Green Building Services in Kerrisdale, 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”

“Chaulk Studio did an excellent job of updating this small apartment, bringing the outside in, and making it feel incredibly spacious and calm. Every detail was carefully considered, making the space a joy to live in.”

“Creative, attentive, efficient, hard working, totally professional and focused on great creative outcomes, these young architects have been a delight to work with. From creative schemes to detailed plans to working with councils, statutory authorities, builders and tradesmen, they couple a youthful innovative approach with a practical hands on attention to building, construction, planning , timelines and budgets which gets the job done. They are conscious of budget and value and have over- delivered at every step of the client architect relationship and Project. Young minds and old heads. We would work with them again in a heartbeat. And I would unhesitatingly recommend them to anyone.”

“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!”

“We have used Ed for both of our renovations and have found him to be a great architect. For our first project we used Ed for both the design and the project management of a small renovation. We loved the design which dragged a 1970s monstrosity of a house (think lots of mission brown and wood panelling) right into the 21st Century. Tweaks that Ed made to layout just made the house 'work'. We were exceedingly happy with the result. Ed and his team worked tirelessly behind the scenes so that while we had the usual decisions to make, any of those problems that inevitably turn up on the site were solved before they hit our radar. Our second project was based in Sydney (see Ed's project titled 'Springfield' ) and although we spoke with some local architects we didn't get the same comfortable feeling as we had with Ed. Our second renovation was a major undertaking on a heritage listed house where there had been multiple renovations done in the past and little coherence. The floorplan had small spaces left over that had no practical use and the house was very tired. We extended but only by a small amount but again by rationalising the floorplan we have ended up with a much more usable space. The end result is a gorgeous home. This time I was the project manager but Ed and his team remained on call through-out for whenever my builder or I had any queries. What I love about Ed is that we have achieved a great balance between gorgeous design and practicality. The space looks fab but it is also easy to live in and we love that!”