Home Renovation and Building Guide

Our Most Popular Blogs

DA vs. CDC - What’s the best pathway for your new home build or home renovation?

When you’re looking to build a new home or undertake a major renovation, you’re generally presented with two options for getting your plans approved:

  1. Development Application (DA) or,

  2. Complying Development Certificate (CDC).

While each option presents its own pros and cons, there are two main differences between these options.

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Functionality vs. Aesthetic in High-End Architectural Construction

When you imagine your dream home, you may envision the premium architectural design you’ve seen in magazines. Subtly beautiful colour palettes, inspired interior architecture and styling, and a seamless elegance to each room.

Alternatively, your aspirations may lean towards natural flow and functionality, as you see yourself walking through intuitively laid out kitchens, living rooms which flow naturally, and subtle storage systems which hide the chaos within.

Whatever your aspiration, most people agree that the most liveable, loveable homes are a clever melding of these two factors: functionality and aesthetic.

So, how does MILEHAM balance functionality and aesthetic in our custom designed luxury homes, to achieve a perfect pairing of the two?

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Why Working with an Architect - Who Is Also a Licensed Builder - Gives Your Project a Leading Edge

Building your own home isn’t just a big deal, Building your own home isn’t just a big deal, it’s a huge financial, emotional and time-absorbant undertaking. It’s a goal many people dream about and work towards for years before they hit go.

Traditionally, architecture and construction firms were separate entities, requiring clients to move between two different companies, project manage and resolve conflicting design/build advice, and cross fingers that collaboration between the two outfits would remain smooth.

This traditional approach is changing, with a small yet select group of Architects opting to obtain their builder’s license, or visa versa.

It’s a dual-qualification and one-stop-shop approach which gives clients a leading edge on their project. Read on to find out why:

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What can you get with a home renovation budget of $500,000, $800,000 and $1.2m in 2025?

When embarking on a home renovation, the two main decisions you need to weigh up are:

  1. The scale (Quantity) of your project, vs.

  2. The Quality of fixtures, fittings, materials, and finishes you want to use.

Ultimately, if you’re on a set budget, you’ll need to weigh up your Quantity vs Quality opportunity cost.

So what can you get at various budget points, and how do you weigh up what’s best for your project?

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BT Dev BT Dev

Functionality vs. Aesthetic in High-End Architectural Construction

When you imagine your dream home, you may envision the premium architectural design you’ve seen in magazines. Subtly beautiful colour palettes, inspired interior architecture and styling, and a seamless elegance to each room.

Alternatively, your aspirations may lean towards natural flow and functionality, as you see yourself walking through intuitively laid out kitchens, living rooms which flow naturally, and subtle storage systems which hide the chaos within.

Whatever your aspiration, most people agree that the most liveable, loveable homes are a clever melding of these two factors: functionality and aesthetic.

So, how does MILEHAM balance functionality and aesthetic in our custom designed luxury homes, to achieve a perfect pairing of the two?

Read More
BT Dev BT Dev

Living IN the View: Lisa and Andrew's Quest for the Perfect Northern Beaches Home

In the picturesque Northern Beaches suburb of Manly Vale, a vibrant couple, Lisa and Andrew, embarked on a remarkable renovation journey that led them on an unexpected path to their dream home by the ocean. With their three-year-old daughter in tow, they set out to create a haven that would perfectly blend their love for the coastal lifestyle with the comfort of modern living.

After a couple of false starts, Lisa and Andrew found success with MILEHAM. Their story showcases the invaluable role of working with the right professional, rather than sticking with a builder whose vision doesn't align with your own.

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BT Dev BT Dev

Why Working with an Architect - Who Is Also a Licensed Builder - Gives Your Project a Leading Edge

Building your own home isn’t just a big deal, it’s a huge financial, emotional and time-absorbant undertaking. It’s a goal many people dream about and work towards for years before they hit go.

Traditionally, architecture and construction firms were separate entities, requiring clients to move between two different companies, project manage and resolve conflicting design/build advice, and cross fingers that collaboration between the two outfits would remain smooth.

This traditional approach is changing, with a small yet select group of Architects opting to obtain their builder’s license, or visa versa.

It’s a dual-qualification and one-stop-shop approach which gives clients a leading edge on their project. Read on to find out why:

Read More
BT Dev BT Dev

Constructing Excellence: Understanding the Cost of High-End Home Construction

Building an architecturally designed home is a dream for many, but the cost of high-end home construction can raise eyebrows.

Understanding the factors that drive construction costs for an architecturally designed home is crucial for effective budgeting, keeping your expectations in check, and ensuring a smooth construction process.

Here, we take you behind the scenes of constructing luxury custom homes, revealing commonly unexpected costs and offering useful tips.

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The Architecture Planning Process: How long do Architectural Designs take to complete?

To avoid unnecessary stress and ensure greater accuracy when planning your project, it’s crucial to understand how your architecture timeline works, and how third parties like local councils, private certifiers, and specialist consultants (each with their own book of clients and timelines) can have an impact on timing for your project.

To help, we’ve unpacked the Architecture Planning Process to shed light on the factors that influence this often underestimated timeline.

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Home Design Trends - Farewell Hamptons?

Fresh year, fresh start. So what design trends are enduring in the world of home renovations? What has been left behind? And what do we see bubbling below the surface getting ready to dominate your Pinterest feed?

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Why Price per Square Metre is NOT a Good Rule of Thumb

In the world of home renovation and building, the price per square meter has long been a go-to metric for homeowners and builders alike.

However, it has become increasingly evident that relying solely on this metric is an oversimplification of the complex factors that influence construction costs.

Here, we delve into the history behind why price per square meter estimating is so popular, and why it may not be the most relevant guide for your home renovation or new home build.

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Architect vs. Draftsman - What’s the difference and who should you choose?

When it comes to undertaking a major home renovation or rebuild, it’s crucial to pick the right team who share your vision and can bring your dream home to life. The first place to start is finding a qualified design professional who can help you understand the possibilities of your site, council restrictions, and design a space that best suits your lifestyle and budget. We delve into what you do and don’t receive with an architect and draftsman, to help you decide which professional right for you.

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Building Estimate vs. Building Quote: Decoding the Difference

To price a build there are two terms used to define two separate pricing services:

1) Building Estimate, and

2) Building Quote

These two terms often cause confusion amongst homeowners and can make it difficult to compare apples with apples when choosing your builder.

Here, we delve into their differences and outline how to choose which option is right for you based on what stage you’re at with your project.

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5 reasons why you should never trust a free building quote

While free building quotes appear enticing, investing in a comprehensive, paid-for quote offers numerous benefits that can save you time, money, and potential headaches. Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. Let’s look at what’s involved …

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Custom Home Builder vs. Project Home Builder - Which option is best for you?

When it comes to building a new home, the volume of information available and decisions you need to make can be overwhelming. Do you go with a custom home builder? Or a project home builder? How do you know which option is right for you? Read on to find out about the pros and cons of each to help you decide which path is best for you.

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How long does a Custom Home Renovation Build take?

Your plans have been approved, the building quote signed off, and it’s time for construction to begin. But what happens at each stage? And how long does each stage take?

We’ve outlined each stage for a typical major renovation, knockdown rebuild, or new home build, and how long these stages generally take.

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