Undercover Architect

Helping homeowners get it right when designing, building or renovating their family home.

Wardrobes, linens, laundries and mudrooms

In this episode, I talk about wardrobes, linens, laundries and mudrooms. I also cover walk-in robes and other storage such as broom cupboards.

These spaces can be important to get right for a home to work well, so let’s learn more.

Firstly, I talk about the four Fs upfront, and get through them quite quickly.

Then, I tackle each of these spaces individually, and share some key mistakes and design tips for each. And in each I talk about where to locate it in your home, and how to connect it to other spaces and rooms so it works as conveniently as possible.

Because convenience is what these spaces are ALL about. When you get it right in these rooms and spaces … when you nail how they work functionally … then it not only assists you in your home. It makes life simpler for everyone, and is a serious sanity saver in family homes.

This is the list of rooms and spaces I talk about in this episode:

Firstly, wardrobes. So these are built-in robes that are a fixed object in a room – and usually a bedroom.

Then there’s walk-in robes. These are little (or big) rooms for storing clothing. They’ll sometimes be more like a dressing room, with an ottoman or something similar in the middle.

Next, there’s linen cupboards. So these are for storing sheets, towels, blankets, and other types of items required for our beds and our homes. They can also be general storage for other things.

There’s also broom cupboards. These are generally similar to linen cupboards, with less shelving in them, so you can have space for vertical items such as brooms and mops.

Then, I talk about two rooms … mud rooms and laundries. These rooms can be two separate ones in different parts of your home from each other. They can also be right next door to each other, or combined into the same space. Another name for a mudroom is a boot room.

Listen to the podcast now, and learn how to get it right in your wardrobes, linen, laundry and mudroom.

And if you want to learn more about how to design your home, I’ve created a special (and free!) e-guide for you. It’s called “How to Design a Home: 5 Simple Steps to Getting it Right”.

This episode is about the wet areas in our home, namely bathrooms, ensuites and powder rooms.

These are cost intensive areas in our home. They, as well as our kitchens, will have the highest cost rate in $ / m2 compared with the rest of the home (when looking at your project overall). This is of course because of the electrical, the plumbing, the finishes, and the fixtures in these rooms, all crammed into quite a small area.

These rooms also need to function – in some pretty core and fundamental ways!

When your bathrooms, ensuites and powder rooms aren’t arranged well … When elements in them aren’t sized appropriately … And when these rooms sit in difficult positions within our homes … They can seriously impact the convenience of daily routines.

In this episode, I’ll get clear on the terminology used for these rooms, and what generally goes in each of them.

Then, of course, we’ll explore the four F’s and how they relate to your bathroom, ensuite and powder room.

And I’ll share 3 mistakes and 3 design tips.

There are some general pieces of advice that apply whether we’re considering the bathroom, ensuite or powder room. And then there’s info that is specific to particular rooms. So whilst this episode relates to all 3 of these rooms, I’ll identify some things to know with each room, individually.

The top 3 mistakes I’ll share are:

Mistake #1:         the toilet is visible with the door open (and is the first thing you see)

Mistake #2:         locating your powder room so it’s directly accessed off your main hallway

Mistake #3:         not planning the location of the towel rail during design

There are also lots of design tips. Here are the top 3:

Design tip #1:      locate your vanity so it’s the first thing you see

Design tip #2:      ensure you give the bath enough room … (whether it’s free standing or built in)

Design tip #3:      choose your tile extents and types early, as it impacts your budget

It may feel like there’s a lot to think of, but next time you’re sitting in your bathroom, look around and make a list of all the things that are permanently fixed in there. There is a lot packed into a relatively small area.

It all needs to function well, be durable and easy to clean and maintain, in order for your wet areas to not cause you issues. So of course, planning these things early will make your process simpler overall.

Listen to the podcast now, and learn how to get it right in your bathroom, ensuite and powder room.

And if you want to learn more about how to design your home, I’ve created a special (and free!) e-guide for you. It’s called “How to Design a Home: 5 Simple Steps to Getting it Right”.

The main bedroom of the house … Bedroom Number 1.

This can be simply a bedroom, or it can be arranged in combination with extra or attached spaces such as a walk-in-robe, ensuite and even a parents’ retreat.

Other names for it are the master bedroom, or master suite.

Ensuites and walk-in robes will come in Episode 6 and Episode 7, so I can give you more detail about them separately.

Something to know first about this episode …

A lot of what I’ll be sharing are options that are available to you. I’ll actually be asking a lot of questions. You can then ask these of yourself, or discuss with your partner, to work out the best design choices for you.

Unlike some other parts of the home, the way a master bedroom is designed isn’t too prescriptive in order for it to work. There are of course some fundamental things that work and don’t, and I’ll be taking you through those.

However, so much of the design aspect of the main bedroom involves super personal choice. And, as with your whole home, I want you do design it with intention. Actually think about how you’ll use it, and design it to suit you.

I’ll be sharing the four F’s and how to use them to get it right in your main bedroom. And, as always, I’ll be identifying 3 key mistakes and 3 big design tips to help you design a beautiful master bedroom for your home. But actually – there’s a lot of mistakes and design tips in this one, so listen out!

The top 3 mistakes I’ll share are:

Mistake #1:         forgetting the circulation space required in this bedroom

Mistake #2:         arriving into the master on the side or head of the bed

Mistake #3:         not privatising the view into the room from within and outside the home

There are also lots of design tips. Here are the top 3:

Design tip #1:      position the door into the room so you can see across the foot of the bed as you walk in

Design tip #2:      choose and design your lighting for flexibility of use, and so you can turn off the last one from bed

Design tip #3:      consider whether locating your master bedroom close to your kids’ bedrooms is the right choice

The main bedroom can often be the only space in our family homes that feels like ‘our own’. It’s a grown up space that gives us an opportunity to escape from busy, crazy family life. And gives us the chance to be secluded, and get some relaxation space of our own.

Listen to the podcast now. I hope you find it helpful in getting it right in your master bedroom or master suite.

And if you want to learn more about how to design your home, I’ve created a special (and free!) e-guide for you. It’s called “How to Design a Home: 5 Simple Steps to Getting it Right”.

There’s a huge amount to consider when it comes to designing your kitchen.

And more than any other area of your home, you can feel a lot of pressure that you’ll stuff it up.

This episode is about kitchens … all things kitchens, which means I’ll also talk about butler’s pantries, walk-in pantries and appliance cupboards.

Your renovation or new build can be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for to finally get a kitchen that works. One with decent bench space, great storage, and a layout that enables you to enjoy being in it, using it, and getting the most from it.

So, in this episode, I’ll cover the 4 “F’s” and how they relate to your kitchen. I’ll also share 3 mistakes to avoid, and 3 design tips to aim for so you nail this space in your home.

When a kitchen works, it ends up being amazing for improving your time and life in your home overall.

The thing is, for most homeowners I work with have families. And when you have kids, the way you usually entertain is at home. It’s hard, and expensive, to take a tribe of children out somewhere. And even when you do, you never get to actually speak to your friends, because you’re too busy watching the kids!

So getting together with your friends and family usually involves being at someone’s home. And having a lovely open plan kitchen / living / dining area, that then flows to outside, is such a winner with easy family living and entertaining. Sounds good hey?

So what are these mistakes? I mention a lot in this podcast episode, and here are my top 3:

Mistake #1:         not planning out the storage you need

Mistake #2:         island bench is too stumpy in proportion

Mistake #3:         using a corner pantry

There are also lots of design tips. Here are the top 3:

Design tip #1:      keep all services out of the island bench (including your sink)

Design tip #2:      remember that your fridge is deeper than your kitchen joinery

Design tip #3:      consider whether you need an island bench at all

Kitchens are a big deal in our homes. They’re the source of a lot of angst when they don’t work well, and so can be pretty stressful to get right. And, they also chew up a lot of our budget.

Listen to the podcast now. I hope you find it helpful in getting it right in your kitchen design.

Remember if you want to learn more about how to design your home, I’ve created a special (and free!) e-guide for you. It’s called “How to Design a Home: 5 Simple Steps to Getting it Right”. Just click on the image below to get your copy.

Further reading on kitchens on the Undercover Architect Blog:

Design tips and dimensions for your family kitchen >>> CLICK HERE

How to Design a Compact Kitchen >>> CLICK HERE

Design Masterclass: Kitchens >>> CLICK HERE

What do you need in the perfect butler’s pantry? >>> CLICK HERE

 And Undercover Architect kitchen blogs on Mum Central …

 5 Ways to get the Biggest Bang for Buck with Your Kitchen Makeover >>> CLICK HERE 

This episode is about the second living space or room in our homes. It goes by lots of different names, and most homeowners planning a renovation or new home want to create one.

So, let’s learn more about how to get it right.

This episode may also be a little controversial, as I challenge you to consider whether you really need a second living space or room in your home. Because, as you stretch your budget and your space to accommodate all the dreams you have for your new or renovated home, you may end up compromising everything.

I’m not here to crush your dream. If you want a second living room, can afford one and want to know how to create one that works, then this episode is for you. There are also some suggestions for alternatives if you’ve been weighing up whether you can create this space in your home, and are perhaps feeling the pinch.

So, how to do you get this second living room working in your home?

We dive into the four “F’s” to understand how they apply to this space.

I share 3 key mistakes I see many homeowners make when designing their second living room.

I’ll go through these in detail so you can avoid them in your design. What are they? Here’s a summary:

Mistake #1   Not being strategic about where you locate this room in your floor plan

Mistake #2   Creating a design that is too fixed in how the room needs to be used

Mistake #3   Closing the room up too much

I also provide 3 design tips to help you get it right in your second living room. Here’s those 3 tips briefly:

Design tip #1  Showing you how to use it to zone the home, and improve the functionality overall by creating seasonal spaces with how it’s oriented and what it’s connected to

Design tip #2  Helps with designing for flexibility in how you fit out the room so it serves lots of different functions

Design tip #3   Outlines how to use the room to provide breathing space to open the home up where needed – for spaciousness and light

This room is usually created to provide separation and choice in a home. But what other functions does yours need to perform? And how can you create it so it suits your family now, and always?

Listen to the podcast now. You’ll be on the way to getting it right in your design for your second living room.

Did you know that Australian homes are among the biggest in the world?

And, in my experience with renovating and building, there’s a great mismatch between homeowner expectations and actual costs and timeframes.

They say it always costs twice as much to renovate and build, and takes twice as long. Instead, I suggest that homeowners begin their project thinking it will take half as long, and cost half as much, as it actually will.

And the readjustment as they find this out can be super challenging on their journey.

So, this episode will also help with ideas about how to create separation and choice in your home, without building a whole other living room.

Information about research mentioned in this podcast can be found at >>> http://www.realestate.com.au/news/what-does-australias-ideal-house-look-like/

Interesting statistics about house sizes around the world can be found at >>> http://shrinkthatfootprint.com/how-big-is-a-house

More info on Australian house sizes is here >>> http://www.realestate.com.au/advice/is-bigger-better/

Remember if you want to learn more about how to design your home, I’ve created a special (and free!) e-guide for you. It’s called “How to Design a Home: 5 Simple Steps to Getting it Right”. Just click on the image below to get your copy.