Most new homes we design and build take around 11-12 months to complete once work starts on site. To the frustrations of many, for 11.75 of those months the project looks and feels like a ‘building site’ and not a ‘finished building’.

Due to this, it is common to become overwhelmed with the process and concerned that the finished result may not meet the expectations set during the design process. After several months of work and hundreds of decisions that have been made what I call ‘decision, or design fatigue’ can set in. “I can’t decide anymore…I can’t picture it..” are statements we have heard in the past. “Why does it look messy, it doesn’t seem to be coming together” are also commonly heard discussions, even right up to the last weeks of a build.

Unfortunately this ‘building site’ aesthetic is a given, and it is literally not until the finishing touches are applied that the overall intent can be seen and the building starts to sing! A final coat of paint, the install of a tap set, or the introduction of joinery/ lighting/ carpet etc all start to make a building feel like a home. It is a function of the process that these sorts of works don’t really start until very close to end. Usually because they rely on other trades completing prior, but also because they can be easily damaged when people are crawling all over the site.

Advice for this week. Try to maintain your confidence in the process right through to the end and trust the decisions you have made. Continue to take the time necessary to ponder options and take your time with important decisions, particularly colours, finishes and joinery. Lean on your design and build team if you need further explanation or options to consider.

Photo of our brick facade in the afternoon sun, house number revealing itself. Enjoy your long weekend :)