If renovating is in your sights, you’ll no doubt be on the hunt for anything and everything to make it as successful as possible.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Perhaps you’re clear on your design style and the sort of look you want your abode to have – thanks to the internet and countless renovation television programs, we’re more aware than ever about what’s possible for our homes.
Whether you prefer modern or traditional, a shabby chic theme or something Scandinavian inspired, there’s no shortage of inspiration available.
However even if you’re crystal clear about the renovation style you want for your home, you should also take into consideration the architectural style of the building.
Very often the style of home does not correlate to the style of interior people dream about. However according to Bendigo builder Todd Newman, this doesn’t really matter.
“We are finding more and more that people are going for a totally different look to the original style and it often works really well,” he says.
“If it’s done as a theme throughout the whole home, it definitely adds an element of difference and makes the owners feel like they are getting a new home within their old building.”
So what do you do if, for example, you want to treat your home to a modern design but it is the epitome of the 1970s? Or if your home was built in the 1940s or 50s, but you crave clean lines?
If you want to mix a few styles or themes together, go for it. The thing with design is that anything goes – as long as everything blends well together.
Todd says the way you can incorporate a new style into an existing build is with the fixtures and fittings, and also the furnishings.
“Often in older homes the bones of the place are the gems of the build and it’s important to savour those intricate parts,” he says. “It’s important to come up with a smart design that may give you a new outlook on the original home.
“Elegant finishes are a must and lifting ceiling heights is another great way of changing the feel of a space.”
Todd thinks the rooms that work for intergrating styles are the kitchen, dining and lounge spaces.
“These are the most utilised zones in the house and really can have their own identity in regards to design, as long as the styling binds together with the rest of the home, be it a feature such as similar wall cladding down a hallway, the same flooring throughout, or similar paint colours,” he says.
According to Todd, when renovating it’s important to not only consider how to best balance different aesthetics, but also more subtle elements such as creating better energy efficiency, greater thermal comfort and improving space and amenities.