Tag: houzz

The Best of Houzz 2023: Australia’s most popular home designs

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date February 27, 2023
No Comments on The Best of Houzz 2023: Australia’s most popular home designs

The annual Best of Houzz award winners are in for another year recognising the platform’s most talented renovation and design professionals. Voted for by the Houzz community, the annual people’s choice award highlights the designers with the most popular designs and highest ratings. It recognises just 3% of the more than 3 million home professionals and interior and architectural photographers on the Houzz platform.

LNX Constructions. Photo: Anthony Richardson — Urban Creative Studio’s open plan living and kitchen design was recognised in the awards. Photo: Anthony Richardson

“We are thrilled to highlight the incredibly talented and customer-driven pros from the Houzz community through the Best of Houzz awards. The Best of Houzz awards provide a distinctive mark of credibility for homeowners looking for pros on Houzz. We congratulate all the winners for everything they’ve accomplished in 2022 and look forward to seeing their work and positive reviews in the year ahead,” says Andrew Small, managing director for industry solutions for Houzz.

This home office by Denardi — This beautiful concealed home office by Demardi was another winner in the awards.

The Best of Houzz is awarded annually in three categories – Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design awards honour those whose work was the most popular among the Houzz community while the Customer Service ones are based on several factors including a professional’s overall rating on Houzz and client reviews for projects completed in 2022. Photography badges are awarded to architecture and interior design photographers whose images were the most popular on the platform.

From a modern exterior with layers of mixed materials and finishes by Lindon Homes to a contemporary bathroom with a double walk-in shower by Build Theory, there is plenty of design inspo to be gleaned from the winners list.

Design Build by Theory — Build Theory’s popular bathroom design

Also recognised was FURNISHD’s bright living space (featuring earthy tones and contrasting textures), a clever home office by Demardi and an outdoor terrace with fireplace and seating area by Swell Homes.

FURNISHD’s very inviting living space. Photo: Dylan James Photography

Urban Creative Studio’s open-plan kitchen and dining area was also acknowledged, as well as a spacious and light-filled laundry room by Tennille Joy Interiors and a modern staircase with a cute nook for the family dog by Rebecca Naughtin Architect.

Rebecca Naughtin Architect's stair design was recognised. Photography: Tatjana Plitt — Rebecca Naughtin Architect’s stair design was recognised too. Photography: Tatjana Plitt

Winners have been announced globally and they can now display a ‘Best of Houzz 2023’ badge on their profiles which helps homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals on Houzz locally and around the world. Houzz Pro members can also add the ‘Best of Houzz’ standout tag to their profile, which will appear in their directory listing and improve credibility too.

Swell Homes. Photography: DMax — Swell Homes’ lovely outdoor terrace with fireplace. Photography: DMax

Laundry by Tennille Joy Interiors. Photo: Rachel Winston Photography

Check out all the winners

2022’s most popular home design trends from Houzz report

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Tags architecture, best of houzz, design, houzz, interior design, interiors

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Country house makeover designed and managed online

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date November 28, 2022
No Comments on Country house makeover designed and managed online

Located in the NSW Southern Highlands, this Burradoo manor home was purchased by a couple keen to use it as a weekend retreat and as the grandparent’s retirement home. Dana Tosolini of Concepts Interior Design transformed the home into a modern, elegant and functional abode that draws on the surrounding countryside for inspiration.

The owners wanted someone fresher and more inviting, and for it to feel more congruent with living in the Southern Highlands while servicing several generations. “Sara and Danny wanted an alternative home in the country that would suit theirs and the grandparents’ tastes. There also needed to be extra room for the kids to roam and a spare room for when guests stay over,” says Dana.

The kitchen went from a tired cream affair with dated flourishes to a much cleaner, more sophisticated space. “The existing kitchen colours, finishes and lighting were dated and the flow of the kitchen did not suit a homeowner who loves cooking,” says Dana who enlarged the island bench in response to the owner’s culinary predilections. “We doubled the bench size in width and created a comfy seating area to the side for coffee and conversation,” says Dana.

Nearby, the dining room features an antique style pendant light alongside Iksel’s beautiful ‘Italian Panoramic’ wallpaper mural. “It is dramatic yet classic and really suits the Southern Highlands area. It really sets the tone of the room,” says Dana, who came recommended by a friend who’d worked with her after finding her on Houzz.com.au.

What makes this project quite remarkable is that because it commenced shortly after lockdown restrictions set in, it was managed entirely online through the Houzz Pro tool. Dana was able to meet the homeowners safely and build rapport from a distance using a set of remote communication and online collaboration tools. For the entire length of the project, in person consultations were replaced with video meetings over Zoom. Incredibly, Dana didn’t even step foot in the house until delivery day!

Photography: Kasey Funnell Photography

For more on Houzz Pro | For more on Concepts Interior Design

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Tags before and after, design, houzz, interiors, renovating, renovation, southern highlands

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2022’s most popular home design trends from Houzz report

Post author By Jekyll Chau
Post date August 2, 2022
No Comments on 2022’s most popular home design trends from Houzz report

A report based on search result data on Houzz has identified home design trends of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home professionals in the past year. Among these trends are dedicated activity spaces, a focus on outdoor living, a rise in bathroom grooming and a deep dive into resort-style pool design. The report also shows that honouring architectural origins and smart storage solutions are more important than ever in 2022.

Dedicated activity spaces

Since the beginning of the pandemic, people have continued to make their homes the centre point for new avenues of activity and entertainment and it shows in the increased searches we’re seeing on Houzz this year for ‘home bar’ (up by 79%), ‘media room’ (up by 48%), ‘library’ (up by 46%), ‘rumpus room’ (up by 43%) and ‘studio’ (up by 43%).

Hindley & Co on Houzz. Photography by Tatjana Plitt

Outdoor living

Connecting homes to the great outdoors is a trend we’ve seen grow stronger over recent years. It appears more and more homeowners are looking to achieve the idyllic beachside lifestyle, with searches for ‘Hamptons exterior’ quadrupling and ‘coastal kitchen’ doubling in 2022 (up 331% and 116%, respectively). Making the most of alfresco settings continues with searches on Houzz for ‘greenhouse’ (doubled), ‘decks’ (also doubled) and ‘outdoor dining’ (up by 66%) surging higher over the past year. In addition, capturing the open-air Palm Springs-inspired vibe is gaining popularity and searches are up by 56%.

Making a splash

Bathrooms remain one of the most popular interior rooms to be upgraded and saw spend by homeowners increase 13% from $15,000 to $17,000 year-on-year. Specific searches for ‘bathroom mirrors’, ‘baths’, ‘wet room’ (up by 64%) and ‘ensuite’ (up by more than 38%) have jumped up on Houzz in 2022 compared to the year prior.

Santamaria Design on Houzz. Photography by Ryan Linnegar

Poolside plunge

People are searching for ways to cool off in style, and pool professionals confirm interest in swimming pool design has certainly heated up recently. Homeowners are diving deep for inspiration with the search terms ‘pool house’, ‘swimming pool’, ‘swim spa’, ‘pool cabana’ and ‘plunge pool’ surging higher on Houzz than the previous year.

Preserving charm & character

Preserving the original charm and character of a home appears to be top of mind among homeowners . Dramatic search spikes for ‘exposed brick’ (almost tripled), along with ‘balustrade’ (more than doubled), ‘Federation’ (up by 52%) and ‘industrial’ (up by 41%) show that decorative styles and architectural features, that are unique to period style homes, have become popular this year. In addition, ‘Australian native gardens,’ which are well-suited to local growing conditions, saw growth by more than 2.3 times, when compared to 2021.

Smart storage

Custom smart storage solutions are becoming increasingly important for homeowners, with more than a third enlisting the help of a cabinet or cabinetry home professional in the past year (32%). Creating a well-functioning ‘butler’s pantry’ more than quadrupled in searches on Houzz in the first quarter of 2022, compared with the same period in 2021 (up 311%). Home organisation is increasingly prioritised with higher searches on Houzz for ‘garage storage’ (up by 90%), ‘built-in wardrobe’ (up by 77%), ‘mudroom’ (up by 64%) and ‘walk-in wardrobe’ (up by 58%).

Read the full report here

The Best of Houzz 2022: Australia’s most popular architecture and design

Every year, Houzz.com.au announces its annual people’s choice awards where the Houzz community highlights the renovation and design professionals with…

Tags bathroom, houzz, outdoor living, pool, report, storage, trends

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Home reno spending and activity at highest levels since 2019

Post author By Jekyll Chau
Post date June 28, 2022
No Comments on Home reno spending and activity at highest levels since 2019

Home renovation activity and spend have reached the highest rates reported since 2019, according to the annual Houzz & Home survey of more than 2,200 Australians. Nearly half of homeowners renovated their homes in 2021 (48%), up from 44% in 2020. Homeowners recorded a significant 43% jump in median renovation spend at $30,000 up from $21,000 in 2020. This growth can be attributed to homeowners with higher budget projects (the top 10% of spend) increasing their investment from $150,000 in 2020 to $230,000 in 2021.

Home renovation activity continues into this year, with nearly half of homeowners planning to renovate (49%) and nearly two-fifths planning to decorate (39%). For the first time since 2019, homeowners’ planned spend has increased to $25,000 for 2022 versus $15,000; a 67% jump. Homeowners with higher-budget renovations are planning to spend $138,000 on projects in 2022.

“Homeowners are clearly committed to investing in their homes despite heightened product and material costs driven by supply chain disruptions, and are exploring diverse funding sources. This is especially pronounced among recent homebuyers, who rely heavily on cash from previous home sales to fund their projects and spend significantly more than the national median,” said Tony Been, managing director of Houzz Australia.

Recent homebuyers (those who have not yet moved into their home or moved in less than a year ago), who accounted for 10 percent of renovating homeowners in 2021, spent more than the national median ($40,000), surpassing short-term (1 – 5 years ago) and long-term (6+ years ago) homeowners ($35,000 and $25,000, respectively). Recent homebuyers with higher budget projects (the top 10 percent of spend) invested $250,000 compared to $240,000 invested by short-term homeowners and $200,000 for long-term homeowners. This is likely attributed to the larger scope projects they undertake, averaging three to four rooms, as well as home systems, such as electrical and plumbing.

Cash from savings remains the most significant source for funding renovation projects (82 percent), however, homeowners financing renovation projects with credit cards gained four percentage points (17 percent). Savings and credit cards hold their ground as the leading forms of payment regardless of homeownership tenure. Recent homebuyers and short-term homeowners were more likely to rely on cash from previous home sales (47 and 22 percent, respectively), whereas long term homeowners had more access to cash through refinancing in 2021 (11 percent).

Homeowners sought help from professionals for their renovations in 2021 (94%) more often than in the year prior. They relied most heavily on the expertise of specialty service providers such as electricians (68%) and plumbers (54%) for their projects. That said, builders and architects were the most hired professionals in construction and design-related services, and saw a significant jump in 2021 compared with 2020 (19% and six percent, respectively). With recent homebuyers tackling more projects than their peers, it’s no surprise that the majority were most likely to hire professional help.

Investments in interior rooms remained the priority for seven in 10 renovating homeowners in 2021 (70%). Kitchens are both the most popular room to be upgraded and the room that commanded the highest spend at $20,000. Rooms that saw the most dramatic increase in popularity from the previous year included guest bedrooms (24%), guest bathrooms (23%), an entry or mudroom (17%) and wardrobes (16%).

There has been an increase in home security upgrades too. In fact, outdoor security cameras (17%) were the second most frequently purchased upgrade behind outdoor lighting (29%).

The annual Houzz & Home survey is the largest survey of residential renovation, building and decorating activity published. It covers a wide range of renovation projects in 2021, from interior remodels and additions to home systems, exterior upgrades and outdoor projects. Data gathered includes historical and planned spends, professional involvement, motivations and challenges behind building, renovation and decorating projects, as well as planned activities for 2022. The 2022 study, sent to registered users of Houzz and fielded March through April 2022, includes more than 2,200 respondents in Australia.

Read the full report

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Augumented reality lets you dream big with virtual renovations

Post author By Jekyll Chau
Post date June 2, 2022
No Comments on Augumented reality lets you dream big with virtual renovations

Houzz has recently introduced a new Augmented Reality (AR) feature for 3D floor plans in Houzz Pro. Using their current home as a backdrop, users can go on a virtual tour in the app to preview a renovated design.

Houzz Pro is a subscription-based app for home renovation and design aimed at professionals. The app allows you to network with the Houzz community, which includes more than 65 million homeowners and home design enthusiasts. Also on the platform are 2.7 million home renovation and design professionals around the world, including architects, interior designers, contractors and landscape professionals.

“At Houzz, we’re focused on building technologies that make the home renovation and design experience more productive and enjoyable for industry professionals and their clients,” said Alon Cohen, Houzz co-founder and president. “Visual tools empower pros to easily communicate their vision for a project to clients. Now, we’ve created a true AR-enabled experience for residential construction and design pros to immerse their clients in a proposed renovation or redesign and better visualise how their space will be transformed.”

The 3D Floor Plan tool, included with any subscription to Houzz Pro, can be used to generate an AR version of a created design. This virtual walkthrough can help designers communicate the value of making major changes to a home, such as adding or removing walls, windows, cabinets or islands. Homeowners can see for themselves how proposed products and materials, such as benchtops and furniture, will fit within their homes.

Video demonstration of the AR feature

The 3D Floor Plan tool can currently be tried without charge by creating a free Houzz Pro account.

For more information on Houzz

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Houzz, the world’s leading platform for home renovation and design, has released its 2022 Houzz AU State of the Industry…

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More jobs for design professionals according to Houzz report

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date May 12, 2022
No Comments on More jobs for design professionals according to Houzz report

Houzz, the world’s leading platform for home renovation and design, has released its 2022 Houzz AU State of the Industry Report. And in news that will surprise nobody (given the current building boom), the report has found that residential construction and design professionals are very optimistic about business prospects over the coming year.

“Following a successful year for the home renovation and design industry, the findings from the Houzz Australia State of the Industry show that professionals are confident that momentum will continue through 2022. The positive outlook is prevalent across industry groups from interior designers to builders, despite global challenges and the increased costs of doing business,” says Tony Been, Houzz Australia managing director.

Of the professionals surveyed, interior designers and decorators are the most optimistic about revenue growth in 2022 (77%), followed by home builders and building designers (76% and 72% respectively).

Nearly three quarters of those surveyed are anticipating revenue grown (73%) while two-thirds are expecting profits to increase (66%). And this is off the back of strong 2021 results where more companies reported revenue growth, as compared to the previous four years.

Carla Capdevila. Image courtesy of Houzz. — Photography: Carla Capdevila

And in great news for design industry job seekers, a third of businesses report that they are looking to employ more staff in 2022. This is off the back of a buoyant job market in 2021 where more than a quarter of businesses increased their employee head count to support revenue growth.

The only negative finding was around the rising cost of doing business with nearly seven in 10 businesses reporting an increase in 2021 (69%). Home builders were the most impacted by rising costs (84%), followed by interior designers and building designers (70% and 50%, respectively). One of the most significant contributing factors was price volatility of products and materials which was reported by one in five businesses surveyed. All in all though, it’s a great time to be in the design industry!

Check out the full report

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The Best of Houzz 2022: Australia’s most popular architecture and design

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date February 10, 2022
No Comments on The Best of Houzz 2022: Australia’s most popular architecture and design

Every year, Houzz.com.au announces its annual people’s choice awards where the Houzz community highlights the renovation and design professionals with the most popular designs and top ratings. From a stylish wine cabinet to a showstopping powder room, this year’s awards recognise just three per cent of the more than 207 million active home professionals on the home renovation and design platform.

“We launched the Best of Houzz awards program over a decade ago to highlight the work of the most talented and customer-focused professionals in our industry. When homeowners come to Houzz to find professionals to complete their projects, the Best of Houzz badges offer a marker of credibility, supporting their decision to move forward,” says Tony Been, managing director.

A spa-style bathroom in Sydney
The average spend on the bathroom has risen 15% in the past year, according to the latest Houzz & Home report with some homeowners opting for hotel-worthy luxury features such as a freestanding bath. In fact, searches on Houzz for ‘free-standing bath’ rose by 328% in the past year and this Sydney bathroom, by Renotech Building, is a case in point. One of the most popular spaces on Houzz, it seems that users were drawn to its monochromatic palette and textural details such as porcelain chevron tiles and rose gold fixtures.

Leichhardt contemporary bathroom by Renotech Building

A stylish wine cabinet in Melbourne
Wine enthusiasts looking to store beloved collections, are gaining traction among the Houzz community, with ‘wine cabinets’ and ‘wine room’ topping searches year on year (337% and 245% respectively). And if there is one that is deserving of a toast, it’s this glamorous wine cabinet addition to a newly built kitchen. Created by First Avenue Homes, this winning design incorporates black timber veneer, a marble worktop and splashback with brass glass hangers.

Brighton Wine Cellar by First Homes Avenue — Brighton Wine Cellar by First Avenue Homes

A crisp laundry space in Canberra
Over recent years, we’ve seen the laundry, once a purely utilitarian space, transformed into another Insta-worthy part of the home like this winning design by Studio Black Interiors. Houzz has reported that searches for ‘marble-look chevron laundry tiles’ surged by 203% in 2021 (compared to the year prior). Not only does this bathroom showcase that trend, but its white joinery pairs well with a concrete benchtop, matte black tapware, and reclaimed timber shelving. Topping it off, the natural light filtering through the glass door makes the space feel bright and open.

Casey Residence laundry room by Studio Black Interiors. Photography: H Creations — Laundry room by Studio Black Interiors. Photography: H Creations

A showstopping powder room in Geelong
There is something to be said about a moody wash space, and Houzz has noticed a growing number of ‘dark’ inspired spaces cropping up in homes, with searches growing by 294% more than the previous year. In this popular powder room on Houzz, by Dylan Barber Building Design, some may consider a contrast of materials to be the primary aesthetic, however it’s the VJ panelling, gently veined vanity and grainy timber that really tie the look together.

Powder room by Dylan Barber Building. Photography: Nikole Ramsay

A beachside kitchen in Wollongong
When it comes to refreshing the kitchen, changing the layout is a priority for more than half of homeowners according to the latest Houzz & Home report. Searches on Houzz for an ‘open kitchen’ just like this one by Chronis Building Design, have proven to be popular among the Houzz community, with the search term increasing by 254% from last year.

A spacious marble island adjoined with a timber breakfast bench creates a multifunctional space that serves to cook, while providing an entertaining as well as work space. Plus, what’s not to love about a kitchen that takes advantage of its beachside location with endless views to the horizon?

Beachside kitchen by Chronis Building Design

A Victorian verandah in Perth
Outdoor projects are heating up across Australia, in particular, with searches for ‘front door’ inspiration experiencing a 666% year-on-year upswing on Houzz. This Victorian verandah, by Suzanne Hunt Architect, sticks to tradition, standing tall with its period trimmings. It also has a garden bed of ‘yuccas’, which is one of the most sought-after plant varieties on Houzz, with searches up by 1651% more than the previous year. It’s a charming scene and easy to see why it’s a Houzz community favourite.

Victorian Verandah by Suzanne Hunt Architect

An indulgent main bedroom in Naremburn
This room, by Amanda Smyth Design, features an Australian Hamptons aesthetic which is proving very popular on Houzz. It’s a modern take on traditional style, with a muted combination of serene neutrals, cool whites and lighter blue-based greys. Integration of picture-perfect ‘bay windows’ are also popping up more frequently in homes on Houzz, with 2021 searches up by 296% more than the previous year. They are a feature used to maximise light while also serving as a retreat space.

Contemporary Naremburn bedroom by Amanda Smythe Design

An indoor-outdoor living room on the Gold Coast
Searches for ‘beach house’ inspired interiors and exteriors are surging on Houzz (they’re up by 125% compared to last year), and this winning living room, by Donna Guyler Design, evokes the easy, carefree feeling of being by the coast. The vinyl plank flooring seamlessly connects the open-plan living areas internally, while the sliding recess doors allow the room to extend onto the indoor-outdoor deck.

Kingscliff beachside living room by Donna Guyler Design

A poolside cabana in Brisbane
Backyards are another area where homeowners are exploring hotel resort-style potential and searches for landscaping ideas (specifically for ‘gazebos’ and ‘pools’) surged on Houzz by 303% and 226% respectively, when compared to last year. The design below, by Beau Corp Aquatics & Construction features a white cabana and sun loungers with pops of green that make this outdoor space feel like an everyday escape.

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Tags architecture, best of houzz, design, house australia, houzz, interior design, interiors

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2022 interior predictions: 80s meets cottagecore, curves and preppy pastels

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date January 17, 2022
1 Comment on 2022 interior predictions: 80s meets cottagecore, curves and preppy pastels

With a community of over 65 million homeowners and design enthusiasts and more than 2.7 million home professionals, Houzz has unique insights into how people are designing their homes and predicts six of the hottest trends that’ll take off in 2022.

Preppy pastels

Designers say the most fashion-forward homes will embrace ‘80s meets cottagecore’ this year. The 80s element introduces pastel brights with summery tones in the form of pinks, yellows, browns and blues in organic patterns and freeform shapes. While cottagecore references the nostalgic romance of agricultural life, it is an aesthetic that celebrates the devotion of manual skills and handmade crafts. This trend will be making its mark on decor in 2022 with vintage style furniture, personalised neon, wallpaper, and natural fabrics.

Harris Street by Sartorial Interiors on Houzz

Navy blue in all the right places

Australians’ ongoing love for darker, sober colour classics, saw navy blue inspired searches on Houzz rise by 735% from the previous year. Pros on Houzz foresee kitchens and bathrooms will take on this hue as a deeper dive into Houzz search terms showed a significant interest for ‘navy blue island bench’ and ‘navy blue bathrooms’, jump up by 435% and 875% respectively. A colour rich, bold, and reminiscent of the ocean’s soothing qualities has earned a name for itself in 2022 interiors.

Curved craftsmanship

A source of inspiration we’ll continue to see evolve is curved craftsmanship. Curves first arrived in Australian homes with scalloped furniture and rounded kitchen island finishes. In 2022, we’ll see curves migrating into fitted home fixtures, so expect curves to take shape in glazing, walls and archways. Where possible, more organically shaped staircases will replace linear styles, with searches on Houzz for ‘curved staircases’ seeing an uptick of 735% from last year.

Mindfulness and pause zones

Making waves in homes is the rise of dedicated zones that centre moments of mindfulness, pause and privacy. Recent Houzz emerging search trends ‘fireplaces’ (up by 298%), ‘bay windows’ (up by 296%) and ‘sunrooms’ (up by 138%) surged in popularity over the last year, which tells us homeowners in 2022 will be looking to create appealing spots to provide joy and relief throughout the day.

Goldsmith House by NATIVE Design Workshop on Houzz

Alternative and adaptable doors

In the coming years, say hello to alternative and adaptable doors moving away from their swinging predecessor. We’ll see more inventive ways to open up and close off rooms, such as sliding ‘modern barn doors’, which recorded a huge leap on Houzz this year, up by 529%. Searches for ‘front door’ inspiration experienced a 666% year-on-year upswing. For 2022, this trend is all about claiming street appeal envy.

The Courthouse Warehouse by Josephine Hurley Architecture on Houzz

Entangled design

As it has become increasingly important for our homes to take on multiple roles, we’ll see a shift of spaces entangling over. Entangled design focuses on the quality of spaces that are adaptable to different activities, such as business and pleasure. In the Houzz community, working from home practices have already inspired the entanglement of office workspaces in bedrooms, kitchens and living areas, rooms that otherwise had a single function. On the cards for next coming years, pros forecast we’ll see more clever design solutions integrated into unused or void areas, given purpose to accommodate contemporary living comforts and amenities.

Houzz is the leading platform for home renovation and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish. On Houzz, people can find design inspiration, research and hire home professionals and get advice for their projects.

Tags 2022 design trends, 2022 interior design trends, 2022 trends, cottagecore, houzz, pastels

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The Best of Houzz 2021: The most popular architecture and design

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date February 1, 2021
No Comments on The Best of Houzz 2021: The most popular architecture and design

The popularity of the modern white kitchen (with wood accents) remains if the popularity of this design (by Blakes of Sydney) is anything to go by.

The world’s leading platform for home renovation and design, Houzz is a great place to peruse the work of the globe’s leading kitchen and bathroom renovators, architects, interior and landscape designers. Which is why the annual Best of Houzz awards offering interesting insights into what is trending and making the average homeowner tick.

With awards across three categories, the Best Of Houzz 2021 recognises design, customer service and photography. The design category honours professionals whose work was the most popular among the Houzz community while customer service honours are based on several factors, including a professional’s overall rating on Houzz and client reviews for projects completed in 2020. Photography badges are awarded to architecture and interior design photographers whose images were the most popular.

Awards highlight: An indoors-outdoors hallway, featuring glass sliding doors, by Justin Loe Architects.

It’s not hard to see why this infinity pool, by Justin Long Design, was one of the most popular designs on the site. Photo by Erin Sierins.

“The Best Of Houzz awards are an emblem of trust and credibility for home professionals across Australia and around the world, and we are excited to celebrate this year’s winners,” says Tony Been, Managing Director ANZ at Houzz of the award that recognises just three per cent of the more than 2.5 million active home professionals and interior/architectural photographers on the platform.

Awards highlight: A spa-like bathroom featuring oversized chevron tiles by MMAD Architecture. Photo by Jack Lovel.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted our critical need as homeowners to feel comfortable before inviting pros into and around our homes, and the Best Of Houzz badge is a powerful way to communicate the trust that homeowners have in a pro’s business. It’s just one of many tools on the Houzz platform that help pros convey their unique expertise, and help homeowners find the right professionals for their projects,” says Tony.

This bright and airy living space by Kube Constructions proved popular. Photo by Dylan James.

This inviting garden with fire pit, by Bayon Gardens, was popular on Houzz in 2020. Photo by Tim Turner. — Awards highlight: An inviting garden with fire pit, by Bayon Gardens. Photo by Tim Turner.

A “Best Of Houzz 2020” badge, specifying category won, appears on winners’ profiles to help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals on Houzz locally and around the world. ‘Houzz Pro’ members can also add the ‘Best of Houzz’ standout tag to their profile, which will appear in their directory listing and convey credibility. Winners have been announced globally.

Awards highlight: A monochrome contemporary home exterior by Big House Little House

he coastal Hamptons trend remains solid if the popularity of this living space by Jodie Cooper Design is any indication. Photo by DMax Photography. — The coastal trend remains solid if the popularity of this living space by Jodie Cooper Design is any indication. Photo by DMax Photography.

For more

Growth in kitchen reno spend according to Houzz survey

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Tags architecture, design, houzz, houzz australia, interior design

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15 apps to help you build your dream home

Post author By Guest Poster
Post date October 24, 2020
2 Comments on 15 apps to help you build your dream home

Get our FREE eBook: 10 tips to fall back in love with your home

Building a home from the ground up can be fun and rewarding, but it can also be anxiety provoking. There is good news though with iPhones, iPads and Androids offering homeowners a tool that isn’t already in their toolbox, but is necessary to every home project; the app. Regardless of what stage you are at, apps offer design inspiration, budget management, building measurements, DIY tutorials, renovation ideas and so much more. Furthermore they are time savers that can help you cut costs and work more productively.

Below is a roundup of the best apps to get your home project started and make your smartphone the top go-to tool in your box. Get inspired, get planning and get building today!

1. Houzz
All great dreams start off with inspiration and so when you’re about to build, you can’t have enough of it. Houzz is your interior design app on the go and it’s filled with a large database of design ideas, creative concepts and product reviews. The app is free, easy to use and beautifully designed to create different rooms and browse ideas. To top it off, Houzz also gives you the opportunity to look up professionals in your area, like architects, builders and suppliers to help you complete your project.

2. Palette Cam
Palette Cam is a great free tool for creating unique colour palettes and schemes using inspiration found in everyday life. The app allows you to grab colours from your camera or saved photographs – it will match them and generate individual HEX and RGB values (colour codes) for each shade. The built in zoom view gives you pixel level precision when picking colours making this a fabulous tool for creating schemes and making paint colour and textile selections.

3. Home Design 3D
Home Design 3D allows you to build a 3D model of your home so you can test out ideas before lifting a hammer or fetching the toolbox.

The free app gives a floorplan and room layout which you can draw in 2D, creating openings, adding walls, changing the shape and orientation – even the thickness of the walls can be drawn up. Designing your home becomes quick and intuitive, with customised textures, 3D project modes and night/day function to show you exactly what side of the house the light will fall at different times each day. You can also select furniture and décor items to really give you a sense of the final feel.

To top it off, you can also visualise and ‘visit’ your creation in real-time 3D using the app’s brand new photorealistic 3D rendering.

4. Housecraft
Housecraft is a furniture arrangement app that uses your device’s camera and augmented reality technology to let you place fully rendered 3D models anywhere in a space. A great planning app, it allows you to feel exactly how big objects are and how they’ll fit in a room. It also lets you admire objects from any angle, in any light, as well as save room configurations and try them out anywhere.

5. Tape Measure
Tape Measure is an augmented reality tape measure and ruler that fits in your pocket. Featuring a tape measure, laser level, stud finer and measurement history, this handy app helps you measure anything with your phone!

6. Morpholio Board – Mood Board
Called ‘addictive’ by ELLE DÉCOR magazine and awarded one of the best apps for interior design and architecture, this is a fabulous app to make your dream mood board come true. Perfect with iPhone, Mac, and iPad, Board combines your ideal inspiration, decor or furniture library with powerful mood board and collage tools to design anywhere. It seamlessly interacts with Pinterest, features a curated product library and has AR furniture capability too. Whether you’re designing kitchen, nursery or home office mood boards or just style and inspiration, this one is everything you need to be an interior designer in one app.

7. Home Outside
For $4.49, Home Outside is a landscape design app with all the tools you need to mock up your garden, create new garden designs and then share them with friends and family. It’s ideal for homeowners looking to try out new ideas in their yard and it allows you to select and place over 700 hand-drawn elements including trees, gardens, pools, patios, hammocks, driveways, houses and sheds, solar panels and more. It creates professional looking 2D aerial plans.

8. iScape – Landscape Designs
A free app, iScape lets you visualise a finished landscape project on your property before you even get the shovel out of the shed. The app acts as a virtual garden so you can plan, plant and produce your own personal oasis and produce photorealistic renders of your outdoor spaces (augmented reality or 2D designs) that can be saved straight to your smartphone or iPad using real images and actual photographs.

The app lets you tailor your projects (you can adjust colours, add layers, text and texture) before editing and saving them. Once you have collated your ideas you can share and favourite them too.

9. Photo Measures
Photo Measures is a super easy way to save measures on your photos on iPhone and iPad. You simply just take some photos and note down the dimensions on them. Not only does this help you take accurate measurements along when you meet with trades, but you can collate all of the spaces in your phone for easy access. The app also allows you to do the following:

Take a photo and directly draw measures on it
Edit your measures with a very intuitive interface
Quickly add text as comments when measures are not enough
Easily organise your photos by category
Export your annotated images as PDF or JPG

10. Rapid Reno Mate
Dubbed the ultimate renovator’s companion, the free Rapid Reno Mate is a powerful tool that can manage the business side of your renovations. Rapid Reno Mate is like your personal project manager and will help you every step of the way, making it easy and enjoyable to renovate your home.

Key features

· Plan multiple projects
· Track your budget
· Manage your trades
· Find products and your nearest suppliers
· Access exclusive offers
· Inspiration and DIY help

The app was developed by Rapid Renovation Expert, Naomi Findlay, who wanted to create a simple solution for renovators to complete successful and enjoyable renovations time and time again.

11. Dulux Colour
The Dulux Colour app allows you to select a photo of your room and use Dulux colour to virtually ‘paint’ the area. This will give you an idea of what your finished project could look like by visualising colour on your walls. You can choose from popular colour palettes or create your own – you can even browse through the entire Dulux range on your phone.

Cleverly, the app also matches colours – just sample a part of a photo to reveal the closest digital match from over 1,100 colours. You can also save your project, share it with family and friends and compare and view multiple paint schemes.

12. SketchUp
It used to be that interior design and architectural software was the exclusive domain of the professionals but that all changed when SketchUp came along. While it’s not strictly an app, we thought we’d include it because it’s hugely popular and for so many reasons. A highly intuitive, easy to learn 3D drawing tool, SketchUp lets you draw building plans and elevations and create animated walkthroughs and flyovers of your designs. SketchUp also has the world’s largest collection of free 3D models which means building materials, plants and real-world objects including furniture and appliances can be inserted into your designs with just a few clicks. It really has put design software in the hands of regular folk.

13. Airtasker
Perfect for when you’re looking for a tradie or handyman, a cleaner, removalist and more, Airtasker lets you list a task (including details of when and where) alongside a fair budget for it. ‘Taskers’ are then able to bid for the job at which stage you can take a look at their profiles and reviews and choose the best candidate. Airtasker handles the financial side of things making it one easy to use and seamless platform.

14. hipages
Arguably the best place to find a tradie in Australia, hipages works similarly to Airtasker in that you can list a job and thereafter obtain multiple quotes from professional tradies. It’s a free service that instantly alerts local tradies to submit quotes and after the quotes are received you can compare profiles and verified recommendations to choose the best applicant.

15. Reece 3D bathroom planner
While it’s not an app per se, Reece’s 3D bathroom planner is a fabulous tool for the home renovator and it’s a lot of fun too. Who doesn’t want to plan their bathroom in 3D with just a few clicks? Firstly, you set up and design your bathroom in 2D before adding your favourite Reece products. Then you add your finishing touches (tiles, plants, wood finishes and colours) before reviewing your bathroom in 3D and saving your design. You can also browse predesigned rooms, check out the bathrooms from The Block and peruse the latest trends within the software too.

This post originally appeared in 2014 but has been updated in 2022 to provide more relevant content for readers.

Check out Reno Addict, our dedicated renovating section

Tags apps, byford, cedar woods, designmine, diy, featured, handy man diy, hardscape, home design 3d, houzz, ihandy carpenter, iscape, iscape apps, mint quickview, palettes, rapid reno mate, self build

Architecture Design Designers RENO ADDICT

Houzz announces Best Of Houzz 2020 winners

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date February 17, 2020
No Comments on Houzz announces Best Of Houzz 2020 winners

This serene infinity pool, another winner, was created by Living Style Landscapes

Shining the spotlight on just 3 per cent of its professional community, the 2020 Best of Houzz awards have been announced, honouring those whose work was the most popular on the platform. Receiving an accolade is no small thing, especially when you consider that the Houzz community includes 2.5 million active home professionals and interior and architectural photographers.

This bathroom, by Studio Black Interiors, is one of this year’s winners.

“This year’s Best Of Houzz awards go to an incredibly talented and service-oriented group of home renovation and design professionals, and we’re proud to highlight the winners on the Houzz website and app. This award is particularly meaningful as it reflects the sentiment of the millions of homeowners in the Houzz community who are hiring home professionals for their projects across Australia and around the world,” says Tony Been, managing director ANZ at Houzz.

The awards are handed out annually across three categories including design, customer service and photography. Design awards recognise the professionals that were the most popular among the Houzz community, while customer service honours are based on factors including a professional’s overall rating and client reviews submitted in 2019. Photography honours are awarded to architecture and interior design photographers whose images were the most popular.

Another winner, this kitchen is by GIA Bathrooms & Kitchens

Winners will be able to display a “Best Of Houzz 2020” badge on their page, specifying the category won, which helps homeowners identify popular and top-rated professionals. The badges are highly sought after within the Houzz professional community, as attested to by some of this year’s winners.

“Houzz has such a large following and is a platform for renovators and homeowners around the world. Winning the Best of Houzz Awards consecutively since 2017 is something I’m extremely proud of. Houzz continues to support my business and brings genuine clients with different size projects and budgets,” says Julianne Bull, principal designer at The Den Interiors.

Den Interiors created this winning living room

Having won several Best of Houzz awards over the years, architect Rebecca Naughtin agrees. “Prospective clients are more likely to reach out if they have confidence in your business. A Best of Houzz badge improves our exposure, gives credibility to our profile, assures clients that we are competent professionals and boosts our team morale,” says Rebecca.

This bespoke timber staircase, by Rebecca Naughtin Architect, is one of this year’s winners.

Browse the 2020 Best of Houzz award winners | Growth in kitchen reno spend according to Houzz survey

Tags architect, architecture, design, houzz, houzz awards, interior design, interior designer, interiors, reno addict

Architecture Design

2020 interior design trends: Top 8 according to Houzz

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date November 26, 2019
1 Comment on 2020 interior design trends: Top 8 according to Houzz

It’s hard to believe that 2020 is just around the corner, but with the new year comes one of the things we really love – trend predictions. And when it comes to trends, the Houzz platform is always an interesting place to look. From the end of the ‘official’ kitchen area to the rise of cheeky leftover spaces and terrazzo as a foundational material in the home, read on for Houzz’ top eight home design trend predictions for 2020.

1. The ‘unkitchen’ kitchen
The kitchen remains a constantly evolving space when it comes to design trends, and it’s still the most popular room to renovate according to Houzz research.

Of late, Houzz is starting to see contemporary kitchens integrating small touches of furniture-like elements that complement the rest of a home’s décor. At the extreme end, we will see more and more kitchens that disappear completely into bespoke cabinetry, so their functionality is hidden away when not in use.

2. The cheeky extras
Got an extra 1.5m space at the end of your kitchen renovation floor plan? Houzz is starting to see homeowners no longer decide between a pantry or more bench space if they have spare meterage. Instead they are extending into the space, building in integrated study nooks, kitchenettes and banquettes. This trend began in 2019, with study nooks searched on Houzz 26 per cent more than the previous year.

3. The rise of curves and arches
This is a trend we’ve reported on, but it seems that our collective penchant for curves and arches just keeps growing. Designers and architects on Houzz are introducing curves to add a feminine touch and create softness in spaces otherwise filled with hard surfaces.

Architectural elements of the home will embrace rounded edges through circular windows, arches and curved walls as advances to technology allow architects to challenge structural boundaries.

4. Terrazzo
Again, not a new trend but with searches for the material having increased by 28 per cent on Houzz this year, it’s predicted to truly reign in 2020.

Terrazzo, a composite material that can be poured in situ or pre-case, and formed from chips of marble, quartz, granite or glass, has mostly been seen in bathroom splash backs until now. But, in the new year, we can expect to see it used in bench tops and homewares, with the chips becoming larger and colour ways becoming bolder.

5. Metal cladding
With an increasing focus on technological innovation, the desire for greater sustainability, the need for safety and always-changing realisations about wellbeing in the home, one of the biggest trends on Houzz is the rise of metal cladding. With recent issues with combustible materials, already we are seeing professionals on Houzz readjust to these new demands, so goodbye rendered brickwork and timber slats and hello copper, zinc and steel.

6. Muted colours
Beige, stone, soft eucalypt greens and earthy browns will be strong interior colours in 2020, following their popularity on Houzz in 2019. Those hues are seen in natural materials such as sisal, jute, hemp, unbleached, undyed wool, clay and natural stone.

There is some solace for those that love colour, however – Houzz tell us that strong colours with added shading will be on trend, such as merlot, peacock blue and spicy pink.

7. Homewares made from biomaterials
The common concerns about climate change, sustainability, the harm of single-use plastic and environmental pollution will push professionals to innovate even more in the years ahead, developing new recycled and recyclable materials for homewares & decor.

The 2019 Houzz & Home Australia study found that integrating “green” materials was a high priority for 22 per cent of renovating homeowners; a 3 per cent increase from 2016.

8. Wellbeing & bioliphic design
Biophilia means ‘love of nature’ and this, combined with our focus on wellbeing, will form a strong design focus for 2020. Lamps that adjust their intensity according to natural circadian rhythms, decor that seriously integrates plants, soothing palettes and low-VOC paints, plus architecture designed for wellness are just some examples of the trend.

Houzz is already seeing this emerge with many designers and homeowners introducing natural light from windows and skylights; focussing on exterior views and access to nature; and using water sources as fountains, ponds and water features, that can be seen, heard and touched.

Tags 2020 design trends, 2020 trends, architecture, architecture trends, design, houzz, interior design, interior design trends, interiors

Kitchens RENO ADDICT

Growth in kitchen reno spend according to Houzz survey

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date September 5, 2019
No Comments on Growth in kitchen reno spend according to Houzz survey

A recent Kinsman Kitchens renovation. Photography by Marcel Aucur and styling by Alex Shimmin at White Room Interiors

With the kitchen increasingly the hub of the home, it isn’t surprising to hear that Aussies’ spend on kitchen renovations grew by 16 per cent in the past year (to a median spend of $20,000) according to the annual Houzz and Home Australia survey. 8,800 Australians responded to the research that found the kitchen is the most popular room to renovate followed by the living room with the bedroom, bathroom and laundry in equal third place.

“Despite a number of headwinds for the global and national economy, renovation activity continued to keep pace in 2018 and will likely experience a robust growth in 2019. Pent up demand continues to drive renovation activity, while spend on discretionary projects such as kitchens continues to grow, signalling strength in consumer confidence,” says Nino Sitchinava, Ph.D., Houzz principal economist.

A desire to stay in one’s current home, rather than purchase a new one, seems to be driving the renovation scene – albeit for different reasons according to demographics. Typically, baby boomers and Gen Xers are renovating because they would rather stay put while Millennials (ages 25-39) are renovating because it’s more affordable than moving.

Another interesting finding is that 2018 renovation activity was largely driven by older people with three quarters of renovations undertaken by boomers (ages 55-74) and Gen Xers (ages 40-54) – no doubt because they were in a better position to afford it.

Funding
The majority of home renovations are funded using cash from savings (76 per cent) followed by credit cards (19 per cent) and cash from home mortgage refinance (13 per cent). Predictably, credit card funding was mostly used by Millennials rather than older generations.

Engaging trades
90 per cent of renovators hired a professional in 2018 with electricians, plumbers and carpenters in greatest demand – 62, 51 and 40 per cent respectively.

Smart tech
Just over one in ten renovators incorporated smart technology into their renovations via products like home assistants, streaming media players and security cameras. Interestingly, baby boomers are more likely than Gen Xers and Millennials to rank smart technology as a priority.

Energy efficiency
Over two in five (43 per cent) homeowners prioritise energy efficiency when renovating and do this by replacing windows and installing installation amongst other things.

The finishing touches
It seems styling concerns are top of mind for renovators with almost two-thirds of 2018 renovating homeowners decorating and furnishing their home within the same year as renovating. This was most important for Millennials (as compared to boomers) who purchased products such as cushions, throws and furniture to complete their spaces.

For more | Australian kitchen trends: Winter 2019 edition

Tags home renovation, houzz, houzz australia, houzz survey, kitchens, reno, renovating, renovation, renovation trends

Expert Tips

Back to school organisation tips to save your house!

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date January 14, 2019
1 Comment on Back to school organisation tips to save your house!

Source: Houzz/Margaret Wright Photography

Half of Australia is currently on a tidying mission thanks to Marie Kondo’s new Netflix doco, as well as the usual January urge to clear out and get organised. But with the kids about to go back to school, how can we ensure all that hard work isn’t ruined when backpacks, paperwork and sports kits are coming through the doors every night again?

Houzz have a few smart tips to apply to the home for a smooth transition back to school:

Be generous with storage

When the children return to school, a collection of school books, uniforms, toys and other knick knacks can quickly accumulate in the home. Readily available storage compartments are a nifty solution to this problem and easily hide mess. Storage units, boxes, baskets and food storage containers are all great examples, which we’ve seen on Houzz in various designs and colours to suit the style of each home.

In fact, in a recent poll* conducted on Houzz found that, 34% of respondents find food storage containers the most useful organisation tool in the home, while 1 in 5 voted storage boxes.

Create a studying area

A designated studying area is a great way to make sure your kids can focus. Younger children may prefer a more communal studying area, where they can easily access their parents for questions, and older kids may like an area that is closed off with no distractions. Images on Houzz show that homeowners are personalising the studying area with stationary, posters, and cushions so that kids feel more creative and comfortable in the space.

Assemble a command centre

Command centres are a great way to keep track of the family’s schedule during the term. Wall calendars, planners, pin boards and blackboards are popular choices in the images on Houzz, and can be accessorised nicely with family photos, magnets and postcards.

Allocate a drop off zone

A well laid out drop off zone will ensure that school bags, jackets, hats and shoes won’t get lost inside the home. Homeowners on Houzz have been quite inventive with their drop off zones, some installing cupboards or benches, others opting for hooks and baskets. Whichever way you choose to design your drop off zone, you can rest assured knowing the items you need as you leave the house, won’t go missing.

*The results from this Houzz poll was fielded between December 2018 and January 2019, and percentages were calculated as of 9 January 2019.

What are your top tips for keeping on top of school clutter?

Pantry organisation tips from Real Housewife Chyka

GET JEN’S FREE EBOOK: HOW TO PULL A LIVING ROOM LOOK TOGETHER

Tags back to school, home organisation, houzz, Marie condo, Netflix, storage, tidying up

Architecture Design

The best holiday homes in Australia with great design

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date November 22, 2018
No Comments on The best holiday homes in Australia with great design

If you’re anything like me, design is a significant factor when considering where to stay on holiday. I see it as an opportunity to stay somewhere that I could never afford to own myself so when the people at HomeAway (formerly Stayz) made contact to let us know that its 2018 Holiday Rental Award design finalists had been announced, I couldn’t wait to take a look. From South Australia to Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia, there is a treasure trove of design to be found across Australia when booking your next holiday stay.

Rotten Point House (VIC)
The gold medal winner in this year’s design awards, this rammed earth house is located just off the Great Ocean Road and sits on an untouched cliff top overlooking the Southern Ocean, between Apollo Bay and the Twelve Apostles. Nestled on 100 acres of native bushland the property stands like a modernist beacon in the wild and if you tire of the view, there’s plenty of design features to enjoy inside.

Cypress Hill, Apollo Bay (VIC)
Sitting on an acre of land five kilometres from Apollo Bay, this gorgeous home overlooks the Bass Strait and rolling green hills too. Gorgeous design lines aside, there’s plenty of floor to ceiling glass to really take advantage of the view.

Pineapple Pete’s, Port Douglas (QLD)
Located in Port Douglas, just a three minute walk to Four Mile Beach, this beach house is brimming with tropical vibes. Full of light and airy, open plan spaces plus palm leaf wallpaper and plenty of textured materials (think linen, leather and jute), this has boho beach stay written all over it.

Pineapple Pete's pool — The fabulous pool area

Oranjehuis, Aldinga Beach (SA)
Named after its signature colour, Oranjehuis is located on South Australia’s Aldinga Beach and features swathes of glass to take in the ocean view plus plenty of bright colour pops throughout. The home also features an impressive collection of Australian, Dutch and American original art and Dutch designer furniture and lighting.

Leftie’s at the bay, Gracetown (WA)
Located in Gracetown, a stunning coastal spot in Western Australia, this is the sort of sophisticated beach pad that you wish you owned. A monochrome colour scheme features throughout (with the odd timber touch) and the home boasts lovely sea views too. Rather conveniently, it is situated adjacent to the world-renowned Margaret River wine region.

Book your next holiday | How to renovate & decorate a holiday home

Tags architecture, design, holiday, holidays, homeaway, houzz, interior, interior design, interiors, travel

RENO ADDICT

Aussie kitchen renovations: most popular room to reno

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date October 23, 2018
No Comments on Aussie kitchen renovations: most popular room to reno

Australians remain enthusiastic renovators if the results from the 2018 Houzz & Home Australia Study are anything to go by. The survey of more than 7,200 people revealed that more than half of homeowners on Houzz Australia are planning to renovate (57 per cent) at a median spend of $25,000 per room and that the kitchen is the most popular room to revamp.

While the kitchen is the most popular room for interior renovation (26 per cent) it’s closely followed by the living room (24 per cent), master bathroom (18 per cent), bedroom (18 per cent), and laundry (17 per cent).

The survey also revealed that while kitchens were the most popular room to renovate they were also the most expensive – a large kitchen (more than 10 square metres) has a median spend of $20,000.

“All of the evidence from our research points to 2018 likely being another robust year for the home improvement industry. Recent buyers and long-term homeowners alike are keen on investing in major projects like kitchens and bathrooms and they’re validated by the value these projects have brought to their homes,” says Houzz principal economist Nino Sitchinava, Ph.D.

And when it comes to carrying out the work, nine in ten people (92 per cent) choose to hire a professional with repeat homebuyers the most likely to seek professional assistance (94 per cent) – perhaps because they’ve learnt through bitter experience! 89 per cent of long-term owners and 88 per cent of first-time homebuyers are likely to seek the services of a pro too.

And while increasing a home’s functionality and user-experience is a key driver behind most renovations, the desire to add value to our properties is important too. Almost half of renovating homeowners (46 per cent) believe their efforts will increase their home’s resale value with nearly eight in ten homeowners (80 per cent) believing their home value increased by at least the full amount of the renovation cost.

Houzz

For more | How to: Paint a house interior

Tags houzz, houzz australia, real reno, reno, reno addict, renovating, renovation

RENO ADDICT

The Houzz & Home 2017 Annual Survey: Trends in renovations

Post author By Naomi Foxall
Post date July 13, 2017
No Comments on The Houzz & Home 2017 Annual Survey: Trends in renovations

Houzz, the world’s leading platform for home renovation and design, has published findings from the annual Houzz & Home Australia survey. The study, of almost 10,000 respondents in Australia, has revealed the top trends in home design and renovations over the last year.

Image source: Vulcan Post

The survey found that recent homebuyers are taking on larger scope projects than all other home renovators with recent homebuyers are nearly twice as likely to renovate all of their interior spaces than the average home renovator (15 percent versus eight percent, respectively).

When considering priorities, kitchen projects top the list for recent buyers (31 percent versus 25 percent for the average renovating homeowner), followed by living rooms (32 percent versus 23 percent) and master bathrooms (22 percent versus 17 percent).

“2016 was another strong year for the home renovation market, with homeowners continuing to invest in their homes,” said Nino Sitchinava, principal economist at Houzz. “While the majority of renovations are spurred by homeowners’ desire to upgrade a home they have lived in for some time, recent home purchases are also an important driver of home renovation activity.”

This year is on track to be another boom year for home renovations, with half of homeowners on Houzz planning to begin or continue renovations in 2017 (50 percent). Homeowners plan to spend an average of $47,000 on home renovations in 2017. In 2016, kitchen renovations commanded the highest spend ($19,300), followed by master bathrooms ($12,300).

Raring to renovate

Australia’s property market is as hostile as ever, as property prices have continued to increase over the last year. Figures rose by 18.9% in Sydney alone, according to Core Logic. In light of this, Houzz’s study has found that ONE in TWO homeowners on Houzz plan to renovate their homes, rather than sell them, indicating the change in buying and selling habits. These homeowners are choosing to invest in their current properties, instead of re-entering the adverse market.

An energy efficient home is a cost efficient future

While design and functionality top the list of renovation considerations (both 74 percent), almost half of homeowners consider energy efficiency extremely important to their projects (42 percent). To create more energy efficient homes, homeowners are installing home automation technology and solar systems during their renovations (8 percent and 7 percent respectively). Home automation is even more common among recent buyers (15 percent).

Breaking budget

The top challenge facing renovating homeowners in 2016 was staying on budget (34 percent). Other top challenges include finding the right products and materials and finding the right service providers (both 33 percent).

Pro is the go

Nine in ten renovating homeowners hired professionals for their renovation projects in 2016, consistent with 2015 (both 89 percent). Recent homebuyers are even more likely to rely on professional help than long term owners (92 percent versus 88 percent, respectively).

Raring to renovate

One in two homeowners on Houzz report plans to renovate over sell their homes (53 percent versus seven percent respectively).

Tags home reno, houzz, houzz survey, renovating, renovation

Designers Expert Tips

12 interior trend predictions for 2017

Post author By Guest Poster
Post date December 19, 2016
No Comments on 12 interior trend predictions for 2017

With 2017 just around the corner, Houzz, the leading platform for home renovation and design, have shared what they expect to see more of in our homes next year.

1. Green is meant to be seen. With a surge in eco-consciousness and garden-to-table living, leafy, botanic greens have been dug up in homes this year. Couple that with Pantone’s colour of the year Greenery promising a fresh, reinvigorated start and we think green will be a big colour for 2017.

2. Porcelain surfaces. While porcelain isn’t a modern material, it’s a relative newcomer as a surface material. It’s hard-wearing, virtually non-porous and can take on a variety of looks that could make it ‘the’ material of the future.

3. Experimental tiles. We’ve had a lot of fun with tiles this year from oversized slabs to striking 3D shapes, and even fun new ways of laying tile patterns. Expect to see more of that next year.

4. Free-spirited decorating. Homeowners are increasingly inspired to experiment with styles and products that suit their personalities and not necessarily follow trends. It’s the idea that a home is decorated for us, and inspired by us.

5. Nomadic nuances. We’re seeing primitive, raw materials, an increasing appreciation for artisan objects, crafts and techniques, new patterns inspired by exotic global cultures, and rich desert tones such as tangy oranges, dusky pinks and buttery yellows.

6. Rough and ready fabrics. Natural, textural fabrics will continue to set the mood for 2017 – think raw fabrics such as linen, heavy cotton, canvas, hemp and wool; roughed up with unfinished edges, salt-washing and even tea-dying.

7. Swinging seventies. We’ve already seen the ’70s influence popping up, but Houzz experts predict we’ll continue to revisit this era in 2017. Look out for house plants, jewel colours, macrame, surfer artwork, terracotta, and bright kaleidoscope and abstract patterns.

8. Forget the upper cabinets. We’ve seen some fun alternatives to upper kitchen cabinets this year, with many homeowners opting for easy-to-reach open shelves, striking bench-to-ceiling feature splashbacks, or neat niches. What’s next for 2017?

9. Rethinking beige. Once a mainstay in homes across the country, beige has sort of been getting a bad rap in recent years with the popularity of greys. But designers are starting to rethink beige-based neutrals, giving the palette a refreshing update for the modern world.

10. Playful bedside pendant lights. Forget boring old table lamps. Pendant lights free up bedside space for nightstand essentials, especially helpful in small rooms.

11. Romantic bedroom colours. Most homeowners strive for a calm and cosy bedroom by sticking with walls painted in soothing whites, greys and blues. According to a recent Houzz Bedroom survey, intimate or romantic falls behind as the fifth-most desired atmosphere for a master bedroom after calm and cosy. Bring the love back and look to colours like raspberry pink, deep ruby red, caramel and even black.

12. White and wood kitchens. When it comes to cabinets and splashbacks, the colour white dominates in kitchens. To keep the all-white look from becoming too sterile, designers and homeowners are introducing wood accents to help break up the look visually and provide much needed warmth — we expect to see more of that in 2017.

–With a community of more than 40 million unique monthly users and nearly 1.5 million active home renovation and design professionals, Houzz has unique insights into how people are designing their homes.

Tags 2016, 2017, houzz, predications, trends