We live in a fast-paced world, so coming home to a serene, relaxing space can be a godsend!

Perhaps your interior already boasts a relaxed-contemporary vibe – but what about the exterior? Is it an accurate prelude to what lies within?

If you want your home to relaxed, welcoming and modern, it’s important to not only choose the right house exterior colours, but also have the right ratios of clean lines and natural, textured materials.

👇Designed by Hotspace👇

Creating a Neutral Colour Palette     The foundation of a relaxed contemporary design lies in the house exterior colours. Earthy neutrals such as greys, browns, creams, and whites serve as the backdrop. These bring a calming, serene feeling to a space, making it feel more grounded and relaxed. However, it doesn’t mean that you can’t add a splash of colour. Opt for soft, muted tones like dusty blues, sage green, or blush pink to avoid overpowering the calm atmosphere.

Incorporating Clean Lines     Clean lines and simple forms are a key aspect of contemporary design, lending an uncluttered, organized feel. This helps create a relaxing environment where the mind can unwind. Opt for features with simple silhouettes and minimal ornamentation. This isn’t to say everything must be boxy or overly stark – flowing curves and natural forms can work, as long as they are kept refined and understated.

Choosing Natural Materials     Natural materials like wood, stone, and textiles create a tactile experience that adds to the relaxed feel to your house exterior colours. These elements add a sense of warmth and comfort, establishing a connection to nature. Exposed wood beams, stone accents, and soft linen or cotton textiles are a few ways you can incorporate natural materials.

Personalising Your Space     Personal touches are what makes your home truly feel like home. A couple of chairs, some textured pots or any other suitable collected items contribute to a vibe that feels welcoming and lived-in. However, avoid clutter. Each item should be purposeful and contribute positively to the overall aesthetic of your exterior.

Achieving a relaxed-contemporary design on your home involves a careful balance of modern simplicity and warm, welcoming elements. By following the steps above, you can create a space that not only looks modern and stylish but also offers a sanctuary where you can truly relax and unwind. Whether you’re starting from scratch or simply want to infuse some tranquility with an exterior Renovation, the principles of relaxed contemporary design can guide you toward creating a space you’ll love to call home.

Jane
https://hotspaceconsultants.com/preliminary-enquiry/

Imagine standing on the brink of your dream home makeover, but held back by the disconnect between your grand vision and reality. This is the renovator’s riddle and I’m here to solve it (for your facade renovation, anyway!).

1. Gathering Ideas: Dream, Unrestricted
Start your facade renovation journey by creating a vision board. Use platforms such as Pinterest or Instagram to collate images that resonate with your aesthetics. Don’t constrain yourself at this stage. Let your imagination run wild – even if you have no idea how they could possibly work on your home. Save images of colour schemes, cladding, lighting, fences and landscaping – and everything in between.

👇Designed by Hotspace👇

2. Discovering Dominant Themes and Colour Schemes
Once you’ve amassed a collection of inspiration images for your facade renovation, it’s time to analyse them. Look for recurring themes and colour schemes. Are you attracted to minimalistic, Scandinavian designs or bold, Bohemian aesthetics? Do you lean towards pastels or are you more of a monochrome aficionado? Discard images that do not align with the dominant theme or colour scheme you’ve identified. Clarity at this stage will help avoid confusion later on.

3. Identifying Your Preferred Style
After you’ve narrowed down the themes and colours, aim to pinpoint the exact style that you gravitate towards. It might be something well-established, like Art Deco or Mid-century Modern, or a more personal blend of various styles. Embrace it even if you’re unsure how it will fit into your home. Give it a name. Recognising your preferred style is the first step in realising your dream design.

4. Digging Deeper into Your Style
Using your identified style as a search term, delve deeper into specific design elements that define it. Look for more inspiration images for your facade renovation, focusing on details like architectural elements, materials, textures, and colour palettes. This will not only give you a comprehensive understanding of the style but also provide more focused inspiration for your renovation. The best exterior renovations have all the details – small and large – spot on.

5. Applying Concepts to Your Home
It’s time to assign these concepts to your home. Start by identifying parts of your house that can accommodate the design elements you’ve selected. It could be as simple as painting your door a certain colour or as complex as adding wooden beams for a rustic feel. It’s crucial to be realistic in this step to maintain a balance between your aspiration and what’s practically achievable.

6. Mock-Up Your Design
Now that you have a clearer vision, use a basic program like ‘Paint’ or more advanced software if you’re comfortable, to create a mock-up of your home’s exterior design. This will help you visualise the end result, make any necessary adjustments, and avoid expensive mistakes before you start the actual renovation.

7. Consult a Designer
Even after following these steps, you may find yourself stuck at certain points. This is where a professional designer steps in. Our expertise and experience can help translate your ideas into practical design solutions that can be effectively implemented in your home. Working with a designer will bring out aspects you hadn’t considered and help achieve a facade renovation that’s not only visually appealing but also functional and within budget.

Bridging the gap between what you want and what you have may seem daunting, but it’s certainly doable. By following these seven steps, you can successfully translate your dream exterior design into reality.

If you are still pulling your hair out after reading these tips, send me a message via the methods below to see if we can help!

Jane
jane@hotspaceconsultants.com
Ph 0411705556
https://hotspaceconsultants.com/preliminary-enquiry/

Summer’s still a way off, so now is the perfect time to start planning your outdoor living upgrade. Whether it’s a new pool, a patio extension, or simply rejuvenating a tired alfresco, here’s how to create an inviting, practical, and harmonious haven that you never want to leave!:

1. Create a Seamless Look – Blending the old with the new is often a delicate balancing act in home renovation. The goal is to create an outdoor space that feels both fresh and familiar; an extension of your indoor living area. Achieving this seamless integration can involve using similar materials or colours that tie into your home’s existing style (like the brick on the design below).

👇Designed by Hotspace👇

2. Creating Warmth and Invitation
Creating a warm and inviting outdoor living space is about more than just the physical elements. It’s about creating an atmosphere. The right colour scheme, lighting, and landscaping can all play a part. Consider warm or neutral colours to promote a sense of calm and tranquillity. Enhance the area’s ambience with strategic outdoor lighting, illuminating key features like a pool or an outdoor dining area. Plants can also contribute to a welcoming atmosphere. Choose greenery and flowers that harmonise with your outdoor setting, providing an attractive backdrop and perhaps even sweet fragrances.

3. Selecting Practical Materials and Colours – Your choice of materials and colours for the outdoor area is more than just an aesthetic decision. It significantly impacts the longevity, maintenance requirements, and overall usability of your space. Choose materials that are designed for outdoor use, durable, and easy to maintain. They may cost a little more but will last and look good for a lot longer.

4. Furniture and Accessories: Enhancing Usability
The right outdoor furniture and accessories can significantly enhance the usability of your space. Choose versatile, comfortable furniture that encourages relaxation and socialising. Consider including an outdoor dining set for alfresco meals, or a comfortable lounge set for leisurely outdoor gatherings.

5. Complying with Regulations – As dull as it may sound, ensuring all council permits are correctly applied for is crucial when making substantial changes to your outdoor space. Regulations can vary between localities, but typically, installing pools, extending buildings, and even adding certain types of decking or fencing may require a permit. Not complying can lead to fines or the need for costly modifications down the line. Engage a professional if you’re unsure about local regulations, as they will have the experience and knowledge to navigate this process smoothly.

Are you planning an extension or adding a pool and need guidance on what materials and details to use? To find out if we can help, contact me here or via the methods below.

Jane
jane@hotspaceconsultants.com
Ph 0411705556
https://hotspaceconsultants.com/preliminary-enquiry/

Exterior renovations don’t mean starting from scratch. You can achieve impressive kerb appeal without emptying your wallet.

I’m not talking about being a cheapskate either. Being smart with how you improve your home’s exterior – whether your budget is $60k or $160k – is key!

​ The secret lies in prioritising the changes (see proof below and in our gallery!).

Instead of undertaking a complete overhaul, focus on some key strategic updates in your exterior house renovation. If you do this well, you’ll remarkably transform your home, and save expense, time, and effort in the process. This approach is exactly what we at Hotspace can guide you through. The fee we charge will pay off multiple times over in the renovations you won’t need to make.

Here are a few targeted updates you could consider…

Clad Wisely: Instead of re-cladding the entire house, focus on a specific area that needs attention. This could be an exterior wall or two that face the street, making the most visual impact.

👇Designed by Hotspace👇

Pay Attention to Trims: A fresh coat of paint on your gutters, fascias, doors and window trims can make them pop, lending your home a refreshed look.

Tweak Fences and Gates: Instead of replacing, consider refurbishing your fences and gates. Adding a top trim, painting them, or replacing inserts can make them look as good as new.

Light it Up: Updating your exterior lighting fixtures can dramatically change the mood of your home. Add some themed wall lights either side of your garage door and front windows for an instant uplift.

Landscaping Updates: A complete landscape redesign may be costly and time-consuming. Instead, focus on key areas like garden beds, paths, or the lawn. Add some new plants or replace the mulch for a tidy and attractive look.

Spruce Up the Entrance: Your front entrance is the first thing visitors see. Make it stand out with a stylish door, or even some new posts or portico.

With Hotspace, you’re not just getting generic advice. You’ll receive tailored guidance based on your own home, your ‘dream style’ and of course, your budget. You can provide us with inspiration images of houses and colour schemes you like, and we’ll put together a plan that optimizes these ideas for your unique situation.

You’ll be surprised to discover that you don’t need to do as much as you think to achieve a stunning transformation. By focusing on key areas in your exterior house renovation and working with Hotspace, your home will look better than ever, and you won’t have to break the bank. With this targeted approach, your dream home is within reach!

To find out if we can help you, contact me here or via the methods below.

Jane
https://hotspaceconsultants.com/preliminary-enquiry/

It takes just 7 seconds to form a first impression, so the way you present your home exterior is key.

Even if selling isn’t on your immediate horizon, isn’t it worth that every time you pull into your driveway, you’re welcomed by a beautiful sight that makes you proud?

Here are five exterior facade ideas to enhance your home, turning it into a visually appealing, welcoming place:

1) Eye-Catching Colour Scheme
An engaging colour scheme can significantly elevate your home’s kerb appeal. It’s not just about picking attractive colours; it’s about choosing hues that complement your home’s architectural style and blend harmoniously with the surroundings. Consider a mix of neutral tones for large areas and more vivid colours for accents, such as the front door or trims. Thoughtful use of colour can highlight your home’s best features and mask less desirable ones.

👇Designed by Hotspace👇

2) Low-Maintenance Landscaping
A well-tended garden speaks volumes about the care taken in maintaining the home. It also adds to the aesthetic appeal, providing a welcoming feel. Consider integrating native, low-maintenance plants for a pleasing look with minimal effort. Plant pots near the entrance can lend a charming touch and make coming home a delight.

3) Exterior Lighting
Strategic exterior lighting can highlight the beauty of your home while ensuring safety and security. Use it to showcase architectural details, illuminate the entrance, or draw attention to your lovely landscaping. Warm, low-intensity lights can create a welcoming and cosy ambiance.

4) Clean and Well-Maintained
In addition to exterior facade ideas to update your home, keeping everything clean and well-maintained is essential. Peeling paint, dirty windows, clogged gutters, or a rusty mailbox can negatively impact the home’s overall appeal. Ensure minor repairs and cleaning tasks are tackled promptly. Pressure wash the walls, clean the windows, touch up paint as needed, and make sure the roof is in good condition.

5) Capture the Beauty
If you’re intending to sell, a stunning ‘hero photo’ of your home’s facade and front yard can significantly influence potential buyers’ first impressions when browsing online listings.

Creating a positive first impression of your home isn’t just for potential buyers; it’s for you, too!

If these exterior facade ideas have inspired you to update the outside of your home, contact me here or via the methods below.

Jane
jane@hotspaceconsultants.com
Ph 0411705556
https://hotspaceconsultants.com/preliminary-enquiry/

Building a carport may sound like a fairly simple task, but creating one that seamlessly blends with your home exterior design can be a challenge.

The last thing you want is for it to stick out like a sore thumb. Here are a few key considerations to help you incorporate a carport into your home without compromising its aesthetics or functionality.

Harmonise your Colours and Materials:
The first step to avoiding a “Pimple on a Pumpkin” is to ensure the colours and materials are in harmony with your house. Use similar or complementary colours and materials to create a natural extension of your home exterior design. For instance, if your house has cladding, consider incorporating some cladding into the carport design. If your home is painted a specific colour, coordinate your carport to match or subtly contrast, lending cohesion to the overall aesthetic.

👇Designed by Hotspace👇

Complementary Rooflines:
The roofline of your new carport should be one of your key architectural considerations. A roofline that is drastically different from your home can be visually jarring and disrupt the flow of your overall design. Try to match your carport’s roof pitch to your home’s existing roofline, or opt for a design that complements it. This could be a flat roof for a modern home or a gabled or sloped roof for a more traditional or classic look. The success of your home exterior design relies on this!

Compliance is Key:
Building a carport is not a decision you can make without taking into account local building regulations. Ensuring that your carport design and location is compliant with the local codes and standards is crucial to avoid any legal implications and costly adjustments down the line. This includes aspects like the carport’s height, size, sides and potential impact on neighbours or public utilities.

Mind the Setback:
Each council will have its own rules regarding how far structures like carports need to be ‘set back’ from the road or the property line. Before building, check with your local zoning laws to determine the requirements for your area. Failure to adhere to these could result in penalties, or worse, having to tear down and rebuild your carport.

Budget Conscious:
It’s easy to get carried away with grand visions of the perfect carport, but it’s essential to keep your budget in mind throughout the process. Detailed planning before construction begins can help avoid any unexpected costs. Be clear on what materials you plan to use, who will perform the work, and any permits you’ll need. A well-researched and realistic budget will keep your carport project on track and prevent it from becoming a financial burden.

Ultimately, the aim is to build a carport that’s an aesthetic asset to your property as well as a practical one. By considering the above, you’ll be on track to add a carport to your house that doesn’t look like a Pimple on a Pumpkin and a value-adding addition at that!

Need help adding a carport or other addition to your home? Contact me here or via the methods below.

Jane

jane@hotspaceconsultants.com

Ph 0411705556