Five home design tips from Living Lines Design Whitianga

Working with homeowners in the greater Mercury Bay for the last 10 years, Kane is a residential designer who specialises in residential architectural work, from new home and bach builds through to renovations, relocatable homes, extensions, re-clads, decks and pool areas.

Solving a problem with experience 

Kane first developed his interest in design during tech drawing class at secondary school,  moving to time on the tools in an early career as a fitter turner. Later, while working on his own building project in 2006 he encountered a frustration which led to his current career path. 

We were building our first house here in Cooks Beach. I did a big chunk of the build myself, and found it frustrating that a lot of the details in the drawings were lacking or actually quite difficult to build. There often wasn't enough data or information and I felt the plans weren’t very practically designed. I thought you know what, there's room for buildings that are designed practically!

- Kane Jones, Owner Living Lines Design

This personal experience inspired Kane to take on a new career direction that would benefi from all of his existing technical and practical experience. Since then Kane has worked designing homes throughout the Coromandel. He is a Licensed Building Practitioner, a qualified architectural draughtsman and member of ADNZ - Architectural Designers New Zealand. He has found a huge amount of satisfaction working with his clients to provide practical designs for their building projects. 

Five Tips for Coromandel homeowners taking on a building design project

Kane has designed building plans for permanent and non resident clients throughout the Coromandel Peninsula and offers the following handy advice for those approaching a new home or renovation project:

1: Define Your Goals

Before embarking on a design or renovation project, it’s essential to clearly define your goals and vision for the space. Consider your lifestyle, preferences, and functionality requirements to ensure the design aligns with your needs. Talk to all the stakeholders in the project, it may be just a partner, but sometimes there are whanau (family) that need to have input too. Consider not only the here and now, but what may be needed in the years to come, like ramps, lifts or swimming pools.

2: Compare sizes

When it comes to size, it’s a good idea to look at spaces that you are already using and living in. Some people want big living areas, and some people like big bedrooms, but always compare it to something that you know. If you like the size of the bedroom that you’ve currently got, measure it and use that as a starting point, knowing you don’t want anything smaller than that. Use the same technique for other areas of your home.

Kane advises not to measure your house out on the ground to judge room size because it will probably end up being about three times bigger than what it needs to be! A house seems to look very small when you measure and mark it out on the ground, so it is definitely recommended to compare sizes to a defined space.

3: Research and be Inspired

Spend time researching design styles, trends, and gathering inspiration. Create mood boards or collect images that resonate with your desired outcome. Some clients use Pinterest and then share their ideas with Kane. Remember to include things that you don’t like as equally as much as things you do like. This will help you communicate your vision effectively.

This is a really important aspect and overall can save clients a lot of time and money. It’s so much easier to design with a list of must haves or dislikes. It will save time and therefore money, at the concept design stage definitely. 

- Kane Jones, Owner Living Lines Design

4: Invest in the right building materials 

When considering building materials during the design stage of your build, it is essential to keep in mind both the initial finishing cost and the long-term maintenance expenses. For instance, weatherboards may require painting or staining at the time of construction and will need periodic repainting over the years. On the other hand, Coloursteel comes pre-painted and may not need repainting for an extended period. While opting for cheaper materials initially may seem like a cost-saving measure, it's essential to factor in potential future expenses to make an informed decision.

5: Use 3D to bring your design alive

A 3D model of the design is particularly useful to allow you to better understnd the spatial layout of your design project. Kane always shares the 3D model with clients, as he feels this leads to more informed decision-making and ensures that everyone is on the same page. Drawing with CAD (Computer Aided Design) with its 3D capability means that adjustments and modifications can sometimes even be made whilst reviewing the model with clients, saving time and effort compared to traditional hand-drawn methods. Using a CAD drawing system significantly elevates the accuracy and efficiency of the architectural design process, leading to more satisfied clients and successful projects.

It literally feels like you're in the building, and for many clients that's a turning point for them, when they see it in 3D as opposed to on flat plans. It starts to come alive for people, and they get a lot more excited about it when they see it in 3D.

- Kane Jones, Owner Living Lines Design

Design that gives back to the community 

Kane has also generously given back to the community, using his expertise and skills to benefit local groups in the greater Mercury Bay area. His involvement with organisations like Hot Water Beach Surf Lifeguards and Mercury Bay Area School, has left a lasting impact on these community spaces. Kane's contributions include designing the surf base for Hot Water Beach Surf Lifeguards, ensuring they have a functional and efficient facility to carry out their vital lifesaving work. He also took on the task of redesigning old classrooms at Mercury Bay Area School, transforming them into a much-needed student health centre, enhancing the well-being of students and staff. Currently, Kane is working on plans for an extension to the Cooks Beach Hall, a project that promises to benefit the entire community. His dedication to giving back exemplifies his commitment to creating spaces that not only serve the needs of individuals but also enrich the entire community.

Tailored Architectural Services for Your Home or Bach

As a designer, Kane excels in listening to clients' needs and understanding their unique requirements, offering tailored solutions to bring their visions to life for their homes or baches. He offers a wide range of architectural and design services, including

• new homes and beach house designs 
• residential extensions, additions, and renovations 
• concept designs
• specification writing, liaison with engineering and surveying experts
• through to lodging building consent applications to council.

Whether it's a new project or a renovation, Living Lines Design is dedicated to providing exceptional architectural solutions tailored to each client's unique needs on the Coromandel Peninsula and beyond.

Contact and learn more about Kane via the links below.