I love my mother-in-law but I never planned on living with her permanently. I have been enjoying her living with us now that we have kids but I feel like we all need some extra space so I am getting a granny flat built at the back of our block. This should allow us to have some extra space to make sure everyone has the privacy that they need whilst we can still be a family. This block has some tip on the process of building a granny flat including how to choose a contractor and how to get the council approval for the build.
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Many people today are choosing smaller homes for themselves rather than large and expansive homes, in order to cut down on the costs of their utilities and home maintenance over time. A smaller home doesn't need to feel claustrophobic or uninviting, if you work with your home designer to add a few simple touches that will make the home look spacious and welcoming. Note a few of those features you might discuss with him or her when you've chosen to have a smaller home built for yourself and your family.
1. Oversized windows
One of the best ways to keep a small home from feeling closed-in is to add oversized windows. Picture windows are one large pane of glass that can take up virtually an entire wall, or you might opt for casement windows, which are hinged on the outer sides so they don't need a frame for the panes inside the windows themselves. This can mean a more open view to the outside and more sunlight in the home's interior, and the look and feel of a bigger, brighter, space.
2. Open ceilings
Rather than relying on standard roof rafters that are covered in drywall, ask your designer to keep the ceiling open by using thick studs that don't need those cross beams. Even if you elevate the ceiling by just a few feet or meters, this added space can make a small home seem bigger and brighter. Compensate for the lost insulation in the crawlspace overhead by adding insulated panels and consider a metal roof, which might help insulate your home even more.
3. Wood floors
The colour of light wood floors can keep a space open and bright, but a big advantage that wood slats have over carpeting is that the direction of the slats can make a room look bigger. If you set slats from the front door down a hallway, this can make the hallway look bigger and longer. If you set the slats from left to right in a room, the space will look wider. Use this optical illusion provided by wood floorboards in your new home to make each space look as large as possible.
4. Skylights
Even small skylights can brighten an otherwise dark space and make it seem bigger and brighter, without wasting money on electricity. You can have skylights installed in a small bathroom that doesn't have a window or a backroom that has space only for smaller windows. This will brighten those areas and keep your small home from seeming dark, drab, and downright claustrophobic.
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