If you’re walking through Sydney’s Inner West or inner-city suburbs, it’s hard not to notice how special the heritage homes are. Federation houses, Californian bungalows and classic Victorian terraces are a big part of what gives Sydney its character and long-term appeal. They’re not just houses, they’re valuable assets, which is why owners hold onto them and councils are careful about how they’re altered. When a heritage home extension is designed properly, it can significan

If you’re planning a new home, knockdown rebuild or major renovation in 2026, the most important decisions will be made long before construction begins. Across Sydney and NSW, planning controls are becoming more nuanced, approval pathways more site-specific, and build costs something that must be addressed early, not after design is complete.

Distinct Innovations celebrates 25 industry honours for award-winning residential architecture across Sydney. As leading building designers specialising in custom home design, heritage renovations and architectural drafting, our work is recognised by the BDAA, MBA NSW, Houzz and more reflecting our commitment to quality design, functional layouts and thoughtful, client-focused homes.

This luxury Mount Riverview residence remains a powerful example of how thoughtful architecture can balance beauty, safety, and long-term resilience. A home that’s just as relevant today as the day it was completed. Designed by Luke Van Jour of Distinct Innovations, this project stands proudly as Winner – Luxury Housing over 450m² over $2000/m² at the Building Designers Australia National Awards. This home also attracted the attention of the media and was featured in The Dai

We’re proud to share that over the weekend we came home with a national win at the Building Designers Association of Australia (BDAA) National Design Awards, held in Twin Waters, Queensland. Our Salt Street Heritage Extension & Renovation  took home the Winner – Heritage Buildings / Adaptive Re-use award and was also recognised as a Finalist in the Alterations and Additions category. The night, hosted by the one and only Jamie Durie, was a celebration of design excellence acr

A Gift of Trust The client gave me one of the greatest gifts a designer can receive: total trust. They provided a simple brief and left me free to explore the architecture. My goal was to design a modern, sustainable, and luxurious home that would feel both striking and deeply comfortable. Passion for Sustainable Design I’ve always been passionate about sustainable design. The challenge here was blending raw, industrial materials like steel, concrete, and glass with warmth an

If you’re after smart design, practical solutions, and a home that’s both beautiful and budget-friendly, a talented and experience Building Designer like Luke at Distinct Innovations is exactly what you need. Just look at 167 River Road, Leonay. It was once a plain yellow-brick house, nothing special. With some clever house plans, thoughtful renovations, and careful drafting, it’s been transformed into a beautiful four-bedroom family home. And the result? See for yourself bel

Designing the Perfect Custom Home for Your Lifestyle with bespoke home plans by Distinct Innovations, Award Winning Custom Home Design & Architectural Drafting

Creating Your Dream Home with Custom Home Design with Distinct Innovations, Award Winning Building Design & Architectural Drafting

FAIRWAYS HOUSE - Contemporary Luxury Home Design by Distinct Innovations

Update on our Crawford Creek House design with 3d fly around thanks to Fluid Design Landscapes

The Blaxland House is a stunning property that sits on a vast suburban block of land within the Blue Mountains Council. The home boasts a...