Designer updates for a family home in City Beach, Perth

Taking no chances

After owning his City Beach property for some time, homeowners Toby and Amira were ready to spruce it up. They wanted to update the kitchen and laundry areas and, with three daughters, functional upgrades to their two bathrooms would do the family well. However, the new build across the street had moisture issues because of inadequate waterproofing and friends of the couple were hit with months of delays during their renovation. Toby and Amira were a bit wary of taking on a major renovation project on his own. 
Heeding the warnings, he enlisted the help of Refresh Renovations to avoid the pitfalls those around him were dealing with. Local Renovation Consultants Jason and Michelle Zielinski visited Toby and Amira's property to discuss their goals, budget, and timeline during an initial consultation. 

Bending and trimming the budget

Toby and Amira originally allocated a $150,000 budget to renovate the kitchen, two bathrooms, and laundry area but opted to extend the project’s scope as they learned more and became more comfortable with the Refresh process while discussing their goals with Jason and Michelle. New flooring, an outdoor shower, and additional storage in the garage were added to the scope of work. 
Toby and Amira had specific requirements about the fixtures and finishings they wanted for their home. But with the extended scope came increased costs, so team revisited the plans to see where they could trim the budget without sacrificing quality. Selecting engineered stone benchtops to use in the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry area saved money and brought the final budget to a point where Toby and Amira felt comfortable about moving forward; just under $260,000.

Construction begins

Construction began and Jason took the reins as project manager to oversee the building phase. The team started with demolition and preparation; removing internal walls, creating a void to accommodate new skylights, retubing existing plumbing lines, and installing new wiring and points for electrical fixtures and fittings.  
Moving on, custom cabinetry was installed in the kitchen, laundry, garage, and bathrooms and the team laid spotted-gum timber flooring throughout the home’s living areas. Work progressed steadily and everything was executed with a high level of craftsmanship.  
Products were sourced from Harvey Norman, Polytec, Hafele, Topshelf Cabinetry, Phoenix Tapware, Glass Co., European Ceramics, Tile Boutique, Clearview Skylights, and Walk on Wood. Unfortunately, the benchtop and splashback materials were delayed and when they finally arrived, they were damaged. The good news for Toby and Amira was that they didn’t have to communicate with the supplier nor coordinate schedules with the cabinet maker; Jason handled everything and thanks to his long-standing professional connections, the problem was dealt with promptly and the project wrapped in 10 weeks.

An impressive transformation

Working with Refresh proved to be a wise decision as Toby and Amira's renovation was delivered on time, within budget, and with fantastic results. The kitchen design brought the couples high-end vision to fruition and although they opted for a less expensive option in the engineered stone benchtops, there’s nothing ‘budget’ about them. The waterfall-edge kitchen island paired with the art deco-inspired light fixture create a lavish focal point for the space and are certain conversation starters at any of the multiple seating areas.
The ensuite and family bathrooms share common elements such as circular backlit mirrors, floor-to-ceiling tiles, and chevron-patterned splashbacks. The same benchtops seen in the bathrooms and kitchen are also in the laundry area, creating further design continuity throughout the separate spaces. Concealed storage and smartly positioned appliances allow the laundry area to remain sleek and tidy. 

Final Thoughts

Wow factors characterise every aspect of this renovation, from the kitchen’s ceiling void to the luxe outdoor shower. Jason and Michelle have successfully delivered a renovation that is both sophisticated and family-friendly, two elements that don’t always coexist. Moreover, Toby and Amira's stress-free experience sets them apart from those they know who didn’t opt for Refresh’s expert assistance.