NORTHBOURNE Architecture + Design

We were faced with a dilemma of wanting/needing to renovate the internal footprint of our house (including restumping) but having zero idea of how to go about it. Sally from Northbourne met with us, listened to what we were hoping to achieve, and presented us with options of how Northbourne could help us. In the end we hired Northbourne to draw up plans of our end goal for our internal renovations (as we planned to do the renovations in stages) and to assist us with what we needed to do to get out house to the end of the structural stage of the renovations. Drew and Sally assisted with the hiring of a geotech engineer and a structural engineer, the extremely hard search for builders over the many lockdowns in Melbourne, the adjusting of plans and the obtaining of the permit. As people who had NO idea where to start, what to do or where to go, Sally and Drew have been amazing at listening to us, guiding us, working within our budget (which was vague at best - but obviously didn't want to spend lots of money), checking in on us, and sharing the hard parts and the successes. When crazy options were presented to us from contractors, Drew was very quick to assist us with options that were more budget friendly and realistic. Embarking on any of this over the covid lockdowns was difficult, but having the amazing plan of what our house is going to look like eventually has been a fabulous thing to look forward to. We feel so lucky to have found Northbourne to assist us make our home work for our family for the long term.

We engaged Sally from Northbourne Architects as we were trying to fit everything we wanted into our new Master bedroom and en-suite. Our first interaction was a teleconference and we were impressed at how quickly she was able to process the information and point out possible hurdles that would need to be jumped in order to avoid issues. She is clearly able to relate her past experience to her jobs and eliminate hassles before they arise. We hired her after this teleconference, though we were not certain that a satisfactory solution was even possible. However Sally came back to us in a timely manner with a proposal that was pretty perfect. She presented us with a storyboard that included themes based on materials we had mentioned and she had clearly listened and understood the things that were important to us. Sally always ensured the lines of communication were open and got back to us in a timely fashion. We would recommend her services to anyone wanting to improve their home. Alysia & Joran Laird.

"We came across Northbourne Architecture + Design during an online search. We had never worked with an architect or interior designer before so didn’t really know what to look for or what to expect, but we really liked their past work and was impressed with the clarity of their project approach. After talking with the director Sally over the phone, her thorough questioning and genuine interest in the project gave me confidence that Northbourne was the right fit to design and implement the renovation and interior design of our 3 bedroom home in Griffith. Before any design work commenced, Sally put together a tailored questionnaire to help us narrow down a project brief. Although this did take some time to complete, the whole process helped us to think about all our options and figure out what we really needed. Having the clear brief outlined also meant Sally was able to provide a design that we loved and provided all our needs so there was no going round in circles or awkward conversations! Northbourne also put together the interior design scheme for our house, which included all the materials, fittings and furniture selections. We are very pleased with the end result and feel the interiors are now harmonious with the architectural style of the house and our lifestyles. When it came time to build, Sally put forward some builder recommendations. This was a godsend as we didn’t know of any trustworthy builders. Sally liaised with all the builders and organised quotes on our behalf. She also facilitated meetings so we could meet each of the builders, which made the decision making process easier. Sally dealt directly with the builder during construction. This meant we didn’t need to be on call all the time to answer the builder’s questions. This suited us because we work full time and didn’t want to be burdened with the stress! However, if there was something that required our feedback, Sally would always discuss these with us before directing the builder. Sally also reported back to us regularly during construction so we were up to speed with the progress which gave us peace of mind during this phase. Now that the renovation is complete and all the furniture has arrived, we have been enjoying our enhanced lifestyles and wake up every morning with a big smile! The furniture Sally selected works beautifully with the overall design and has exceeded our expectations. The design details and craftsmanship are beautiful and top quality. We are absolutely delighted with the end result and very much enjoyed the process. I would highly recommended Northbourne to anyone – in fact, we have already recommended them to friends!"

Northbourne transforned our family home, from dull and outdated to absolutely fabulous. Sally was able to integrate all our needs (plentiful light,cosy living with fireplace, the right temperature whether it's hot or cold outside,abundance of storage, maximising spaces) as well as creating a modern,beach house feel in the middle of an urban sprawl. There is not a week that has gone by where either myself or my partner has not said "I love our house".

I recently photographed the PerfPad project for Northbourne Architecture and Design. Sally's stunning work is underpinned by her attention to detail - it is evident that every part of the project is carefully considered and intentionally designed. I was thrilled with the outcome of the shoot, as Sally took the same detailed approach to the photography. She invested the time to arrange all the furniture and styling props, provided a clear brief about the imagery she required and I enjoyed the collaborative approach she took to the project. Sally is highly professional, takes pride in her work and I have every confidence in her ability to create a wonderful outcome for every project she takes on. I look forward to working with her again in the future.

During the process of building our house, we engaged Northbourne Architecture and Design to provide the lighting plan. We knew that getting the lighting right was important as it can have a big impact on the feel of each space. The plan Sally came up with was fantastic, with so much attention to detail, suggesting clever ways to use lighting to enhance difference spaces. Both indoor and outdoor spaces were included. She also included a list of suggested products, location of all powerpoints, media points and light switches. It took so much stress out of the process for us. Highly recommend using this firm.

In 2014 Northbourne provided the interior design for our cocktail bar in Fitzroy, Bad Frankie. It required specific brand alignment, which paired with our budget, was always going to be a difficult task. Sally provided expert advice and designed something that met our budget and timeline, making sure all other parties met their deadlines as well. The space is warm and inviting, cleverly using space yet comfortable. Two years later the space still looks just as good as the day we opened. We can't thank Sally enough for her advice and hard work, we felt like she was more of a partner than our designer.

The renovation is more beautiful and the spaces work better than we could have imagined. Having Northbourne design both the structure and the interiors removed the overwhelming amount of decision making, and the results are truly stunning - giving Northbourne creative licence was a fantastic decision. Northbourne's attention to detail and genuine concern for getting things perfect made the company a joy to work with. J & C Canty.

Sally from Northbourne is unbelievable to work with. Right from our first meeting, she took the time to thoroughly understand my vision, my property, whilst also helping me to work through factors I hadn’t thought to consider when designing my dream space. Sally and her team were very patient and thorough when working with me through various options for my home renovation. Sally worked to create a space that was amazingly beautiful, architecturally exciting modern, whilst also blending effortlessly and fluently with my existing Edwardian home. Working with Sally has been an exciting experience. I have been impressed with the efficiency and effectiveness of Northbourne’s service. Nothing is ever too much trouble and the costs associated have always been explained so that I can make informed decisions at each step of the process. I was really impressed with the way Sally turned my described preferences into tangible materials that were then incorporated into the build. Incorporating timber shingles and parquetry flooring into a modern space added a class and elegance whilst also incorporating a modern edginess that I absolutely love! Northbourne understand spatial functionality for a modern lifestyle and designed a space that includes features that are so useful. I never would have thought of built-in shelving and in-floor storage spaces. Northbourne maximised the space available and utilised every facet to create an amazing design outcome. Sally and the team at Northbourne made what could be a daunting and stressful process, exciting and fun. Nothing was ever too much trouble and this gave me confidence and made the process really enjoyable. I felt supported and like I there was a team who were determined to help me achieve satisfaction every step of the way. The support from Northbourne was exceptional and I would highly recommend their services to anyone wanting to create something extraordinary.

Sally and the team from Northbourne transformed our pre 1970s home into a modern spacious light filled home. The beautiful bush landscape was incorporated into every aspect. Another important detail was storage which was designed with amazing precision. I would thoroughly recommend Northbourne who manage to embrace our needs with out breaking the budget and integrating beautiful design.

I had a great experience with Northbourne Architecture and Design when I went to them seeking advise with the possibilities of Northbourne building my dream home. The information and care that I received, made me feel very comfortable in taking my project further with them. Building a house is a massive commitment and many people can get scared about the unknown, but I felt this team were the perfect match for me. I would highly recommend Northbourne Archiecture and Design to everyone who requires the perfect home, you will be taken care of all the way through the process. I am extremely happy with the design and outcome of the project.