Upsizing is rarely just about adding another bedroom. For many homeowners, it’s about correcting compromises made in an earlier home, limited storage, cramped living areas, or layouts that no longer match how a household actually functions.
For some upsizers and rightsizers, knockdown-rebuild projects are becoming an alternative to moving further from established suburbs. Rebuilding allows owners to stay in the neighbourhood they already know, close to schools, work and community, while replacing an outdated floorplan with something designed for contemporary living.
For these buyers, the brief tends to be consistent: more separation between living zones, larger kitchens designed for entertaining, and bedroom suites that give both parents and teenagers a degree of privacy. Larger double-storey homes have increasingly become the solution.
Eight Homes’ Gold Range collection focuses on expansive footprints, multiple living zones and more refined design features such as grand entries, large kitchens and dedicated retreat spaces, all aimed at households wanting greater space and flexibility as family needs evolve.
Below are three of the most popular designs in the range, each suited to upsizers looking for different types of family living.
Jumeirah 4-47
Designed for multi-zone family living
Among the most popular designs in the collection is the Jumeirah 4-47, a five-bedroom home spanning 47.46 squares and designed for wider blocks of 14 metres or more.
The layout centres around a large open-plan ground floor where the kitchen, meals and family areas connect directly to an alfresco space, creating a central hub for everyday living and entertaining.
Additional flexibility is provided through multiple living zones and a dedicated study, while the upper level accommodates four secondary bedrooms, each with its own ensuite and walk-in robe, a feature often sought by upsizers with older children or multi-generational households.
The main suite becomes the centrepiece of the upper level, with a large walk-in robe and its own retreat space, while a casual living area provides a secondary lounge separate from the main ground-floor activity.
Quinlan facade
Key details:
For upsizers, the standout feature is the separation of zones: entertaining downstairs, private living upstairs, and dedicated retreats across both levels.
Visit the Jumeirah 4-47 on display at the Alamora Estate - 9-15 Monferrato Ave, Tarneit
Maisa 2-38
A compact upsizer option for narrower blocks
Not every upsizer has the luxury of a wide block, particularly in established suburbs where knockdown-rebuild projects are common.
The Maisa 2-38 offers a four-bedroom configuration suited to lot widths of 12.5 metres and above.
At 38.16 squares, the design is slightly more compact than some Gold Range homes but still includes the elements upsizers often prioritise.
The ground floor is organised around an open-plan kitchen, meals and family area that extends to the alfresco, anchored by a large island bench designed to function as both preparation space and informal dining.
Upstairs, the design separates the sleeping quarters from the main living areas, with a central casual living zone providing a quieter space for relaxation. A spacious main suite features a walk-in robe and ensuite with double vanity, bath and large shower, while the remaining bedrooms each include their own walk-in robe, an increasingly expected feature in larger family homes.
Fyansford Plus
Key details:
For buyers rebuilding on narrower suburban blocks, this design offers much of the spatial flexibility of larger homes without requiring a wide frontage.
Saara 5-52
A flagship layout for large family households
At the top end of the range sits the Saara 5-52, a 52-square home designed for wider 15-metre blocks and buyers seeking a genuinely expansive family layout.
The home opens with a dramatic entry that leads into expansive open-plan living areas connected to an alfresco zone. A large chef-style kitchen sits at the centre of the layout, supported by extensive preparation space and a walk-in pantry.
The design includes multiple living zones across both levels, while the upper floor accommodates three secondary bedrooms, each with its own walk-in robe, while the main bedroom functions almost as a private apartment within the home.
The main suite includes dual walk-in robes, a private ensuite and its own retreat space, a configuration increasingly popular among upsizers who want a clear separation between parents’ and children’s spaces.
Neutra Plus
Key details:
The scale of the Saara makes it particularly suited to buyers replacing older homes on larger suburban blocks, where maximising space and functionality becomes the priority.
Visit the Saara 5-52 on display at the Mt.Atkison Estate - 3-7 Sierra Street, Truganina 3029
When larger double-storey designs work for upsizers
Across established suburbs in Melbourne and Geelong, knockdown-rebuild activity has increased as families reassess whether renovating older homes still makes sense.
Rebuilding allows owners to remain in familiar neighbourhoods while gaining modern layouts, energy-efficient construction and homes designed around contemporary family routines.
Large double-storey designs like those in the Gold Range can address several long-standing issues at once:
-
separating entertaining and private spaces
-
creating multiple living zones for different family members
-
delivering bedroom suites with greater privacy and storage
-
making better use of suburban block sizes
For upsizers who like their location but have outgrown their current home, the question often becomes less about whether to move, and more about whether rebuilding can deliver the space and layout they were missing in the first place.
Publisher Website: www.homeshelf.com.au