Michael Dougherty Design

The renovation work on our 1923 Queenslander is now complete and we couldn't be happier! Adding a third storey to a Queenslander was never going to be an easy process, but Michael was always positive and confident that he could make it happen! In the end we had no problems at all and the result is a home that we have fallen in love with all over again!! What a pleasure it was to work with a professional who was not only able to translate our dream into a reality, but was able to achieve a beautiful end result with grace and humour. Nothing was ever too much trouble, Michael never made us feel like our ideas weren't useful and his design WORKS!! How lucky were we to have chosen Michael Dougherty Design.

There are 3 mistakes a lot of architects make. 1. They do not take the client's budget seriously. 2. They do not take into consideration that the house has to be functional for a family to live in. 3. If they are slow they can really hold the project up. Michael was constantly reminding me about the budget we set, not the other way around. Michael is very creative but he understands a house has to be functional, for e.g. if he saw a corner that was not being utilised for anything in the plans, he would suggest putting in more storage, he was good at working with natural light to. He manages time well, responds quickly, and always has things done when he says he will. He is not one for excuses. We also had a talented builder who has since retired, and said that throughout his whole career Michael's plans were the only plans he has ever worked with that didn't need to be changed because they were accurate to the mm, with cabinetry etc. I have an amazing home, that people have wanted to photograph or put in magazines. We are as grateful for its aesthetics as we are for its livability. The whole designing process was straight forward to.

Michael listened to our needs and designed a striking extension that completely met our needs. He was very professional, on time and importantly designed an extension that could be delivered within our construction budget.

Michael Dougherty Design provided a comprehensive service including:- the organisation of council approvals, engineering reports, building quotes and, of course, the design of our renovations. From beginning to end, Michael remained involved in the project ensuring the smooth and seamless transition from the conceptual phase to building completion. Michael's ability to understand our requirements, and put those demands into practical application, as well as his attention to detail, bringing the elements of architectural design from our old Queenslander into the newer parts of the building, have ensured a beautifully crafted renovation, that works hard for the needs of our family.

Michael listens, and translates ideas into a beautiful and functional reality. And above all he is patient, when the client wanders in various directions, calmly rounding up the ideas and delivering exactly what I meant.