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Alfresco Ideas: our guide to designing a year-round outdoor area

What’s an Aussie home without a generous backyard to play, unwind and enjoy all year round?

Alfresco spaces have become a staple of Aussie home designs as we make the most of our world-renowned weather. However, it can be challenging to perfect this home feature and create a space that’s maintainable, functional and adaptable with the rest of your home. 

Fortunately, G.J. Gardner Homes’ team of design experts and their decades of experience have discovered the keys to making your alfresco space sing. Here’s our guide to alfresco ideas and how to design your best outdoor space.


Benefits of alfresco spaces

Australians have reported spending more time outdoors in adulthood than in childhood, as post-pandemic life has forced many of us to crave time in the great outdoors. By adding an alfresco space to your home design, you reap the many benefits of spending time outdoors and increasing the size of your floor plan.

Summer entertaining

Once the warmer months arrive, it’s the perfect time to have friends and family over for summer dinner parties and BBQs. With alfresco spaces, you have the opportunity to convert your backyard into an additional dining and living area that’s perfect for guests. Alfresco dining spaces let you avoid overcrowding in your kitchen and dining area whilst you fight the summer heat. Enjoy the weather, the luxury of space and the great company, all still within your own home. 

Stronger health

It’s no secret that outdoor time can greatly boost your physical and mental health. By incorporating alfresco spaces into your home design, you increase your opportunities to unwind in the elements. Time outside can lower your stress level, tame your blood pressure and calm your heart rate. Sunlight and fresh air serve to help your mental health as well. Alfresco spaces let you take advantage of this well-being win and create a home that’s not just good but good for you. 

Space aplenty

With an alfresco, you’re adding an extra living area to your floor plan. Shrewd design lets these outdoor areas become assets to your home and some of the most used spaces. By making use of your home’s backyard, you can add an extra kitchen, dining room and kid’s zone to the floor plan. This additional space offers your family more room to come together or enjoy time alone. 

Where to start

When it comes to designing your alfresco space, it can be hard to know where to start. We recommend reflecting on your lifestyle, your budget and your time for maintenance. 

These factors can help you find what alfresco ideas will be realistic for your lifestyle, so you can be sure to design the perfect space for you. 

Alfresco Ideas

With so many options, styles and features available, our team has plenty of alfresco ideas to help you find one that’ll work for you and your future home.

Compact comfort 

Just because you’re low on space doesn’t mean you can’t convert your small backyard into a luxury alfresco. Through shrewd planning, landscaping and design, a petite backyard lets you enjoy an alfresco without the major upkeep and investment.

Entertaining enthusiasts

Make entertaining even easier and bring the kitchen outdoors. Whether hosting dinner parties or just your nightly family dinners, an outdoor kitchen elevates your home. 

Flowing flooring 

The flooring of your alfresco is a great way to add personality and flair to this space. From stone and tiling to timber, you can extend your interior flooring out to allow for a more cohesive space overall, so the inside flows to the outside. Or, make your alfresco area feel fully its own with fresh choices. 

Covered up

Keep your alfresco area covered so you can enjoy the outside, no matter the weather. By adding or extending your awning out, your alfresco area won’t be impacted by harsh sunlight or storms and can truly be utilised day in and out. 

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Dinner by the water

A pool in your backyard is the ultimate summer luxury, making your own home feel like a resort. Whether you’re keeping your outdoor area compact or going big, you can customise your home design so you don’t lose your outdoor area to the pool and actually have the space to truly enjoy it.


How to design your dream alfresco
If you’re looking for alfresco ideas when customising your G.J. Gardner Homes project, reach out to our friendly team for advice and insight. Building thousands of homes a year, G.J. Gardner Homes is experienced in designing and building for the Australian climate and know how to make the most out of the outdoors.

Pantry Ideas

Every detail of the kitchen is an opportunity to boost your home’s livability. Something as simple as a pantry decides not just how our kitchen looks but how it feels and functions.  

G.J. Gardner Homes’ kitchen designs offer plenty of pantry ideas that can be easily customised to your design preferences. Explore our top 6 favourite pantry ideas for some food for thought. 

6 Pantry Ideas for 2023 Kitchens

Walk-In Pantry

The walk-in pantry design is the ideal solution for home builders who thrive from an out of sight, out of mind approach. By converting the humble pantry into its own cupboard, the walk-in style provides ample dedicated storage space. 

With your food confined to its own space, you can keep it away from light, temperatures and moisture. Enjoy all the space you need for kitchen storage, and enjoy the comfort of keeping your foods organised in an easy and accessible way.

Butler’s Pantry

An import from American homes, the butler’s pantry is essential for luxury kitchen design. This pantry idea functions like an extension of your kitchen, providing an additional space that’s private from the kitchen’s main area. 

You can conveniently hide away appliances and utilities to keep your kitchen looking clean and uncluttered. Given the popularity of open plan living areas, the butler’s pantry has only grown in popularity. With kitchens performing as the centrepiece of your home, this style lets you hide all sins and store a kitchen’s functional features in its own dedicated space.

Corner Pantry

When it comes to kitchen designs, effective and clever design choices leave no space left unused. Corner pantries are the ultimate design hack, helping you to maximise space and navigate an awkward room layout. 

A corner pantry offers you a taste of walk-in pantries conveniences without the space and commitment. With intuitive shelving and storage styles, a corner pantry avoids excess cabinetry and lets you keep your food storage in one spot. 

Small Pantry

Cabinetry hacks let your kitchen keep its utility without taking up too much space. Small pantry ideas rely on innovative design choices, such as draws, pull out systems and storage solutions that hide your pantry within the general kitchen layout. 

By seamlessly building your pantry into the main cabinetry, your kitchen can stay balanced and sleek. Ideal for small homes or small kitchens, this style relies on efficient use of space so your kitchen can function and look its best.

Storage Ideas: getting the most out of your pantry

Once you’ve landed on the right pantry idea for your home, the design process doesn’t stop there. Through our decades of home building, we’re well-versed in creating the perfect kitchen, and how you decide to organise your kitchen cabinetry has the power to make or break your design. 

Our G.J. Gardner Homes designers have developed the effective shelving, drawers and rack configurations to enhance your pantry.  

Get in touch with our team today.

Our team of G.J. Gardner Homes designers are here to help you navigate the exciting time that is designing your future home. Reach out to our team to learn more about G.J. Gardner Homes’ design packages and customising process. 

The Ultimate Luxury of Theatre Rooms

Nothing competes with the comfort and relaxation of unwinding in front of the TV, and in the age of streaming, this has only become even more common. In fact, Australians are more likely to watch from home than the cinema today due to the endless convenience, entertainment and flexibility of our home TVs.  

As our screen times increase, the role of our living room spaces has majorly changed as well. Theatre rooms keep up with our changing watching habits, offering the best of both worlds. You get to relish in the comfort and convenience of home as well as the fun and experience of the cinema all in one place. 

Whether you’re a movie buff or just love your nightly shows, a theatre room is a great addition to your home. 

What is a theatre room?

A theatre room is a type of living room solely dedicated to watching. With open plan homes now the new normal, theatre rooms let you enjoy a space that’s only about comfort and unwinding. Instead of sharing with the kitchen and dining, a theatre room is secluded to its own space. 

Most of our G.J. Gardner Homes have been designed with additional living spaces or family zones to avoid overcrowding. These spaces are the perfect destination for theatre rooms and lets your home stay attune to your daily life and routines. 

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Is a theatre room worth the investment?

The investment in a theatre room will depend on your lifestyle. With G.J. Gardner Homes’ totally customisable home designs, we encourage our homebuyers to make their home be a reflection of them. Whether that’s an expansion to the alfresco or generous office space, we work together to craft the perfect home for you. 

For cinephiles, a theatre room is a great use of any extra room, only requiring a television, sound system and seating. The final figure will depend on whatever brands you use to stock your at-home cinema with. It’s estimated that a theatre room can cost upwards of $500 and at most $10,000. 

If a theatre room is the perfect fit for you and your family’s lifestyle, you can find a total cost that’ll work with your budget so you can reap all its benefits. 

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Why add a theatre room to your home?

There’s a few major benefits that come with building a theatre room into your home. This room may seem like the ultimate luxury, but it comes with plenty of practical benefits. 

  1. Privacy: With an at-home theatre room, you can watch movies and TV shows without interruption or distractions. No longer is the TV shared with your kitchen or dining room, so you get complete control over your viewing experience.
  2. Quality: A dedicated theatre room can be designed and equipped with high-quality audio and visual equipment for an immersive and quality viewing experience.
  3. Cost saving: Over time, save money on movie tickets and have a cinema experience where you can watch whatever you want, whenever you want, all within your own home. 
  4. Entertainment: Entertain guests and host movie nights or sporting events from your at-home theatre room. With a space like this, you maximise opportunities for fun and relaxation together. 

Get in touch

Does your future dream home include the ultimate luxury of a theatre room? Our G.J. Gardner Homes design team are here to seamlessly and sleekly add it to your home and find the ideal style. Contact our friendly team today to start your design journey. 

Study Nook Ideas

With work-from-home becoming our new normal, the humble study nook has transformed from an accessory to an essential. Whether answering a zoom or finishing off homework, we’re all spending increasing amounts of time in our home work spaces. 

To meet these new changes, our G.J. Gardner Homes designers refreshed our approach to study nook ideas. Ideal for modern families, study nooks let you take full advantage of your space and keep your home connected. 

Our Top 5 Favourite Study Nook Ideas 

  1. Keep it hidden

Through discrete cabinetry, you can build your study nook into storage systems, so it’s completely hidden from the naked eye. Keep your study nook camouflaged until it’s needed within living rooms or spare bedrooms through features like sliding doors. This study nook idea lets you keep the area compacted and easy to pack up when not being used. 

  1. Under the stairs

Under the stairs has long been an under-utilised space in our homes. Channel Harry Potter and make use of this space by converting it into a study nook. Through simple design choices, the under the stairs area provides an ideal space for a generous desk with ample wall storage. 

  1. Fully integrated

This study nook idea makes sure it’s seamlessly integrated into your existing space. By incorporating the study nook into a shelving unit, you can make use of vertical space and create a functional study area without taking up valuable floor space.

By building it within the existing unit, you create a cohesive look and feel in the room that avoids separate and standalone workspaces. Once established, this style can be easily adapted to accommodate any lifestyle changes. 

  1. In the kitchen

Situating your study nook in the kitchen offers you the ultimate convenience of having this work space in the centrepiece of your home. 

For modern families, a kitchen study nook is perfect for school nights, letting the kids finish off their homework whilst you finish off dinner. On other days, it’s the perfect flex space for any work you need to complete. 

  1. Corner study nook

With a study nook kept in the corner,  you can convert unused spaces into a home essential. A corner desk provides plenty of space, and is perfect to pair with a set of corner shelves for ample storage. With effective design, you can enjoy a deep desk with plenty of leg space. 

The corner study nook makes a great addition to your communal spaces like kitchens or living rooms. This location lets you conveniently make use of the desk when needed with minimal disruption to your space. Add a study nook to almost any room with the corner design.

Get in Touch

Our team of expert designers is committed to keeping up with the lifestyles of modern families. To learn more about these exciting G.J. Gardner Homes details aimed at streamlining living, get in touch with your local office today. 

Home Loan Pre-Approval: What Lenders Are Looking For

Buying a home is one of life’s most exciting and anxious times and for most, it’s a once in a lifetime experience.

As experts in homes, G.J. Gardner Homes knows how essential it is to have a clear understanding of all the relevant jargon to make informed decisions whilst on this journey.  We’re here to help dispel any misconceptions and keep you knowledgeable so you can streamline your buying. 

When securing a mortgage, home loan pre-approval is a common stage you’re likely to go through. Just as the name would suggest, pre-approval involves the bank pre-approving you to borrow a certain amount of money. With this peace of mind, you’re able to act faster and make offers sooner. 

In a market as volatile as todays, pre-approval gives you a major advantage over your fellow home buyers and could be essential to securing your dream home or land. But how do you secure it?

Home loan pre-approval is calculated by lenders looking at your financial documentation, assets and finances.

What is a home loan pre-approval?

When buying a home, setting a budget is crucial to keep you on track and aware of what’s realistic for you and your financial circumstances. Whilst initial viewings and research is always important, meeting with your bank gives you an understanding of what’s actually in your reach. 

In these stages, your bank lender will indicate your borrowing capacity by reviewing your financial documentation, assets and finances. From there, your lender will provide you the amount they’re able to lend. The home loan pre-approval process essentially kick offs the admin involved with a mortgage, as your bank performs the relevant background checks and reviews and determines your borrowing power.

How to get pre approval for home loan 

Each bank will of course, have their own mortgage process depending on their approach and your financial position. However, across the board, any one inquiring for a home loan pre approval will need to provide certain documents as required by law. 

What documents are needed for home loan pre approval

  • Personal identification documents (e.g. birth certificate, passport, Australian driver licence) 
  • Proof of income (e.g. payslips, tax returns) 
  • Information about any debts you have (e.g. loans, credit cards, HECS-HELP debt)
  •  Proof of funds and savings
  • Credit card information
  • Bank account statements for the past few months 
  • Information about your monthly living expenses (e.g. how much you spend on groceries, bills, school fees etc.) 
  • Asset information (e.g. vehicles, investments, superannuation) 

With this initial documentation, your bank goes through their approval process to see if you’re the right lending candidate. 

Of course, the right candidate will depend on multiple factors and lenders tend to look for key metrics to confirm that you’re the right person. Banks take great risks by lending, and they need to confirm you’re a favourable borrower who can make the mortgage payments. 

What are lenders looking for when approving a mortgage

Across the board, there’s a few main factors your lender will consider when determining if you’re right for a pre-approval.

  1. Income: how much  money you earn indicates your ability to pay a mortgage. Whilst higher incomes are usually more successful, how money is managed will also contribute to your pre-approval success.
  2. Employment history: your job security as well as job consistency will all inform whether you appear to be a safe borrowing candidate. An unstable job or industry coupled with a low income or poor spending habits isn’t desired.
  3. Savings and deposit: your overall financial stability will determine the amount of deposit you can commit. With a bigger deposit saved, you’re likely to have more borrowing power.
  4. Spending habits: your lender is looking for a responsible borrower and by reviewing bank statements, they will gain an understanding of where your money goes and whether you’re a responsible spender.
  5. Liabilities: any current debts such as HECS or HELP will all influence your experience gaining pre-approval.

If you’re looking to buy a home, all these factors should be considered before you meet with lenders to ensure everything is in order. Overall, lenders are looking for a responsible candidate who they think is safe to lend too. Proven signs of saving, financial literacy and safe spending indicate to the bank that you can pay a mortgage long term and are a worthy investment.

What to do if you’re denied home loan pre-approval?

Despite our best efforts, home loans do get rejected and pre-approval is denied. These cases represent around 14% of home loan applications so it’s not completely uncommon.  

If your loan application has been rejected, the bank’s feedback offers you an opportunity to stabilise your finances so you can one day apply again. 

It’s important to also keep in mind that pre-approval is not a finalised mortgage and your loan application can still be rejected. Whether it’s due to personal changes or changes to the lender’s criteria, a home loan pre-approval doesn’t confirm a successful loan application. 

Get in Touch

If you’re just starting your home buying journey, G.J. Gardner Homes’ friendly team will happily take you through financing options available. With decades of experience, we’re ready to help you navigate this process. Learn more about the cost to build now.

Building on a Sloping Block

Most home buyers can attest that finding the right plot of land to meet your ideal location, size, and price is a difficult process. So what do you do if your perfect plot ends up being on a slope?

At G.J. Gardner Homes, our team of expert designers and builders are well-versed in any worksite. With our fully customisable home design, we can work together to easily adapt your home to any location.

When building on a sloping block, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your home is ready to function at its best. We want you to reap all the exciting benefits that come with a sloping block home and are here to help you navigate this more unique building approach.

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Types of Sloping Blocks

Sloping blocks come in many shapes and sizes, and it’s the direction of the slope that will determine how we go about building.

There are four types of sloping blocks:

  • Sloping up: the low point being at the road or front entry
  • Sloping down: the high point being at the road or front entry
  • Cross fall: the slope across the block
  • Cross fall and sloping: a combination of the above

Beyond these four categories, other factors also impact slope block building.

What impacts building on sloping blocks?

  • The degree of the slope. In most instances, blocks with an incline over 18 degrees come with their own unique set of challenges.
  • The type of land. This factor will likely differ from state to state, but the soil type and terrain will affect construction. The initial sloping analysis will help our builders understand ground conditions as rock, sand, and foliage need different building approaches.
  • The access to the block. These more one-of-a-kind blocks always come with their one-of-a-kind challenges. To build on sloping blocks, our builders need to establish access to the site and work around the unique conditions. This access will affect the pace and processes of building.

Is building on a sloping block more expensive?

A sloping block home build requires more careful planning and specific processes which will cost homebuilders more. The cost and construction depend on the angle of the slope. Our team of expert designers works with the sloping angle to minimise any unnecessary earthwork. This attention to detail will help save a good chunk of your home budget and lets our builders work with the land rather than against it.

The general rule when it comes to slope blocks is that the steeper the angle, the steeper the price will be. Unfortunately, the steeper the angle, whether up, down or sideways, the more times our builders will need to step up the home to maintain levelling. And every step in a home will add more cost.

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The Benefits of a Sloping Block

Although sloping blocks will increase costs, they will increase the benefits of your home – making them such a sought-after design on the market.

The benefits of a sloping block include:

  • Views are the main driving factor behind sloping blocks, as the design style and location lets you fully appreciate your local views. When paired with large windows and effective design, a sloping home often only feels more luxe and large.
  • Natural light can be better enjoyed on a sloping block through home orientation. Not only does this offer you all the joys of a light-flooded home, but it also lets you enjoy passive heating and cooling for a more sustainable home.
  • Design opportunities are ample when it comes to homes on sloping blocks. Due to the incline, our designers have more freedom to use space in more bold and exciting ways.

The G.J. Way

As homebuilders committed to sustainability, our approach to building on a sloping block is focused on always working with the land to achieve your dream home.

Our team of designers look at the solar orientation and the angle and direction of the land’s fall in the initial planning stages to ensure your home is optimised for this unique block.

With over 300 home designs to choose from, we work alongside you to find the right home configuration, number of levels and size for your land and lifestyle.

Get in touch

Whether you’re just starting your home-building journey or have already found your ideal block, G.J. Gardner Homes is here to make your dream home a reality. With decades of experience and offices across the country, our designers are well-equipped to take on any block styles and conditions.

Butler’s Pantry vs. Walk-In Pantry

Pantry designs have soared in popularity over the last few years as home wellness trends thrive post-pandemic. G.J Gardner Homes has embraced this movement of home wellness as we continue to design homes which are not just a joy to look at, but a joy to live in. In a utility space like the kitchen, we know firsthand that considered and ingenious design choices at every turn will boost your daily life. And a feature like the pantry is no exception.  

With homes opting for generously sized dual kitchen and living areas, a luxury pantry guarantees a more functional and refined space. Butler’s pantries and walk-in pantries currently lead as the most common styles Australians tend to incorporate into their kitchen design. Whilst both offer ample storage and their own dedicated space, it can be hard to find which one will be right for your kitchen and lifestyle.  

We’ve broken down these two approaches to pantry design to help you decide the right path for you when it comes to designing your kitchen. This once humble kitchen cupboard can be modernised and reimagined to transform how you cook, store food and entertain guests. Discover these pantry designs which will help you achieve a high-performing kitchen now.  

Finding your right pantry design  

Most prospective home buyers have a clear vision of their dream home, but the utility spaces don’t tend to receive as much thought. The pantry may seem like an unexciting home feature, but our premier designs can make it into one of your home’s most efficient spaces.  

What is a kitchen pantry 

As a refresh, the kitchen pantry is an additional and designated space for non-perishable food items. This tends to include canned goods, dry goods, spices, condiments, and snacks. By keeping these items in a pantry, you provide the right environment to keep your food from expiring, take stock of your food and avoid kitchen clutter.   

In its essence, your kitchen pantry serves two main functions. It gives you the space you need to store food in your kitchen, and a space with controlled temperature and light to keep that food from spoiling. Without a designated pantry space, your kitchen can easily become disorganised and it can be difficult to keep track of your food stock. 

Whether you’re a veteran home cook or dabble as you need, Australians spend, on average, an hour cooking in our kitchens every day. This means how your kitchen functions and is organised can determine a major portion of your daily life.  So, whilst pantry design may not be the most exciting feature of home planning, this space directly affects this core part of our daily routines. Both the butler’s pantry and the walk-in pantry are pantry efficacy at its best; widely loved for their effect on kitchen liveability.  

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The butler’s pantry 

As the name hints, this pantry style was originally invented for a different era. When it was first introduced, the butler’s pantry was a designated space off the kitchen, usually connected to the dining room, where butlers and household help would store and prepare food before serving it in the dining room. Whilst the tradition of in-house help has definitely declined, this design feature has stayed.  

What is a butler’s pantry 

Today and in the context of the current open plan design trend, a butler’s pantry offers a multi-use, out of sight space that can hide excess clutter, dirty plates and appliances. Although we don’t tend to have separate kitchens and dining rooms anymore, a butler’s pantry will still just extend off from your kitchen as either its own room, or just a designated space that’s hidden behind cabinetry.  

What are the benefits of a butler’s pantry 

A butler’s pantry is a luxury amenity, that offers plenty of great benefits that are bound to enhance your kitchen’s functionality, space and feel. A few include: 

  • Additional storage: A butler’s pantry provides additional storage space for dishes, glassware, and other serving pieces, as well as non-perishable foods. This frees up space in the kitchen for a better flow and feel.  
  • Meal preparation: This extra space offers a separate area for meal preparation for overspill from nightly family dinners and prep space for dinner parties. This helps clean your kitchen to reduce the mess, create more order and makes mealtime a breeze. 
  • Privacy: With this pantry style, homeowners can experience extra kitchen space that’s designed to be concealed behind doors or hidden from view. Due to open-plan living being so common in today’s homes, a butler’s pantry helps to reduce visual clutter in this central hub of the home. 
  • Luxury feature: Add value to the property with this spacious and convenient pantry style. A butler’s pantry elevates your home’s experience for you and its future. It’s an investment that’ll pay off when it’s time to sell.  

The Walk-In Pantry 

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This style offers the perfect middle ground between your typical pantry cabinet and a butler’s pantry. When walk-in pantries first entered the modern home, they were actually a signifier of wealth as homeowners could display their food stock and almost recreate a grocery aisle in their very own home. For today’s busier pace of life, a walk-in pantry is an amenity to keep your food organised and lets you have the space to conveniently stock up on the food you need.  

Our home buyers are afforded plenty of customisation possibilities with this style as you decide its size and layout. 

What is a walk-in pantry 

Walk-in pantries operate as names would suggest, it’s a pantry unit space that you can walk into. They can range from a generously sized cupboard to a small room.  

Our walk-in pantry designs feature storage features such as pull-out drawers, wire baskets, and adjustable shelving to maximize space and keep the pantry ordered. By being about to walk-into the space, you have better visibility of your food supply and the space to create your own organisational systems.  

What are the benefits of a walk-in pantry 

Walk-in pantries are definitely the more popular pantry style as they offer great advantages, without the investment and overhead of a butler’s pantry. Some of these great benefits include: 

  • Bulk storage: The larger size of a walk-in pantry makes it ideal for storing bulk items, such as canned goods, paper products, and cleaning supplies. This can help to reduce the need for frequent trips to the grocery store and save money on groceries. 
  • Convenience: A walk-in pantry provides a convenient space for storing and organising food items, making it easy to find what you need when you need it. You also have the space to stock up on your favourite non-perishables to minimise grocery runs.  
  • Customisable: The size of your walk-in pantry can be customised for the room your have available to work in. A walk-in pantry can vary from just a more sizable cupboard space to its own room, letting you find the right size for your kitchen.  
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What’s the difference between a butler’s pantry and walk-in pantry 

Both of these design styles afford a luxury kitchen experience, elevating a typically boring utility feature to amenity status. Ultimately, a walk-in pantry’s features can be found in a butler’s pantry but that doesn’t mean each style is interchangeable.  

Here are the main points of difference between a butler’s pantry and a walk-in pantry. 

  1. Butler’s Pantry is multi-use: Location: A butler’s pantry is usually located between the kitchen and the dining room, whereas a walk-in pantry is located within or adjacent to the kitchen. A butler’s pantry typically includes a sink, counter space, and sometimes a refrigerator or wine cooler, while a walk-in pantry typically has shelves, cabinets, and drawers for storage, as well as space for larger items like appliances and bulk food storage. 
  1. Costs involved: due to this wide array of features, butler’s pantries tend to cost more than your walk-in pantry. Most butler’s pantries include worktops, additional appliances, and even wet areas. The installation of these elements makes the butler’s pantry a greater investment.  
  1. Location: A butler’s pantry is usually located between the kitchen and the dining room, whereas a walk-in pantry is located within or adjacent to the kitchen. 

Hamptons Style Flooring

Hamptons style has long been embraced by Australian home design trends; despite being sourced from a coastal community all the way on America’s East Coast. With its relaxed look and emphasis on natural materials and open spaces, it’s no surprise that the Hamptons style has found a second home with Australian families.  

Building the perfect Hamptons-style home takes attention to detail for every element of the home from the façade to the flooring. As your home’s foundation, flooring has a powerful effect on your home’s overall cohesion and feel. By opting for Hamptons-style flooring in your home design, you can incorporate the core colours, materials and textures of Hamptons design from the ground up. With G.J. Gardner Homes’ wide range of home designs and customisation options, you can achieve the perfect Hamptons-style flooring for your home, no matter your layout, budget or preference.  

What is Hamptons Style 

The Hamptons style has taken the world by storm, staying one of our most popular home design styles for multiple years. What keeps Hamptons style trending is its classic home feature, which can be effortlessly adapted and adopted by all lifestyles.  

The elements of Hamptons design aim to create a warm and inviting atmosphere that’s perfect for entertaining, relaxing, and enjoying the simple pleasures of life. These include white, bright and neutral colours, open and airy spaces and the use of natural materials to keep a connection to nature throughout the home. Learn more about Hampton style homes here.  

Hamptons Style Flooring Types 

In Hamptons homes, the flooring is an opportunity to add warmth and texture to the home without affecting the timeless and airy feel. In living areas, Hamptons homes incorporate light-coloured options to achieve that relaxing and peaceful feel it’s famous for. However, in utility spaces, the Hamptons home design style proves its functionality. With tones like grey, navy and blue being the home design’s most popular accent colour, these spaces are a great opportunity to create depth and interest through the use of classic patterned tiles or unique stone textures.  

Here isour most popular G.J. Gardner Home Hamptons style flooring looks.  

Hamptons Style Hardwood Flooring 

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Hardwood flooring throughout your home always creates a luxe look, and paired with other Hamptons design trends, it creates a truly stunning space. With hardwood flooring, you add an element of nature to your home through the floor. The most popular hardwood types for a Hamptons home includes white oak, hickory, and maple in a wide plank style, which is finished with a white or grey wash or stain to keep that light, airy feel. Through this Hamptons flooring style, you can add texture and depth to the space in a subtle and seamless way depending on how the hardwood is laid. A herringbone pattern throughout creates a barely-there movement in the space and lets the unique tones of the wood be showcased. Hardwood is also a famously durable flooring option, as it stays naturally resistant to scratches and dents and can be sanded and refinished as your home ages. Although a major investment, hardwood floors make for a timeless home that will only enhance your Hamptons style and can even complement any new look as well.  

Hamptons Style Vinyl Flooring 

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Thanks to today’s construction innovation, vinyl flooring lets you achieve the look of hardwood floors without the price tag. Vinyl flooring mimics the unique texture, look and colour of hardwood through a vinyl material instead. G.J. Gardner Homes’ vinyl flooring options perfectly capture the Hamptons look, with light toned wood looks that will bring texture and dimension to any space. Just like hardwood, vinyl is highly resistant and durable to all of life’s chaos. In fact, the synthetic material makes it easier to clean and more comfortable to stand on. Hamptons style vinyl flooring offers you the natural look of hardwood that’s more economical, with more versatile ways to install and customise.  

Hamptons Style Tile Flooring 

Hamptons style tiles embrace the coastal theme of this design style. Tiles are an iconic part of the Hamptons style and were originally embraced for their functionality. As many of us can attest, tiles are ideal for sandy feet and beachside living. Best suited to laundries, kitchens and bathrooms, Hamptons style tiles tend to stay a neutral colour or incorporate those deeper accent colours like navy or grey. The tiles themselves can create interesting patterns like herringbone or feature a unique and ornamental design. As a flooring material that’s famously durable, tiles are great for families as they’re resistant to water damage and stains. Hamptons style tiles are a practical flooring option, that lets you incorporate the design’s colour palette and bright look. 

Hamptons Style Stone Flooring 

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Stone flooring is widely known to create a refined and elegant look, due to its always one-of-a-kind appearance. With Hamptons style homes, stone flooring is a popular way to keep that connection to nature. Stones like marble, limestone, or travertine offer your space a subtle texture in a range of light and neutral colours. From your living space to areas like bathrooms and laundries, stone flooring emulates the core ideas of Hamptons design by providing a luxury look that lasts. This flooring type is known to be long-lasting and provides the perfect durable foundation that can withstand spins, scratches and stains. In a Hamptons-inspired home, stone flooring provides a great flooring solution that will add value and beauty to your home for years to come 

Hamptons Style Carpet Flooring 

Whilst Hamptons homes are famous for the hard flooring options, there’s still the opportunity to integrate this design style through carpet. Light-toned carpets in creams, white or natural weaves create an airy and bright space, whilst the soft texture creates warmth and comfort. Carpet flooring is the perfect option for a Hamptons home’s bedrooms and keeps these personal spaces comfortable and cosy through the famed Hamptons colour palette. G.J. Gardner Homes boasts a wide range of carpet styles so you can find an option that’s in your budget and Hamptons home look.  

How to choose the right flooring for your Hamptons style home 

Hampton’s home design style is so popular due to its adaptability and can be easily achieved no matter your budget or preference. Get in touch with our G.J. Gardner Homes design experts today to learn more about our range of Hamptons style flooring options, and which one will be right for your home.   

American-Style Homes

From pop culture to politics and even ways of life, America has remained the epicentre of trendsetting for generations. It’s no surprise then that American home design is a leading force behind Australia’s favourite home trends. Whilst our climates, landscapes and cultures may differ, America’s design approaches still manage to find a home down under.  

American-style homes tend to be a unique fusion of historical, climate and cultural factors, which have gone on to create some of home buildings’ most sought after styles. Famed for their oversized floor plans, unique aesthetics and amenities aplenty, American-style homes often embody the luxury we’re all aiming to capture in our homes.  

If you’re searching for home inspiration, a trip over the Pacific may be all you need to find your future home’s vision. Here are G.J. Gardner Homes’ top 5 favourite American home styles we’ve drawn on in our own designs.  

Hamptons style home

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Hamptons style homes are one of the most popular design approaches of today. Defined by an elevated take on the coastal look with features like white, bright and airy spaces, clean lines and rustic details, this style has effortlessly won the heart of Australia’s beach-loving culture.  

Although originating on the East Coast of America in a small New York community, Hamptons style homes are so adored for their classic look. Through white spaces, restrained use of colour and natural materials as well as a weatherboard exterior, Hamptons style offers refined and timeless home features.  

Moreover, with so much of the Australian population already living in beach-side locations, this home style works on a practical level as well, with its features easily managing warm temperatures, salty atmospheres and humidity. Hamptons style homes provide a refined update to the Aussie coastal aesthetic, adding more sophisticated details which make it an ideal home design from inner-city to suburbia. 

Ranch style homes 

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First appearing throughout the farmlands of California, this home style has since gained notoriety across America and beyond. The Ranch home style is defined by a single-story, low-profile home with a sprawling floor plan. As one of the first modern home styles to incorporate open-plan living in its design, Ranch-style homes embrace space, known for having plenty of windows to bring the outdoor climate indoors.  

In its time, this design approach was due to the low cost of building single storey homes with few walls, but today, the Ranch style continues to dominate design trends for its practicality, spacious feel and family orientated features. The Ranch design allows for easy flow between spaces as its favourite features have always been inspired by functionality first.  

Just like California, Australia boasts plenty of space for homeowners to build on and relish the natural world. Our acreage style homes have taken inspiration from the classic Ranch features to create flowing and open homes that celebrate the luxury of space. This style has gained popularity with Australians for its livability as the perfect home for big families. 

French colonial 

This home style is the by-product of French sensibility and the humid climate of the American South. Originally the home style of the French colonies, this American home style is revered for its elegant and architectural details, which reimagines its European roots in a tropical setting.

Most famously, French colonial-style homes have unique exteriors and facades, defined by a symmetrical design and steeply pitched roofs, with covered balconies surrounding the home. Inside, this home style opts for an open plan living space to optimise airflow as well as high ceilings and an emphasis on outdoor spaces to increase the overall sense of openness. The French colonial home style is loved for its stunning hardwood floors in oak and maple and simple colour schemes which add to the classic and premium feel.

French colonial homes naturally lend themselves to the unique tropical conditions of Australia and offer a unique way to adopt classic and luxe European design elements into our lifestyle.

Mid-century modern style

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By the mid-1900s, America was the birthplace of the modernist design movement which sought to simplify and streamline the home. Unlike the ornate detailing of the past, modernist homes were interested in simplicity, liveability and functionality. Today, modernist homes are often synonymous with luxury, as their minimalist style and open plan create an elevated living experience. Defined by functionality and integration, this style has effortlessly made its way into Australian design trends as it complements warm climates and laid-back lifestyles.

With a single storey, the modernist home tends to resemble a rectangle shape, with a façade that includes a skillion roof and minimal decorative features. Inside, the mid-century modern approach to the American home is associated with an indoor-outdoor concept, designed for living areas to seamlessly flow outside, along with plenty of stretched windows and an open plan concept.

Through today’s lens, the mid-century home style is the epitome of cool and retro design which remains as practical as it was when it first debuted. With an emphasis on integrating indoor and outdoor spaces and climate-friendly materials, the mid-century home complements the Australian weather and lifestyle. The modernist home style only continues to grow in popularity in Australia as it strives for a uniquely simplified living arrangement which many of us crave in our busy daily lives.

Craftsman-style houses

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This lesser-known style of American home has influenced not just Australian home aesthetics but also how we approach home building. First gaining popularity in California at the turn of the century, Craftsman-style homes were a result of the cultural movement to revive the decorative arts in the face of industrialism.

Craftsman-style homes are committed to celebrating craftsmanship and keeping a connection to the natural world throughout our living spaces. The façade is notable for its wide front porches supported by pillars and wooden detailing. Inside, you’ll find an open-plan style living area that’s design is rooted in functionality and an emphasis on comfortable and cosy spaces.

Whilst our homes definitely provide a modernised take on this more historical American home style, Craftsman-style homes have had a lasting effect on G.J. Gardner Homes’ dedication to quality, sustainability and working with the natural environment. Craftsman-style homes are an approach to home design that prioritises harmonious and considered design; values which have naturally resonated with the Australian character.

Learn more about home designs today

With new home designs always being released, G.J. Gardner Homes’ team of design experts are committed to crafting quality and on-trend homes for our clients. Get in touch with our friendly team today to learn more about our home designs and where to find inspiration, both at home and abroad.

Home Office Set-Up: designing for WFH

In today’s work culture, a home office isn’t a luxury but a necessity. Home offices aren’t just for school homework or the occasional late hours, as more than 20 per cent of Australians work from home at least one day of the week.

The home office is now a hot spot of your home, where yourself and your housemates are likely spending the majority of your day. Whilst a designated room for work and study definitely outdoes repurposing the dining table or living area, it still benefits from considered design. Crafting the right home office setup comes down to understanding what makes you most productive and focused, so this space is as valuable as possible.

As leaders in modern living, G.J. Gardner Homes’ designers have embraced the home office trend in their recent designs to guarantee our plans align with how Australians are living. Learn more about our home-office design approach now, and what you need to know about setting up your home office. Let’s get to work.

Where to start with planning your home office

Finding the right home office setup is essential for creating a comfortable and productive work environment. Before finalising your design, we recommend assessing your needs to help our design team understand your working condition and lifestyle.  

A few thought starters to consider include: 

  1. Frequency of use: whether you’re intending to use this space most workdays can help narrow down the design and location. If you work from home sporadically, your home office might be best shared with the guest room so it can be a flex-space. 
  1. At-home co-workers: in the family or multi-generational homes, you’ll likely be sharing this space with a partner, parent or child who also works from home or could one day. Designing a shared workspace requires a unique approach to comfortably use space and determine its features. 
  1. Work style: each person has a unique approach to work and many environmental factors will play a major role in keeping you on task, feeling productive and destressed. From light and location to noise, a good understanding of these aspects of your workday will ensure your home office gets used and remains an essential part of your home.  

How to set-up your home office 

G.J. Gardner Homes’ wide collection of home designs offers you plenty of customisable floor plans and flex-space that would be perfect for your home office set-up. Once you’ve determined the first initial factors, you can begin deciding your home office’s location, look and layout. Here’s our three tips to set up a comfortable and productive home office.

  • Locate your ideal room. With everyone working in different ways, the location of your office in your home will depend on personal preference. Ideally, this dedicated space should help create a sense of separation between work and home life. However, many parents will opt to keep their office well-connected with the rest of the home to make daily childcare easier.
  • Light the space. It’s been widely proven that exposure to natural light is a mood booster, and during the workday, it can help increase productivity and mental well-being. Since you’re likely to spend hours daily in this space, incorporate adequate windows and natural light and air access to make it an enjoyable and peaceful space to spend your 9 to 5.
  • Decide the layout to your liking. Our team of design experts can help arrange your home office to complement your work needs. From privacy to plenty of desk space, there’s ample opportunity with in-built office units and desks.

Home office setup ideas 

A home office set up in the study nook style.
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Work from home with ease with the Esplanade home office set up.
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The home office set up perfectly for homework time.
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Get in touch

Learn more today about G.J. Gardner Homes’ leading designs for modern Australian living. Whether it’s open concept living or home offices, our team is here to help you achieve your design goals and craft a home that’s ready for your family’s future. Contact your local office today.