Who Can Give Advice on Floor Plan Layout

lockmc on 29/01/2019 - 21:50

Hi guys.
My wife and I have just bought our first home!
There a heap of changes we want to make and we hope to do as much ourselves as possible (such as painting etc).

Our issue is we have a few room changes in mind (such as changing the layout of a certain room, potentially adding a walk in pantry if possible etc), however, we aren't sure if these plans are the best layout or if there is a better layout that we haven't even considered.

Who or what trade can help us with these decisions?
Do we just ask around with builders for their advice (and potentially get them to quote on the job).
Or an architect? I imagine an architect would be very expensive.

We've never renovated so not really sure where to start!

Home & Garden

Comments

  • AdosHouse on 29/01/2019 - 22:09
    +1

    Interior designer?

  • Agret on 29/01/2019 - 22:12
    +1

    If you are looking for brainstorming you could probably approach an architecture student, have a look on Google for an architecture forum or on Facebook for a group and make a post with your current floor plan and i'm sure you will get some ideas you haven't considered. After that you can take the ideas to a real architect to save yourself paying top rates for consults.

    You could also try going to a homecenter / display village and having a look at various display homes to get some inspiration for changes you'd love to incorporate into your own home.

    • Glenningvalley on 29/01/2019 - 22:19
      +1

      Make sure you at least offer some sort of payment to the poor starving architecture students.

  • Glenningvalley on 29/01/2019 - 22:17
    +3

    Architect here,

    Sounding like your house is already built.

    A local builder is a good start - depending on your scope of work, minimal internal work may not need plans drawn, ALTHOUGH any changes internally/ externally may require local council approval before works can commence - so it is best to ask your builder. He will more than likely recommend you to a drafts person/ building designer which depending on your needs might be the cheapest solution.

    The difference between this and an architect is firstly price, but you're not comparing comparing apples to apples.

    Check with your council because you may be able to find your original plans and start designing yourself to make it easier/cheaper for a designer to quote your project.

    Happy designing.

  • chumlee on 29/01/2019 - 22:22
    +11

    Live in it for a while if possible, then you will have a good idea of what you really want

  • djkelly69 on 29/01/2019 - 22:26
    +2

    Ozbargain advice/poll seems like the only option to me

    • kahn on 29/01/2019 - 22:59
      +2

      Wow, it's the architect Mr Kelly from Hey Dad! Could you get Betty to contact the OP to make an appointment with you? Just keep an eye out for Nudge 'cause he's probably stealing your food.

      • djkelly69 on 29/01/2019 - 23:48

        Mmm maybe not in the best taste…

        • Euphemistic on 30/01/2019 - 08:29

          Not enough zip blops and squiggle blops????!!!!

  • Gravy on 29/01/2019 - 22:52

    Perhaps hop onto fiverr.com and search for floor plan design or interior design

    • lockmc on 29/01/2019 - 23:12

      Good idea. Will follow that idea!

  • Ughhh on 30/01/2019 - 00:19
    +8

    Get a copy of The Sims, create the same house and family and see how happy the family is.

  • Almost Banned on 30/01/2019 - 00:47
    +1

    Go to houzz.com.au
    Upload your floorplan and/or your possible new floorplan to their forums - it's under 'advice'.
    See what other people think.

    • lockmc on 30/01/2019 - 08:33

      Thanks - didn't realize they had an advice section. Will post there.

  • Nugs on 30/01/2019 - 06:36

    upload image of floor plan here, you'll get plenty of feedback
    .

  • Euphemistic on 30/01/2019 - 08:32

    Research research research - check other homes, displays, online floor plans, magazines
    Design - rough it out on paper. Model it if you have the tech smarts.
    Test - friends, family, builders, forums. Lots of people have been there done that
    Modify - adjust your plans to your budget and other issues identified.
    Build.

  • [Deactivated] on 30/01/2019 - 11:05

    Architect - overkill. They'll give you an amazing design that you're not going to be able to achieve DIY. Depending on the architect, you may need specialized builder's as renovations are harder than new builds.

    You need your electrical and plumbing plans as those will be the hardest to reroute or work around. If you do not know how to reframe and reroute plumbing and electricals, I believe your imagination has surpassed your ability.

  • elgrande on 31/01/2019 - 05:24

    Get your chequebook ready

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