Murraylands vs Metro: Designing Homes That Truly Fit Their Lifestyle

When people think of home design, they often picture city streets and suburban blocks. In metro Adelaide, design usually revolves around squeezing the most into the smallest possible space, while working within tight council restrictions.

But in the Murraylands, the approach is completely different. Here, homes are shaped by lifestyle, environment, and family traditions. At Stannard Family Homes, we’ve learned that building for the Murraylands means listening closely to the way families live, play, and connect — and then designing homes that honour that story.

Let’s explore how designing in the Murraylands compares to metro living, and why it requires a builder who understands both worlds.

Riverfront Shacks vs. Metro Riverside Living

In the city, a home near the river is all about views and prestige. Balconies face the water, glass walls maximise outlook, and the focus is often on presentation.

In the Murraylands, a river shack is something else entirely. It’s not just a home — it’s a family legacy. Summers are spent there, kids learn to water ski, grandparents gather, and ten families might descend on the lawn at once with swags, motorhomes, and eskies. Designing a shack isn’t about ticking boxes on a floorplan; it’s about creating a space that works for real life on the river.

That’s why we start every design process by asking:

• How do you use the river? Water-skiing? Family Functions? Barefooting?
• How many families do you host at once?
• Do you need accessibility for ageing parents or grandparents?

These details shape the layout — the number of bedrooms, the flow of entertaining spaces, and even whether a lift should be included.

And then there’s safety. Many older shacks are a maze of steel braces underneath. Anyone who’s stumbled around after dark knows the hazards. At Stannard Family Homes, we work with our engineers to design smarter structures — reducing unnecessary bracing and keeping undercroft areas safe and open.

We also build higher than many people expect. In metro areas, extra steps are about street appeal. In the Murraylands, they’re about flood resilience. A few more stairs now means avoiding the heartbreak of a full rebuild later. Our shacks are designed so that, even if the river does rise again, the damage would only ever require a refit — not starting over.

That’s the real difference: metro riverside homes celebrate the view, Murraylands shacks celebrate the lifestyle

Country Farmhouses vs. Metro Suburban Blocks

Step away from the river, and the Murraylands offers wide-open blocks and country living. Designing here is a world apart from metro suburbs.

In the city, narrow blocks force builders to go double-storey, squeeze in compact garages, and keep alfresco areas to a minimum. But out here? Space isn’t the problem — it’s the opportunity.

Murraylands country homes can spread wide, often single-level, with generous garages for multiple vehicles. Big verandahs wrap around the home to keep out weather, and expansive alfresco provide outdoor living all year round. These aren’t just “nice to haves” — they’re essentials for a country lifestyle.

And then there are the small but vital details, like a place to kick off dirty boots before stepping inside. If you’ve grown up in the country, you know why that matters. A designer who hasn’t lived it might overlook it — but for us, it’s second nature.

That’s the key difference: metro builds adapt to the block, country builds adapt to the lifestyle.

Why Murraylands Home Need Murraylands Experience

The Murraylands isn’t just another region. It has its own rhythm, challenges, and traditions. Designing here means thinking long-term — creating homes that not only look great but also work with the land, the climate, and the way families truly live.

That’s why we take the time to listen first. Every family has its own story: how they gather, how they celebrate, what matters most. Our job is to turn those stories into homes that last for generations — whether it’s a shack that becomes the summer hub, or a farmhouse that stands proudly on open country.

At Stannard Family Homes, we’re proud to say we don’t just build houses. We build legacies.

Ready to talk Murraylands Living?

If you see us on site or around the Murraylands, stop and say hi. We’d love to hear your story. And if you’re ready to design a home that’s made for the way you live — not just the way a city floorplan expects you to — we’d be more than happy to help.

Because at the end of the day, that’s the real difference between metro and Murraylands design: in the city, houses fit blocks. In the Murraylands, homes fit families.

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