Features to Discuss With Your Builder If You Prefer an Open Floor Plan
When having a new home built, you may have already discussed with your builder the surface materials you prefer for benchtops and flooring, preferred paint colours, the wood you want for the cabinetry and other such details. However, even with all these preferences being spelled out, you may not end up with a home that's as bright, open and airy as you expected. Note a few features to discuss with your builder if you prefer an open floor plan or a home with lots of space, light and air circulation.
Window style
Casement windows are very standard in homes; these have two panes, top and bottom, and the bottom pane slides up and down to open and close. This type of window doesn't allow for much air circulation, and the frame around the panes easily cuts off the sunlight and the view from inside the home. Talk to your builder about casement windows, which open by hinges along one side. There is no middle frame to cut off light or the view, and being able to open the entire window means more air circulation. Casement windows are perfect for just about any room of a home and can make the space seem more open, bright and airy.
Staircase style
You may assume that a front staircase with lots of thick wood will look very grand, but consider if it might interfere with that open and airy look you want. Opt for a lighter railing material, such as iron or even glass, and consider the colour of the risers themselves. While they need to be visible to be safe, you might opt for white or something light so that the staircase contributes to that open feeling you love, rather than detracts from it.
Timber trusses
Timber trusses are used for when you want an expansive, open roof. These trusses are often left exposed for a more rustic look, and they can be kept natural or painted, or they can be covered with drywall just like a standard ceiling. Using timber trusses gives you the advantage of needing few, if any, load-bearing walls in the home. This can mean a completely open floor plan on the first floor, and the freedom to put up and then tear down walls as it suits your design needs, without worrying about the structural integrity of your home. These trusses can also ensure you have a fully elevated ceiling, so that it doesn't get in the way of the light and air circulation from your new windows as well!