Aussies have some advice on homes for us

Maybe we can learn a thing or two from the Aussies.

"Good design is essential. Create a home to meet your needs. Your home will be naturally warmer in winter, cooler in summer, with abundant natural light. It will be less expensive to run because it will use less energy, water and other resources. Your well designed home will be a comfortable and healthy place to live."

That's what the Australian government is telling its citizens, and you may as well get in on their advice too.

The Aussies have a campaign called "Good Home" that is urging families Down Under to improve the quality of their lives and the environment through good design. Here are some of the highlights from this comprehensive guide to every aspect of home design.

Rule 1: Live near your work. "Spend more time enjoying life and less time stuck in traffic," advise the Aussies. The first step to good design is choosing the right location for your lifestyle and budget. Think about the benefits of living in an established community, near your work, close to shops, public transport and other amenities. This will reduce traveling time and your dependence on a car. You will have more leisure time and you will enjoy a better lifestyle.

Rule 2: Think small. "A place for everything and everything in its place is better than 'leave a lot of space and we'll work it out later.' " An Aussie in North County would undoubtedly look around our rooms and ask what we need all this space for.

This, of course, is what design gurus like Sarah Susanka are trying to tell us. Big is by no means better, a message that we in North County (average house size: 3,000 square feet) are not always receiving. As new houses get bigger and bigger, the truth is that comfort has almost nothing to do with how big a space is. It is attained, rather, by tailoring our houses to fit the way we really live, and to the scale and proportions of our human form. Susanka's first book has sold more than 600,000 copies, so someone is listening.

Consider how much painstaking design detail goes into every part of a car. The better the design, the better the car looks, feels and performs. The Aussies want you to design your kitchen and living room and (gulp) bedroom that same way.

Rule 3: Ventilate. Good ventilation is essential in your home, but make sure it is controllable for all seasons.

Many common building materials such as paints, carpets, textiles and furnishings that contain PVC, styrene, epoxy resins, glue or varnish solvents may give off harmful fumes. Natural materials like wool, jute, rubber and cork are often best. Instead of compressed chipboard, consider solid wood -- either recycled or from sustainable plantations.

Adequate ventilation helps disperse gases, and house plants and water features can help to absorb them. Air conditioners and heaters may recycle unwanted gases throughout your house.

Rule 4: Consider deleting. When renovating, a "deletion," such as knocking down a wall to allow more light in, may be more beneficial than an addition. Get an architect to help you re-envision your home. Poor design wastes space and wastes your money, especially in the long term.

Tom Durwood is a freelance writer. Contact him at

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