With having a family, raising kids, owning a home, and taking care of your parents as they get older, you may want to take a step further to own a granny flat right in your backyard. For some, this can be a great idea. For others, it may not be easy to design and build this structure. So, this is where you need a team of experts to guide you through the process.
Beyond the actual setting up of a granny flat, there are other essential prerequisites like building permits and regulations. Bear in mind that it’s a dwelling and should be designed for comfortable living conditions. All these take time and planning.
These 5 expert granny flat builders tips can help you get started.
Make it seamless
Since you are putting up another structure, it would make sense to connect it with the main building. This should be done seamlessly.
A good way is to choose and use similar building materials. Also, try and eliminate the boundary between the backyard and flat. Consider the inside and outside designs. There is a range of designs you can use. Consult granny flat builders for advice. Sometimes, due to space and access route, the structure may be constructed off-site and towed in. All these modalities are best discussed with experts for hassle-free construction.
Divide the living room
Construct an L-shaped wall to separate the living room from the kitchen such that the refrigerator and cabinets are smartly contained. On every side of the floor plan, install white framed windows and doors to serve as a splashback.
Lighting is important
Designer granny flats should have sufficient lights. Larger glass doors and windows in the flat will let in more natural light. Of course, your privacy is important so, add streamlined roller blinds. As for colours and finishes, choose neutral finishes for walls; it makes space appear bigger.
The Bathroom
Granny flats may be smaller in size, but they are cosier. As for bathrooms, choose standard facilities and innovative bathroom furniture. Suppose you want your bathroom to have a mod appearance, select tiles in pared-back tones and a glossy white vanity.
You can choose colourful towels to increase the colour tone in your bathroom. Keep bathroom design minimal for luxury granny flat designs. Remember that it will be occupied by older adults who may not find certain designs attractive. Again, let the bathroom be well lighted. Vision acuity decreases with age, so providing more light will help.
Choose a neutral kitchen
An open-plan layout is appropriate for a kitchen. It takes out the crampiness—ageing parents like when they can monitor children’s activities while preparing meals.
It would be helpful to add extended benchtops and slim kitchen islands. These fixtures offer great spaces for meal preps and chatting inside the kitchen. Again, they help you bring in essential kitchen fixtures like additional sinks, storage shelves or drawers.
The material you choose for countertops also matters
A countertop colour that suits your lifestyle is a great choice. For an appealing kitchen, pick a countertop colour that contrasts with the splashbacks. Also, consider stains on countertops from cooking appliances and ingredients. Stone benchtops can be a good choice. The whole idea is to maintain a clean and organised kitchen.
Wall shelves can also provide extra storage spaces without making the kitchen look crampy.
Install durable and stylish flooring
Home accidents are more common with older adults. Slippery floors often make them trip and fall. So, for a granny flat, go for easy to clean flooring and requires minimal maintenance. This is important so that when that sauce mistakenly spills on the floor, it will be wiped clean without fuss.
Should you prefer a hardwood design, go for it. Vinyl floors are appealing and easy to clean. Besides, you can combine the two and enjoy the best of both worlds.
The beauty of vinyl flooring is that they are available in many prints, including wood, stone, or another material of choice.
Whatever choice of flooring you go for, ensure it is made from quality materials. This will make them last longer and increase their function.
In Conclusion
Building a granny flat is a good idea. Apart from providing a separate shelter for parents or grandparents within your property, it can also generate revenue should you rent it out. This makes it a good investment property.
If you’re thinking about taking this next step, our team can help with stone supply and installation in your kitchen, bathroom and laundry. Download our free Benchtop Buyers Guide now. It offers a comprehensive plan to make this process easier for you.