difference between a good night’s sleep and drinking 7 espressos the next day. Choose a home design that creates a buffer zone between bedrooms (and ideally your living areas) and the street. Natural light can also be tricky on smaller blocks with limited outdoor space and close neighbours. Look for a floor plan with strategically positioned windows and doors to maximise natural light – good for your mood, your electricity bill, and your plants.

Flexibility

Needs shift as circumstances change, so designing a home with single-use rooms isn’t ideal, particularly when you don’t have a lot of space to play with. Instead, look for a floor plan with multipurpose rooms that can adapt over time, whether used as a study, bedroom, or playroom.

Floor plans for The City Lover: Essentials, Priorities, Snatched Scullery