Make more of your backyard
Create a separate backyard space for guests, work or a retreat. Discuss a studio layout with kitchenette and bathroom options.
Granny Flat Approvals coordinates studio design, approvals and building processes across Sydney and northern Wollongong. We have built many detached studios. Tell us what you want the space to do, and we will help assess a suitable design and approval pathway for your property.
When is a detached studio worth considering?
Some clients want a separate backyard space alongside their existing home. Others speak to us about a studio after discovering that their property does not qualify for the granny flat they had in mind.
We can explore the options with you. A studio is not an automatic substitute for a granny flat: the proposed use, your property and the relevant approval requirements determine what can be built.
Kitchenette and bathroom options
Your studio brief can include a kitchenette, a bathroom and space for relaxing, guests or working from home, subject to the approved design and use. A kitchenette is an important design distinction; tell us what facilities you need rather than assuming that every layout includes a full kitchen.
- Layout: open-plan space or separate areas, arranged around how you intend to use the studio.
- Comfort: natural light, ventilation, privacy, storage and a practical connection to the garden.
- Facilities: discuss kitchenette, bathroom and service connections as part of your brief.
- Outdoor space: consider the entry, pathways and covered areas alongside the building itself.
Studio or granny flat: what is the difference?
A granny flat is a self-contained secondary dwelling on the same site as a principal dwelling. A building described as a studio may have a different approved use. The name alone, or the inclusion of a kitchenette and bathroom, does not establish permission to use it as a separate dwelling.
We assess your intended use and site before recommending an approach. If your goal is a self-contained dwelling, start with our granny flat approval guide. You can also read the NSW Planning guidance on secondary dwellings.
What affects the design and price?
Studio pricing depends on the floor area, selected facilities and finishes, access to the backyard, ground conditions and connections to services. Approval and site requirements also need to be considered. Ask for a written quote for your particular studio rather than using a granny flat estimate as a confirmed studio price.
Browse our completed projects for examples of our broader work and finish choices, and read about Serge Panayi and our experience.
How we get your studio project started
- Tell us about the property. Provide the suburb and address, your ownership status and what you want the studio for.
- Discuss the design and site. We consider the available space, access, services, privacy and the approval pathway.
- Confirm the scope. Review your proposed layout, selected facilities and written quote before proceeding.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a studio if my property does not qualify for a granny flat?
Possibly. We can investigate a studio proposal, but the reason the granny flat did not qualify and your intended use both matter. A property assessment is the next step.
Can a studio have a kitchenette and bathroom?
We offer kitchenette and bathroom options. Their inclusion needs to form part of the assessed design and approval for your project.
Do you work with owners who live elsewhere?
Yes. Give us the location of the property where you want to build, even if you live in another suburb. We work across Sydney and northern Wollongong.
Let’s explore your property’s potential
Tell us your property suburb, intended use, preferred facilities and timeframe. We will help you explore whether a detached studio is suitable.