4 Reasons Why We LOVE Sydney So Much!

There are many beautiful major cities in the world, but Sydney is second to none. From its iconic harbour and skyline to its amazing beaches and multicultural wonderland, you could spend a lifetime revelling in the magic that Sydney has to offer. New discoveries are always waiting around the corner in this cosmopolitan playland by the sea.

The mild climate and beautiful weather in Sydney make it ideal for both residents and visiting travelers alike. Generally, there are over 300 days a year of sunshine so you are able to make the most of your outdoor time. It’s fun to cool off from the hot days of summer with an ocean swim, and to enjoy the distinct but mild temperatures during the other seasons too.

The Harbour

Stunning harbours around the globe have a universal appeal, but Sydney’s oft-photographed harbour is the very definition of an iconic panorama. Picture a perfect azure sky, sunlight dancing on water and illuminating the brilliant architecture of the Opera House and the magnificent Harbour Bridge.

Best of all, there are so many beautiful places to view the harbour from. For a totally idyllic experience, a cruise through the harbour is the perfect choice.

The Views

Sydney is blessed with so many amazing views, from the skyline to its miles of coastline and ocean vistas. Local residents who want to enjoy the immense beauty of those views have found that building extensions in Sydney are the way to go.

When you hire a top-rated building extensions designer and contractor in Sydney, you’ll be able to add tremendous value to your property. You’ll enjoy incredible beauty in your everyday life with the view from the new upper floor of your home.

The Beaches

The coastline of Sydney sports numerous beautiful beaches, which you can enjoy almost eight months out of the year. While world-renowned Bondi beach is the most famous, there are many other delightful beaches that are perfect for a swim or a seaside meal of fish ‘n’ chips.

You’ll be able to select from great spots for surfing, calm placid waters or picture perfect coves. You can also enjoy the nature trails and beach-to-beach strolls along the coast.

Nearby Green Space and National Parks

Sydney residents who are looking for a break from the city can enjoy the wonders of Blue Mountains National Park. When you stand on a bluff above the forest, you feel like you are viewing a primeval wilderness untouched by humankind.

The Blue Mountains are so named because the vast Eucalyptus forest casts off fine droplets of oil which mix with water vapour and dust to give the forest its distinctive blue haze.

How Can You Create the Space You Need in Your Home?

A lack of space within the home is a common complaint amongst homeowners, yet the solution does not always mean that you have to move. Moving comes with many costs associated with it, and sometimes the smarter choice can be to adapt the home you have with building extensions in Sydney.

Whether you are after more living space, a home office, bedrooms or storage space, home extensions can make your Sydney home the place you have always wanted it to be. Not only this, but house extensions can also make your Sydneyhome go up in value, and if you ever do decide to move in the future, you will have a home that is more saleable as long as the design is done right.

Create more space downstairs

You may be after more living room or simply ways to make your home more spacious. Smaller extensions such as adding a porch to your home can make your entranceway feel more spacious and inviting. Along with this, it can give you extra storage space to clear the clutter of shoes and jackets away.

Other ideas could be to extend the back of your home into your garden. Perhaps you dream of having a larger kitchen and more entertaining space, or maybe you want to create a more open plan living where the family can enjoy some quality time together? A single-storey extension can be a great way to do this.

What about a double-storey extension?

If you want more space at the top of your home as well as your living areas, then a double-storey extension could be what you are after. When you create a single-storey extension, your builders are already laying foundations and groundwork, as well as applying for the relevant legal permissions. This can mean that it may not cost too much more to also create more space upstairs.

By doing this, you can add extra bedrooms to your home or perhaps create a stunning master bedroom that you will love to spend time in.

Granny annexes

If you have elderly parents who still want some independence, yet want to have family close by, a granny annexe is a fantastic option if you have the space in your garden. You can create a self-contained living, and they can rest assured that you are never far away.

These can also make ideal spaces for teenagers to have their own space, and it helps to keep the noise and mess away from the rest of the home.

Contact Your Style

If you want to find out how an extension could give you the extra space you need, contact Your Style today. We work with you to create the right design for your home.

What You Need to Consider When Planning for a House Extension

Maybe you have been thinking about extending your home for a while, or you may have just started thinking about it. When you are planning building extensions in Sydney, there is a lot that needs to be considered, and it is not uncommon to feel overwhelmed.

However, with the right team on board who are skilled at completing home extensions in Sydney, you will soon find that everything falls into place, and you will be left with the home you have always wanted.

Start by deciding what you want

Before you make contact with any builders or contractors, it is a good idea to know what kind of thing you are looking for from your extension. Do you need additional living space? Do you want a kitchen that can entertain large groups of people? Has your family grown and you need more bedrooms? Do you need better storage solutions?

Note down your ideas. You may also like to create a scrapbook of any thoughts or inspiration that you have found from others ready to show your design team so that they can get a good idea of your taste and what you are after.

Decide on a budget

When it comes to home extensions, there is a lot that can be done, but ultimately, a lot of your decisions may come down to how much you can afford to spend on it. Determine a realistic budget for your project. Do not forget to also add in a contingency budget as building projects can sometimes uncover unexpected things that you might need to pay for.

Contact a company who can complete your extension for you

One of the greatest advantages of choosing a specialist home additions company is that they can project manage the whole thing for you. You will not have to worry about organising different designers, contractors, surveyors and other tradespeople.

At Your Style, we follow the same process with each of our clients, so that they know exactly what is happening, and we can create the home for them that they have always wanted.

Once you have decided the kind of thing that you want from your extension, and you have your finances sorted to complete the project, give us a call or fill in our online enquiry form, and we can get the ball rolling. We cover everything from your consultation, the designing and planning and the building stage right through to completion. If you are looking for a company that can complete house extensions in Sydney, look no further than Your Style for a stress-free journey and experts on hand to guide you through the process.

5 Tips When Hiring Building Contractors in Sydney

If you’re seeking to build a home, renovate or extend a property or carry out any building works on a property in Sydney, ensuring you partner with the right building contractor will be key in determining the project’s success and outcome.

What are the Most Popular Home Extensions in Sydney?

There are a number of factors to consider when planning a home extension, from the type of property and local Council regulations to your budget. There’s also the reason for extending in the first place. Do you need extra bedroom space? Are you looking to add an extra bathroom or are you dreaming of a larger living space?

Adding an Extra Storey

One of the most popular home extensions Sydney wide is adding an extra storey to the existing property. This allows you to virtually double your living areas without losing any of your external space. Depending on the design, you’ll also be able to introduce more light into your home and, maybe even take advantage of views that simply can’t be accessed from ground floor windows.

However, this kind of addition requires the removal of the roof which means that you’re unlikely to be able to stay in your home while the work is carried out. However, if you do live in the city and opportunities for extending outwards are limited, this could be the best option.

Extending Outwards

If you live in the suburbs or one of the more rural areas and your property stands in a large plot, you may prefer to extend your living space outwards. While this type of extension is always a major project, it’s likely to be less costly and less disruptive than building upwards.

However, before you begin any kind of outward house extensions in Sydney, it’s wise to check with your local Council to see whether your home is subject to any restrictions of heritage overlays or whether you need to submit a DA.

Getting More Out of Your Outdoor Space

One way to extend your living space is by creating an outdoor room where you can eat, relax and entertain. However, before you rush into your project take some time to think about the best place to position your alfresco area and how you’re going to use it.

To get the best use of a space like this, it’s always best to locate it as close as possible to your main building for ease of access and to create a natural flow between the indoors and outdoors.

As you can imagine, this kind of extension is becoming increasingly popular with homeowners, not only in Sydney but all over Australia as it offers the chance to make the most of the good weather.

Upwards, Outwards or Outside?

The ultimate decision of whether you extend up, out or create an outside room will depend on your needs and the space you have available, but as you can see choosing to extend your home can give you the living space your always wanted without having to sell up and find another property.

What to Expect if You’re Moving to Sydney

Sydney has been repeatedly ranked as one of the best cities in the world to live. Is this reputation deserved? If you were moving to Sydney, what would you expect to find?

The answer is – a lot!

Sydney definitely has many good things going for it. For one thing, the beaches are amazing. There are so many dreamy beaches to choose from that it’s hard to know where to even start so be prepared to spend lots of time in the water. Alongside many beaches are ocean swimming pools, for those who want a view of the ocean but prefer not to battle with huge breakers, spectacular though they are.

Then there is the weather – although it can be hot and humid, it is sunny for much of the year, with the advantage of cooling ocean breezes in the summer.

There is a wide range of arts and entertainment, from the famous Sydney Opera House to the Museum of Contemporary Art, many exhibitions and the Sydney Festival – a feast of performing arts held every January.

Sydney boasts a fantastic food scene, with restaurants from every corner of the globe. Going out for breakfast is a must for many people, as is brunch. Asian food is particularly popular, given the proximity of Japan, Thailand and China. The city is also famous for its café culture, with countless coffee shops serving every possible kind of coffee to residents and visitors.

The city also has a reputation for promoting a healthy lifestyle. There is a definite focus on healthy food, with large numbers of vegetarian and vegan restaurants, and many opportunities for exercise, from swimming and surfing to running and walking in the city’s many green spaces.

However, Sydney is not immune from problems found in other big cities in the world. One problem is housing.

Life in Sydney is expensive but salaries are also high, a fact which attracts workers from all over the world. Property prices are very high and many people can’t get a toehold on the housing ladder, or can’t afford to buy a bigger house if their circumstances change.

Many houses in the suburbs stand on their own land and people aspire to own one of these. But as the city’s population rises, there are plans to develop ‘higher density’ housing areas, with buildings of several storeys. Not all citizens of Sydney are happy about this planned development.  

Home extensions in Sydney is a way of solving the problem of scarce and expensive housing. Many people hire specialist construction companies to oversee building extensions in Sydney, from design to completion, as extending up and out is becoming a lot more popular. The demand for house extensions in Sydney is on the rise so you’re sure to find a company that specialises in the kind of extension you need completed.

Despite these housing problems, Sydney’s unique, lively character will continue to attract people from all over the world to start a new life there.

 

5 Different Types of House Additions

The idea of extending your home is an exciting one, and there are many different ways to do it. If you spend your surplus cash this way, you are making a genuine investment that will increase the value of your property, and in turn your net worth.

Increasing your net worth is always a good thing, because it creates equity that you can use later if you should ever need to, and provides you a chance of securing a better selling price for your home.

Here we’ll take a look at some of the most popular home additions in Sydney at the present time, and which house addition in Sydney could prove to be the best investment.

1. Sun Room

This is definitely one of the most popular home additions in Sydney because it is so easy to do. A simple room added on to the exterior of the house, framed with timber and adorned with abundant glass, as well as sometimes a skylight as well.

Obviously with the Sydney weather being sunny for most of the year, a sun room can sometimes become rather warm inside, so it’s important to include plenty of ventilation and climate control options.

2. Loft Rooms

If you’ve got a bit of extra ceiling space, you could consider installing a loft. Popular in the US and western Europe for decades, this building style is becoming increasingly popular in Australia as well.

It’s relatively easy to achieve if you already have the space and your roof is the right shape. Ideally you need a roof with a high slant, and it helps if you have plenty of horizontal space as well. You’ll need to include stairs or a ladder to reach the loft as well. The loft can be used as a spare bedroom, a work space, or as a storage area.

3. Extra Storey

If you really want to make a statement with your home addition, this is the biggest makeover you can do, not to mention usually the costliest. However it is definitely worth it, as you double the amount of space your home provides, and some of your downstairs bedrooms can be repurposed for other uses.

4. Garage Conversions

Another popular house addition in Sydney that some people would consider doesn’t really fit the concept of an addition, is to convert the garage from a car space to a people space. It can be used for a granny flat, or maybe even rented out Air bnb style.

5. Room Extensions

Sometimes a room in your house just doesn’t feel like it’s really as big as it ought to be. This is a little trickier than building a sunroom because you have to interfere with a load-bearing wall to make the change, and that will involve some difficulty and cost.

In the end it’s worth it because of the additional space you gain and the value you create.

Affordable Extensions that Add Value

If you are thinking about extending onto your home, then it’s best to think about how these house additions in Sydney and house extensions in Sydney may impact the value of your property.

Putting in a big swimming pool, gym or sauna might seem like a great idea at the time, but they are going to cost you a whole lot, and you are unlikely to get as much money back as you spent.

Here are some of the best that you can do with house additions in Sydney and house extensions in Sydney that will make your house more enjoyable to live in, as well as adding value for a future sale:

Connecting with the outdoors

Us Australians are known for loving the outdoors, and you should definitely think about first floor additions that connect your home with your garden.

An indoor/outdoor living area is extremely popular and for good reason: it brings lots of natural light into the house, is great for entertaining and encourages you and your guests to get out more often.

If you live in an area such as the Northern Beaches as your Northern beaches builders to use big glass sliding doors or something similar to really max out the appeal.

It’s all about the deck

In the last couple of years, Northern beaches builders have seen a huge increase in the number of decks in the plans for first floor additions.

It’s a great way of extending living space out of the home, and should be partially covered to ensure it can be used in any weather. Add a barbeque or an outdoor kitchen and you are sorted with a high value deck, great for entertaining.

Extra bedrooms

Adding an extra bedroom is one of the best ways to add value to your home, and besides, with the advent of Airbnb means that if you design it properly, then you could actually rent the bedroom out while you are still in the house for extra money – just make sure it’s suitable private and have easy access to a bathroom. 

Kitchen and bathroom remodelling

Two of the most popular rooms that get renovated to add value are the kitchen and the bathroom.

Older houses did not have great ideas of either of these spaces and they are often drab, small and pokey.

Open-plan kitchens are all the rage, and doing this as well as replacing appliances with eco-conscious sleek products will give it the modern, central hub of the household.

Add a new bathtub, shower, tiles and fittings to your bathroom to increase your home’s value too.

And there you have it! They are our top picks of affordable extensions that add heaps of value to a property.