Back to the ’80s: The home design trends Brisbane households are turning to
By Sarah Webb
The infamous curves and archways that Aussies spent a fortune ripping out of homes built in the ’80s are officially back, with new builds across south-east Queensland seeing a Mediterranean revival.
As the decade-long Hamptons trend appears to be finally fading into the background, builders and developers have reported a return to one of the most polarising decades in our property design history – but with a bit of a twist.
Curves and archways have become increasingly popular again in Australian households. Credit: Stockland
“We’re back to the ’80s,” said Corey Stone, owner of Brisbane-based CHS Building. “Curves are definitely a big thing now and we’ve got four jobs with arched doorways right now.
“Everyone is going for this Mediterranean vibe. But we’re 100 per cent just plucking elements from it.
“The American farmhouse look is a bit of a vibe at the moment too … and while there’s still a lot of white, I did just finish a black house and we are starting to see some darker hues come through.”
Speaking of the American style, Stone said there was increasing demand for bigger homes, with bigger spaces, despite rising building costs.
“We are having more bathrooms than ever. Most of the homes being built in Ascot right now have one bathroom per bedroom … but it’s a trend that’s blowing out people’s construction costs.”
Anthony Fiteni, owner of Antech Constructions, agreed locals were paying more than ever to get more space in their custom-built abodes – with bigger bedrooms and space for adult kids and in-laws part of the brief.
“What we’re finding is people are thinking multi-generational now because kids are staying at home a lot longer and people are planning for that,” he said.
“They are future proofing their house and we are getting a lot more lifts in homes too. It’s also all about the flow of the indoor-outdoor living and the resort style. We’re seeing more pool houses [too].”
Fiteni said the Palm Beach look – that was all about light colours, the use of stone and timber materials and large format tiles – was taking off on his end, and it’s a trend he expects to continue across Brisbane for some time.
The once humble patio is becoming increasingly sophisticated, with chef-standard outdoor kitchens and alfresco entertaining areas becoming more common.Credit: Stockland
David Laner, Stockland’s general manager for Queensland development, said the rise of remote working meant homes were increasingly becoming both workplaces and living spaces.
“We have seen a wave of home designs that integrate a multi-functional workspace – home offices no longer have to look or feel like an office to function as an office,” he said.
“There is an increasing preference for seamless indoor and outdoor living, driven by the great weather in Queensland. For example, patios are turning into more sophisticated outdoor rooms with things like multidimensional entertainment, chef-standard outdoor kitchens, wood fired pizza ovens, and even a spa.
“There is a growing importance for homes that are designed to be adaptable ...while potentially lowering running costs of a household by incorporating solar energy and battery storage.”
With living costs being front and centre for most Aussies right now, the industry is still facing its share of uphill battles.
Stone said the exorbitant 130 per cent price rise for materials such as timber and steel over the past 18 months had left many Brisbane builders struggling to make ends meet, while each interest rate rise further slowed customer queries.
“When rates were on the rise we’d get only three inquiries per week, but when they went on hold inquiry rates doubled,” he said.
“Overall, you’re now paying $3000 per square metre for a basic Hamptons-style build and 18 months ago, that price was $2000 per square metre.”
Stone doesn’t expect the new reality of prices to change, but said he did anticipate a rise in more interstate migrants who could more easily foot the higher bill, as it was still far cheaper to buy and build in Brisbane compared to Sydney and Melbourne. On a positive note though, he did say labour shortages were easing.
Fiteni warned that the changes to the national construction code – set to be implemented in October – would unfortunately spell higher building costs, as homes will need to meet a seven-star energy-efficiency rating.
“Build costs went up at least 50 per cent in the past couple of years … and if all the changes [to the national construction code] are enforced on October 1 that will have an impact,” he said.