Custom Home Builders
March 29, 2023
The Best Luxury Home Builders in Perth
March 29, 2023
To Single Story or Not To Single Story?
Why You Should Consider Building a Luxury Single Story Home in Perth.
If you’re thinking of building a luxury home, there are many factors to consider.
One important decision is whether to go for a single story or a two-story design.
There are pros and cons to both, but for many people, a single story home is the better choice. In this blog post we’ll be outlining some of the pro’s and cons for a single or double story design to help you get clear on what suits you best.
There are 3 key reasons why a single-story luxury home can be a better option:
- It can be easier to maintain than a two-story property. With no stairs to contend with, cleaning and other chores can be quicker and simpler.
- Single story homes are often more energy-efficient, as they require less heating and cooling.
- If you have elderly parents or young children, a one-story home can be far more liveable.
The Key Advantages Of Choosing Single Story
A luxury single story home can provide you with numerous advantages other types of homes simply cannot match. For instance, you won’t have to deal with the hassle and danger of stairs. If you have young children or elderly parents living with you, this can be a lifesaver.
Additionally, a single story home can be more energy-efficient than a multi-story home, as heat rises and is lost through upper windows of a two-story home.
Lastly, you’ll have plenty of room to add luxurious features and amenities that will make your home truly unique. So if you’re looking for a luxurious home option designed with comfort in mind, a single story home should be at the top of your list.
Is Single Story Living A Good Match For Your Lifestyle?
In our experience, people who choose to go single story do so for 3 main reasons:
- They are financially in a position that allows them to
- They want the perfect size home for their lifestyle
- They prefer the design freedom and expression a single story offers
Greater Financial Security Gives You More Options
First, those who own larger blocks tend to choose a single story – especially if they’re planning on being there long into retirement and don’t want to have to be dealing with stairs, upper story maintenance, etc.
Creating The Perfect Size Home For Your Lifestyle
Another reason people choose a single story home is because they’re right sizing or downsizing: building a home that fits their lifestyle now.
They are generally coming from a big two story home, where they may have finished raising their family and they have had enough of the stair climb and simply desire single level luxury living.
Appreciation Of Fine Architecture And Design
You could say there is a third type of person – and I’m one of them. Some people are simply against the two stories because they’re of the opinion it’s a waste of home – it’s too big.
If you are into good use of space and appreciate quality design elements, a single story gives you the option to express your unique design story through high ceilings and big roof pitches with creative uses of high glass walls and sky lighting to create an open and expansive space – making the home stand out from the crowd. Something you simply aren’t able to do with a second story above all of your ceilings.
In My Personal Opinion…
Let me be upfront with you – part of my motivation to write this article is because at the time of writing I’m building my new family home that’s a single level. And I was asked recently, “Why did you choose a single story home?” So these are my personal reasons – see if they resonate with you?
- I simply wanted one home on one level, with a good use of space.
- I don’t like voids, I don’t like staircases and I don’t like suspended slabs.
- I thought to myself what am I going to do with all this backyard? Even with the floor-plan I’ve designed I’ve still got a big backyard. Had I opted for a double story, it would have been a massive empty space to maintain. And why would you want an even bigger backyard to do nothing in?
- I wanted a better use of space with separate and clear zones and areas of function.
- I believe you can have a better design with a single story.
- I wanted more visually powerful design elements – with a double story you limit yourself to not being able to use glass, light and ceiling heights because there’s a room above.
- I believe you can get a much more open and expansive home with better finishes and qualities in terms of built form structure out of a single, then you can with a double.
So What About Costs?
One common misconception is that single story homes cost less. Well, it’s not necessarily the case. When you do a single and you do it right, they can still be as expensive as a two story because you’ve got big expansive roof areas, high ceilings with sky lighting, high glass that lets in an abundance of natural light, offering a deeper connection with the environment which simply looks spectacular.
It certainly doesn’t mean a single is cheaper than a double. Because if done right, you’re taking brickwork up to a much greater height and you’ll have a much larger roof area, so the price tag can come in at a very similar level. However it does give options to be more flexible with costs if need be.
The Next Steps On Your Home Building Journey
Now we’ve covered all there is to know about the benefits of going single story, I hope it’s helped you understand bigger isn’t always better. We’ve covered a lot – including the 3 main reasons people tend to opt for building a single story Luxury home in Perth, my own personal 7 reasons for going single story and we even delved into how that impacts costs.
If you’d like to know more about what it takes to build a Luxury home in Perth, I’ve written the ultimate guide in a previous blog post so check it out. And if you have any questions about what’s involved in the building process, choosing a block, finding a builder, or even just feel like shooting the breeze with an experienced builder to find out if your design ideas are feasible then please give us a call on 08 9446 2822 and talk to me directly – Michael Agostino the director.
In the meantime feel free to look around our website or instagram to find inspiration and examples of our homes!
