Renovating
Best of 2022: 3 Design Pros Share Their Favourite Projects
As we bid farewell to 2021, three design professionals tell us about the projects they're most proud of this year
The end of the year is around the corner, making it the perfect time to reflect on the triumphs, learnings and inevitable challenges the past 12 months have brought to your business: crucial insights that will help you fine tune your focus for 2023. Here, three design professionals reveal the one project that stood out for them in 2022, and why.
What did you love about it?
I loved this project because it involved a complete rethink of the floor plan and spatial planning beyond the client’s initial ideas for their desired vision to be achieved.
It really put my creative juices to work to ensure the client’s vision was delivered while addressing all the elements of great design, from style, aesthetics and functionality to flow.
Learn more about Houzz Pro all-in-one business software
I loved this project because it involved a complete rethink of the floor plan and spatial planning beyond the client’s initial ideas for their desired vision to be achieved.
It really put my creative juices to work to ensure the client’s vision was delivered while addressing all the elements of great design, from style, aesthetics and functionality to flow.
Learn more about Houzz Pro all-in-one business software
What was your brief?
A complete kitchen and bathroom renovation. A living-area extension had been built at the rear of the home before I came onboard. As well as updating the kitchen, the client wanted to use some of this extra space to enlarge the kitchen’s tight footprint.
The client also wanted a solution to update and redesign the main bathroom, and reduce the number of doors that opened directly into the main living area, including the bathroom entrance.
A complete kitchen and bathroom renovation. A living-area extension had been built at the rear of the home before I came onboard. As well as updating the kitchen, the client wanted to use some of this extra space to enlarge the kitchen’s tight footprint.
The client also wanted a solution to update and redesign the main bathroom, and reduce the number of doors that opened directly into the main living area, including the bathroom entrance.
What was your design solution?
- Changed the layout of the kitchen to open it up, improve workflow and increase storage, while enlarging it by extending into the living space.
- Turned the side entrance of the house – which ran alongside the kitchen and was being used as the main entrance – into a new butler’s pantry housing food, additional storage, a preparation area and a double oven.
- Moved the main entrance to the front of the house and added new skylights in the front hallway to draw light into this previously dark space, along with a new chandelier to create a showpiece.
- With the bathroom, we turned the separate toilet into a mini-hallway that provided access to the main bathroom and bedrooms, and moved the toilet into the bathroom. This removed the numerous doors that swung open into the living area and created a bathroom that catered to a family with teenagers.
What challenges did you face?
Being a century-old home, there were ageing structures and materials to deal with, plus the house had been through several renovations in its lifetime.
Just these two elements can create multiple issues when you’re renovating, from outdated electricals to failing plumbing. Plus, there are the inevitable issues you find when you start peeling away the layers in the initial stages of a major renovation.
In the main bathroom here, we removed the old subfloor and discovered rotting timber joists due to the shower leaking for many years. The shower was probably only months away from falling through the floor. While we resolved issues like this and others, they can eat into a tight schedule and budget, so keeping the project on track to deliver on time and on budget required some creative thinking.
Being a century-old home, there were ageing structures and materials to deal with, plus the house had been through several renovations in its lifetime.
Just these two elements can create multiple issues when you’re renovating, from outdated electricals to failing plumbing. Plus, there are the inevitable issues you find when you start peeling away the layers in the initial stages of a major renovation.
In the main bathroom here, we removed the old subfloor and discovered rotting timber joists due to the shower leaking for many years. The shower was probably only months away from falling through the floor. While we resolved issues like this and others, they can eat into a tight schedule and budget, so keeping the project on track to deliver on time and on budget required some creative thinking.
How did Houzz Pro software help?
We used every Houzz Pro tool available. It helped with all aspects of this project, from managing communications and creating the design and mood boards to product selection, timelines, product approvals, quotes, invoicing and payments.
It was such a large project and Houzz Pro helped streamline all the various elements in one place.
In particular, the visualisations aspect was very helpful. Having the ability to go into the online client portal and resolve any questions or issues using a visual image saved us a lot of time and confusion. Houzz Pro helped us deliver a fantastic result along with a better client experience.
Crystal Clear: How to Help Clients Visualise a Finished Project
We used every Houzz Pro tool available. It helped with all aspects of this project, from managing communications and creating the design and mood boards to product selection, timelines, product approvals, quotes, invoicing and payments.
It was such a large project and Houzz Pro helped streamline all the various elements in one place.
In particular, the visualisations aspect was very helpful. Having the ability to go into the online client portal and resolve any questions or issues using a visual image saved us a lot of time and confusion. Houzz Pro helped us deliver a fantastic result along with a better client experience.
Crystal Clear: How to Help Clients Visualise a Finished Project
Joanne Galea, interior designer and founder of Style and Harmony
Favourite project of 2022: A large-scale renovation of my family holiday home
Client: Myself and my growing family, which includes three adult children and three grandchildren
Location: Mount Martha, Victoria
Favourite project of 2022: A large-scale renovation of my family holiday home
Client: Myself and my growing family, which includes three adult children and three grandchildren
Location: Mount Martha, Victoria
What did you love about it?
Everything from the planning to the execution. This was a very personal project and one that I’ve been dreaming about for a long time, transforming our family holiday home into a space the grandchildren can enjoy and create memories.
I’m delighted with the way we have transformed a once-tired and dark house into a light-filled and welcoming home. I’m also pleased with how we added to the sense of space without increasing the home’s footprint.
Everything from the planning to the execution. This was a very personal project and one that I’ve been dreaming about for a long time, transforming our family holiday home into a space the grandchildren can enjoy and create memories.
I’m delighted with the way we have transformed a once-tired and dark house into a light-filled and welcoming home. I’m also pleased with how we added to the sense of space without increasing the home’s footprint.
What were your goals?
- Modernise the kitchen and living spaces.
- Create more fridge space to keep up with the demands of guests in summer.
- Increase natural light.
- Update the tiles, fittings and fixtures.
- Create a double vanity in the main ensuite.
- Update the bathrooms, including separating the toilet from the main bathroom and making the latter bigger to accommodate guests.
What was your design solution?
- We removed certain walls in the house to create more flexibility and a sense of openness, including the walls housing the kitchen.
- Added stunning, brushed-brass appliances in the kitchen, including a brass sink.
- Added a bigger, integrated fridge and dishwasher.
- Installed a skylight in the kitchen, larger windows and glazed exterior doors to flood the kitchen and living space with light.
- Used terrazzo tiles throughout the interior and exterior spaces for a sense of cohesion.
- Removed a wall in the bathroom to create a bigger main bathroom, with a separate main toilet.
What challenges did you face?
Existing pipework meant we couldn’t centre the skylight over the kitchen as planned. So we offset the skylight and played on the asymmetry with the island pendant, creating an interesting feature.
Existing pipework meant we couldn’t centre the skylight over the kitchen as planned. So we offset the skylight and played on the asymmetry with the island pendant, creating an interesting feature.
How did Houzz Pro software help?
We used Houzz Pro Floor Plans to sketch out initial ideas, before handing them over to building design firm Rob Ryan Projects, which was fabulous. I would also like to acknowledge our builder, Steve Aloi at The Bathroom Group, for his wonderful work on this project.
We used Houzz Pro Floor Plans to sketch out initial ideas, before handing them over to building design firm Rob Ryan Projects, which was fabulous. I would also like to acknowledge our builder, Steve Aloi at The Bathroom Group, for his wonderful work on this project.
Sophie Kost, lead designer at My Beautiful Abode
Favourite project of 2022: A Hamptons-style renovation of a home for a family of six
Client: A couple with four children
Location: Camberwell, Victoria
Favourite project of 2022: A Hamptons-style renovation of a home for a family of six
Client: A couple with four children
Location: Camberwell, Victoria
What did you love about it?
That the brief was for a practical family home that still looked beautiful. I love that we met the brief without any compromises.
That the brief was for a practical family home that still looked beautiful. I love that we met the brief without any compromises.
What was your brief?
To create a family friendly, Hamptons-style home for a large family.
Browse more beautiful coastal-style kitchens by Australian designers
To create a family friendly, Hamptons-style home for a large family.
Browse more beautiful coastal-style kitchens by Australian designers
What was your design solution?
We used a colour palette that flowed between the downstairs and upstairs living spaces to create a feeling of continuity.
We used a colour palette that flowed between the downstairs and upstairs living spaces to create a feeling of continuity.
What challenges did you face?
As with many projects at the moment, we had to deal with extended lead times and manage expectations – both our own and the client’s – about how quickly the project could be delivered.
As with many projects at the moment, we had to deal with extended lead times and manage expectations – both our own and the client’s – about how quickly the project could be delivered.
Your turn
Which residential design or building project did you enjoy the most this year? Tell us about it in the Comments below and upload the images to your Houzz profile – we’d love to see your work!
More
Want to see more of pros’ favourite projects from the year just gone? Don’t miss this story 3 Pros Share Their Favourite Projects of 2022
Which residential design or building project did you enjoy the most this year? Tell us about it in the Comments below and upload the images to your Houzz profile – we’d love to see your work!
More
Want to see more of pros’ favourite projects from the year just gone? Don’t miss this story 3 Pros Share Their Favourite Projects of 2022
Favourite project of 2022: The redesign of a Victorian cottage over 100 years old, involving a kitchen, butler’s pantry, living room, dining room and bathroom
Client: A time-poor engineer with two young teens
Location: Brighton, Victoria