10 Design Additions to Take Your Reno Up a Notch
You've done the leg work on your home renovation or new build. Now it's time to plan your reward
I often see people spend a lot of time trying to find sensible savings in the raw building costs of their home renovation or build in order to have the freedom to have some fun and make their home feel unique – and why not? Building is a big deal and you should reward yourself. There’s no shortage of choice, so here are some of my favourite upgrades you may want to consider for your project. Some of these upgrades can be done on the run while others you’ll need to make allowances for during the design stage, as I’ll come to explain.
2. Wallpaper
Wallpaper is awesome! There are so many interesting designs to choose from and it’s a wonderful way to make a freshly-renovated room sing from the rafters.
Consider the key pieces of furniture you will be using in the room and draw inspiration from them to either match or contrast colour and texture. Here’s how to get your wallpaper choice right the first time.
Wallpaper is awesome! There are so many interesting designs to choose from and it’s a wonderful way to make a freshly-renovated room sing from the rafters.
Consider the key pieces of furniture you will be using in the room and draw inspiration from them to either match or contrast colour and texture. Here’s how to get your wallpaper choice right the first time.
3. Fire pit
Is there anything more ‘blokey’ than a fire pit? It must be something to do with our primal ‘hunter and gatherer’ instincts. The only thing better than building a good fire is gathering around it on a crisp autumn evening with loved ones – ideally with a decent stick, a bag of marshmallows (the modern version of hunting and gathering) and away from screens and devices.
You’ll need to locate the fire on a surface that isn’t sensitive to sparks and hot coals. River pebbles are a great option for their natural colour and texture as well as their unique ability to hide scars and burns from fires. If you have the space available, you may also like to consider built-in seating around the fire, however my personal preference is to allow for a more flexible seating arrangement that might include outdoor chairs, wood stumps and, of course, eskies.
Is there anything more ‘blokey’ than a fire pit? It must be something to do with our primal ‘hunter and gatherer’ instincts. The only thing better than building a good fire is gathering around it on a crisp autumn evening with loved ones – ideally with a decent stick, a bag of marshmallows (the modern version of hunting and gathering) and away from screens and devices.
You’ll need to locate the fire on a surface that isn’t sensitive to sparks and hot coals. River pebbles are a great option for their natural colour and texture as well as their unique ability to hide scars and burns from fires. If you have the space available, you may also like to consider built-in seating around the fire, however my personal preference is to allow for a more flexible seating arrangement that might include outdoor chairs, wood stumps and, of course, eskies.
4. Freestanding bath
Baths have become beautiful sculptural pieces that are evermore inviting to soak away your day in. My biggest piece of advice is to make sure you measure your bath in relation to your space at design stage. The last thing you want is for your newly renovated bathroom to feel crowded or squeezed in.
TAP TIP: Make sure your taps are selected to complement the style of the bath and that they don’t impede comfort. Floor-mounted bath spouts always look great, but make sure your plumber knows what you have in mind as early as possible because he will need to rough in the plumbing connections in the floor rather than the wall (which is especially important if you have a concrete slab).
Luxe bathroom additions that aren’t as far-fetched as you think
Baths have become beautiful sculptural pieces that are evermore inviting to soak away your day in. My biggest piece of advice is to make sure you measure your bath in relation to your space at design stage. The last thing you want is for your newly renovated bathroom to feel crowded or squeezed in.
TAP TIP: Make sure your taps are selected to complement the style of the bath and that they don’t impede comfort. Floor-mounted bath spouts always look great, but make sure your plumber knows what you have in mind as early as possible because he will need to rough in the plumbing connections in the floor rather than the wall (which is especially important if you have a concrete slab).
Luxe bathroom additions that aren’t as far-fetched as you think
5. Built-in joinery
There is nothing more luxurious (or practical) as built-in joinery, as it has the potential to add character, practicality and personality to a space.
One of my favourite uses for built-in joinery is integrated bookshelves that create a warm library feel when teamed with timber surfaces, as shown here. Another idea to consider is a concealed TV and entertainment unit. As TVs get bigger and bigger, there is a growing need to hide them from becoming the feature of the room. Joinery is a wonderful option to hide technology, so you can appreciate a lovely piece of built-in furniture instead of yet another screen.
Some joinery items will need to be accounted for at the design stage whilst others can be added during the build/renovation process. Your designer should be able to help you plan for each.
Cleverly concealed TVs
There is nothing more luxurious (or practical) as built-in joinery, as it has the potential to add character, practicality and personality to a space.
One of my favourite uses for built-in joinery is integrated bookshelves that create a warm library feel when teamed with timber surfaces, as shown here. Another idea to consider is a concealed TV and entertainment unit. As TVs get bigger and bigger, there is a growing need to hide them from becoming the feature of the room. Joinery is a wonderful option to hide technology, so you can appreciate a lovely piece of built-in furniture instead of yet another screen.
Some joinery items will need to be accounted for at the design stage whilst others can be added during the build/renovation process. Your designer should be able to help you plan for each.
Cleverly concealed TVs
6. Wine cellar
Wine cellars were once the cold leftover space under the stairs or below the house. But while these areas can be great for storing wine, there is a growing appreciation for wine cellars that don’t just store wine, but also display it. The spaces don’t need to be big, but you’ll need to think about these points:
Wine cellars were once the cold leftover space under the stairs or below the house. But while these areas can be great for storing wine, there is a growing appreciation for wine cellars that don’t just store wine, but also display it. The spaces don’t need to be big, but you’ll need to think about these points:
- Internal spaces are best for cellars. Consider ways to isolate the cellar from heating and general changes in temperature, such as avoiding externals walls that gather heat.
- Your cellar budget will probably be influenced by the quality and value of the wine you are storing, so be realistic about whether you are really a wine collector, or more of a wine drinker!
- Steel reinforcement mesh in sheet form is perfect for wine storage and extremely cost effective.
- Consider a feature window in the cellar to create a unique point of difference.
7. Designer lighting
Well-considered lighting can make a huge difference to a home, and the good news is that less is often better (though you should not expect high-quality lighting to be cheap). Here are three tips from me:
Well-considered lighting can make a huge difference to a home, and the good news is that less is often better (though you should not expect high-quality lighting to be cheap). Here are three tips from me:
- Consider the aesthetic qualities of each light as a sculptural piece as well as the potential it has to create a unique atmosphere at night time
- Try to avoid runways of downlights; it’s a house not an airport
- Make sure you get the wiring right the first time. It’s important to factor in some forward planning, so that your electrician knows where to rough in the cabling correctly the first time rather than rewiring when it’s too late and much more expensive
BONUS TIP: If you feel overwhelmed by the thought of lighting design, yet you are keen to get it right, I suggest you seek help from your designer/architect or a lighting consultant or interior designer. Ideally, you will need a lighting plan that explains to the builder and electrician what lights you have selected and where they are located.
Find a pro in your area
8. Frameless shower
A frameless shower screen is the ultimate expression of minimalism and gives a clean and uncluttered look to your bathroom. It might be the perfect finishing touch to your new bathroom scheme.
Try to design the shower to be big enough that it doesn’t need a door, which will only detract from the clean look. That usually means a minimum shower size of about 1600 by 900 millimetres, with a piece of glass 1000 millimetres wide, allowing a 600-millimetre opening to get into the shower.
Another thing to consider is water run-off. Incorporate a full-length grated shower drain to accentuate the look and to control water run-off. Ideally the builder will set down the floor of the bathroom floor 30 to 50 millimetres lower than the surrounding floor during construction, to allow for the creation of fall towards floor waste with the floor tiles. This will manage water run-off and enable a flush finish from the bathroom floor surface to the adjacent flooring surface (no more stubbed toes!).
A frameless shower screen is the ultimate expression of minimalism and gives a clean and uncluttered look to your bathroom. It might be the perfect finishing touch to your new bathroom scheme.
Try to design the shower to be big enough that it doesn’t need a door, which will only detract from the clean look. That usually means a minimum shower size of about 1600 by 900 millimetres, with a piece of glass 1000 millimetres wide, allowing a 600-millimetre opening to get into the shower.
Another thing to consider is water run-off. Incorporate a full-length grated shower drain to accentuate the look and to control water run-off. Ideally the builder will set down the floor of the bathroom floor 30 to 50 millimetres lower than the surrounding floor during construction, to allow for the creation of fall towards floor waste with the floor tiles. This will manage water run-off and enable a flush finish from the bathroom floor surface to the adjacent flooring surface (no more stubbed toes!).
9. Ceiling details
Ceilings are one of the most under-utilised elements of our homes. With a little thought, ceilings can add character, interest and definition to a space. A relatively simple way to do this is to choose a contrasting material to add texture, or add colour and pattern with a contrasting paint colour or wallpaper.
Another option, although it’s a bit more expensive, is combining subtle changes in ceiling height. Dropped ceiling details, as seen in the kitchen above, add definition to large open-plan spaces and are often used over kitchens with great results.
Ceilings are one of the most under-utilised elements of our homes. With a little thought, ceilings can add character, interest and definition to a space. A relatively simple way to do this is to choose a contrasting material to add texture, or add colour and pattern with a contrasting paint colour or wallpaper.
Another option, although it’s a bit more expensive, is combining subtle changes in ceiling height. Dropped ceiling details, as seen in the kitchen above, add definition to large open-plan spaces and are often used over kitchens with great results.
10. A show-stopping front door
You only get one chance to make a good first impression and where better to start than the front door.
Oversized doors make an immediate impression (the bigger the better!), but consider architectural door hardware such as oversized door pulls, to complement the scale and style of the door. If you want a look that truly puts your home on the map, go for special finishes such as high gloss paint, applied metallic finishes or timber.
Beware that some door manufacturers will not warrant doors that are painted in dark colours as they are more likely to be impacted by sunlight, causing movement and distortion in shape.
TELL US
What’s the luxe feature you’ve added to your renovation wish list?
MORE
8 Kitchen Additions That’ll Make Life a Little Bit Easier
How to Renovate Right … by a ‘Serial Renovator’
12 Tips to Save Your Sanity During a Renovation
You only get one chance to make a good first impression and where better to start than the front door.
Oversized doors make an immediate impression (the bigger the better!), but consider architectural door hardware such as oversized door pulls, to complement the scale and style of the door. If you want a look that truly puts your home on the map, go for special finishes such as high gloss paint, applied metallic finishes or timber.
Beware that some door manufacturers will not warrant doors that are painted in dark colours as they are more likely to be impacted by sunlight, causing movement and distortion in shape.
TELL US
What’s the luxe feature you’ve added to your renovation wish list?
MORE
8 Kitchen Additions That’ll Make Life a Little Bit Easier
How to Renovate Right … by a ‘Serial Renovator’
12 Tips to Save Your Sanity During a Renovation
There are any number of ways to spend a little (or a lot) of extra cash in a kitchen. Hiding the fridge, however, is a surefire way to have your kitchen looking its best. As fridges get bigger, they attract more and more attention (and more of those very handy yet very messy fridge magnets and the random scruffy pieces of paper they hold – yes, I have an issue with fridge magnets!). Have a good look around and research the integrated fridge options available and make sure your interior designer and cabinet maker are on the same page, so it is executed properly.
It’s worth mentioning that the range of fridges that are designed to be integrated is far more limited than regular fridges and, because they are generally designed to fit in shallower spaces, they may not be as big as other fridges. However, if you’re looking for a polished and streamlined look, it’ll be worth the small amount of space you’ll sacrifice.
BONUS TIP: If you’re looking for a fridge that has a water or ice dispenser, don’t forget the potential need to allow for running plumbing to the fridge. This is something that the plumber needs to know when he is roughing in.