Bathrooms can be a tricky little room to put a price tag on. I wish I could give you an answer with the click of my fingers, but unfortunately it's not that simple. I hope to provide you with information to help guide you in the direction of an answer to your big question; how much does a new bathroom cost? The most important thing I should start with is bathrooms are heavily regulated when it comes to qualified tradespeople doing the work. Here in Queensland, make sure that your renovation is been undertaken by a QBCC licensed builder and they provide you with an insurance policy and their l ..read more

Asking this question to your designer is a bit like asking “how long is a piece of string?” There isn’t a simple way to answer this question, however, I hope to provide some guidance to help you find an answer to this million dollar question. I mean, I haven't been designing kitchens for all these years without a good idea of what it costs. There are many factors that impact the cost of your new kitchen, include the finishes, design styles, size and appliances you choose. Items like hardware, splash backs and even the type of sink can significantly increase or reduce the cost. I've given you ..read more

As a designer I am asked to help out clients with making their kitchen more workable. Sometimes it comes in the form of “my kitchen is too small” or “my kitchen is not a space I enjoy”. Client’s don’t often understand why their kitchen does not work for them and that’s why they engage a design professional to assist. Kitchen design is all about correct layout and functionality to meet clients needs. It’s got very little to do with the size of the area, it’s all about what goes into the space. Often people think that if they have a large kitchen or implementing the work area triangle theory, t ..read more

I am often asked why should someone choose to use an interior designer, rather than do the design themselves. With the boom of home renovation reality TV, many people believe that tackling the design of their project is something they can do to save themselves money, however, this can turn into a costly mistake. Here are some key reasons why it does pay to consult a qualified interior designer. Save Money Yes, I know it sounds strange, but paying an interior designer will save you costs by avoiding costly mistakes such as purchasing the wrong size furniture, incorrect colour schemes that will ..read more

Often when people are designing a bathroom, they forget to include or simply overlook the importance of lighting. When renovating a bathroom, tiles and tapware are the main focus, however, the end result won’t look good if there is a single incandescent globe in the centre of the ceiling. In a bathroom, it is important to have natural light, general lighting, task lighting and accent lighting to help create a calming and relaxing mood, general illumination as well as enable the face to clearly be seen when standing in front of the mirror. Without proper lighting, standing in a poorly lit bath ..read more

Over the past couple of years, the risks of silica in engineered stone bench tops has been highlighted in the media. The popularity of engineered stone bench tops has increased over the last 20 years which has lead to an increase in silicosis cases reported by installers. The silica in dust that is produced when engineered stone is cut can be inhaled; to reduce health risks to installers, safety regulations around the handling of bench tops has been ramped up. What this means to the average home renovator is longer lead times for bench tops to be installed and costs increasing. This is due to ..read more

I regularly chat with a clients and industry professional about renovating homes, the cost of renovations and the best way to do it. There seems to be a number of common myths that regularly come up in these conversations. I just want to bust some of these myths to help you focus on your renovation being a success. Myth: My bathroom is only small, it won’t cost much to renovate. Fact: Small and large bathrooms usually have the same number of toilets, showers, vanities and baths and all require the same number of trades so actually are similar in costs per square metre. Myth: Cheap products w ..read more

Are you looking at spoiling yourself with a new kitchen? You've been having a look around on the market, speaking with cabinet makers, but not sure which is the best product for you? As a kitchen designer, clients often ask me what is the best choice for their kitchen cabinetry. There are a number of factors that impact your choice, such as budget, lifestyle, personal choice, finish etc. that will impact your decision. I've pulled together a number of popular selections available on the market today to help you make an informed decision. Melamine Laminate is a fantastic option if you're lookin ..read more

When you’re renovating a bathroom, there are some big decisions to make especially as they are the costliest room in your home and you don’t want to get it wrong. Bathrooms should last at least 20 years if done properly, so you want them to stand the test of time and not look dated within the first 5 years. I’ve often found that clients opt for the “safe” option when it comes to choosing colours and finishes for their bathroom, which often results in an underwhelming result at the end of the project and when you’ve spent upwards of $25,000 you want that wow factor and not the woe factor. Thes ..read more

There is a lot of uncertainty around the world at the moment with the COVID-19 virus. With this a lot of people are putting their renovation projects on hold in order to ride out these uncertain times. However, now is a great time to commence the early stages of your renovation project with your designer and family. Design can be done remotely with minimal exposure. The majority of design work is done on a computer, such as drawing up plans, 3D imaging and compiling specifications. Therefore there needs to be no face to face contact with anyone outside of your home. Engaging a designer who has ..read more