JCM Designs

08/04/2026

02/01/2026

Small Site, Big Personality | The “Doll House”

This one started with a very simple brief.

The client wanted a “doll house”.

Not big. Not imposing. Just something charming, well put together, and comfortable to live in.

There were a few challenges straight out of the gate.
The lot was only 9 metres wide.
The total budget was $450k.
And I really wanted to avoid the classic narrow-lot problem of a big garage dominating the front of the house.

The goal was to make the home feel wider than it actually is, and more like a house than a driveway with rooms attached.

We deliberately kept the building compact at around 150m² total. Smaller footprint meant better cost control, faster build time, and less compromise where it actually matters. Structure was timber frame for speed and efficiency, paired with uPVC windows for thermal performance and long-term durability.

The elevation was carefully composed to pull the eye across the frontage rather than straight into the garage. Vertical elements were used to add height where needed, and the proportions were tuned so the house feels balanced rather than squeezed.

Orientation was also doing a lot of heavy lifting. With good window placement and shading, the house achieved a 7.6 star energy rating at base spec, without relying on gimmicks or expensive upgrades.

It’s a small house by floor area.
But it doesn’t feel small when you stand in front of it, or live inside it.

This is another example of how good design isn’t about size or budget. It’s about making clear decisions early and sticking to them.

Design lesson #2:
On narrow sites, restraint and proportion will get you further than adding more floor area ever will.

02/01/2026

Happy new year everyone.

New year, new designs and I suddenly have the urge to write some content for this page. Please comment with what you would like me to write about and please share with your friends.

Before to After | A Facade Rescue

This home came to me already designed.
At least on the inside.

An interior designer had prepared the internal layout, and functionally it worked well. The outside, however, told a very different story. The front façade lacked balance, hierarchy, and a clear identity. It technically worked, but visually it didn’t really know what it wanted to be.

The client asked me to complete the architectural drawings and, more importantly, fix the façade.

They initially described the style as American ranch. As we worked through the design, it became clear the house was better suited to something more refined. What we landed on sits closer to an American Georgian or Colonial Revival influence. Still approachable, but with stronger proportions, clearer roof forms, and a more intentional entry.

Nothing major changed.
The footprint stayed the same.
The internal layout stayed the same.

What changed was the clarity.

The roof was reworked to reduce bulk and create rhythm across the façade. Dormers were added to bring character and scale. The entry was strengthened so the house has a clear focal point when you arrive. Window sizes and alignment were adjusted so the whole front elevation finally reads as one cohesive design.

The before images are straight out of Archicad and my conceptual hand drawings. Practical, but flat.
The after images are Twinmotion renders showing where the design was always meant to end up.

Same house.
Completely different presence.

This is the first post in a series where I’ll be sharing real projects and breaking down the thinking behind them. Not just the finished images, but why certain decisions were made and how good design is often about fixing what’s already there.

Design lesson #1:
Good design isn’t about adding more. It’s about making better decisions with what you already have.