Whether you have boomerang kids, ageing parents, a blended family or are simply at a stage in your life where family members need their own space, multiple living zones are becoming the norm for new homes. Open plan living became hugely popular during the post-war housing boom. The idea of an open plan kitchen in particular meant that those who spent a lot of time there were able to carry on with their social and family life while they worked. Not to mention the other benefits of enjoying more natural light and the illusion of more space.

Whilst the open plan kitchen, dining and living room formula is here to stay, additional living zones are the perfect solution to some common household conflicts: from who wants to watch what on the TV, computer game noise restrictions, music tastes, friends visiting, exercise schedules or study needs.

These zones can take many forms including family, parent’s or teenager’s retreats, media rooms, home gyms, formal living rooms or completely separate sleeping quarters, allowing for household members to carry on with their activities undisturbed, yet under the same roof.

“All of our home designs incorporate at least two living areas,” agrees Jason. “By having a combination of living spaces, we can provide families the best of both worlds—they can enjoy the benefits of open-plan living, but also have areas that they can retreat to for separate activities.”

And it seems this trend is here to stay. A recent Australian Bureau of Statistics survey revealed that just under half the adults surveyed aged 18 to 28 have never left home because they couldn’t afford to. Combine this with the fact that our population is living longer and staying healthier and you have a situation where many families are returning to the boom years of the post War period, when it was not uncommon to have several generations living in the same house.

“We’re definitely seeing the traditional family model becoming more fluid,” agrees Jason. “Whether it’s adult children returning home after Uni, elderly parents who need to be looked after or relatives visiting for extended periods of time. Our job is to cater for this model by creating homes that provide every household member with a fantastic quality of life, whilst living under the same roof.”

View our home designs here.