EXPLORE THE LATEST NEWS, UPDATES AND RESOURCES TO HELP YOU DESIGN YOUR DREAM HOME FROM THE TEAM AT NORTH COAST DESIGN.

Adding floor area is not the same as solving a housing problem. A granny flat, studio and home extension can create extra space, but they carry different rules and approval questions. For Mandurah and Perth homeowners, the first question is not "how big can we make it?" It is: are we creating an independent dwelling, a flexible room, or a bigger main home? If that answer is fuzzy, drawings may need rework later. At North Coast Design, we help WA homeowners and owner-builders

Planning a granny flat in Western Australia just became a lot more straightforward. Since April 2024, sweeping reforms to the state’s Residential Design Codes have removed the need for council planning approval for many homeowners looking to build an ancillary dwelling. But “no planning approval” does not mean you can build without any sign-off at all. There are still rules to follow, permits to obtain, and design decisions that will determine whether your project runs smooth

Reverse living can make a narrow home feel brighter, calmer and more useful by placing the main living spaces upstairs, where light, breezes and outlook are usually better. The approach suits owners who want privacy, better solar access, and a stronger connection to outdoor areas without needing a large block. If you are weighing up narrow lot designs, the real challenge is often not the block width itself. It is how to fit daily life, light, storage and comfort into a tighte

A small granny flat does not need more features. It needs a layout that uses space properly. That is where minimalist design works best. It removes wasted movement, awkward corners and unnecessary walls, so more of the floor area is usable day to day. In Western Australia, granny flats (ancillary dwellings under the R-Codes) can be built more broadly on residential land. Designs up to 70 square metres often do not require planning approval if they meet the relevant criteria.