Modern Accents and Natural Light Give Home New Lease of Life in Mount Waverley, Melbourne.

The Perfect Time for a Change

The strong bones of Catherine’ 1990s-built Melbourne home were ready to be brought into the present day.
Catherine had been dreaming up plans for her renovation for several years, and saw an opportunity to bring her vision to reality by taking advantage of a special Covid-19 government stimulus grant. Adding modern architectural touches, an alfresco area, and extra living space were top priorities for her family home.
Seeking specialists who could bring her initial concepts to life, Catherine got in touch with Melbourne Renovation Consultant Paul Cree who led the project with careful consideration of timing and budget to modernise the home and make the best use of the available grant. 

The Right Advice

During the consultation period, Paul worked carefully with Catherine to ensure that the priorities of the renovation project were met and aligned with her budget as well as the Covid-19 stimulus grant timing. 
The main goals Catherine had for her home were a new entrance with cloakroom, the addition of modern bay windows, an extension to the master bedroom, a bathroom renovation, and the creation of a covered outdoor entertaining area. Paul also suggested increasing the energy-efficiency of the home with double-glazed windows throughout.
Paul engaged an architect and engineer to bring the project goals to life, and adjusted the scope to suit the budget. He also worked closely with Catherine to complete all design work, and managed the acquisition of engineering and permits on her behalf, as is custom within the Refresh 5-step process.
Under the government’s Covid-19 building grant, the project was estimated at $215,000.00. Paul monitored the project carefully to keep it within the grant time frames to ensure that the goals of Catherine’s vision were achieved.

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New Look, Incoming!

Paul arranged the building consent and, once the timing aligned with the grant conditions, work began to bring Catherine’s home into the future.
Dated features, including the glass brick wall (very on-trend in another era!), were removed to make way for a more modern living space. All structural construction of the extension, alfresco area, and bay windows was included, while Paul was able to work with contractors to ensure additional elements of the renovation were included, such as cabling for security cameras as part of the project’s electrical work. Renovating amid the height of a global pandemic was never going to be smooth-sailing, with material and labour shortages impacting the whole construction industry.
Through careful planning and use of his established network, Paul ensured steady progress was made on Catherine’s home. Client communication was key right from the start, and Paul made sure Catherine was kept fully informed with updates and information about potential delays. Despite setbacks, Paul and his team were able to have the build completed in 20 months. 

An Effortlessly Modern Transformation

The stylish entrance facade of Catherine’s new-look family home, complete with large feature pivot door, is just the first “take-your-breath-away” moment of this renovation. Blue Flash Steel bricks complement the existing home yet provide a striking contrasting effect with the mustard facade of the bay window.
A cleverly-designed courtyard leads to a covered entry with raked ceilings and full length windows allowing natural light into the space.The modern bay windows add space and interest, while new double-glazed aluminium windows and internal finishing of large format tiles in the entranceway and hallway, make this a more comfortable and energy-efficient place to call home.
The transformation of this family home means evidence of the property’s true age is hard to spot. Layout changes throughout the house transform the feel, and a natural flow into the alfresco entertaining area is the perfect way to welcome friends and family. 

Final Thoughts

This home is a perfect example of how modern internal and external features can work in harmony with an existing home from a different era. Paul took time to understand what Catherine was looking for when it came to the renovation, using his expertise to bring her vision and dream to reality. Paul’s attention to the project and careful planning within a tight budget resulted in a high-quality end result and a home that is striking, comfortable, and ideal for modern living.

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