A step-by-step guide to selections for your new home build.
Building a brand-new home is an exciting life event, but it also comes with a lot of decisions to make.
From tapware and tiles to colour schemes and carpets, the selection process for both interiors and exteriors can feel overwhelming – particularly for first-time homeowners.
To make the process simpler and more enjoyable, Fairmont Homes created the Select Home Studio, with all options under one roof along with tailored design support from an expert team.
Seeking expert advice can help streamline the process for your new home selections.
“We find that clients can sometimes get decision fatigue if they try to do too much in one day,” says Joanne Pietrobon, studio manager at Fairmont Select Home Studio.
“You don't need to go and select your tiles at one place, then your cabinetry elsewhere, and bring it all together to see how it looks. Everything is here.”
Here are some tips on how to make the perfect selections for your new home, and how to get the most out of expert design help.
Function-first approach
It’s tempting to leap straight to the fun choices, such as paint colours or your dream European oven.
However, Pietrobon says it’s more important to focus on functionality first – in other words, how you want to use and experience your home.
“Do you like to entertain? Does your family like to put all the food on the island bench and help themselves? Where do you want your electrical items, your computers and your data points?” she says.
Thinking of the fundamentals can steer you towards smarter product and design choices.
“Things can look fantastic, but if it's not practical, you'll get sick of it quickly. So, functionality is the most important thing,” she adds.
The Fairmont Select Home Studio allows you to see all design options in one place, along with guidance from specialist consultants.
Pace out the process
To prevent overwhelm, Pietrobon says the team at Select Home Studio recommends booking two appointments spaced a week apart.
“On the first appointment, we’ll focus on things such as cabinetry design and your electrical layout. We might also pop a few things in, such as your external colours, doors and door hardware,” she says.
In the next appointment, you can choose everything else, such as colours, tapware and tiles.
“Spacing out appointments gives you a chance to be sure about what you want, and that you’re making the right decisions for you,” she says.
Get in the mood
To get the most from your consultation, Pietrobon suggests creating a “mood board” to bring along. This could consist of interior styles and colours or materials that inspire you.
“We suggest putting together a Pinterest board of the things you like, or showing us images on Instagram or other social media,” she explains.
“That really helps guide us towards what you’re wanting in your home, and what style you like.”
A mood board can be a great way to collate design ideas and inspiration.
Balance your budget
Sticking to a budget can be tricky, particularly when browsing through stylish products. In Select Home Studio, your design consultant will tally costs as you go, so you can make smart adjustments on the spot.
“Other builders may need clients to pick everything first, then they present the price later and the clients sometimes have to pull back,” says Pietrobon.
Prioritise and plan
One of the best ways to stick to your budget is prioritising what you were to spend and talking to your design expert about what’s essential now, and what you can include later.
“We help you focus on what’s important right now, structurally, like your tiles or cabinetry. Then, with things like door handles, you might just put in the standard option and then upgrade in a couple of years,” Pietrobon says.
She adds that the team has lots of tricks for achieving amazing looks at all price points.
“For example, instead of doing a whole bathroom in the most expensive tile, maybe they will do a feature tile to add a little bit of impact, but without impacting on the budget.”
From fixtures and flooring to colours and finishes, there's plenty of selections to make in a new home.
See the whole picture
By thinking function first, pacing out your decisions, creating your mood board and prioritising your budget, creating your dream home can be much more enjoyable.
Rather than having to guess what your completed home will look like, Select Home Studio can help you see the reality.
“We can do everything here in the studio. Our team is made up of trained designers, they're all brilliant and work really hard with you to achieve an amazing result," says Pietrobon.
If you’re thinking about building as a way to get into your first home, Fairmont Homes’ friendly team are ready to help with an exciting selection of high-quality customisable home designs. Take the first step to building your dream home and contact Fairmont Homes today!
