Bringing the Outside In
When designing a home, achieving harmony between the external environment and the interior spaces is key to creating a cohesive and inviting living experience. A well-thought-out design approach ensures that the home not only looks beautiful from the outside but also feels seamless and connected within. However, how to incorporate the external environment of a home in the design process truly takes some thinking outside of the box. In this feature, Melbourne Home Design + Living’s Gemma Thomas sits down with Gabrielle Brown, Marketing Coordinator from Cavalier Homes, to explore how a thoughtful design can unify the external surroundings with the interior and exterior elements of a house and achieve the ultimate living experience.
Cavalier Homes was bought in 2012 by the current owners, Jason and Scott McHugh (Cavalier Homes Goulburn Valley) and Dale Paddle (Cavalier Homes Albury-Wodonga). The company’s commitment to honesty, integrity, transparent pricing and quality-built homes means clients have no surprises and can guarantee that the result is a house they are proud to call home. Having franchises in many regions of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania, the designers at Cavalier Homes are used to working with an array of different landscapes, harmonising natural beauty with modern comfort in the interior and exterior of every custom home design.
CAREFUL CONSIDERATIONS
With many different styles available in the current age, choosing the look of your external facade can be challenging, however, as Brown expertly states, “the external surroundings of a home, such as landscape, climate and neighbouring buildings play a significant role in shaping both interior and exterior design.” Homes that are designed without taking these environmental factors into account, create an unbalanced feel and style of the home.
To achieve ultimate cohesion, the natural environment of the home’s location should be one of the first things to consider and incorporated into the design process. “Orientation of windows and rooms should be decided to capture beautiful scenic views or sunlight,” Brown notes. This goes hand in hand with considering climate adaptation. “Exterior materials and landscaping should be chosen to suit the local climate, influencing interior comfort and energy efficiency,” Brown explains.
“Considerations of privacy from neighbouring homes and noise levels can also impact layout and material choices.”
There are some simple factors to consider when creating a natural harmony between a home and its surroundings, including materials, colours, landscaping, scale and proportion. Choosing materials and colours for your home can be hard, especially with ever changing trends, but you can’t go wrong choosing based on what is cohesive with your home’s environment. “Incorporating native plants and integrating outdoor spaces seamlessly with indoor areas make a blissful harmony,” Brown explains, adding “Ensuring the size and proportions of your house fit well with the surrounding landscape is crucial for everlasting cohesion.”
STYLE GUIDE
It can be difficult to decide on stylistic choices that will be a part of your home, especially knowing how it’ll all look together. Here, Brown offers a few expert tips and recommendations on deciding which exterior and interior styles to opt for.
When building a house in the countryside, blend the exterior with natural surroundings using stone, wood or brick. Consider a farmhouse or cottage style with pitched roofs. For the interior consider embracing a cozy, rustic aesthetic with warm colours. “Large, strategically placed windows invite the natural beauty of the surroundings into your home, creating an atmosphere of connection with nature. Imagine waking up to the soft glow of the morning sun or enjoying a cup of coffee while gazing out at a landscape that changes with the seasons,” Brown notes.
Hamptons style homes, or something similar, are becoming exceedingly popular and make a seamless choice for a house on the coast. “Light and airy designs with large windows maximise views and feel effortlessly elegant. Small touches of beach inspired decor and natural textures like light wood look gorgeous with a coastal home. Weather-resistant materials in colours that complement the sea and sky serve both functionality and aesthetic purposes,” Brown details.
Homes in suburbia environments are guaranteed to look seamless in a modern or traditional style that complements neighbouring houses. Neutral colours and clean lines are always a safe choice for a sleek, stunning exterior. “Interior-wise focus on practicality and comfort with open floor plans and flexible spaces, furnished with personal touches and contemporary pieces,” Brown concludes.
HOW TO HARMONISE
Designing a home that feels at one with its environment can be challenging, as it involves navigating a range of factors from climate to style. Many common mistakes and misconceptions can disrupt this harmony, leading to inefficiencies and aesthetic conflicts. “Using materials or designs that don’t suit the local climate, leads to inefficiency and discomfort,” Brown states.
Not optimising views or natural light opportunities can affect the home’s aesthetics, overall mood and functionality. “Believing that environmentally friendly choices are always more expensive and thinking that sustainability or practicality means sacrificing style or comfort are some common misconceptions when building a home in harmony,” Brown stresses. “When designing a house to suit the external environment, do research the local regulations, climate and landscape. Ensure to integrate both indoor and outdoor spaces, along with considering harmony between colours and materials. Avoid overwhelming the natural beauty of your home’s surroundings and ignoring the context of
your neighbourhood,” Brown explains.
Cavalier Homes understands that your home speaks volumes about your style and personality. The team is dedicated to helping you design the perfect home that reflects your individuality while also complementing the surrounding environment to ensure a home that you will love forever.
