Smart Design: How to Make Your Home Feel Bigger - Andrew Santich | Home Building Podcast

In this episode of The Home Building Podcast, we sit down with Andrew Santich, an architectural designer with over 20 years of experience, to unpack what really makes a home feel amazing to live in.

From ceiling heights to skylights, contrast, and clever design tricks, Andy shares how thoughtful decisions can completely transform a home’s comfort, light, and flow without blowing your budget.

We also talk about what drives great design, how to balance creativity with cost, and what truly motivates designers to keep creating homes that make people happy.

If you’re thinking about designing your dream home or just want to understand how to make your space feel bigger, brighter, and better, this episode is a must-listen.

Chapters:
00:17 – Why good design matters
01:00 – What makes a home feel “cozy” vs “open”
03:45 – Ceiling heights, contrast, and flow
07:30 – Skylights and the power of natural light
10:50 – Designing for comfort and proportion
14:30 – Balancing budget and creativity
18:20 – Andy’s 20 years in design: what’s changed
22:45 – The joy of problem solving in home design
26:00 – Rapid-fire question: “What would you spend $10k on?”
28:30 – Final thoughts and closing

About the guest
Andy is one of our Client Advocates at Independent Building Advice, with over 20 years in building industry. Known for his calm approach and deep understanding of client needs, Andy specialises in creating homes that feel spacious, functional, and full of natural light no matter the budget.

At IBA he guides clients from their first design meeting through to builder selection and construction, ensuring every plan balance creativity, practicality, and cost transparency. His passion lies in solving design challenges and helping homeowners feel confident about every decision they make.

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Need building advice?
Find out more on our IBA website www.independentbuildingadvice.com.au

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