Big Bang Interiors: Creating space in your house out of almost Nothing
The greatest validation? When a client shares that their friends often ask, "How much did you extend the building?" And surprisingly, their response is: "we didn’t."
The home is nestled within a heritage conservation area, making any extension a tricky affair. Not to mention, our clients had already done their best to utilise every possible square metre inside their home. They also cherished their limited outdoor space and didn’t want to give any of it up by extending the building.
By reconfiguring the back portion of the home - renovating the kitchen, laundry and bathroom - we made the house feel significantly larger. They told us that any guests who knew the space before can’t believe how much bigger it feels, especially considering it fits within the same envelope.
But here's the secret: achieving fantastic results within a fixed envelope boils down to meticulous planning, innovative design, and a mastery of some industry tricks. Below are some of Ballast Point’s key principles for maximising space without extending the building footprint:
Create a Masterplan: It might be tempting to make small adjustments when you can't expand the footprint. However, the less space you have, the more planning is essential. It’s about maximising the quality of each space, not just its size.
Untangle the Floorspace: Align rooms, eliminate unnecessary barriers, relocate doorways and bathrooms. The key is to reimagine and rearrange for optimal space utilisation.
Seamlessly Merge Spaces: Crave that seamless transition between indoors and outdoors? By merging spaces, we made our client's home feel like one vast expanse connecting from indoor to outdoor.
Embrace Multi-functionality: In the Balmain East property, space limitations meant getting creative. Our solution? A moveable benchtop that doubles as an informal dining space. The clients get so much use from it they sold their old dining table and chairs!
Overcome the Sunk Cost Fallacy: A recently renovated bathroom in the wrong spot might seem like a fixture you'd want to retain. But relocating it could greatly enhance the home's value not only for future buyers but for the way you and your family lives, far outweighing the initial cost.
Break Free from Plumbing Bias: As with the sunk cost fallacy, moving plumbing isn't as complicated as it sounds. In many cases, starting from scratch can be more efficient and not much different in cost.
Optimise Storage: Swap cabinets for drawers, and prioritise full-height storage to make the most of vertical spaces. Consider built-in storage or fixed shelving to make the most of wall space.
Embrace Deletion: Begin by decluttering. Sometimes, merely reorganising can dramatically transform a space.
Play with Colours and Textures: A new paint job in strategic shades can redefine a space's ambiance.
Elevate with Lighting: From modern chandeliers to cosy lamps, the right lighting fixtures can significantly elevate a room and alter the feeling of the space.
Our mission is always to help homeowners envision new possibilities for their spaces. And working in the Inner West comes with its own challenges of heritage conservation that might constrain options when renovating. Even when faced with constraints, we believe in creating the sensation of expansive space from seemingly nothing. At Ballast Point, we have the knowledge and experience to transform your space within the existing footprint, minimising the need for time-consuming and complicated council approvals and helping you stay in the house you love for longer. Contact us for a consultation.
