facades – The Interiors Addict

House facade ideas 2021: making the best first impression

Sponsored by Metricon

Making the best first impression Is so important when building or renovating your home. A fine balance should be struck between what appeals to you personally, what’s on trend and your streetscape and surroundings, according to the experts at home builder Metricon.

They spend a serious amount of time developing the options available to their customers, weighing up not just aesthetics but a myriad of factors like ease of maintenance, cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency and what’s proven popular over the years. What your house will look like on the outside is a big decision and one you don’t want to make quickly or without giving it proper thought.

There are three overall trending styles they’ve pinpointed however: the ever-popular Hamptons, French provincial and contemporary.

Lisa Goodsall, Metricon’s national display home and Studio M retail manager, says when it comes to Hamptons, Metricon have been able to pull together all the best elements of this style over the years and that it works just as well in coastal Sydney, for example, as it does in regional areas like the Hunter.

The Hamptons facade is relaxed and muted, features extensive weatherboard cladding, often mixed with natural stone. The palette is muted, featuring greys and taupes, there’s always gables, and it works well as both single and double storey.

“It feels like lots of airy space, with large windows with colonial bars. Inside, the home is equally light and airy, and the facade tends to suggest that.”

A single story Hamptons style Metricon home

French Provincial, inspired by the 16th Century chateau look, is very grand and less relaxed than Hamptons. Metricon’s Bordeaux design is the perfect example. “It’s very impressive and says ‘we’ve arrived, we’ve made it!’,” Lisa adds.

Then there’s modern contemporary, a look which is popular right across Australia and can actually work just as well in a street of older homes as it does on a new estate. Think drama, bold rectangular lines, simple colours and sustainable materials. Metricon’s Metro31 and Chelsea have them all.

Andrea Barnett is Metricon’s retail product manager, which means she’s in charge of sourcing the products and design elements customers can use in their dream homes. Her best advice if you’re feeling overwhelmed by choosing your facade elements, is to drive around and take a look at a variety of homes, and start building an ideal colour scheme in your mind. Makes notes of what appeals and what doesn’t in terms of materials and overall look. This is a great tip if you’re looking to build with brick as there are so many options these days and what you can see in a sample doesn’t compare to seeing a whole house made of it!

CSR’s Hebel render is a very popular choice too, sometimes used for just part of a facade to contrast with the brick. It comes in lightweight blocks and panels, is reinforced with steel and is quick to build with.

When it comes to choosing a roof, where you live in Australia and the weather can affect this greatly, as well as the aesthetic you’re going for. Consider things such as light colours may keep your home cooler, whether you like the sound of rain on your roof or not, maintenance, and whether you’re going for a traditional or more contemporary look.

Your front door and garage door can make a massive impact on the look of your facade, so choose these carefully too! Don’t forget the driveway and landscaping either; these things are much cheaper and easier to get done at the build stage, rather than later on.

Metricon’s design director Adrian Popple, has been designing homes for 34 years and is one of the country’s best. Above all, he says the process of deciding on your facade shouldn’t be rushed. “It’s one of the most challenging elements of design,” he adds. “It’s really about creating a sense of entry. But try to look at what appeals to you more than what’s on trend. Look at the surrounding landscape and the neighbouring homes. Ultimately a well considered home will stand out on the street; it doesn’t need to be over the top.”

Metricon recently held a webinar all about facades. If you missed it, don’t worry, you can watch it below now!

For more information on Metricon.

Mixed material facades favoured by young home builders

Australia’s younger homeowners are preparing to end the country’s love affair with brick houses, according to new data. The findings of a James Hardie survey of people who have built their home in the past five years, or are currently planning to do so, showed that only one third preferred the traditional brick cladding or veneer facades found in quintessential Aussie properties. Meanwhile 44% preferred to use a mix of cladding types and styles including horizontal, vertical and panel arrangements. This trend points toward a preference for modern design says Cathleya Buchanan, their Australian marketing director.

“Our data shows that almost one in three (31%) new builds are being undertaken by people under 30. These younger homeowners are most likely to want a contemporary appearance that mixes a number of building materials and profiles to ensure their home doesn’t look dated in the near future.”

However, unlike other styles such as Queenslander and Hamptons, this modern movement encompasses a number of looks, explains Cathleya. “We’re seeing a leaning to clean, angular lines, monochrome palettes, cantilevered second levels and open plan spaces, while moving away from detailing such as eaves and balustrades. These basic tenants of modern design drive toward new materials like Premium Fibre Cement Cladding, which can be used to create strong, striking shapes. It’s also lightweight making it suited to large open plan spaces and second storeys and overhangs.”

While the market is softening following the 2015 building boom, there are still a large number of new builds compared to historic standards. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures there were a record number of homes under construction in NSW in 2018, while Victoria was marginally below its own construction record, so while numbers have and will likely continue to fall, there are still a considerable number of projects being planned or finalised in 2019.

The trend, which will affect approximately one million new build homes is being driven by higher value projects, with more homeowners working with an architect or designer (61%) requesting an individualised modern look, compared to a those using a volume builder (44%).

When asked to choose the most important factor of their project, four out of five (80%) prioritised the look of their property over the cost (70%). However, it’s important to know how to communicate your aesthetic to your architect or builder.

“We all want a home that reflects our tastes and lifestyles, which is why it’s important to know how to communicate what you want, for example our research has shown that what most homeowners call ‘modern’ is referred to as ‘contemporary’ by architects and building professionals. It’s also important to specify the right materials, with two thirds (65%) of young homeowners citing this as an important part of their project,” said Cathleya.

The move away from the brick look is being driven by a preference for building products that help create architectural design motifs, adds Cathleya: “Modern looks require more design variation using modern materials, such as James Hardie’s range of Premium Fibre Cement Cladding, including the large panel format of Matrix Cladding, or the vertical lines of Axon Cladding. Combining these and other profiles can deliver striking features like floating walls, overhangs, and protective cantilevers that define a contemporary style.”

Considering the longevity of the property when defining your vision is important, adds Cathleya: “We often focus on the finished home, without thinking about its longevity. No one wants to deal with ongoing maintenance, which is where Premium Fibre Cement Cladding adds another benefit as it resists flaking, warping or swelling, as well as fire and damage from termites and moisture.

“What we are seeing in new builds is a new modern tone for the future of the average Australian home both in look, design and quality.”

For more information.

Photographs show a variety of Scyon materials.