Displaying posts labeled "Support"

The sky’s the limit when it comes to building your own home – but that’s a blessing and a curse, as professional McCarthy home builders explain in this article.

Having unlimited options means it’s often hard to sort out exactly what you’d like to do. It gets even trickier when you start calculating the cost of your custom home.

There are hundreds of little details that need your attention when designing a new build. And the work you do selecting appliances, fittings, flooring, lighting and colours will make a huge difference to the final product.

But, before you dive into the fine details, it’s important to get the broad strokes right. Your home’s size, shape and layout have a major impact on how you use the space every day. A good design can support your family’s lifestyle, while a poor design can limit privacy and waste precious space on your block of land.

One of the biggest decisions you’ll need to make is choosing between a single-storey and two-storey design. You can make a good case for either type of home. It all comes down to your family and lifestyle needs. In this article we’ll explore the major factors you need to consider when choosing between a one and two-storey design, and how they affect your overall build.

Making the Most of Your Budget

Let’s start with the major issue: budget.

Building a new home is an expensive undertaking. It’s easy to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more) on designing a home that does everything you need.

In most cases, two-storey homes cost more than a single storey. One building company reports that it’s about 30% more expensive to add a second storey. That sounds like a lot of money, but it isn’t the whole story.

While double storey houses tend to cost more, they can help you save money in other areas. For instance, two-storey homes have a significantly smaller footprint than single storey houses for the same amount of internal space.

Reducing the footprint of the home means you can build a larger house on a smaller block, saving money on the purchase of your property. This could even help you break into desirable inner suburbs where block sizes are smaller and prices are higher.

The flipside is that the money you save on a single-storey build could be put towards your project. If you want to buy a larger block of land, upgrade internal features or simply keep your budget under control, a single-storey design may be the better option.

Consider Your Lifestyle Needs

One and two-storey homes both have plenty of room for the whole family. But having an extra storey can change the way you use your space or provide much-needed separation and privacy.

There’s no right answer here! Modern architectural designs are intended to be as functional as the available space allows. Architects are very aware of how the average family uses their home, and floor plans are designed accordingly. All you need to do is decide which layout makes more sense for your family.

For instance, single-storey homes create a sense of connectedness that young families enjoy. Being able to keep an eye on your kids from anywhere in the house is a great feature, but you might be trading yard space for the privilege.

On the other hand, most two-storey homes are designed with the living spaces on the ground floor and bedrooms on the upper. This provides excellent separation for growing families where teenagers and parents need their private spaces.

Energy Efficiency

Heating and cooling makes up about 40% of household energy use. There are lots of ways you can control that expense, but the overall layout of your home plays a big role in energy efficiency.

In general, two-storey homes are less energy efficient than single-storey homes. This is because hot air rises – meaning upper storeys tend to be hotter and require more cooling in summer. Additionally, two-storey homes have larger exterior wall areas that collect and store heat from the sun during the day.

Single-storey homes consistently perform better for energy efficiency. This isn’t always the case though. In coastal areas, building upwards often allows homeowners to catch sea breezes, which are excellent for keeping your home cool without the need for powered climate control.

Making the Most of Your Block

Building a new home gives you almost unlimited freedom to decide where you want to live. That can make it difficult to choose a suburb that’s close to work, friends, family and all the amenities your family needs.

To add a layer of complexity, the block you select will impact the design and layout of your new home. When choosing your property, spare a thought for:

• The footprint of the house

This is often the deciding factor between one and two-storey homes. If you’re looking for inner-suburb locations, chances are you’ll have to make do with a smaller block. That means you’ll need to build upwards if you want a larger home that doesn’t break the bank.

• House location and facing

Larger blocks offer the freedom to choose where and how your house sits on the property. This can have an impact on noise from major roads, natural light inside the house, passive cooling capabilities, and things such as landscaping requirements.

• Neighbouring buildings

If you’re surrounded by two-storey homes, building upwards may give you more privacy than a single-storey option. On the other hand, if your area is filled with single-storey homes, building a two-storey house may cause your home to loom over the others, which can be uncomfortable for everyone involved.

Choosing Your Favourite Design Elements

Finally, we need to think about how we want the house to look. Up until now we’ve been worried about how our new home functions, but the design is also a huge factor.

In many cases, two-storey designs allow more freedom for standout design features. Do you want a grand balcony? Full-height voids over your foyer? A colonnaded porch? All of these things are possible with a two-storey design!

That’s not to say that single-storey homes are lacking on the design front. It’s still possible to build a home that looks incredible, but you won’t be able to take advantage of features like ultra-high ceilings or grand entryways.

I have received several new books lately and I will admit that this one might be my favourite, as I could move right into this house. Our Way Home: Reimagining an American Farmhouse, by Heide Hendricks and Rafe Churchill, with Laura Chávez Silverman, photographs by Chris Motallini and published by Rizzoli: The glorious Connecticut property of Heide Hendricks and Rafe Churchill (of the architecture and interior design firm Hendricks Churchill) illustrates how a late nineteenth-century farmhouse can be adapted for stylish and comfortable twenty-first-century living. The historic property, Ellsworth, is a showplace for their shared aesthetic and sensibility of designing for real life, and not for formality. At the core is a house of pared-down traditionalism with references to Shaker tranquility, Arts & Crafts practicality, and bohemian chic. Whimsical wallcoverings, striking colors, a mix of contemporary furniture and antiques, exciting works of art, and comfort abound—turning a workaday house from the nineteenth century into a creative laboratory of the twenty-first.
This book really showcases their unique style and love of vintage and every detail in each room is worth noting and saving as inspiration. I had to stop myself from taking photos of every page. This one is a must-buy.

Next up is a book that might not be as much “at my level” as the previous book but it is also a must to add to your book collection, because it showcases the work of one of the greatest designers of our time.

John Stefanidis: A Designer’s Eye, written by John with Susanna Moore, published by Rizzoli. This long-awaited monograph brings together fifty years of work and demonstrates how the interiors guru has drawn on a global range of influences for his designs as well as his furniture and fabric collections. John Stefanidis established his design practice in Chelsea, London, in 1967, attracting a discerning international clientele with his carefully considered, vibrant, and beautiful transformation of homes worldwide. If there is such a thing as a Stefanidis “look,” it combines an original use of vibrant color, an eclectic aesthetic, great sensitivity to proportions, and comfort matched with international flair. This lavishly illustrated survey—with images taken for the foremost shelter magazines and unpublished photographs from the designer’s archive—closely follows Stefanidis’s trajectory from his professional start in the late 1960s to his most recent, celebrated projects.
I have been a fan of John’s throughout our many blogging years and it is an honour to have this book in my collection. He is a master at his craft and the beauty of these pages is all the proof you need.

Next up is one that is completely outside of my wheelhouse but I agreed to give it a go anyway and am I ever glad I did.

Classical Shindig: Amateur Artistry from the Simple to the Sublime by Michael Harold and Quinn Peeper, published by Susan Schadt Press: Make the acquaintance of two of New Orleans’ most beloved hosts and concert pianists, Michael and Quinn, who sure do know their shindigs. From seasonal celebrations to iconic book clubs to lavish parties for friends, family, and charities (both local and national), Michael and Quinn have seen, done, and decorated it all. Enjoy the pair’s authentic sense of style and design in their lush home and garden while exploring the joys of throwing unique and personal events. The pages are filled with hundreds of delightful photographs captured by twelve renowned Southern photographers that showcase the abundance of Michael and Quinn’s New Orleans Garden District home. Come away with hosting, interior design, and entertaining tips and tricks that even an amateur can execute.
This book has a little bit of everything – some fabulous interior design, tablescaping like you’ve never seen, and even includes thirty recipes! Everything you need if you’re big on entertaining…or love being entertained! I’m dying to check out the recipes in detail and who knows, maybe this will make me want to throw a party. And a side note that this book would be a perfect host gift to bring to gatherings you are invited to over the holiday season.  

Over the years Desire to Inspire has proudly partnered with the A’ Design Award & Competition, the world’s largest annual juried design competition with over 100 categories. It honors the best designers, architects, and design-oriented companies worldwide to provide them publicity, fame and recognition. Such an exciting competition, and such a prestigious award!  A’ Design Award & Competition is an indicator of quality and perfection in design, recognized worldwide, with your design front and centre before design companies and professionals. Entries are judged by an international jury panel of scholars, professionals and media members and the benefits to the winners are inspiring. The trophy, of course, an invitation to the gala night, a certificate of quality, inclusion in the prestigious A’ Design Award & Competition exhibition and the yearly ResultBook but even more importantly press, PR, introduction to industry professionals and companies and international exposure. There is still time to get entries in for this year’s awards. Register today!

Let’s get started and have a peek at some of the talented winners of last year’s Furniture, Homeware and Decor Items Designs category (one of MANY categories that are included in the competition).

Ceremony Stool by Lu Yi

Dihedral Chair by Rakeem Bradshaw

Dorothee Becker’s Hand Wall Bedside Unit by Nataliya Naymark

Lotus Armchair by Jorge Prieto

Simplo Sofa by Abbas Sufi Nejad

Infier Chaise Longue by Fereshteh Hajigholami

Eclosion Planter by Chung Wei Wang

Rollerback Dining Chair by Timothy Hardman

Flower Stool by Yuko Inamine

Tiles Writing Desk by Wei Jingye and Zhang Wenyang

Umma Indoor Outdoor Armchair by Ariane Rosa

Wall O Wall Seat by Gurtner Gregoire

Erhu Chair by Han Mei

Perspective Of Light Multifunctional Side Table by Yu Ren

Overlap Sofa by Tomoki Doi

Greenery Bench by Shibing Yang

Friends Sofa by Roberta Rampazzo

Hotaru Stool by Misaki Kiyuna

Seat Urchin Rocking Chair by Yue Zhuo

Relax Chaise Lounge by Charlotte Abrahamsson Kwetczer

Do you think you have what it takes to take on the best of the best design from around the world? You can register for the 2023-2024 A’ Design Award and Competition here but time is short so get your entries in now. And to see more award winning designs you can check them all out here.

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This post is brought to you in collaboration with A’ Design Award & Competition.

Can you believe it’s that time of year again? Time for the best and brightest designers from around the world to enter the A’ Design Award and Competition and that means you. Register your design here. The deadline for entries is fast approaching and now is the time to submit your best work. With over 100 categories the A’ Design Award and Competition is the world’s largest design competition. But it is not just an award. It is an indicator of quality and perfection in design, recognized worldwide, bringing your design front and centre before design companies and professionals.

From the Furniture, Homeware and Decor Items Design Award to the Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award. The Lighting Products and Projects Design Award to the Interior Space and Exhibition Design Award. The Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design Award to the Landscape Architecture, Planning and Garden Design Award and so many more. (You can find all the design categories here.) With the competition highlighting, advertising & advocating good design, taking part will provide recognition, publicity and international peer review. Entries will be judged by an international jury panel of scholars, professionals and media members and the benefits to the winners are inspiring. The trophy, of course, an invitation to the gala night, a certificate of quality, inclusion in the prestigious A’ Design Award and Competition exhibition and the yearly ResultBook but even more importantly press including being featured in four esteemed publications; the Design Interviews, Design Legends, Magnificent Designers and Legendary Designers. Then there’s the PR, introduction to industry professionals and companies and international exposure. The fame, the prestige, the recognition and so much more.

Are you inspired? Excited? Believe you’ve got what it takes to take on the best of the best design from around the world? You can register for the A’ Design Award and Competition 2023 –2024 now. But you better be quick. The deadline for regular submissions is September 30. Results will be announced to the public on May 1 and you will find full coverage of the results here on Desire to Inspire. Can’t wait to share the winners with you! Maybe we’ll be sharing your work.

In the meantime here are some inspiring winners from last year in the Furniture and Lighting categories…

Eureka Lounge Chair by Beijing Yeak Tech Co. Ltd.

Brace Lounge Chair by Elena Prokhorova

Jaipur Furniture Collection by Sonal Tuli

Wave Armchair by Crystian Freiberger

Spark Sofa by Wang Jun

Water Ripples Chair by Kuo-Hsiang Kuo

Kozo Bookshelf by Jihad Khairallah

Lens Series Furniture by Eva Liu

Honey Drop Lighting by Akira Nakagomi

Reflex Pendant Lamp by Alexey Danilin

Scacco Matto Portable Lamp by Francesco Cappuccio

Barro Lamp by Caterina Moretti

U Table Lamp by Monica Pinto de Almeida

Believe you’ve got what it takes to take on the best of the best design from around the world? You can register for the 2023 – 2024 A’ Design Award and Competition here but time is short so get your entries in now.

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This post is in collaboration with A’ Design Award & Competition.

Your Form is My Creation Abhang No 810 by Bhaskar Hande

When it comes to transforming a house into a warm and inviting home, the key lies in the art that adorns its walls. Art has the remarkable power to breathe life and personality into any space, making it an integral part of interior design. If you are on the lookout for exquisite original art to enrich your living space, look no further than Singulart – the premier online art and design gallery that curates a vast collection of extraordinary artworks, setting new standards in the world of art e-commerce. 

Unveiling Singulart – Your Online Art Gallery 

Singulart is a virtual treasure trove of exceptional original paintings and artworks that cater to art enthusiasts, collectors, and homeowners alike. As an esteemed online art gallery, they connect art lovers with an exclusive network of talented artists, granting them unparalleled access to an extensive array of art pieces that are carefully curated for their distinctiveness and creativity. 

Les Lignes Musicales by Hildegarde Handsaeme

Discover the Beauty of Original Art 

At Singulart, the focus is on authentic originality, which sets them apart from other online art platforms. From vivid abstracts that inspire introspection to serene landscapes that transport you to distant realms, Singulart offers a diverse selection of styles and genres, ensuring that every art lover finds something that resonates with their taste. 

Curated Excellence: A Cut Above the Rest 

Singulart’s curation process is meticulous and refined, guaranteeing the highest standard of quality for their customers. Their team of experts scours the art world to handpick original paintings that possess exceptional artistic merit, emotional depth, and technical brilliance. This dedication to curation ensures that every piece featured on Singulart’s platform is not just visually stunning but also imbued with the soul of the artist. 

Pink Pachanoi by Sienna Martz

Art that Speaks to Your Soul 

Choosing the right artwork for your home is an intimate and personal experience. Whether you are a seasoned collector or a first-time art buyer, Singulart makes the journey of discovering the perfect piece a truly delightful one. Browsing through their user-friendly website, you can explore a diverse range of themes, colours, and sizes, allowing you to shop for art that speaks to your soul and complements your living space impeccably. 

Buying Art Online Made Effortless 

Gone are the days of trudging from one art gallery to another in search of that special piece now you can buy art online. With Singulart’s online art gallery, purchasing art has never been easier or more convenient. From the comfort of your home, you can browse through an extensive collection of artworks, read about the artists’ backgrounds, and even visualize the art on your walls using augmented reality features. Embrace the joy of discovering and owning exceptional art without leaving your sanctuary. 

Small Anemone by Kleine Anemone

Incorporating art into your home is a powerful way to express your personality and create an ambience that reflects your taste. Singulart, as a leading online art and design gallery, opens the door to a world of original art, giving you the opportunity to enrich your living spaces with exceptional works of creativity and beauty. Experience the joy of discovering breathtaking art from the comfort of your home and take the first step towards transforming your living space into a haven of artistic inspiration.