BuildHome

Joining forces with a custom builder allows you to develop highly individualised floor plans, choose any fittings and finishes you want, utilise high-tech building systems, and integrate the precise features and technology you desire. A custom-build is a popular choice for knockdown-rebuild projects, which often take place in established areas where building restrictions and challenges are rife. And it appeals to people upgrading to their second or third home. But it’s not just for those with deep pockets. A custom builder can help you find a way to have the home you want within the budget you have — and with minimal compromise. We take a look at the benefits of custom building and how to get the most out of the experience. The products you choose for your new home…

When what you crave is a home that will be a one-off, custom home builders can oblige. They build homes designed exclusively for the client and the client’s unique block of land and this tailored, individualised approach ensures the finished home is a perfect fit with the client’s lifestyle needs, aesthetic preferences, the topography of the site and their budget. “A custom builder, also sometimes referred to as a designer builder, will build bespoke homes for clients who are looking for something exclusive and individual,” says Nick O’Shea of O’Shea & Sons Builders. “A good custom/designer builder will provide a one-stop-shop service, whether fully in-house or by way of professional partners, to help guide the clients through the entire build process, from design concept to completion. “People engage a custom builder often…

In its infancy decades ago, the idea of home automation gave rise to such concepts as automated garage doors, sensor-driven security lighting, and integrated automatic sprinkler systems. Then there was the gradual proliferation of automated blinds, audio-visual equipment and security systems. But the next generation of home technology has blasted the ideology of smart living into the stratosphere. It’s more streamlined, more intelligent and more integrated. Surprisingly, it’s also much simpler to navigate. New technology is all about automated devices that are not only functional; some are pro-active, cleverly anticipating a user’s needs. They can be operated via a touch-screen device like a smart phone or tablet or control panel, or can be controlled via voice command. Many modern smart home devices are barely there, or even completely hidden. Others double as…

Functional and beautiful, the new generation of heaters is giving us greener homes and utilising smart technology to keep us warm. Whether fuelled by electricity, gas, wood or bioethanol, if they are to be built-in or used as a decorative feature, they cannot be an afterthought — they must be a part of the initial design brief. ELECTRIC DREAMS A popular option, electric heating has undergone some innovative transformations over the last few years. Dimplex Commercial Manager, Ciaran Murphy, says the amount of energy used by electric flame and heating appliances is being reduced through new technologies like seven-day time and temperature control, occupancy sensors to avoid heating unused rooms, and eco-heating functionality. “There are differences in heating capacity from heater to heater — this is measured in the rated wattage of the…

Every year, members of the NSW branch of the Housing Industry Association (HIA) have the opportunity to enter the HIA-CSR NSW Housing and Kitchen & Bathroom Awards. This is a prestigious event that acknowledges exemplary design and construction in the residential building sector. Projects are judged on a range of specific criteria, including design effectiveness, aesthetic appeal, innovation, environmental sustainability and market relevance. The winners are those who display superior skills, professionalism and creativity, often setting new design and building benchmarks. On the following pages, we showcase just a few of the winners from the 2021 awards. If you’re planning a new home and would like to view the full complement of winners for some inspiration, visit hia.com.au/awards-and-events/awards/nsw…

Built by Rudder Construction and designed by Giles Tribe Architects, Piper Park is an exclusive development of five luxury Torrens Title homes. Claiming a picturesque position above Whites Creek Valley Park in Sydney’s inner-west, the much lauded project provides occupants with a relaxed parkside lifestyle in a location that is close to amenities. Characterised by an abundance of natural light, each of the homes features indoor living spaces that seamlessly meld with their outdoor entertaining areas through floor-to-ceiling glass. The layout also caters for every occasion. This includes a deluxe kitchen for entertaining, a cinema/rumpus room, an in-ground spa and a walk-in cellar for when either socialising with friends or enjoying a relaxing night in. Access to the development, which is located on a corner block, is via the elevated frontage which…