Design Blog

Weststyle are excited to reveal their latest architectural project, a modern classic family home that is warm and inviting with an understated sense of luxury.

As we launch into both Safe Work and Mental Health Month there has been a large focus on Silica, the associated health and safety regulations, awareness and how to manage the risks.

This quarter, I explore strategies to combat worker shortages and industry pressures, examine housing targets, and consider the future of the Western Australian construction industry.

Incorporating texture in the interior design of our homes can provide for a multi-sensory experience and enhance the overall ambience of the space. Living spaces can be transformed by engaging the sense of touch, integrating elements that are chosen for their texture, materiality and the physical and emotional senses they evoke. These play a crucial role in making the home feel more inviting and personalised.

What is it really like building a house in the current economic environment? As we reflect on an interesting and also volatile few years in the industry we thought we would share some of our thoughts and advice to anyone who may be wanting to embark on the new home journey. You will be asking some questions, where do we start? Do we renovate or build new? What are the ‘standard’ inclusions? Does every builder offer the same inclusions? Read on to find out about the Weststyle process, inclusions and journey.

The concept of the kitchen triangle dates back to the 1930s and was based on one person working efficiently in a small separated kitchen space. It is a triangular workflow model effectively connecting the fridge, cooker and sink with spacing parameters and limited traffic through the triangle.
Is the ‘kitchen triangle’ still relevant in modern interior design?

A powder room allows design flair and functionality to coexist in harmony. Space dependant, a powder room can not only house a toilet and basin but also storage in the form of mirrored cabinets or a more spacious vanity unit, as well as a shower to double as a guest ensuite if required. 

Tony Ricciardello of Weststyle has recently been appointed President of the Housing Industry Association WA region following two years in the position of Vice President and time previously spent as Chairman of the HIA Technical Committee.

Maintaining a comfortable internal temperature in your home is so important and the positioning of your home on its’ site can have quite an effect on this. Considering the orientation of your home in relation to the sun’s path, the type of light (and heat) that will enter the building and a particular time, can have a significant effect on your comfort and give you the ability to regulate your home’s internal temperatures. How you orientate your home will differ according to the local climate and amount and type of glazing you have.

Open plan living connects the main kitchen, dining and living spaces resulting in shared zones which can encourage family conversations and connections. It has been a popular way of living to open up internal spaces, allowing rooms to feel bigger with more air flow and natural light to filter through. Open plan allows the occupant to adapt rooms to reflect lifestyle changes as families grow.

We are pleased and proud to share our very special award win, the 2022 HIA Perth GreenSmart Home of the Year for our Derby project, designed by Dave Delahunty of EHDO Architecture and built by Weststyle.

Things are looking up for the residential building industry thanks to greater stability in costs for material and tradespeople. Weststyle’s team of designers, estimators, project managers and supervisors have their fingers on the pulse of Perth’s construction industry which means we are well-informed and can assist our clients to take the best advantage of the current situation.

It’s your first meeting with a custom home builder, what are some key questions you should ask? We would advise to be as prepared as you can be for your first meeting, be confident on what your total budget is and what your priorities are. Have a wish list, of items that you could live without but would like to include budget permitting.

While there are advantages and drawbacks to both renovating and building new, the choice ultimately comes down to individual circumstances and requirements. 

Whether you want to blend your design with the suburb or stand out in your street, we at Weststyle can work with your requirements. Read more on our blog.

How high is high? Typically a standard ceiling height is 28 course (2400mm) and then a “high-ceiling” is 31 course (2657mm). For general living spaces and bedrooms, our minimum ceiling height at Weststyle is 2.6m (bathrooms/laundry’s/stores = 2.4m) and our ”high-ceiling” homes can be anywhere from 3m upwards. In a void area, this can be up to 6m.

Over the past decade, the improved quality of LED lighting has allowed homeowners to illuminate their homes in innovative and functional ways. LED strip lighting has become increasingly popular in the residential building sector as you can provide both task and feature lighting in a subtle and refined way.

Attracting more design attention than ever before, today’s master suites are increasingly becoming a feature in the new homes, proving they are no longer just a room for retiring at night to sleep. Typically a master suite will include a bedroom, ensuite/bathroom and wardrobe space.

Through the years fireplaces have evolved and so has the importance of form vs function. Fireplaces were once used for heating spaces, that function was essential, they were clunky and prominent in the main living spaces of the home.

While flat walls, square bedrooms and straight-edged bathrooms are common features of our homes, a resurgence in more complex architecture is taking hold in custom home design.

2021 is well underway; our expert Interior Designer Courtney Doyle discusses trends and predictions for the coming year.

While lot sizes have shrunk over time, and backyards with them, our love of outdoor connection has remained, inspiring architects and builders to be creative with their design.

Some observations and advice from our Lead Architect Mary Ong and Interior Designer Courtney Doyle on the use of concrete in home interior and exterior design, this is something more and more Perth residents creating homes are interested in.

Lead Architect, Mary Ong, discusses how key design elements can eliminate liveability issues across a multi-storey home. In focus, our HIA WA Liveable Home of the Year award winning home ‘Rob Roy’.

A recent Weststyle City Beach design and build took influence from the design styling more commonly seen on highway diners in America of the gambling strip in Las Vegas.

Staying warm in winter, how do you make your house do the work? One of the main advantages and benefits of draught proofing a home is climate control, the ability to maintain a more constant temperature and therefore reducing the need for extensive heating/cooling, which then in turn reduces the associated costs of this.

Western Australia consists of a range of different soil types, ranging from sands through to clays and rocks. Our Lead Architect, Mary Ong, talks about the importance of speaking to an expert when embarking on your home building journey.

Our clients are becoming more and more conscious of the potential environmental impact their interior design may have. We have recently completed a project where the home is entirely reliant on natural ventilation, which is something that we are getting more questions about from clients with the growing costs of electricity and increasing negative impacts on the environment.

Underpinning the business’ success over the years has been the foundations carefully crafted and built upon by the Ricciardello family. Built from the ground up, as a family run business, each member of our team has been able to shape and transform Weststyle into what it is today.

Your home should be your happy place. A peaceful, welcoming space that nurtures togetherness and fosters memory-making. That breathes and bends with the hum of your everyday life.

Using good design principles can save energy, water and money, while creating a more enjoyable and comfortable home. All new homes, home renovations, alterations and additions need to comply with the 6 Star requirement in the National Construction Code. Increase your rating just one star, however, and you will reduce your heating and cooling energy needs – and your energy bills.

Building a new home is a significant investment, and your choice of custom home builders will dictate the quality and longevity of the results. Ensure that you make the most of your investment by being extra critical when deciding on a company to handle your project. WESTSTYLE recommends looking for these key qualities:

Superbly crafted by multi-award winning architect & builder Weststyle, developments 5A and 5B Cedus Place Menora have both sold. Brand new and nestled in a coveted cul-de-sac with Coolbinia Reserve on the doorstep, the location and the sublime spaces internally and outdoors combine to deliver a truly spectacular lifestyle that will be enjoyed for a lifetime.

The design of a home, from the external facade to the flow of the interiors, immeasurably shapes the lives of its inhabitants. This is particularly true of the family kitchen, a place where people come together and an area of the home that requires significant consideration as a result.

Warmth, meets luxury, meets an abundance of greenery and ample space for a young, growing family at our recently completed Wembley residence. This modern home located in an enviable locale is classic, yet studded modern with details that would make any interiors enthusiasts pulse quicken.

Beyond innovative architecture, quality design and reliable build, family is at the heart of the Weststyle business and is central to our ongoing success. This year we are celebrating 50 years of Weststyle and we attribute much of our endurance to the family values our company is built upon.