What to Keep in Mind When Designing a Granny Flat
Thinking of designing?
Adding a granny flat to your property can provide extra space for elderly parents, adult children, long-term guests, or rental income. However, building one requires careful planning, especially if you want an attractive, comfortable, and functional living space. Credible Homes owner and designer John Alam shares his top tips.
Assess Your Needs Before drafting plans, determine your needs - family use or rental income? One or two bedrooms? Storage and living spaces? Check local granny flat regulations on maximum sizes and location too. Credible Homes stays current on the latest building codes to advise on meeting council rules.
Ensure Compliance Complying with building regulations is vital. Rules cover aspects like sizes, boundary setbacks, and lot placement. Our expert knowledge of codes saves you time and gives confidence your granny flat meets all legal requirements.
What else should you know?
Maximize Natural Light
Abundant natural light makes small spaces appear larger and creates a pleasant mood. Orientate your granny flat to capture sunshine and add ample windows suited to your privacy needs.
Incorporate Multipurpose Spaces Granny flats have compact floorplans, so make each room multi-use. An open kitchen/lounge with a sofa bed allows the lounge to transition into a bedroom for instance. Built-in or wall beds also save space.
Create a Seamless Flow
Limit hallways and use open-concept layouts to build a sense of spaciousness. Continue this flow to the outdoors with sliding doors leading onto patios.
Focus on Quality Finishes
Some people have considered using the following quality finishes which elevate a compact granny flat: Installing luxury materials creates an enjoyable living environment in a small granny flat. Credible Homes uses durable, low-maintenance products designed to handle heavy wear-and-tear. Some clients have considered stone benchtops in kitchens and bathrooms keep their sleek look for decades. Hybrid vinyl plank flooring resists scuffs, stains, and moisture. Our finishes selection ensures your granny flat retains its stylish, contemporary aesthetic for years to come.
At Credible Homes, designer and builder John Alam brings decades of expertise constructing stylish yet sensible secondary dwellings. His qualifications in building design, construction and assessment mean he oversees your granny flat project from conception to completion. Hanna works alongside clients to create plans matching their aspirations, lifestyle needs and budget. For professional guidance designing your ideal granny flat, contact John today.