Design Brief — BL Designs
Design Brief

BL Designs · New Home Design Brief

Before we design your home,
we need to understand your life.

The best homes aren't designed from a room list. They're designed from a deep understanding of how you actually live — the rhythms of your day, what you need to feel at ease, what you never want to compromise on.

This brief will take around 15 minutes. There are no wrong answers. Be honest, be specific, and don't overthink it. The more clearly we understand you, the better the design.

Sections 6
Time Required ~15 mins
No right answers Just yours

Section 1 of 6

01

You & Your
Household

Before we think about rooms, we need to understand the people this home is being designed for — how many, how old, how you live together, and what each person truly needs.

Include ages where relevant. Don't just say "family of four" — tell us who they actually are.
Growing family, ageing parents, adult children returning, working from home permanently, pets — anything that might affect how the home needs to function over time.
Never
Occasionally
Most days (hybrid)
Full time
Both partners
No pets
Dogs
Cats
Large animals
Other

Section 2 of 6

02

How You Live

This is where most briefs fall short. Room lists are easy. Understanding how a family actually moves through their day, what creates friction, and what genuinely matters to them — that's what makes a home feel right.

Think about thisClose your eyes and picture your ideal Sunday morning at home. Where are you? What are you doing? Who else is home, and where are they? What does the light feel like?

Who gets up first? Where does everyone congregate? What creates the most friction or stress? What works well?
Do you eat together? Retreat to separate spaces? Entertain often? Watch TV as a family or separately?
Not important Somewhat Essential
3 / 5
Kids playing
Entertaining guests
Gardening
Pool / water
Alfresco dining
Private retreat
Minimal — low maintenance
We don't use outdoor much
This influences how we think about room placement, separation of zones, and acoustic design.
We're a noisy household — we like it lively
Mixed — noisy in shared areas, quiet in bedrooms
Quiet is very important to us throughout
It varies a lot
The thing you absolutely do not want to repeat.

Section 3 of 6

03

Spaces & Priorities

Now we get practical — but thoughtfully. Tell us what you need, what you'd love, and what matters most. Don't just list rooms. Tell us how you want each space to feel and function.

2
3
4
5
5+
Think about privacy from kids, guests, or noise. Some parents want their bedroom close to young children; others want maximum separation.
Yes — maximum separation
Somewhat — different wing or floor is fine
No preference
No — I want to be close to young children
No
A study nook is enough
One dedicated office
Two dedicated offices
Office with client access from entry
This is a meaningful design decision — not just a trend. There are real tradeoffs between connection and privacy, noise control, and the ability to close things off.
Love it — the more open the better
Partial — open kitchen/dining, separate living
I prefer clearly defined, separate rooms
Flexible — I want it to be able to close off
Butler's pantry
Theatre / media room
Home gym
Pool
Wine storage
Workshop / shed
Music room
Art studio
Teen retreat / rumpus
Granny flat / in-law suite
Extra storage (serious)
Mudroom / entry zone
Don't think practically. What's the thing that keeps coming up in your head?
Be honest — this helps us design appropriately rather than produce something unachievable. Ranges are fine.
Under $400k
$400k – $600k
$600k – $800k
$800k – $1M
$1M+
Not sure yet

Section 4 of 6

04

Look, Feel &
Atmosphere

Design isn't just about how a home looks — it's about how it makes you feel the moment you walk in. This section helps us understand the aesthetic direction and atmosphere that resonates with you.

PromptThink of a space you've been in — a hotel lobby, a friend's house, a café, a holiday rental — that made you feel exactly how you want your home to feel. What was it about that space?

Don't use design jargon. Use feeling words. Calm. Bold. Warm. Dramatic. Grounded. Whatever comes naturally.
Select all that feel right — or none if none of them do.
✓ Warm & Earthy
✓ Cool & Considered
✓ Light & Minimal
✓ Bold & Dramatic
✓ Natural & Organic
✓ Coastal & Airy
There are no wrong answers — these help calibrate the design.
Traditional / classicModern / contemporary
3 / 5
Warm tonesCool tones
3 / 5
Minimal / pared backRich / layered
3 / 5
Raw / industrialRefined / polished
3 / 5
Timber (warm, natural)
Face brick
Smooth render
Stone / textured masonry
Fibre cement cladding
Exposed concrete
Colorbond / metal
Large format tiles
A mix of the above
Or paste any URLs of homes, interiors, or spaces that resonate with you. Even one or two images tells us a great deal.

Section 5 of 6

05

Your Site

Tell us about the land. The more you can share — even if you're not sure what's relevant — the more informed our design response will be from the outset.

North
South
East
West
North-East
North-West
South-East
South-West
Not sure
Flat
Gently sloping
Moderate slope
Steep
Not sure
Views, trees, a creek, a neighbouring building, a busy road, privacy concerns — anything that the design should acknowledge.
Bushfire zone
Flood zone
Heritage area
None that I know of
Not sure
No
Yes — positive outcome
Yes — some concerns raised
There's a previous DA on the site

Section 6 of 6

06

Final
Thoughts

Three last questions — these are often the most revealing. Take your time with them. Some of the best design direction comes from answers to questions like these.

One last promptImagine it's five years after you've moved in. A friend visits for the first time. What is the first thing you want them to say when they walk through the door?

Not what you want it to look like — what do you want it to communicate? Values, personality, how you want to live. There's no wrong answer.
This is your chance to flag it directly.
Not just "a nice home" — what's the specific outcome that would make you look back on this process and feel it was worth everything you put into it?
Word of mouth / referral
Google search
Instagram
Facebook
Houzz
Other
✓

Thank you,
we have your brief.

Brendan will review your brief personally and be in touch within one business day to discuss your project. If you have any questions in the meantime, you're welcome to email directly at brendan@bldesigns.com.au.

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