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

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 a long list of features to feel comfortable. It needs a layout that knows what to do with every square metre. That is the real strength of minimalist design. It strips out wasted movement, visual clutter and awkward corners, then gives more room back to daily living. That matters even more in Western Australia, where granny flats, referred to in the R-Codes as ancillary dwellings, can now be built on residential-zoned land more broadly than b

For many owners and managers, Perth commercial property compliance has felt relatively stable over the past few years. That period of calm is coming to an end. The Australian Building Codes Board Board has confirmed the National Construction Code (NCC) 2025 will be published on 1 February 2026, with states and territories able to consider adoption from 1 May 2026. If you are planning a refurbishment, extension, or new build in 2026, now is the time to check whether your curr

Designing a home isn’t about choosing a façade and filling rooms until it works. It’s about understanding how you live, how the site performs, and how current regulations shape what can be approved and built. A well-considered custom home design brings these elements together early, reducing wasted space, unnecessary cost, and future compromises. At North Coast Design, we approach residential design with a strong focus on functionality, compliance, and long-term comfort — not

A narrow house is a home designed for a slim block, commonly found in established suburbs and infill developments. Instead of spreading across the site, it builds vertically, uses light-filled voids and courtyards, and treats circulation carefully so spaces feel open rather than tight. When designed well, narrow homes deliver strong everyday comfort and efficient running costs, particularly when guided by passive design principles suited to Australian conditions. Why narrow h

For aspiring homeowners in Perth and the wider Southwest, designing a new home means balancing everyday comfort, rising construction...

Western Australia’s building system asks two different professionals to solve two different problems. A building designer shapes how a...