Interior Design

Home > Interior Design

Tag: Interior Design

paintings on green wall
CategoriesHome Design

What are Feature Walls? Should You Have One in Your Home?

By Bayside Extensions Team,

If you’ve been doing some research for ideas to incorporate in your home renovation plans, you might have come across feature walls.

But what are feature walls exactly? Let’s find out.

What are feature walls?

A feature wall is one wall in a room that looks different to the other walls due to its colour, design, texture or the materials used.

Feature walls are primarily used to break up a mono-colour room, to add to the aesthetics and add a special element in an otherwise plain room. Some homeowners include a feature wall that represents certain tastes that may be deemed overwhelming or too expensive on every wall.

As well as adding creativity, a feature wall can enlarge a room and add depth to smaller spaces. You can include a feature wall in just about any room of the house.

What materials can be used for a feature wall?

A feature wall stands out thanks to its variation of colour, texture or materials and can be designed using:

  • Paint
  • Wallpaper
  • Marble
  • Brick
  • Wood
  • Tiles
  • Natural stone

Paint and wallpaper are the easiest way to create a feature wall. If you decide in a year or so after you’ve made renovations that you don’t like the colour, you can switch out the wallpaper or repaint the wall with minimum effort. A painted mural in a theme of our choice is unique way to jazz up a kid’s bedroom, guest room or playroom.

paintings on green wallTop tips for creating a feature wall

  • There should be no more than one feature wall per room. You can have multiple feature walls in your home, but be selective about where you use them to retain the uniqueness.
  • Decide which wall works best as a focal point for the room. This could be the wall in your bedroom that your headboard sits against, or a wall in your living area that has no furniture next to it and no wall art.
  • Features can work well on any wall, from those with doors, windows or cupboards, to those that are plain where you want to create some interest.
  • Consider how you can coordinate other elements in the room with your feature wall. This may be through one or two furniture pieces in the same material, or a rug or light fitting in the same colour.

Should I include a feature wall in my home renovations?

Done well, a feature wall can enhance your space and add a unique touch to your home. However, if it is not done correctly, it can stand out in the wrong way and be distracting for your family and guests.

While some feature walls can make a room seem bigger, others can make a room feel even smaller. You’ll also need to consider that you may grow tired of the colour or design over time, making you feel less comfortable spending time in that room.

Feature walls have the most success when created by a professional design and build team. Our design team will be delighted to share our expertise so you have a home you love living in. Call us today at Bayside Extensions for a no-obligation chat on 03 9596 0368.

white modern kitchen
CategoriesHome Design

Kitchen Design: 5 Reasons Why it’s Better to Leave it to Professionals

By Bayside Extensions Team,

Your kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house, but it is also one of the most difficult to design correctly.
Rather than doing it yourself, there are many reasons why hiring a professional designer & builder will ensure the project runs smoothly, so you end up with a home and kitchen space that you are proud of.

Expert product knowledge

Every year there are new materials and appliances released, and staying up to date with the latest trends can be difficult if you’re not working with them every day. Through regular contact with manufacturers and attending various trade shows, a professional designer & builder ensures that their clients have access to the most innovative, durable and cost-effective products.

An eye for what looks good

Professional designers live and breathe design, so they have an eye for what works and what doesn’t. Rather than trying to decide between different shades of tiles, cabinetry, counter tops and taps, your professional designer can easily match things together based on your preferred colour scheme.

white modern kitchenYour space will be functional

Designing your own space may mean that some features or functions are forgotten about, leaving you with feelings of regret in the future. Your design expert will take into account your family size, routine and entertaining habits to create a space that is fully functional and has everything you need.

They will oversee the project from start to finish

Designing your home and kitchen may seem like a simple process, but you also need to think about how the renovation will work from inception right through to build. There are builders, plumbers and electricians to co-ordinate, materials and appliances to purchase and have delivered, and if you already have a busy work and family schedule, this can very quickly become impossible to manage. Having a professional design and build team that can oversee the renovation from start to finish will leave you with one less thing to worry about.

Choosing the right designer

There are numerous design & build providers ready and able to take on your project, but not everyone will be a good fit. When choosing the team that will redesign and implement your dream home, it’s important to:

  • Meet with them face-to-face to discuss your ideas. Do they take your thoughts into consideration as well as make suggestions? Do you feel that you could work with them for potentially a few months?
  • Look at their past work and testimonials. Most designers will be proud to showcase their work on their website, so browse through their recent projects to see what kitchen & home designs they have completed. Testimonials from previous clients will also tell you a lot about the designer.
  • Check their credentials. What qualifications does the designer hold? How many years’ experience do they have?

Our team at Bayside Extensions will be delighted to talk to you about your home and kitchen renovation. Take a look at some of our recent projects, then give us a call on 03 9596 0368 to find out how we can help you make your dream home a reality.

CategoriesHome Design

The Dangers Of DIY Interior Design

By Bayside Extensions Team,

So you’re renovating your bayside home and you’ve just bought ‘the perfect piece’. A fabulous lamp for that dark little corner, a gorgeous throw rug with matching cushions you found online for your living room renovation or maybe a gorgeous corner table, ideal for your bedroom makeover.

There’s a good chance, however, that ‘perfect piece’ was too small, too big or actually, entirely the wrong colour – and now it’s too late to take it back.

Interior design is not as easy as it looks – and much more important than you think. Follow these six DIY interior design tips for your bayside home and you’ll be styling up the perfect room in no time.

#1 Start With the Basics – a Simple Tape Measure

There is nothing more heartbreaking than bringing your shiny new purchase into your home, only to realise that it is simply too big to fit, or too small to make an impact.

Impulse buying can also be a very expensive mistake. Imagine buying a couch for your living room renovation that doesn’t even fit through the door! Always measure first. In fact, measure twice!
measuring tape

#2 Shop With a Plan

As the saying goes, “a place for everything, and everything in its place.” Great interior design does not happen by accident. Before you hit the shops, spend some time looking carefully for what you need for your bayside home renovation. Take photos, use magazine clippings, draw some sketches – whatever makes the planning process easier for you.

Shopping without a plan leads to unnecessary clutter. When you apply careful planning and a minimalist approach, clutter will be a thing of the past.
dining room with wooden table

#3 Beware the ‘impulse buy’.

Never buy on the spot. Remember, you have to live with the items you buy. Also, shop around for the right price. Impulse interior design is a waste of money. There’s nothing worse than spending more than you need!
living area with a potted plant

#4 Scale is Everything

It takes a talented eye to decorate a room with impeccable scale. The secret to scale in interior renovation is a mixture of different shapes, heights and sizes that fit together seamlessly – not too big, not too small. You never want everything in a room to be at the same level or the same size. Remember if you have a bayside house with large windows, you need to leave plenty of space to let the outside in!
living area with two grey couches

#5 Testing – 1, 2, 3

Choosing paint colours can be a minefield. Take advantage of sample pot sizes and take the time to patch test before you begin on your home improvement. Once you’ve begun, re-painting can be a painful process. Also, if you can, go for a feature wall. The use of a bold contrast colour can really bring your house alteration to life.
colorful wall with balustrades

#6 Light it Up

Lighting is often underestimated in interior design, especially if you have a bayside home with stunning beachside views. Natural light is the best way to show off furniture and soft furnishings but at night, floor lamps add mood and ambience. Do some research about the use of LED lighting, too – new technology now allows a whole new range of light control.
white kitchen
The professional design team at Bayside Extensions is passionate about creating environments to meet your lifestyle needs, while respecting the rich history and architecture of your bayside home. If you want to read more about home renovations and extensions, please visit our blog section.

Add to cart