Residential home design

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Cool Haus Design creates homes that feel natural, light-filled, and personal.

light filled living area designed by Cool Haus Design

A tailored approach to home concepts

Cool Haus Design, your Perth based residential designer focuses on personalised home design. We specialise in creating homes that enhance well-being and environmental awareness. Our mission is to connect people with their natural surroundings using considered, site-specific designs that inspire relaxation, inspiration and joy. We place our client needs over trends and deliver sustainable, high-quality homes that reflect individuality and promote well-being.

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What we do

We craft spaces that work with their environment and fit your life.

01

Concept

Our Concept service is centred on developing the core idea to define the overall design and guiding principles of your residential design project. By discovering your vision in depth and early on, we understand your requirements, expectations and explore how you wish to live in the home, an extension of your lifestyle. Using 3D sketches, and floor plans, we craft a clear design concept to maximise your environment. Together, creating a design goal to not only align with your lifestyle but create spaces which reflect your unique needs and aspirations.

02

Design

Our Design service is an evolving process to ensure your residential project truly reflects your vision and needs. Building on the initial concept, we delve into developing the design to refine every detail until you are completely satisfied. Unlike other firms, our approach is flexible where we welcome ongoing discussions and iterations to ensure expectations are met. Using 3D renderings, we explore visual ideas to communicate your personal style and preferences. In doing so, decisions about layout and materials can be easily made with supporting documentation for council planning approval, liaising with council, builders and any other professionals involved. Overall, this service navigates technical aspects of the project and ensures the design is both functional and inspiring with a commitment to guide you through each step.

03

Manage

Our Management service takes your developed design and carries it forward to completion. As the dedicated liaison, we engage consistently with consultants, builders, and other professionals to manage all aspects of the project. Whether it's coordinating with council for ongoing approvals or collaborating with structural engineers and builders, we oversee every detail. By placing importance on maintaining core design principles, we can adapt to any challenges that arise during the construction.

01

Concept

Our Concept service is centred on developing the core idea to define the overall design and guiding principles of your residential design project. By discovering your vision in depth and early on, we understand your requirements, expectations and explore how you wish to live in the home, an extension of your lifestyle. Using 3D sketches, and floor plans, we craft a clear design concept to maximise your environment. Together, creating a design goal to not only align with your lifestyle but create spaces which reflect your unique needs and aspirations.

02

Design

Our Design service is an evolving process to ensure your residential project truly reflects your vision and needs. Building on the initial concept, we delve into developing the design to refine every detail until you are completely satisfied. Unlike other firms, our approach is flexible where we welcome ongoing discussions and iterations to ensure expectations are met. Using 3D renderings, we explore visual ideas to communicate your personal style and preferences. In doing so, decisions about layout and materials can be easily made with supporting documentation for council planning approval, liaising with council, builders and any other professionals involved. Overall, this service navigates technical aspects of the project and ensures the design is both functional and inspiring with a commitment to guide you through each step.

03

Manage

Our Management service takes your developed design and carries it forward to completion. As the dedicated liaison, we engage consistently with consultants, builders, and other professionals to manage all aspects of the project. Whether it's coordinating with council for ongoing approvals or collaborating with structural engineers and builders, we oversee every detail. By placing importance on maintaining core design principles, we can adapt to any challenges that arise during the construction.

How it works

Collaboration at every stage

01
Step 01

Discovery & consultation

Together we discover your vision and residential home requirements with an in-depth consultation. This includes in-person site visits, information gathering, and assessing council regulations to establish all the parameters for your project. During this step our goal is to understand your expectations, align with your budget and timeline and set the foundation for a successful design and project journey.

02
Step 02

Concept design

We translate your ideas and preferences into a cohesive design [SH1] using visual mood boards and initial sketches. By considering materials that inspire you, this stage explores how these elements shape the design. This step generates ideas but more importantly, refining them to fit within any site-specific requirements. With consistent communication and considered reflection, together we refine the concept and create a design that aligns to your lifestyle and aspirations.

03
Step 03

Design development

We then transition from concept to development with a focus on the technical aspects of the project. This involves working with consultants to address structural requirements, refining layouts, and selection materials. We meticulously plan for critical infrastructure like plumbing and air conditioning, ensuring the design is both functional and feasible. By integrating the high-level vision with technical details, we create a plan that maintains the design's integrity. Overall, this step focuses on alignment of the ‘concept’ with the practicalities of construction laying the groundwork for a successful project.

04
Step 04

Approval & execution

Together, we liaise with councils and obtain necessary permit by submitting various applications. We navigate regulatory requirements, such as bushfire ratings and other local requirements to ensure all documentation is in place for a smooth transition to the building license stage and construction. By handling the intricacies of these processes and ensuring documentation is complete and compliant with codes and standards, we openly communicate to secure approvals on your behalf.

05
Step 05

Management & Execution

A critical step, we oversee the construction process to ensure the design is executed according to plan. By coordinating with builders and consultants, addressing on-site issues and maintaining open communication, our focus is to uphold the design's integrity and ensure your vision comes alive during the building process.

Our projects

Each project symbolises a belief that everyone deserves a quality home that enhances happiness and well-being. Our selected projects span from redesigning spaces to creating climate responsive, sustainable designs that prioritise a connection to nature and the surrounding environment.

I felt connected because I was part of the build, and the indoor-outdoor connection made me feel closer to nature. There were good views and we loved looking at the big tree. Our rooms were personalised just for us. The house was a bit quirky, just like me! We loved the basement cause we could be as loud as we wanted!

Matty and Lachie
Meet the founder

About Michelle

Cool Haus Design was born from a desire to transform the landscape of residential design and construction in Australia. Founded in 2014, Michelle's vision was to craft well designed, high quality homes that clients love coming home to, while minimising environmental impact and enhancing a quality of life.

Michelle's journey began in the visual arts and interior design fields, where she crafted spaces, seamlessly combined functionality and inspiration. In 1999, she relocated to London to join various architecture firms. During this time, Michelle worked on luxury hotel projects, refining her interior design skills from concept to execution across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East.

Bringing a unique perspective by blending interior architecture with building know-how, Michelle is collaborative, transparent and creative. Each project is approached with a strong sense of environmental responsibility, functionality, quality and personalisation. “We are dedicated to designing homes that are both beautiful and efficient, with a strong focus on sustainability.”

Beyond her love of well designed homes, Michelle is passionate about embracing a lifestyle of well-being and adventure. Whether on two or four wheels, she’s exploring diverse landscapes with her family and thrives on discovery new places. Based in Perth, Western Australia, you will often find her enjoying ocean dips with her family and indulging in a good book.

Michelle Saunders founder of Cool Haus Design