Backyard Bonus: Expert Guide Small Packages

Forget everything you think you know about the traditional granny flat – these secondary dwellings abound with style.

- Anna Mcclelland

AS SPACE BECOMES precious, the appeal of the humble granny flat has skyrocketed – although its contemporary incarnations are anything but humble. Once a hastily re-purposed garden shed with a sofa bed and a TV thrown in, now it’s not uncommon to unearth an architecturally designed masterpiece down the garden path – often with interiors as awe-inspiring as the actual home itself. From their traditional use (that is, as a convenient abode for the grandparents) to more millennial options such as a teenage retreat, an on-site yoga studio, or self-contained guest quarters fit for Airbnb, a separate dwelling adds an array of possibilities to your home.

Making A Start

“First and foremost, consider your end user,” says interior designer Ania Forster of Zephyr and Stone. “Access is paramount – if you’re letting the granny flat, private access and screening is crucial. A granny flat that is used by a family member should include a connection to the house through a path.” Also consider how to maximise acoustic privacy, including distance from your home as well as sound insulation. And most of all, take a reality check on the space that’s available – you might be dreaming of a Hamptons-style guesthouse, but do you really have enough space? “Lots less than 400-square-metres might be too small to fit a granny flat,” notes Christine McCorkell, marketing and communications manager at Archiblox, a prefab design company.

Budget Wisely