With the New Year just around the corner, summer can be a good time to start thinking about home plans. If a two storey house in Curlewis is on your mind, it helps to get clear on what really matters before you jump in. A double storey design offers more space without eating into your whole block, but it's not a one-size-fits-all kind of build. Built By Hammond is based in Point Lonsdale and focuses on custom homes across the Bellarine Peninsula, including Curlewis, along with selected projects in Geelong and the Surf Coast, so we work with these types of designs regularly.
The shape of your land, how you want to live day to day, and what rules apply in your area will all guide what’s possible and what makes sense. That’s why chatting with a builder in Curlewis early can point you in the right direction. Still, it’s smart to think through a few things yourself first, especially before plans start to take shape.
When it comes to design, it helps to focus more on how a home works, not just how it looks. That starts with thinking about your day-to-day life. What makes things easier? What do you find frustrating in your current home? That kind of reflection can go a long way when choosing a layout.
When we’re designing a two storey home, we often talk through the following:
• Are there noisy and quiet areas, and would some distance between them help?
• Do you want the kids’ rooms near your own, or would it be better to split sleeping across both levels?
• Is this your long-term home, or will it need to adjust as life changes?
By sorting this out now, you help your future self avoid the stress of a layout that falls short down the track. Good design should feel simple and natural once you move in.
Not every block suits a two storey, so you'll want to look at the land before locking in anything. From narrow lots to sloping sites, each one comes with its own quirks. A double storey home might seem like the best way to gain space, but if it blocks your light or ends up in shadow all day, the extra room won’t feel as good to live in.
A builder in Curlewis can walk your block with you to check things like:
• How steep the block is and what that means for levels
• Which direction the yard and windows would face
• Where the best views are and how you’d want to build around them
Some blocks are close to neighbouring homes or have specific building zones. That all affects placement and what kind of design works best. A plan that maximises space but leaves gaps for sun and breeze can make a big difference to how the home feels year-round.
There’s more than one way to set up a two storey layout. Some families want bedrooms upstairs to keep living areas quiet downstairs. Others flip it, using upstairs for open-plan living with a view. Neither one is better, it just depends on how you live.
We always ask about things like:
• Do you need a second lounge or rumpus to keep things calm downstairs?
• Would an extra guest room or home office help balance out the space?
• Does open plan suit your way of living, or do you need more flexible zones?
By starting with the bigger questions, it’s easier to shape the small stuff later. No design works if it doesn’t fit your habits. Simple decisions made early can shape how you move through the home each day and how easy it is to live in.
It’s easy to get caught up in colours and finishes and miss the planning that affects comfort later. Two storey homes need a few extra things sorted from the get-go if they’re going to run smoothly. For example, stair placement can shape the whole layout. Get it wrong, and you might lose all your natural light or chop up the flow between rooms. As a builder that combines design and construction in one process, we also look at how services, structure, and access will work together so the home feels practical from the first day you move in.
Other things to think about early:
• Heating and cooling both levels evenly
• Where storage fits (especially upstairs)
• Making sure there’s easy access to outdoor living
These don't always stand out on the sketch, but they show up once the house is built. That’s why we check them from day one. Making practical choices now helps you settle into a home that feels well built, not just well finished.
Curlewis is growing quickly, and every pocket comes with its own planning rules. Some areas have overlays that limit how high you can build or where you can put windows. Others may sit close to protected land or flood-prone zones, which change how you lay out the home.
Before you finish your drawings, it helps to look at:
• Height limits, set-back rules, and shaded area restrictions
• Any overlays for fire risk, flooding, or erosion
• Whether you're likely to need a planning permit or just a building one
These rules might not stop you from building a two storey home, but they can shift what features are allowed. Knowing this from the start keeps things moving without surprise rework halfway through planning.
Two storey homes give you more room to move and more chances to take in views, especially in places like Curlewis where blocks aren't always big. But a good build doesn’t start with style decisions, it starts with smart planning that looks at more than just square metres.
If you spend time now thinking through how your block works, how your family lives, and what needs to feel right each day, those decisions will carry through into the final build. And with support from someone who knows the local rules and layouts, it’s easier to make choices that fit both your land and your lifestyle. With our experience delivering custom homes, extensions, renovations, and knockdown rebuilds across the Bellarine Peninsula, we bring that same level of planning to two storey designs in Curlewis.
Getting it right now means enjoying a well-planned home later, one where the space works, the plan flows, and each day feels that little bit easier.
Thinking about building a two storey home? We know Curlewis inside and out, from slopes and orientation to the finer details of local regulations. Partnering with a trusted builder in Curlewis means your design fits your lifestyle and your land. At Built By Hammond, we’re here to guide you from concept to completion, give us a call and let’s start planning your next home.
