SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS

What is a dream home? There is no right answer – a dream home will look different for everyone.

What makes a perfect home for one person can look completely different to somebody else. It all comes down to personal preference. We have built countless homes together and definitely have an opinion on some common design features we know you’ll be keen to implement. We have curated a list of non-negotiables and we’re ready to lay it out for you! Here goes…we present to you our top five must have items, essential to creating and planning your dream home.

 

1. IF LOOKS COULD KILL

There is nothing quite like that sensory experience when you step into a home that you love. From the smell of the timber to the sound of the birds outside and most importantly the look of the home. I do believe in love at first sight – that feeling of laying your eyes on a property and falling instantly in love.

 A dream home will not only excite your senses but have personality, style and flair. If you’re a hopeless romantic like me, you’ll know true love goes deeper that just aesthetics…looks will only get you so far when it comes to achieving your dream home. A functional, practical design and floor plan is just as important as how the home looks. It will drastically impact the way you live and feel within your home.

2. FUNCTIONAL FLOOR PLANS

At Oak and Orange, we say a dream home should not only look the part, but should also be a dream to live in. Otherwise, what’s the point, right? And…how do we even achieve this? I’m so glad you asked! Firstly, great design should flow from room to room, seamlessly…and by seamless we mean it’s designed that well that you don’t even notice it is!

Seriously though, when it comes to design, a dream home should enhance the way YOU live. If you consider yourself a master chef, then a grand emphasis will be placed on the kitchen. If you love to chill out with the fam and watch movies, then a decked-out home theatre should be top of your list of must haves. If you love a quiet place to read, then perhaps a window nook with a view to the lush gardens will be the perfect touch you need. Think…how do I want this home to make me feel and use this as your basis for your dream home design!

3. YOUR COMFORT HOOD

A dream home should be a sanctuary – it should evoke comfort and be a space that you crave to spend time in. For me, Dream Home 5: Modern Aussie Resort, was exactly that. From the relaxing home theatre to the open planned kitchen-living-dining, our sophisticated street bar, and resort styled pool, we ticked all the boxes for luxury and comfort in this home and for all members of the family.

There is also nothing like a few mod-cons to make any homeowner swoon and add that extra touch of yes to coming home! Some of our absolute faves are automatic blinds, sensor lights and appropriate heating and cooling for your climate. We can tell you firsthand they definitely add comfort and EASE of living to any home. If you consider yourself a domestic goddess, you’ll certainly appreciate ducted vacuums, in-built kitchen bins and laundry hampers to add ease to your everyday chores and give back more time for you of course! Most of us live really busy lives so anything that makes our day a little bit easier and more convenient is always top of our list. Tune in to Dream Home 6 to watch us take this to new levels.

4. STORAGE IS KING

There is nothing worse than walking into a house full of clutter. It can make a home feel completely unbearable to live in. Adequate storage for all our belongings is an absolute must in all our designs. PRACTICAL storage plays a HUGE role in making a home a dream to live in – instantly making your home feel organised, comfortable and calm.

At Oak & Orange, no matter what the bedroom size, we always include built-in robes. No compromise will be made here! If you’ve watched enough of our episodes, you won’t be a stranger to our love heart eyes for storage. We have been known to remove entire laundry external doors to allow space for more cabinetry, to hide that dirty washing. If there is one thing we have learnt, particularly being mums, it’s that proper storage plays a huge role in the livability of a home. Giving items a home encourages your family members to get in on keeping their belongings neat and tidy too! Repeat after me – do not sacrifice storage or practicality for looks. You will regret it later on!

5. LET’S GET SOCIAL

Live every day as your last is our motto. We build our dream homes around that! Life is to be enjoyed and now more than ever, we are spending MORE time at home. A beautifully designed home with a well thought out floor plan will allow for just that.

The perfect example of this is our outdoor living area in Dream Home 5. As a family, we love hanging out together. We created an outdoor living area that is multi-seasonal – a space our family could enjoy all year round. We have our resort styled pool and barbeque for the Summer and for Winter we added a pizza oven… yes a pizza oven! Did we mention it doubles as a marshmallow roaster, not to mention keeping us warm and cosy on those cold winter nights!

From open plan kitchen-living-dining to an outdoor alfresco, let your floor plan function seamlessly in a way that encourages socialising and spending time with loved ones. For us that’s a dream come true.

Remember, a dream home is personal to you. Simply incorporate our five must-haves and we promise it will turn your dream home into a reality.

Sarah xx

DREAM HOME 6 IS COMING SOON.

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