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Add extra room with an independent "granny flat" such as the Eco 58 by Atlas Living

Location is a top priority when it comes to your dream home. Schools, work, amenities and transport links are all important to where you live. So when you love your location but have outgrown your smallish character home or your family has increased, your options become renovate, up and sell, or just live with it.

Depending on your plans and why and who you are renovating for, becomes the key to how you proceed.

For those who may want extra space for children as they get older, or require space for when family come to town, a choice to consider is not an extension but a separate teenage retreat or "granny flat" built independently of the main house.

The Eco 58 from Atlas Living has been designed to create extra living space for those who are happy with where they live, and it was developed in response to demand from homeowners.

Priced from $49,800, the Eco 58 will add an extra bedroom, a living/dining space, full kitchen with walkin pantry and a spacious bathroom to your property.

There are two sets of sliding doors off the living space and further doors off the bedroom.

With a width of 7.2m and depth of 8.2m, the Eco 58, could be put to the back of a block, for independent living, or closer to the rear of the home as a separate extension.

Atlas Living product manager Helen Lowrie says the inspiration for the Eco 58 was for a simple, independent living space that was compact enough to fit in the average suburban backyard.

"But it's designed to make use of all of the space," she says.

The Eco 58 comes with a standard set of inclusions such as appliances, tapware and fixtures. There is an optional choice of floor coverings which are not standard, such as the floorboards, but this lets buyers personalise the flat and tailor it to their needs.

The exterior cladding is also a matter of taste, from HardiePlank cladding as standard to Colorbond cladding for a contemporary, modern take on a classic material.

Good use of windows means plenty of light has been allowed to filter through, increasing the sense of space and giving a warm ambience.

"Visitors always comment on the light and spacious feeling of the home - even though it is a small footprint," Helen says.

The great thing about the Eco 58 is that while it gives the homeowner more room, it also creates privacy for loved ones staying in the flat.

"We have had clients build them for their parents or for their teenagers," she says. "We even had an older couple build one for themselves and give their main house to their son and his family.

This granny flat is suitable for any yard that is large enough to accommodate it, Each council has different planning guidelines but we can help our clients through this process."

The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the Eco 58.

The Mod 90 is a non-intrusive way to help solve home space issues.

IF a growing family brings the need for additional living space in your home, Atlas Living will provide the perfect option to expand, rather than relocate.

The innovative Mod 90 is built as an extension to an existing home, accessible by a breezeway, or as an individual granny flat.

Helen Lowrie, of Atlas Living, says the Mod 90 is designed with a busy family in mind; solving the space issue without disrupting their lifestyle.

"Building on the 'old way' has its problems. Family life can be thrown into turmoil as the living area of the home is turned into a building site," she says.

"Our solution is to build this extension as a stand alone structure and link it back to the main house with a glass breezeway. Building an extension this way gives home owners a high quality lifestyle at a fraction of the cost of traditional extension methods."

An overall focus on adding excitement to older homes by providing a fresh space and a sense of modernity is central to the Mod 90 design.

The spacious open-plan design comprising a kitchen/ dining/living room gives the extension a stylish, contemporary feel, which Helen says is ideal as a rear entertaining area.

"It suits families who are looking for a light-filled family and entertaining area," she says. "Most times this extension would be located to the rear of the existing home. It really depends on the size of the block and the availability of space around the existing home."

The kitchen is a galley design with an island bench overlooking the dining and living area, offering a seamless flow for year round indoor outdoor entertaining, Helen says.

"The kitchen is large and offers casual dining at the bench where the cook can be part of the action. The design can also be integrated with an outside entertaining area."

The Mod 90 features one bedroom with a great ensuite, which will be the perfect parent's retreat, offering privacy.

"Any finishes can be upgraded. This includes the kitchen benchtops or flooring finishes," Helen says.

The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the Mod 90.

A stand alone, high-end living space such as Atlas Living’s Eco 66  can be the answer for those short on space

Spaces which can be flexible for a multitude of uses can be the answer for those who are short on space and living in a cramped home.

You might want a separate extra bedroom, another living space or children’s playroom, a studio for work or as a home workshop, a games room and bar - even a gym, which your present home may not cater for.

And you may even want spaces which don’t flow on to one another as well. Providing living areas for some of these needs is the reasoning behind Atlas Living’s range of Eco independent living units.

The Eco 66 option is unique choice which is laid out with a spacious bedroom with a walk-in robe and an ensuite at one end, and a separate 3.5m x 4.8m studio on the other side of a generous timber deck. In the middle, separate yet again, is a home gym which is another good size.

Each room has its own designated entrance from the deck and each will look back toward your existing home through wide floor-to-ceiling windows (on one side only), so it is ideally positioned at the end of your backyard as a stand-alone building.

If that doesn’t suit though, there is also the option to connect the Eco 66 back to your home and let it act as an extension.

Either way, what you get is three separate spaces which can be used for a variety of needs: the bedroom could make the perfect teen/adult child retreat, while the other rooms could be an art studio or a home office.

The Eco 66 was specifically designed for people in need of extra rooms but not an extra kitchen, which is an option in other designs in the range.

There is a choice of looks as well, with four roof options from traditional hip, gable, skillion and curved (pictured), so you can get the look that will most suit your home and suburb.

The Eco 66 can be purchased in kit price, lock up and a completed price, so it’s also flexible for your budget too.

The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the Eco 66.