Build your home without paying rent
For this Westmead custom home, we built the granny flat first, so the owners lived on-site rent-free through the entire 45 square build, then rented it out on completion, saving over 15 months of rent.
HIA Awards finalist 2019 · NSW Region: Spec Home
Designed for entertaining, built for luxury
Designed and built in-house by Refined Group, our Westmead project brought together a 45 square contemporary Australian home, a self-contained granny flat and fully landscaped gardens on a single block: one team responsible for the design, all plans and approvals, construction and landscaping from start to finish. From the outset, the brief was clear: this home needed to be a genuine entertainer. The result is a house anchored by a full-size alfresco area that extends the living space outdoors, a drive-through garage for effortless day-to-day practicality, and interiors finished with the same attention to detail throughout, from the kitchen and dining zone through to the bedrooms, bathrooms and staircase.
Every element of the Westmead project, from the street-facing dark brick and cladding facade to a native garden across the front of the block, was considered as part of one cohesive design: contemporary in style, but built around how the family actually lives and entertains. The quality of the build was recognised industry-wide, with the home named a finalist in the 2019 HIA NSW Region Awards (Spec Home).
Building the granny flat before the main house
Rather than the usual approach of moving out and renting elsewhere during construction, our clients asked us to build their self-contained granny flat first. Once it was complete, they moved straight in and lived on-site rent-free for the entire duration of the main house build. It kept them close to the project, avoided the cost and disruption of a second move, and meant they weren't paying rent on top of their mortgage while their new home came together.
Once the main residence was finished and the family moved across, the granny flat didn't sit empty. It was rented out, turning what started as temporary accommodation into an ongoing income stream. All up, the granny-flat-first approach saved the owners more than 15 months of rent across the build, while giving them a long-term rental asset on the same title.
What makes this build stand out
Full-size alfresco entertainer
An expansive alfresco with built-in outdoor kitchen, seamlessly connected to the main living areas for true indoor-outdoor entertaining.
Drive-through garage
A practical drive-through garage design that improves everyday access and rear-yard functionality.
Self-contained granny flat
Built first so the owners could live on-site rent-free during construction, then converted into a rental, saving over 15 months of rent and adding long-term income.
Contemporary Australian design
Dark brick and cladding facade, clean lines and a considered material palette carried through from street to backyard.
Open-plan kitchen & living
Timber-toned cabinetry, stone benchtops and an oversized island bench designed as the heart of the home.
Luxury bathrooms
Freestanding baths, dual vanities and floor-to-ceiling tiling throughout the ensuite and family bathrooms.
Floating timber staircase
A statement floating timber and glass staircase forms the centrepiece of the home's entry and living zone.
Native front garden
A fully landscaped native garden across the front of the block, paired with a timber boardwalk entry, completes the street presence of the home.
Inside the main residence
Planning a home build or granny flat in Westmead?
If you're considering a granny-flat-first build, a custom home, or a full renovation in Westmead or across Western Sydney, our team would love to talk through your project.
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