Predicting trends can be a risky business, but there are some tricks to ensuring building design features don\u2019t date.<\/strong><\/p>\n Melissa Fleming, principal architect and director at Melbourne-based Metroworks Architects, says looking to design elements which have \u201cstuck\u201d in Australian residential architecture is a good first step when designing a new home or renovation.<\/p>\n \u201cWe value our indoor\/outdoor lifestyle and so any design that makes the most of the relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces is a great start,\u201d Fleming says. The orientation of a house goes hand-in-hand with this, she adds.<\/p>\n Successfully fusing indoor and outdoor spaces is a good place to start. Picture: realestate.com.au\/buy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIdeally, living and outdoor areas should face to the north, to take advantage of the sun throughout the day. But equally, shading of north and particularly west-facing glazing should be thoughtfully considered and integrated into the design of the house.\u201d<\/p>\n High ceilings are also timeless, Fleming says.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the main features my clients talk about when renovating an older house is their desire to maintain their existing high ceilings and carry them through into the newer parts of the renovation. Higher ceilings also allow taller windows and doors, which in turn helps to bring the outside in,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n High ceilings are also timeless. Picture: Courtesy of Jane Cameron Architects. Builder: James McBride & Associates.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Storage never goes out of style either. \u201cMost clients want loads of storage space, whether in a new home or a renovation,\u201d Fleming says.<\/p>\n \u201cWe all have \u2018stuff\u2019 and that stuff needs somewhere to live. It\u2019s not just storage for historical things we don\u2019t want to part with, but also storage for seasonal things, that are only used occasionally through the year, like skiing gear, suitcases and Christmas decorations.\u201d<\/p>\n Storage never goes out of style. Picture: realestate.com.au\/buy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Fleming says some current trends run the risk of dating a home quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cLarge open-plan living, dining and kitchen areas are beginning to date, as people living in them realise that while they look great, they are not so practical,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u201cSome early open-plan spaces were huge and \u2018barn-like\u2019 and so it was difficult to achieve the cosiness of a home within them. Noise transfer and heating and cooling become real issues. Clever design can still link theses spaces together, without them all being within one large area,\u201d Fleming says.<\/p>\n Beware of free-standing baths and \u201csmart\u201d technology which can be superseded fast, she adds.<\/p>\n Not having a free-standing bath makes a bathroom feel bigger and is less likely to date. Picture: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cFree-standing baths I think may date in time. They look great in the brochure, but they need a large bathroom or ensuite to fit them in and allow enough room for cleaning access all around them.<\/p>\n \u201cThe trend of baths in ensuites seems to come and go as well. The thought of them is nice, but the reality is they are rarely used and so take up space that could be better utilised in another way.\u201d<\/p>\n When it comes to adding technology, think carefully, Fleming says.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is important that if you are thinking of including what can be a costly system in your home, you need to know whether it is easily upgradeable or expandable in the near future. Can you modify things within the system yourself or do you have to call in an expert every time you add a new device?\u201d<\/p>\n Working with an architect, who \u201ctypically has their finger on the pulse of what is coming, staying and going\u201d, is one way to help future-proof a home, Fleming says.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how to get the most from your collaboration with an architect.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s also important to remember it\u2019s OK to update, she says. \u201cIf you have a good, classic base to your house design, you can work within that to decorate or design elements that you know in the future may change.<\/p>\n \u201cHigh-use areas like kitchens and bathrooms will typically need an update after 10 to 15 years, as they start to tire with use, so that is the time you can update to a more contemporary look.\u201d<\/p>\n
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