If you’re renovating and want to stay in your home long-term, it’s smart to incorporate house design ideas for ageing in place right from the start. As we get older, our physical needs evolve – but your home can still be both beautiful and functional.
Designing with the future in mind means creating a space that supports independence, comfort and safety well into the future.
👇👇Designed by Hotspace👇👇
Here are some practical house design ideas for ageing in place that maintain style while allowing you to live comfortably for longer.
1. Rethink External Stairs – Without Losing Levels
A multi-level home doesn’t have to become a future problem. If your home has stairs, consider:
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Making space for a future chair lift beside external stairs
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Adding a level landing to allow for a future lift or platform lift
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Integrating a gentle ramp into the landscaping design
These subtle changes ensure you maintain easy access — now and later — without compromising street appeal.
2. Make Subtle Mobility Changes Inside
Design choices like wide hallways and doorways make a huge difference to movement throughout the home. Consider:
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Step-free entries at your main doors
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Pocket or sliding doors that are easier to open
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Lever handles and mixer taps that are more user-friendly
These features are not just practical — they can also enhance your home’s look and feel.
3. Bathrooms and Kitchens with Long-Term Use in Mind
The two most used rooms should be both accessible and beautiful. Smart house design ideas for ageing in place in these spaces include:
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Wall reinforcements for future grab rails
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Curbless showers and wide openings
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Drawer storage instead of deep cabinets
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Ovens and dishwashers positioned at accessible heights
The result? A stylish, usable space that makes daily life easier as you age.
4. Entranceways That Are Safe and Stylish
Your front entrance makes a statement — and it should stay accessible. Think:
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A flat, stepless threshold to avoid trips
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Wider paths or pavers for easy navigation
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Enough space to allow a future ramp if needed
Done well, these elements can elevate the whole look of your facade while ensuring long-term function.
hotspaceconsultants.com/preliminary-enquiry/
Jane Eyles-Bennett
Looking for roof design ideas is actually a smart place to start when planning an exterior renovation—because your roofline is the key anchor point of your home’s overall look. It influences every other design decision, from the style you choose to the materials and colours that will actually work.
Most homeowners jump straight to cladding or paint colours, but your roofline is doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes. It sets the tone for what styles will suit your home—and which ones will never quite look right, no matter how beautiful the finishes are.
👇👇Designed by Hotspace👇👇
Your Roofline Sets the Style
The shape of your roof isn’t just a structural choice—it’s a design language. And like any language, if you don’t understand what it’s saying, it’s easy to misinterpret what will work.
For instance, a flat or skillion roof lends itself to contemporary or mid-century modern aesthetics. A gable roof pairs beautifully with Hamptons, Cape Cod, or coastal styles. A hip roof suits more traditional designs, but with the right exterior elements, it can also be updated with a modern twist.
By aligning your design choices with the architectural style your roofline supports, you create a home that feels balanced, cohesive, and visually pleasing from every angle.
Why Some Renovation Ideas Fall Flat
Have you ever seen a home renovation that just felt… off? Often, that disconnect comes down to a mismatch between the chosen style and the roofline.
Take a home with a strong hip roof and wide eaves. If the homeowner tries to apply a sleek, minimalist facade with sharp vertical cladding and black-framed windows—something you’d expect on a flat-roofed contemporary build – it can clash. The design feels forced, and the eye can sense it immediately, even if you can’t pinpoint why (You can see in the image above that that is exactly what we used – but it works! That’s because we understand the principles of great design – but I digress!).
This is why starting with roof design ideas that work with your existing structure is so important. It’s not about copying a trend – it’s about finding what works for your home.
You Don’t Have to Change the Roofline
In most cases, you don’t need to alter your roofline to achieve a beautiful transformation. You just need to design around it.
Final Thoughts
If you’re collecting roof design ideas and thinking about giving your home a fresh new look, start with what’s already there—your roofline. It’s not just a structural necessity; it’s a key part of your home’s visual identity.
Work with it, and you’ll create a result that looks intentional, polished, and stunning. Work against it, and no amount of paint or cladding will make things feel quite right.
Ready to Renovate with Confidence?
I’ll help you create a cohesive, well-thought-out facade design that works with your roofline – not against it. Get in touch with me below to see if I can help.
hotspaceconsultants.com/preliminary-enquiry/
Jane Eyles-Bennett
When it comes to updating your home’s facade, most people already have a collection of Pinterest ideas saved. They know what they love — the colours, the cladding, the textures — but they don’t know how to apply those ideas to their actual house. That’s exactly where I come in.
Recently, I worked with a client whose home was built in 1988. She had a whole folder of Pinterest ideas and inspiration images, but was completely stuck on how to translate them into something that worked with her house’s existing shape, layout and materials.
👇👇Designed by Hotspace👇👇
Choosing the Right Inspiration
Out of all the photos she showed me, one particular image stood out — a beautifully modern home with soft tones, simple lines, and understated elegance. I knew immediately it was the one to use as our main reference. And here is that image!
https://www.scottsalisburyhomes.com.au/mossman-display-home-glenunga/#
Instead of copying it, I reinterpreted it. I took the feel of that image and used it to guide every design decision — from colours and cladding to proportions and detail — while still respecting the structure and budget of her 1980s home.
Turning Ideas Into Real Design
That single photo became the anchor point. I combined it with other images she liked and layered in practical decisions based on her budget, the home’s orientation, and the features we could retain.
The result? A completely reimagined facade that feels just like the Pinterest ideas she loved — but was custom-designed for her home.
Need Help With Your Own Facade?
If you’ve got a stash of saved images but no clue how to make them work for your house, I’d love to help. I specialise in translating inspiration into design plans that actually work — for your home, your style, and your budget.
hotspaceconsultants.com/preliminary-enquiry/
Jane Eyles-Bennett
Looking for front door ideas that strike the perfect balance between style, security and function? Your front door is more than just the way in — it’s the first moment of connection between your home and your friends & family. It is actually helping to set the tone for your entire exterior.
Style First: Match the Home, Not the Trend
The biggest mistake I think people make when choosing a front door is picking one they like without thinking about the architecture it needs to complement.
A clean-lined, oversized pivot door might be stunning — but on a traditional style home? It’d just look out of place.
Instead, take your design cues from the home itself. A cottage-style home might suit a classic panelled door with a soft, pretty tone (think muted teal or pale sage), while a contemporary home might call for a sleek, solid timber door with vertical detailing.
A couple of quick tips:
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A timber door works beautifully if it’s protected from full sun or has a proper awning.
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Avoid black or dark colours in full sun – it’ll fade and warp – and being directly in the sun may void its warranty.
Add Personality (Not Just Colour)
The door doesn’t have to scream for attention. A subtle accent colour, a great handle, or even an unusual shape can do far more than fire-engine red ever could. I’m really not a fan of overly colourful doors and would rather the style do the talking.
For modern homes, consider:
Glass or No Glass?
Including glass in your door or sidelights (the narrow vertical windows beside your door) can elevate the entry, let in natural light and add softness to a solid façade.
But it’s important to think about:
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Privacy: Clear glass might not suit every situation. Frosted, reeded or decorative glass is a great alternative but can look dated.
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Security: Always opt for double-glazed or toughened safety glass in exposed areas.
Security That Doesn’t Ruin the Look
If you opt for a security door/screen, remember that this is going to cover up your main door a lot of the time. Just keep this in mind when determining the style (and cost) of your main door since you may not want to spend money on something you won’t see much.
Yes, security screens are UGLY! But in many cases they are necessary. At least we have options like Crimsafe these days. Just be sure to blend your colours in to the rest of the facade design.
If you’re collecting front door ideas, remember: this one decision carries a lot of weight. Your front door should feel welcoming, reflect your home’s architecture, and function beautifully every day. Choose thoughtfully — because first impressions really do last.
hotspaceconsultants.com/preliminary-enquiry/
Jane Eyles-Bennett
ChatGPT for home renovations has taken the world by storm, and when it comes to exteriors, it can actually be a handy starting point.
If you’re trying to modernise the outside of your home, AI can help spark ideas. With tools like ChatGPT, all you need to do is upload a photo of your house, add a few instructions (such as the style you’re going for or your colour preferences), and you can even upload a few inspiration images. Within moments, it can generate some exciting design suggestions—and in some cases, even an illustration.
Sounds amazing, right? And it is… to a point.
As a professional facade designer, I’ve played around with ChatGPT and a number of other AI design generators. Some of the ideas are genuinely inspiring, but there are a few important things to be aware of.
Where AI Design Falls Short
AI-generated designs can miss the mark on a few key details:
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It might ignore the actual layout of your home—like where your front entrance is or the style of your roof.
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It may suggest adding elements that don’t exist or can’t be practically added.
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And most critically, it has no understanding of your budget. You could enter a figure like $70,000, and still receive concepts that would cost triple that amount to build.
The Value of AI-Generated Ideas — With Expert Guidance
Despite these limitations, AI-generated images can be a great starting point. Many of my clients now come to me with AI-created mockups. While these designs often aren’t feasible as-is, they give me valuable insight into the kind of look the client loves.
From there, I’m able to refine the concept into a practical, beautiful, and budget-conscious design that works for their specific Australian home — whether it’s a modest update or a major renovation.
Need Help Bringing Your AI Ideas to Life?
If you’ve played around with AI tools like ChatGPT for home renovations and generated some exterior design ideas — but you’re unsure what to do next — I can help.
Send me a message via the link below to see if I can help.
hotspaceconsultants.com/preliminary-enquiry/
Jane Eyles-Bennett
Choosing the right modern colour scheme is one of the most powerful ways to elevate your home’s exterior. Whether you’re building from scratch or renovating an older property, a carefully selected palette can completely transform your facade — and boost your home’s street appeal in the process.
👇👇Designed by Hotspace👇👇
Here are three of my favourite modern colour scheme combinations — tried, tested, and proven to deliver stunning results.
1. Soft White, Timber Accents & Charcoal Contrast
This combo is fresh, warm and endlessly popular. Start with a soft white render to create a crisp foundation. Add some texture and warmth using natural or timber-look cladding. Then ground the look with a charcoal detail — think window frames, battens or feature cladding. This scheme offers contrast without feeling harsh.
2. Light Warm Grey, Charcoal Details & Stone Features
A more refined modern colour scheme, this one leans into warm tones and subtle textures. Use a light warm grey or greige render as your base, then layer in charcoal cladding, slats, or trims for visual depth. Add a natural stone feature — maybe around the entry or a pillar — to bring in a sense of earthy elegance.
3. Soft White Vertical Cladding, Mid Grey Render & Mixed Stone
For homes needing texture and warmth, this scheme delivers. Start with soft white vertical cladding for architectural interest, add a mid to dark grey render or cladding as your secondary colour, then bring it all together with a mixed-stone feature. Greys, browns and beiges work beautifully here to soften the look while still feeling contemporary.
Each modern colour scheme can be tailored to suit your home’s style and surroundings. The secret lies in layering — balancing light and dark, texture and contrast, for a look that feels cohesive and refined.
Which one do you love most? If you need help implementing your dream look, send me a message via the link below 😁
hotspaceconsultants.com/preliminary-enquiry/
Jane Eyles-Bennett
