How to Prepare for Your Spectra Colour Selections Appointment

How to Prepare for Your Spectra Colour Selections Appointment

At Carlisle, we understand that making decisions on all the colours, finishes and inclusions for your new home can feel daunting.

So we’re here to make it easier for you.

When you come to our new Spectra Showroom for your Colour Selections appointment, we will help you select the products, colours and overall style for seven key areas of your home.

Knowing what you like and don’t like will give your consultant a clearer vision of your style and how you want your new home to look, so it pays to do your research ahead of time.

Watch our short video here to discover exactly what you can expect to happen on the big day, along with advice on how you can prepare for your appointment.  

1. Exterior

Your home’s facade is the first thing friends and family see when they visit your home, so it’s important to find a style that makes a great first impression and reflects your personality.

At our Spectra Showroom, you’ll be shown many exterior combinations and finishes to choose from.

For a low-maintenance, good-value exterior, consider a classic brick façade. Or combine brick with a touch of render to create a contemporary aesthetic. Alternatively, turn up the wow factor by adding accents of natural materials such as timber look features and tiles to your facade. If energy efficiency, noise control and sustainability are priorities for you, you may want to consider Hebel's high-performance external wall systems, which are made from aerated concrete.

Carlisle is proud to partner with iconic brands such as Hebel, Austral, PGH Bricks and Dulux, who are all good sources of information and ideas for your exterior.

2. Internals 

Selecting the colours and products for your new home interior is one of the most exciting parts of the design process, and at Carlisle you’re spoilt for choice.

If you’re not sure where to begin, start by choosing a style or theme that you like. Once you have identified your style, all the elements will come together and most of the work is done for you.

To get started, create your own Carlisle profile where you can save your favourite images, compare floorplans side by side, and create inspiration boards to help develop the look and feel you want in your new home.

And remember – little details matter when it comes to designing a home. When we talk interiors, most people think of the value areas of the home, such as the kitchen and bathroom. But taking the time to consider those smaller but equally important details, such as doors, cornices, architraves, skirtings, and paint colours, will help round out your overall vision. 

Visit Corinthian Doors, Dulux and our interior Themes gallery for interior design and colour inspiration.

3. Kitchen

For many homeowners the kitchen is the heart of the home, where friends and family gather and memories are made.

It’s also one of the busiest spots in the home with a constant activity and a flow of traffic, which makes it important to choose finishes and appliances that suit your lifestyle and will perform well for years to come.

You can streamline the selection process by considering a few things before your Spectra appointment. For example, how do you like to cook? Do you prefer an induction or gas cooktop? Do you want an easy-access built-in oven that doesn’t require any bending or a large range cooker so you can cook for a crowd? Would you like an extra sink and dishwasher in the butler’s pantry so you can keep your kitchen tidy? And, to help you decide on the right kitchen layout, ask yourself which of your existing appliances will you include in your new kitchen, and do you want these stored away or on-hand for regular use?

Marry design and function with hard-wearing surfaces such as Caesarstone benchtops coupled with Laminex cabinetry. Your flooring and splashback should also complement each other and complete the overall look of your kitchen.

Jump online and familiarise yourself with the wide range of products available at our Spectra Showroom for your new kitchen – visit the websites for Caesarstone, Laminex, Fisher & Paykel and Technika.

4. Flooring 

Flooring is an important design element in your new home; what you select should tie in with the look of your home and suit your lifestyle.

Tiles are ideal for wet areas such as the family bathroom, ensuite, and laundry – they’re durable, and a breeze to clean and cope with splashes. But when it comes to your living, kitchen and dining areas, there’s a raft of different flooring options to choose from.

Spills and accidents happen – particularly in busy family homes with children and pets – so easy-to-clean, hard flooring such as floorboards and tiles are ideal for your living zones.

You may want a little more warmth and luxury in your bedrooms, which makes carpet a great choice.

With so many styles and colours to choose from, we recommend that you review the following questions ahead of your Colour Selections appointment to help narrow down your options:

• Which rooms/areas will children mainly use?
• Do you have pets that will spend time inside?
• What are your flooring needs for the individual rooms in your home? I.e., what is important in the kitchen versus the living zones?
• Is surface slipperiness a concern?
• What are your cleaning and maintenance requirements?
• Are any of your family members sensitive to allergens?
• Are you looking for a short-term or long-term flooring option? I.e., do you plan to refurbish your home and select different flooring a few years down the track when the children are older?

View SPECTRA online, Flooring Xtra, Carpet Call and Beaumont Tiles Studio for flooring options and ideas.

5. Bathrooms

Modern bathrooms can be a luxurious sanctuary for relaxation or a practical space for the kids to bathe and shower.

It’s important to design your bathroom and ensuite to meet the needs of the user, without compromising your style and taste. And there are endless combinations of bathroom tiling, vanity design, tapware and colour schemes available at our Spectra showroom.

When making your selections, consider functionality and which one of the larger items such as bathtub, spa or vanity you want to make a real feature. 

Tapware and finishes have come a long way in recent years and there are many on-trend colours and fixtures to select from, including matt black, brushed brass and chrome. To create a cohesive look throughout your home, you’ll want the tapware finish you select for your bathrooms to match those in your kitchen and laundry.

Feature-tiled splashbacks aren’t just for kitchens – they work equally well in a bathroom, adding interest and personality to the space. Self-patterned, subway or herringbone tile collections are just some of the options that can add a unique style to your bathroom or ensuite.

Pinterest, Instagram, home magazines and display homes can be a great starting point for ideas. Beaumont Tiles Studio, Oliveri and Caesarstone also provide online galleries for bathroom inspiration.

6. Smart Home

In today’s tech-savvy world, home electricals now mean much more than just light fittings and standard power points. Smart-home technology is revolutionising the way we live in and use our homes, and it’s only set to get bigger. 

At your Colour Selections appointment, our experts will be on-hand to take you through the various ways you can personalise and future-proof your home with smart-home upgrades. These include feature lighting and smart power points, such as the Zimi PowerMesh app- and voice-controlled power points and smart garage controllers, automated window coverings, multimedia systems, smart home-security systems and the latest keyless front door options from Lockwood/Yale.

Do your homework and make time to browse the SPECTRA Showroom electrical display ahead of your Colour Selections appointment. Brands we recommend such as Argus Technologies also provide useful online information and advice.

7. Living Green

As well as being better for the planet, our range of green products can significantly reduce your home’s running costs, keeping it naturally warmer in winter and cooler in summer without the sting of a hefty power bill.

The good news is that all Carlisle floor plans achieve a six-star energy rating on every orientation. You then have the option to further enhance your home’s energy efficiency and eco cred with products such as solar hot water units, energy-efficient zoned heating and cooling, double-glazed windows, rainwater tanks and thermal insulation. Visit brands such as Rinnai and Bradford to review the benefits.

It pays to consider your green options ahead of your Colour Selections appointment in preparation for discussions with your consultant about incorporating them into your home design. You can also visit the Spectra showroom on weekends to explore at your leisure.