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Rebecca Naughtin Architect
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Pro Spotlight: What ‘Customised Design’ Really Means
Want to design a home that is uniquely you? It’s all down to the details, a Melbourne architect says
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Who: Rebecca Naughtin of Rebecca Naughtin Architect
Where: Melbourne, Victoria
In her own words: “Why would you wear a wedding dress straight off the rack if you could have it made for you? My clients want to live happily ever after in a forever home built just for them and their lifestyle.”
For architect Rebecca Naughtin, a customised home is one that’s been designed to suit the specifications of the property as well as the individual lifestyle requirements of the homeowner – both now and in the future. “Our clients aren’t looking for a ‘one size fits all’ approach … they’re looking for their forever home,” she says. By conducting an extensive briefing process at the design phase, Naughtin strives to create bespoke, tailored solutions down to the tiniest of details.
Where: Melbourne, Victoria
In her own words: “Why would you wear a wedding dress straight off the rack if you could have it made for you? My clients want to live happily ever after in a forever home built just for them and their lifestyle.”
For architect Rebecca Naughtin, a customised home is one that’s been designed to suit the specifications of the property as well as the individual lifestyle requirements of the homeowner – both now and in the future. “Our clients aren’t looking for a ‘one size fits all’ approach … they’re looking for their forever home,” she says. By conducting an extensive briefing process at the design phase, Naughtin strives to create bespoke, tailored solutions down to the tiniest of details.
Lifestyle first. Naughtin believes that a home’s design should be built around your lifestyle needs, not the other way around. “We spend hours building a brief with our clients,” she says. “We establish their requirements, check out the property, research regulations and assess the budget. If we didn’t go through this intensive process to understand their individual needs, we’d end up with a generic result that could fit all, and not a customised design.”
All in the details. By using an in-depth questionnaire, Naughtin can get down to the true heart of how her clients live in their homes. “We’ll even ask them everything from what kind of food they cook to if they shave or wax your legs – it gets really personal,” she says. The team then works with this information to create detailed 3D drawings to send on to their contractors. “Everything has a label, even the new hook we’re planning to add in for the tea towel!”
In order to plan a home that’s truly customised, consider the answers to these 3 key questions.
In order to plan a home that’s truly customised, consider the answers to these 3 key questions.
1. How Do You Live?
A customised design is supposed to truly complement the way you live and address specific problems. These can range in scope. “I had one client who needed specific storage for all the things she didn’t have a place for, like her hot plate and hand sanitiser – she called it ‘the hell drawer’,” says Naughtin. It’s all about creating a narrative, she says: “Think about how you cook, or about where you unpack your groceries – do you need extra bench space next to the fridge to dump the bags?” And for the ultimate test, Naughtin suggests putting yourself through Christmas day as if you’re catering and imagine everything you’d need from the preparation space to the entertaining area.
In this kitchen in Northcote, the clients wanted a kitchen that felt sleek and pristine yet still useable and family-friendly for them and their two teenage children. Customised shelving was designed to store the family’s books and knick knacks, while a versatile study area with sleek cupboards and built-in powerpoints makes a good use of the space. But the designer’s masterstroke must be the glass splashback where the family write notes and leave reminders to each other.
See more of this project
A customised design is supposed to truly complement the way you live and address specific problems. These can range in scope. “I had one client who needed specific storage for all the things she didn’t have a place for, like her hot plate and hand sanitiser – she called it ‘the hell drawer’,” says Naughtin. It’s all about creating a narrative, she says: “Think about how you cook, or about where you unpack your groceries – do you need extra bench space next to the fridge to dump the bags?” And for the ultimate test, Naughtin suggests putting yourself through Christmas day as if you’re catering and imagine everything you’d need from the preparation space to the entertaining area.
In this kitchen in Northcote, the clients wanted a kitchen that felt sleek and pristine yet still useable and family-friendly for them and their two teenage children. Customised shelving was designed to store the family’s books and knick knacks, while a versatile study area with sleek cupboards and built-in powerpoints makes a good use of the space. But the designer’s masterstroke must be the glass splashback where the family write notes and leave reminders to each other.
See more of this project
2. Who Lives There?
Naughtin works with her clients to truly understand what a day in the life of each household member looks like in order to create a design solution that’s customised for every individual. “Where does Jimmy leave his keys or dump his phone, where does he eat his dinner? … we design around this,” she says.
In this home in North Fitzroy, even the black lab’s needs are accounted for with a bespoke doggy nook. “We added underfloor heating so that he’s comfortable, and even measured his tummy height so he could get through the doggy door easily,” she says.
See more of this project
Naughtin works with her clients to truly understand what a day in the life of each household member looks like in order to create a design solution that’s customised for every individual. “Where does Jimmy leave his keys or dump his phone, where does he eat his dinner? … we design around this,” she says.
In this home in North Fitzroy, even the black lab’s needs are accounted for with a bespoke doggy nook. “We added underfloor heating so that he’s comfortable, and even measured his tummy height so he could get through the doggy door easily,” she says.
See more of this project
3. Where Is the Property?
Policy can shape the design of a property, “We test everything against the policy of the design and weigh up the risks involved,” she says. The privacy factor was an important policy to consider in this Kew build, due to the close proximity of neighbouring properties. However, the owners didn’t want to feel disconnected from the views and stunning backdrop, so Naughtin had customised screens designed to visually connect the inside and outdoors, while still retaining plenty of privacy.
“Sustainability is always a driving force throughout our projects, we’re always taking into account the orientation of the site,” says Naughtin. “For example, with this build we designed timber clad eaves over the north-facing windows to encourage the lower winter sun to penetrate, while protecting the living spaces from the harsh summer rays.”
See more of this project
More: For more information and examples of Naughtin’s designs, visit her Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Policy can shape the design of a property, “We test everything against the policy of the design and weigh up the risks involved,” she says. The privacy factor was an important policy to consider in this Kew build, due to the close proximity of neighbouring properties. However, the owners didn’t want to feel disconnected from the views and stunning backdrop, so Naughtin had customised screens designed to visually connect the inside and outdoors, while still retaining plenty of privacy.
“Sustainability is always a driving force throughout our projects, we’re always taking into account the orientation of the site,” says Naughtin. “For example, with this build we designed timber clad eaves over the north-facing windows to encourage the lower winter sun to penetrate, while protecting the living spaces from the harsh summer rays.”
See more of this project
More: For more information and examples of Naughtin’s designs, visit her Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Rebecca and her team have built up a reputation for the residential work they have produced in the years since... Read More
Review by HU-537047748:
Professional, informed, creative and practical - I've had a professional association with Rebecca for several years and I've always benefitted from her rich, forthright insights.
Rebecca's genuinely...More
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I'm blown away by the level of information sought from clients to ensure the design suits their very individual habits/lifestyle. This is really clever thinking and downright good business. Well done!
What customised design really means is lots of $$$$$, but great rewards for every dollar spent.