Tip 1 – Purposeful design and spaces

When creating your dream home, its important to consider purposeful design and spaces for yourself, your partner, family members and guests. How many people will be using the space? Is this space highly frequented and a priority to take up space in your home design?

This will determine scale and size of each space. Thinking about furniture placement when planning spaces to allow enough room for your bed and bedsides, couch and dining table orientation and sizing, outdoor living, dining table orientation, seating and proximity to the BBQ.

Think about the flow of your home and imagine yourself walking through the home, do you want your bedrooms away from the loud living spaces, laundry close to the rear yard & Kitchen to be facing the rear yard?

Windows play a big part in the design of a home and can really make or break a space. Natural light is so important in overall day to day life and impacts our spaces greatly. Thinking about the amount of frame to glass ratio, where the transoms sit on the windows, not being at eye line and whether the window is sitting above the floor to fit intentional furniture or a bench seat below. A very important aspect of the home.

Tip 2 – key to creating an effective entryway

When considering your home’s interior, it’s important to view your entry way as the initial impression. To make a long-lasting impact with interest using either texture, obstructive pattern and shades of difference.

Consider giving more consideration to the view you have from your front door – imagine a serene courtyard visible through a floor-to-ceiling window down the hallway. Its possible to extend the timber ceiling from the porch to the entry, or create a rand entrance with an open, high ceiling in the porch and entryway. This area is often overlooked, experience the beauty of making a stunning first impression.

You may continue elements of your façade into your entrance inviting the outside in and creating a seamless flow as you walk into your home. Elements of exquisite interest may include timber cladding, stonework, bricks, concrete or render.

Keeping it simple with not too many features in the one space, entries are not always the largest of spaces you may not want a huge pendant taking over the space.

Tip 3 – Get smart with storage.

Having an area for the kids when they come home from school to place their school bags, storage for their shoes that they kick off and usually leave in the hallway and all of the other items taken home that day. You could look at creating a mud nook space with storage drawers and hooks or shelves for bags.

Having a segregated area like a bar, with a moody look for visually pleasing storage of wine glasses, fine liqueurs, and wine bottles.

The design of the Laundry is very important in the overall function of the home and is often overlooked. Having enough linen space as well as options for dirty clothing, wet clothing & items to iron. Storage for cleaning products, brooms, vacuum cleaners, dryers, washing machine. You might consider pull out laundry hampers for the dirty clothing with colours and whites considered. Having a hanging rail, either concealed under overhead cupboards or under a shelf which stores laundry detergent/powder.

Tip 4 – Give every room a purpose

We create purpose out of all spaces, by asking what the client enjoys doing, creating more entertaining space, a reading space/bench seat, a courtyard – a tranquil area with a water feature to sit and sip coffee.

Transforming tiny corners or stairway alcoves into thoughtfully designed areas can add intention and purpose to your home’s layout. Transform your master bedroom by utilising any extra space available. Create a cozy reading corner with an elegant bench seat, perfect for those lazy afternoons with your favourite book.

Everyone has a spare sitting room in there home that no-one uses. This is perfect, for a media/theatre room to watch movies & where the kids can spend time.

 

Tip 5 – Create multi-purpose spaces with style and ease

We often find that we designate a space for a singular purpose and then find out we need more space as interests or situations in our life change. We need to think about spaces as multifunctional and when completing our selections with our clients, for each space think about flexibility with future use. For example the area under the stairs, is a commonly underused space. This could be use as storage for the pantry on one side and a bar on the other.

Transform your garage into a luxury home gym – The garage is also another space which is commonly overlooked. It could be used as a gym thinking about having a nicer floor in there, in ceiling trimming for a boxing bag, in floor power points for a treadmill or bike & a wall mirror for a weighted area. You could have a dresser area incorporated into your WIR, where you have a specific spot to have five minutes for your skincare routine, or a place for your fragrances.

Consider integrating a dressing space within their Walk-In Robe and Ensuite, allowing for a seamless transition from the shower to the Outfit for the Day then putting your makeup on for the day. The way we think about design & the time saved with multipurpose spaces, makes all the difference in everyday living.

Tip 6 – select functional and visually pleasing furniture

Remember the three function rules for furniture: people, space and comfort

Functionality should always be a top priority. Before purchasing a piece of furniture, ask yourself how many people will be using it. If it fits the space and if its comfortable. These three questions will help you determine whether the piece is the right fit for your home.

Furniture should not only look good, but also be practical for everyday living. Purchasing furniture can be exciting, but its important to consider both the visual and functional aspects of each piece. There is nothing worse than bringing a piece of furniture home only to find out it doesn’t fit in the space or meet your everyday need.

Creating a welcoming traffic flow through your furniture to enhance your space. Traffic flow is also an important factor to consider. You want your furniture to be placed in a way that allows people to move through the space comfortably without feeling cramped or restricted. However, it’s important not to measure everything down to the millimeter, as you want to keep the overall atmosphere welcoming and organic.

When it comes to style, don’t be afraid to inject some personality into your space. Neutral and inoffensive pieces can create a bland atmosphere. Strive for balance by incorporating shades and textures of different colours. Remember, intentional choices will create a well-styled space, and each piece should make you say ‘wow’ when you see it in your home.

Discover the perfect balance of colours and textures to make every piece of furniture in your home a standout wow factor. When selecting furniture, its important to take into account the amount of space you have and the amount of space around the piece. Consider the size and shape of the furniture to ensure it enhances visual appeal of your home.

Tip 7 – Extending the living space to the outdoors

Making the most of your outside and continuing the flow from outside to inside is a feature in itself. As we are spending more and more time inside our living areas, coming into the cooler months, creating a nice living area outside to enjoy this winter sun is something sought after. Making these spaces feel connected by extending the same materials used inside to out, creating a harmonious space.

Creating a comfortable seated space, undercover to either entertain or read a book encouraging time spent in fresh air! Adding ceiling fans, outdoor heaters & external blinds to help keep ambient conditions. Considering lighting & speakers to create atmosphere. Creating somewhere to lounge, whilst being in close vicinity of kids playing or inside baking.

Creating a moment where you feel like your outside but you are actually in the comfort of your own home. Creating an inviting warm space with timber & stone.

Tip 8 – Positioning and orientation of the home

Positioning of the home and planning of your spaces is so important for many things including energy efficiency, heating cooling, ambient natural light throughout the day and views to enjoy from your kitchen, living areas or bedroom. Planning your positioning could include design elements like celestial windows which let in light at a certain angle making the most of the sun, with raking ceilings.

Having a courtyard which is specifically placed to avoid the winter breeze but faces the winter sun.

Having a front door positioned maybe at the side of your home as to avoid the elements, weather or traffic that could be at the front. Positioning of the entry is a very key design element used by Scott Salisbury, and something to consider in the design and positioning of your home. Having a view as you enter is a must.

Tip 9 – Adding smart home technology 

Every Scott Salisbury home you receive Clipsal Wiser automation system.

Technology has come so far and the ability to take this through your home too is fantastic. Technology for the home is not just a luxury but it is practical too. Auto mated blinds/curtains for window furnishings out of reach make life so much easier! Or even opening the curtains from bed, for that view, if you were wanting a bit of luxury.

When you are entertaining dimming lights from your dining table on your Phone. Voice automation when you go to bed setting the scene to night time mode. The curtains close, the lights dim, white noise is played through speakers. Setting scenes for your daily routines to add that extra bit of comfort to your life, being proactive and having less to think about is the best thing about home automation.

Tip 10 – Neutrals are the way to go

Colour evokes emotion, affecting the way you feel in your home. A lot of people are afraid to use colour when decorating or picking finishes. Our clients are not afraid to use colour, texture & pattern and are educated on the best way, setting them up with a nice neutral scheme to add their features to.

Neutral schemes are not boring at all, there are many elements which enhance a room without colour like texture, pattern, repetition and shade. Layering these elements in a scheme give our clients beautiful visual interest.

Using the repetition of these elements in a room, like continuing curved features, square patterns or vertical lines then creates cohesion through your spaces. Using shades of beige, grey, white or tan throughout a scheme in different textures at different heights to add interest. Neutral schemes give you the flexibility to change and update, being forever timeless and a constant expression of your style.