Your robust and low-maintenance brick home has its charms, but does it feel like you’re stuck in the 70’s? Does it need some character infusion?
If you’re considering an exterior renovation but are unsure whether to render, clad, or keep the brick, then this article is for you.
Many homeowners often lean towards rendering during an exterior renovation, hiding the brick in its entirety. However, it’s crucial to remember that the issue with an outdated brick home is usually not the bricks themselves! In fact, many modern homes incorporate bricks with stylish results!
The challenge arises when there’s an overload of brick or an excess of brown and red tones, which can create an overwhelming visual effect.
👇Designed by Hotspace👇
Here’s how to modernise your brick home through an effective exterior renovation, drawing on current trends, while still embracing the beauty of its original design.
Achieving Balance with Materials
Modern brick homes often find a perfect balance between brick and other materials. They achieve this by reducing the amount of visible brick, breaking it up with contrasting textures and colours. Facade renovations don’t necessarily mean you have to cover up your brick entirely; instead, focus on using other materials (cladding, render etc) to cover just small areas to help reduce the amount of visible brick.
The Power of Neutrals
Another characteristic of modern brick homes is their use of neutral colours alongside the brick. When it comes to brick exterior renovations, forget outdated combinations like green and maroon. Instead, focus on neutrals such as greys or blacks. These colours create a stylish, sophisticated palette and work beautifully with the earthy tones of the brick.
Mind the Texture
Bricks inherently bring a lot of texture to your home’s exterior due to the mortar lines between them, which can appear as a busy pattern. To keep the facade visually balanced and avoid an overwhelming appearance during facade renovations, it’s crucial to keep other materials and elements on the house fairly plain.
The Accent Game
As you reduce the amount of brick during your exterior renovation, introduce accents to punctuate the design. This could be a bold front door, sleek metallic window frames, or stylish lighting fixtures. These accents add personality to your home and draw attention to the design elements you want to highlight.
Updating your brick home doesn’t have to be about disguising its brick facade, but rather, embracing it and reimagining it in a modern context!
A professional like Hotspace can guide you on how to beautifully transform the exterior and facade of your home, whilst retaining much of the brick to ensure you love your home for the long term!
Jane
https://hotspaceconsultants.com/preliminary-enquiry/
Imagine driving down your street, catching sight of your newly built or renovated home, and cringing at the rookie mistakes you made. Ouch!
Choosing colours & materials for your exterior home design can be like a game of roulette. You hope & pray it’ll turn out (and look great), but until it’s finished how will you know?
If you’re spending $40k+ on your home renovation or extension (or building a new home), you’ll want to be 100% sure of your decisions before you press ‘Go’!
Here are some pitfalls to avoid on your colour & product selections journey;
👇👇Designed By Hotspace 👇👇
Attempting to visualise the ultimate look and feel of your exterior home design without a colour illustration:Â Even for professional exterior designers like Hotspace, a colour representation of the final design is essential and an insurance policy to ensure a stunning outcome. Without one, there’s a high probability you could end up with a design that falls short of your ideal dream home.
Blowing your budget, and then some: Stepping into the murky waters of costs and material selection without expert navigation could lead you to significantly overspend on your build or renovation. Without experience and knowledge of all the available materials on the market, you pay more for less, and achieve a result that could have long-lasting negative effects.
Missing out on a unique looking exterior home design: If your aim is to create a home that truly reflects your personality and taste, a generic, assembly-line design just won’t do the trick (eg project homes or basic DIY design). Your home could end up as just another face in the crowd as you unknowingly select common and uninspiring options.
Using products, materials and colours not suited to the style you’re chasing: It’s good to source options yourself and it’s a great way to determine your style, but choosing the right elements for your dream look, and then pulling them all together into a cohesive design, is more difficult than it looks.
Taking on your own exterior home design is a monumental task, and the fear of messing it up is very real.
A professional like Hotspace can be the safety net that prevents your dream home from becoming a nightmare!
Before you decide to go it alone, think about what you could be missing out on. A little professional guidance could save you a lot of long-term regret.
Jane
https://hotspaceconsultants.com/preliminary-enquiry/
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/
