November 23, 2015 “What style am I?” How new home builders in Sydney guide clients through the style maze

With interest in home building and décor at an all-time high, clients for custom designed homes are bombarded with visual stimuli about what the ideal home “should” look like. Magazines, television and the online space are literally teeming with ideas. Many of these look enticing enough after stylists and photographers have tweaked them to perfection, but may not be practical in real life.

One Sydney home builder confirms bridging the gap between the idealised version of homes that appear in media and the reality of what will actually suit a client is something that needs to be established early on, before luxury house plans are drawn up. One factor in making this decision is determining how home owners want the interior of the house to look, feel and function.

“A client may like the idea of a really modern home, but may find, after exploration, that they prefer a warmer, more eclectic interior, in which they can house heirloom furnishings and belongings. This will result in a complete re-think of the exterior of the home. Conversely, we’ve seen clients who have always seen themselves as ‘traditional’ types, enjoying embracing a bold, modern design for their new home. In either case, we see guiding clients through the options as a key part of our role, and we often start with the interior.”

Current demand in styles for custom designed homes generally falls into two categories: modern and traditional. The former aligns with Felton Constructions’ ‘Contemporary’ style while the latter aligns with the ‘Classical’ or ‘Colonial’ styles. One way in which clients can determine their choice is to consider the interior décor and furnishing options these styles offer.

Contemporary style encompasses the modernist aesthetic of the late 20th century, softened somewhat compared to the utilitarian lines of modernism. Interiors often focus strongly on line, shape and form. In terms of colour, palettes can include earthy colours such as brown and burnt red, through to cream and pure white. Shots of colour are often integrated; sometime primary colours such as red, blue or yellow, but also more nuanced or on-trend hues such as Duck Egg Blue. In terms of furniture, pieces are slim and functional. With the Scandinavian trend currently holding sway, light-coloured woods such as maple and birch are strong in the contemporary look, while leather and chrome are also popular.

Colonial style custom designed homes are popular in Australia, due to an ongoing love affair with Australia’s beautiful heritage buildings. It’s also a style that can incorporate modern or contemporary elements, particularly if they are characterised by ‘earthier’ or softer aesthetics and palettes. Timber is a strong element in these homes, from polished timber floorboards to traditional style colonial furnishings. The emphasis is on ‘old world charm’ but overlaid with a sense of timeless, simple authenticity rather than opulence.

Classical style draws on European and Georgian design principles, with a focus on opulence and elegance, and is suited to clients who love high-end, somewhat more ornate furniture pieces, traditional artworks and portraits, or graceful features such as elaborate fireplaces and light fittings. Colour palettes for this style usually focus on a ‘sumptuous’ take on neutrals but can venture into pastels or daring options such as Peacock Blue or Cerise. Materials include exotic marbles and timbers, with key features such as parquetry flooring.

With new home builders in Sydney reporting demand for all these styles or their equivalents, there is something to suit everyone, particularly as all three are executed with modern tastes in mind. Whatever style you think you are, a look at interior options is often the best place to start.