Sometimes the perfect block already has a home on it. However, with knockdown and rebuild, you are able to create your dream home, right on this very block. There are general assumptions made about this approach, but it can actually be a more cost-effective way to getting the home you want when you compare it to renovating or purchasing an established home altogether. Below are some of the benefits of knockdown and rebuild (KDRB).

For years the kitchen has been rated the most important room in the home as it is typically somewhere that you spend a lot of time – either preparing food, acting as a gathering point for a family to reflect and debrief on the day just been, or as an entertaining space when you have friends and family over. Because of this, a significant amount of time and effort is always put into layout and functionality when it comes to the kitchen in a new home design and a lot of thought goes into decisions regarding the interiors and aesthetics of this room. Crawling up the stakes in popularity in recent times however is the bathroom. So where do you stand? Does kitchen reign king or do you think the bathroom is the new ruler?

According to the latest Reece Bathrooms Industry Trends Report, 38% of respondents rated the kitchen as the room that had the most influence in the overall appeal of a home in 2021 (vs 45% in 2019). This is compared to the bathroom that received 24% of votes from respondents (vs 18% in 2019) beating off the lounge room, master bedroom and alfresco area to come in second most important.

It’s 2022 and with the transition to flexible working from home arrangements increasing, people are looking towards more sustainable practices in their lives to reduce energy consumption.  The adoption of solar and other environmentally conscious practices is growing and builders are turning to more sustainable building materials and practices.

Achieving effective cross ventilation in your home as a method to naturally cool a space without relying on artificial cooling methods, while not a new trend, is another practice that can be adopted for a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. At Kalka, we carefully consider cross ventilation when designing all of our homes - after all, our designs are inspired by Queensland’s enviable climate and designed for living. Being Queensland born and bred, we understand the importance of cross ventilation and the ongoing benefits of this technique. These include a reduction in energy consumption and subsequent costs, resulting in a more sustainable approach to get us through the warmer summer months.

On a subdivided parcel of land in the leafy suburb of Chelmer, we designed and built a Custom Kalka home that not only reflects the traditional character of the suburb but has a true Queensland feel.

Designing a home in a well-established Brisbane suburb like Chelmer meant that we had to ensure the design of the façade met the character requirements of the area, where the surrounding properties typically encompass the traditional Queensland style of home. This style was brought through to the interiors of this home, paying tribute to the Queenslander aesthetic whilst adding a modern fusion of the Coastal and Hamptons styles to create a truly stunning home. We have pulled together five features in this home that we just love. 

The dawn of a new year introduces an array of new home trends that we expect to see over the following 12 months. The Interior Designers here at Kalka have a keen eye for detail and always keep a finger on the pulse of the latest trends that can turn a house into a home that oozes with aesthetically pleasing features. We have collated the Top 5 trends that will be filling your Instagram feeds and Pinterest boards, and subsequently, become must-haves in your home in 2022.

Trend One: Curved Kitchen Islands

Incorporating curves throughout the home has been a growing trend over the past few years and is one to continue to watch. They are a great way to soften a space and double as an artistic feature in the home. Choosing to build a curved island bench in your home is an incredible way to carry this theme through to your kitchen and living areas and add an architectural element to this space. We definitely think we will be seeing more of these in 2022.

Simon approached Kalka to build a new home after subdividing his New Farm property in Brisbane. Initially seeking a builder that had experience building on small and narrow lots, included high-end finishes, and offered the ability to customise, Simon was introduced to Kalka through a work colleague.

Looking for a house design to fit the short depth of his narrow lot, Simon settled on our Tully 250 and worked with our team to customise this design to achieve his intended outcomes of the build. We recently sat down with Simon to hear about his experience building with Kalka.