Owning Granny Flats Sydney is a common occurrence among house owners in Australia. It is a wonderful opportunity for increasing liveable space yet not disturbing the aesthetics of the landscape. Granny flats are simple extensions of a home that can be built either within, in conjunction or separate from the main residential building.
Ideally, a Granny Flat consists of bedrooms, bathrooms, a laundry, kitchen, open living area, garage, deck, balconies or as much of the utilities that can be fitted in. Since the habitable space available is less, only about 5- to 60sqm or so, selecting appropriate Granny Flat Designs, can be challenging. Some things that need to be kept in mind when finalising on the same include:
- Space available and room size: This depends totally on the liveable area available. The size of the rooms should be proportionate to the same. They also need to be comfortable, not too cramped and have all the required furniture and amenities. Ideas that make rooms look perceptibly bigger should be given priority.
- Ventilation and light: Brightly lit rooms are full of positivity and make for a pleasant living experience. Such rooms are ideal for elders and kids. When this flat is used as a guestroom, good ventilation would enable proper airing when the rooms are not in use. Properly ventilated rooms also look big, allow natural light to filter in, reduce energy bills and ensure a healthy and comfortable living. Floor to ceiling windows, a 2-storey structure, open rooms etc., are some ways to ensure good ventilation along with beautiful sweeping views of the outside.
- Plumbing: This practical aspect of building a Granny flat supersedes everything in importance and priority. A leaky pipeline or faucet can spoil the floor and walls causing mould and mildew to grow. This will make the space unhealthy for living and result in an additional outgo of money to reverse the damages caused. Thus, plumbing designs should be given careful deliberation and pipes, taps, faucets etc., placed in a way that mitigates structural damage risks.
- Electrical fittings: The laying of the electrical power lines and outlets should be done in a well-planned manner. The appliances that will be fitted-in, the position of the light fittings, HVAC etc., all have to be considered before the walls are insulated and plastered.
Both the plumbing and the electrical designing and implementation require the presence of qualified personnel so that they can be properly incorporated into the Granny Flat Designs.
- Room height maximisation: The ceiling of Granny flats can easily go up to 15feet without having any effect on the habitable space. The addition of extra height to rooms will perceptively increase the room volume thereby making it look big. Implementation of innovative roof ideas like an arched rook, tiled roof etc. will add to its aesthetics and help in space maximisation.
- Storage capacity: This can make the Granny flat look cramped, dirty and ill-kept if it is not taken care of during the planning stages. Thus while selecting the ideal design, one should ensure that it offers ample storage space to give the Granny flat a clean, beautiful, warm and inviting look.
- Colour and style: These factors determine the ambience of the Granny flat. Hence they should be chosen with due diligence so that the style and colours selected make the Granny flat look fresh, big, soothing to the eye and be brimming with positivity.
Granny Flats Sydney can also be utilised in different ways. It can act as a space for privacy wanting elderly or independent-living teenager. It can also serve as a guesthouse or be rented out to gain additional income. Without doubt building Granny Flats ensures the best utilisation of available residential space provided the design justifies its utility.
