5 common problems our clients have with their homes + the practical solutions you can implement now
Owning a home comes with its joys but it also presents challenges that often leave homeowners pulling their hair out. Dark, gloomy rooms, a laundry or bathroom blocking access to the garden, or not enough space for everyone or all the things you want to do. If you're nodding along, recognising some familiar complaints, fret not. We've identified five common problems our clients face and unpacked practical solutions that you can implement right away. Let's dive in and transform those headaches into opportunities for positive change...
1. The House Faces the Wrong Direction
The Problem: Ever feel like your home is playing a game of hide-and-seek with the sun? If your house faces the wrong direction, you're missing out on valuable natural light and warmth. Even during the middle of a bright sunny day, your living spaces feel darker than a drizzly winter's morning. What's worse, rooms like your bedroom cop the heat of the afternoon sun and are still scorching by bedtime, meaning you are constantly searching for the AC remote.
The Solution: Depending on the extent of your orientation woes, strategic openings could be your best friend. Consider adding windows or expanding existing ones on the sun-facing, north side of your home. This not only invites abundant natural light but could also facilitate a seamless connection with the outdoors. If there's no opportunity to add north-facing windows, introducing skylights can be a game-changer, bringing in sunlight from above and transforming darker spaces into vibrant, sunlit havens. It's worthwhile examining your home in depth and seeing if there are longer-term opportunities to shift or reorient rooms to better access the sun and prevailing breezes. Flipping your living areas so they face the sun and a better outlook is a big undertaking, but it has so many benefits for your health and well-being, and can even reduce heating and cooling costs. Developing a master plan for your home is a great way to understand the opportunities for the future of your home and to see if reorienting your living spaces could work.
Above: A skylight lets beautiful diffused light into this internal bathroom that otherwise would have no source of natural light. What could have been a dark, uninspiring bathroom is instead a light, bright and welcoming space.
2. Disconnection from the Garden
The Problem: Your garden is a slice of paradise, but it feels worlds away from your living spaces. Does your laundry enjoy the best views of the garden? Or your living area faces the street, while the guest bedroom has a lush outlook. What a waste! The disconnect hampers the flow and enjoyment of both indoor and outdoor areas.
The Solution: If possible, break down those barriers! Replan your internal spaces so they can embrace the outdoors. Perhaps the solution is a completely new living space in the garden and a slight tweak of your existing spaces to gain a bedroom or an ensuite bathroom. Incorporate large glass doors, sliding panels, or even a stylish bi-fold system to create a harmonious transition between your living areas and the garden. This not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of your home but also creates a more expansive and versatile living space. The garden becomes an extension of your home, seamlessly blending the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living.
Above left: The original house left the living areas disconnected from the north-facing garden and meant the bedrooms got all the natural light, often leading them to overheat during warmer months because there was insufficient sun shading.
Above right: The client’s preferred masterplan option minimises intervention to the original home, but rearranges the rooms so that the lounge area can enjoy more natural light with north orientation. Leaving the window openings exactly where they were, but extending the opening to the floor allows the windows to become french doors for direct access to the garden via a new deck. The bedroom is now located in the more private, quiet part of the house away from the road, while swapping the basin for a toilet and locating a new basin in the hall creates a centralised bathroom space easily accessible from both bedrooms and also the main living areas. This minimal intervention solves poor orientation and disconnection from the garden in one clever move.
3. Dark, Overlooked, Cold, or Mouldy Living Areas
The Problem: Living areas that feel like winter is constantly coming, spaces overlooked by neighbouring buildings, or battling with mould issues? These are common plights that can make your home less inviting and even unhealthy!
The Solution: If you can't easily access more sun, tackle the darkness with thoughtful lighting solutions. Introduce layered lighting with a mix of ambient, task, and accent lighting to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, a thoughtful lighting plan for your interior can make a world of difference to how your living areas feel. And, as mentioned, a well-placed skylight can also make a huge difference.
Privacy concerns can be addressed with smart landscaping or the addition of stylish yet functional window treatments. Sometimes simply adding a privacy film to your window can retain all of the light you want, while blocking nasty views or nosy neighbours.
To combat the cold, invest in proper insulation. Consider insulating the ceiling, walls, and underfloor and installing double glazing to windows. While this can be a substantial investment, it will help you save on heating and cooling costs, but more importantly, it will make your home more comfortable year-round.
Mould can be a more challenging adversary and it's important to understand the underlying cause of your damp issues. It could be rising damp, condensation in the walls or on windows, or even a steamy shower venting straight into the ceiling cavity! Addressing the underlying problem and then ensuring adequate airflow and temperature control will prevent mould growth and not only enhance comfort but also contribute to a healthier living environment. Mould is no trivial matter, it can cause huge, chronic health issues if left untreated and even structural damage. It's important to ensure existing mould is dealt with correctly and your mould prevention strategy works effectively, so it's best to call in the pros to deal with mould.
Above: A dark bathroom that actually had a great aspect towards a green and private side setback was transformed into a resort-style space thanks to a large, strategically placed window. This created an incredible connection to the outdoors and a unique space which is a joy to use everyday.
4. Lack of Flexibility for Future Needs
The Problem: Your home might be generally fit for purpose now, but what about the future? Will it still suit you when you have a new baby? Accommodate the extended family during holidays or longer-term stays? Or provide space for ageing parents who need care? Before you start planning a move, it makes a lot more financial sense to determine how your existing home can better suit your future needs.
The Solution: Embrace flexibility from the get-go and consider the life stages your home might need to support. It's best to start with a master plan that envisions your home's future needs. Consider multifunctional spaces, flexible furniture arrangements, and potential additions that can seamlessly integrate with the existing structure. This proactive approach ensures that your home can adapt to changing circumstances, accommodating a growing family, visiting relatives, or evolving lifestyle requirements all when your needs arise and as your budget allows.
5. Overwhelmed by Options and Confused About the Way Forward
The Problem: The world of renovating is vast, and navigating the myriad options can be overwhelming. Many of our clients' main problem is they can't pinpoint the problem! They just know their home is not working for them. You might feel you need an extra room or two, when really all you need is better storage. You might feel like you need a new living area, but it just needs a more efficient layout. You might even be considering moving to try and find a better fit for your needs. But moving is expensive and disruptive, particularly if you're unclear what the ideal solution is!
The Solution: If you're feeling a little lost and trying to decide between selling or renovating to create an ideal home, take a breath; you're not alone. Start by establishing clear priorities and goals for your home. Consult with professionals who can provide guidance tailored to your unique needs. Architectural experts can help you sift through the options, offering personalised recommendations that align with your lifestyle, preferences, and budget. Our design diagnosis and master planning package is the perfect solution. At the end of the process, you will have a clear roadmap that simplifies decision-making and turns confusion into clarity. You'll understand what you need to change in your existing home and how much it will cost. Or, if you do decide to move, you'll know exactly what to look for in a new home.
Transforming Challenges into Opportunities
Every home has its quirks, but with the right approach, challenges can become opportunities for transformative improvements. Whether it's harnessing natural light, fostering a connection with the garden, addressing common living area issues, planning for future flexibility, or navigating the sea of home improvement options, practical solutions are within reach. Remember, your home is a canvas waiting for your unique touch. By implementing these solutions, you not only overcome today's problems but you can also craft a living space that evolves with you, meeting the needs of today and enabling the possibilities of tomorrow.
