Green Building Services in Granite, Victoria

“We wanted a garden studio that could also provide extra accommodation when necessary; we have a seaside location which draws family and friends at holiday time. Our house is a traditional 50's stone place so we wanted something to blend in but to also add some contemporary pizzazz. Jane listened carefully to our needs and not so definite brief but came up with a very interesting, practical design which we really liked. She also linked this space design wise to an enclosed courtyard and pergola; unifying the north facing and sheltered back yard. This was probably the only real specification that we provided, that all would function as a whole with scope to add through planting of coastal and indigenous plant species. Jane's creative flair certainly has achieved this, she was always responsive and efficiently came up with practical solutions when we had questions. It has been easy to work with her because of her willingness to focus on the task at each step of the way; keeping us on track in our meanderings! The builders have been impressed with her attention to design detail.”

“Peter developed the plans to renovate and extend our Californian bungalow in Melbourne. He was great to work with - he listened well to our needs and created a considered and thoughtful floor plan. It was also great having the input of an interior designer who works with Peter, as this helped provide the creative input to finishes and fixtures throughout the house. I would recommend Peter to others!”

“I have photographed a couple of projects by RMR Architects and have found Renuka to be a thoughtful architect who not only addresses the need of her clients but provides them with a house design that is elegant and very liveable.”

“Our 146m² home is part of what was once a factory. It was converted into townhouses about 20 years ago and when we bought it, it was due for a complete refurbishment. We spent 12 months thinking about the changes we wanted to make and gaining building approval. Then, we started to look for a construction company that could provide a well-organised construction process, with high quality workmanship, for the right price. After we had had several unsatisfactory meetings with other potential builders, one of our daughter’s friends recommended we meet with Gareth Owens. Gareth is a builder and had just gone into partnership with architect, Elena Cazacu. Together, they have created Evissa, a company that focuses on design and construct projects. We were impressed with them from our first meeting onwards and even more so after talking with some of their previous clients. People consistently spoke of their professionalism, enthusiasm and reliability. Watching the project begin and develop towards completion was a very happy experience. Communication was easy and honest. Elena and Gareth were always approachable, provided us with regular and detailed progress reports and dealt with any issues or concerns in a timely and professional manner. The Evissa design and construct model was ideal for what the refurbishment we planned – two new bathrooms, a new kitchen, new flooring, windows and doors plus some reconfiguration of the internal space. Significantly, as building work evolved and revealed previously hidden possibilities, the Evissa team was quick to bring these to our attention and show us how these could contribute to our underlying goal of bringing more light into what had been a rather dark ground floor area. These changes to the design along the way added considerable value to our property and a vastly improved outcome. There was a good continuity of trades so the project kept moving. The work site was orderly, clean and, importantly, happy. The renovation was completed on time, within budget and to a high standard. Evissa provided the team and expertise that you always hope to find for a building project. We are pleased to have this opportunity to recommend them. Maureen and John Sidoti Brunswick”

“I photographed the Colour House for Ande in 2014. The joy her clients felt at the remodelling of their house was evident, particularly the incorporation of original, colourful elements in the design, hence the project's name. Ande included green principles in the project, converting an old inner city house into an oasis of light, air and very liveable spaces, including a hidden roof deck where the clients "sleep out" on hot nights. Ande is a thoughtful and inventive architect and a fun client to work with.”

“I recently designed a front and rear landscape for a Balaclava project designed by Taylor Knights. I saw the house before the major renovation which was a fairly standard Edwardian with little space to extend beyond the existing footprint without diminishing the much needed outdoor areas. I thought this would be tough to achieve anything special. How wrong I was! Not only have they created extremely livable and open interior spaces filled with light, plus a private upstairs suite but it’s their considered choices using off the shelf cost effective materials in unexpected ways, that sets these guys apart. Wainscoting and standard pegboard by way of example, become jewels when handled with such care and without blowing the budget. Sure, there are some architectural tricks you’d expect from a young architectural firm, but they don’t take over and create unique textures that are very easy to live with. For me, the test of great design is when you look at the finished project and if you are not too sure what year it was completed then that’s a mark of great architects. They have achieved a ‘timeless’ outcome, which takes real skill and is why I would highly recommend Taylor Knights for a renovation or new residential build. Andrew Plymin Andrew Plymin Garden Spaces.”

“It was great working with Lisa on our deck/roof extension. She listened to our ideas and requirements and designed a great extension that's very sympathetic to the style of our home. Thanks Lisa!”

“I engaged Sebastiano from SG2 to design a renovation of our tired and poorly built California 3-bedroom bungalow in West Footscray. I also employed him to administer the contract with our builder. The house required considerable rebuilding. It'd been poorly built and maintained and it was way beyond just reblocking and replastering, so there was an opportunity for extensive modification of the interior. (It turned out the house was in considerably worse shape than the builder originally thought, and in the end essentially only the facade and some of the original roof trussing remained from the original.) I explicitly wanted the design to be more of an update and modernisation of the interior spaces than a large exterior statement. I briefed Sebastiano to: * plan a single level house within the existing footprint that maintained, as much as possible, the original exterior appearance & proportions (I didn't want the house to have an addition visible from the street) * create more useable space, including much more cupboard space, while more or less following the existing floor plan (ie, retaining 3 BRs or 2 BRs & study) in the front half of the house * open up the rear part of the house to more light and the garden while accommodating an old magnolia tree that was growing over the rear of the house * create a long, open kitchen space combined with a "European style" laundry * incorporate DG windows, insulation of all exterior & interior walls, and hydronic heating * develop a plan that wouldn't require extensive planning permissions &c from the local council. We met several times at my house to discuss the brief. Sebastiano took measurements &c, and I supplied him with some roughly drawn provisional plans. Within a few days of our first meeting, Sebastian had spoken with Council about planning issues around the proposed plans and came back to me with provisional drawings which, with only a few adjustments over the next few weeks, not only fulfilled but exceeded the brief. This part of the renovation process took only a couple of months and any delays were a result of my procrastination than anything Sebastiano did. He took care of all permits, negotiations with engineers &c, to an extent that I hadn't expected, which was a great relief. Sebastiano's plan included a modest addition to the footprint which didn't require a permit from Council, and greatly improved my ideas, making some notable additions. Most obvious amongst these was a large light well which opens the the rear of the house to light and provides a high ceiling in line with the roof pitch. This improves the interior space and helps to define the kitchen and living areas without sharply separating them. Now that the house is finished and I'm living in it, I greatly appreciate the simplicity, practicality, and livability of the design. Sebastiano has managed to create modern, spacious areas/volumes inside what is, by today's standards, a relatively small house. The play of light in the rear room(s) thru the light well is a real highlight, as is the plan and finishing of the kitchen/laundry area. All of this done without "periodising" the interior or making an in-your-face design statement (tho I guess one person's in-your-face is another's "meh"). What Sebastiano achieved was, I think, clean, simple, practical design with well thought through details of finish & treatment that fit the original style of the house and, most importantly, my partner's and my way of living. Throughout this part of the process, as elsewhere, Sebastiano managed to allay my tyro renovator's anxieties, provide helpful advice, meet deadlines, reassure me about the financial implications of the project, and to negotiate effectively with my builder. His reassurances helped me maintain at least the impression of humor and confidence throughout what, thru no fault of Sebastiano, turned out to be a very long build. As I mentioned, I also engaged Sebastiano to administer the contract with the builder. In this, I'm sure he went much beyond what I had a right to expect. He attended the site regularly, provided timely and accurate information and advice about the progress of the build. He fielded my ignorance, anxieties, vacillation, changes of mind, outrageous demands, and stupidity with reassuring calm. I always felt he was treating me respectfully, patiently, and more than fairly. He returned all my calls and emails within 24 hours, usually within an hour or two. His recommendations (he always provided some options) about fittings, finishes, and suppliers were invaluable and invariably better in terms of quality and price than anything I could find myself. I felt confident that it was speedier, more economical, and more beneficial to accept Sebastiano's recommendations than to waste time looking for alternatives. Sebastiano promptly and effectively negotiated some variations from the contracted plans and, throughout, tactfully managed the relationship between me and the builder. He had an eye for details and worked assiduously to maintain the standard of the build. I have no hesitation in highly recommending Sebastiano and SG2. He provided excellent plans that met my brief and exceeded my expectations. He worked well with me and the builder; kept the build well within budget; ensured the quality of the work and finishes; is patient and calm; communicates well; and was responsive, patient, and professional throughout the entire process.”

“Peter Barton Architect ,Thinks out side the square to come up with some great looking homes, From Start to finish Peter's staff work with you step by step”

“We have engaged Chadwick Architects on a number of occasions to help and guide us through concept development and the town planning process. Our projects with Chadwick Architects have involved renovations and extensions to our family homes. Chadwick Architects understood our brief, was keen to workshop different options and provided a number of concepts through the design process. They cleared articulated and explained the design rationale, optimising the design within the constraints of the site. On multiple projects, Chadwick Architects delivered a tailored architectural design package consistent with our brief. Throughout the process, Chadwick Architects were professional, added considerable value and were efficient with designs and plan amendments. Chadwick Architects were wonderful to work with, creative and their product exceeded our expectations. The quality and detail of the proposed plans made them easy to interpret and for us to see their vision. We will certainly consider Chadwick Architects again for a future project, and would highly recommend them to anyone”