RENOVATIONS & EXTENSIONS

Old homes including Heritage listed or homes within a Historic Conservation zone, often need to be restored to their original character. A lot of homes that we see are well built, but have dated materials, colour and layouts. A renovation can involve re-designing the floor plan and rooflines, creating larger openings, new kitchen and bathroom layouts. It is important to take into consideration the entire home and fit these spaces together, so they flow well. It is also important to work with the style of the home by emulating the existing style or skillfully juxtaposing styles. A clever design will work with the existing structure to produce the best plan, minimizing unnecessary demolition which will save time, energy and money.

Most of our work is designing extensions to an existing home. There are many factors for this including that most people love the location that they live in, their kids go to school nearby, their friends and family live close, and the complexity of finding land re-building can be overwhelming. Types of extensions include: Living - The most common brief we receive is to design an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area. The most common request is to create a light-filled space with a good connection to the outdoors. Bedroom - Growing families will often require additional bedrooms including en-suite and walk in robe. Amenities - Walk-in-pantry, laundry, mud rooms, visitor WC and powder rooms. Additional storage including roof attic and cellars. Adding a level - Depending on the structural adequacy of the existing home – extending up may suit your needs due to the block size or maximizing views

NEW HOMES

A common question we are asked is should I renovate or knock down and re-build. The biggest issue is typically the budget – if you want an expansive extension with lots of structural changes it may be cheaper to re-build. This will depend on many other factors such as the merit of the existing homes. The benefits of re-building are that we can customize everything from the: Set-out block – reducing setbacks to be in line with the current council guidelines Orientation – to maximize natural light into the home Layout – deciding on size of rooms and the proximity to one another Other benefits include: New construction including fixtures, fittings and appliances have few maintenance issues Using modern low impact building practices to create a more energy efficient home. Better market value – depending on where your home is located, a new home may be more desirable We have a large catalogue of new home designs that you may wish to peruse, this will help visualize what is possible on your block before we start to custom design your home.

MULTI-HOME DEVELOPMENTS

We have experience designing and working with clients, developers, and councils to provide up to 20-unit developments. Due to population growth many metro areas have regeneration zones that allow smaller for lot sizes. These are typically located within urban corridors that have proximity to public transport and other amenities. We can prepare a site feasibility study for the proposed site prior to purchase. The report includes data such as the site’s characteristics, surrounding areas and council zoning details. A feasibility study is an important tool in deciding whether a project in financially feasible.

POOLS & ENTERTAINING AREAS

Improving your outdoor areas to create a space to live and entertain will expand the experience of your home. Included within our services is a master plan which will focus on the entire site to ensure a holistic approach. By creating a seamless connection, your home will flow through to these areas and make the most of your site