A Complete Home Renovation in Kensington, Sydney

When the tenants moved out of this house in Sydney, the homeowner seized the opportunity to give the house a much-needed overhaul. Built more than 20 years ago, it was in need of a complete renovation and it had to be done quickly, so that the homeowner and his family could move back in.
“This project was a challenge to the team because the contract was granted on the basis that the deadline had to be met,” said Hashim Nasser, Renovation Specialist at Refresh Renovations in Sydney. “We accepted the deal, after giving careful consideration to all elements. What usually takes 12 weeks had to be delivered in nine weeks,” he explained.

it was great work by everyone involved and a job very well done

Home renovation cost

“We decided to break the project into major components and in consultation with the Construction Manager, John Hanna, we were able to establish a budget estimate. The figure of $355,000 AUD was determined after suppliers and tradesmen were invited to visit the project site and give a quotation for the work. The information was shared with the customer, showing the variations in price, including items that were added to the original scope,” said Hashim.
The project involved replacing almost everything, except the brick walls, so a detailed project scope and project plan were quickly developed. The roof also needed attention as it had leaked water into the ceilings and this had to be fixed to prevent further damage.
“As is the case with a lot of projects, you cannot predict or plan for every possible situation. When we completed the demolition and started the plumbing rough-in, we discovered that most of the drain pipes had 50-75% blockages, so we replaced every pipe that was blocked,” said Hashim.

Carrying out the house renovation

“The timber floor was removed and we then discovered there was a layer of old vinyl that had been glued to the slab. This took two extra days to remove, as we needed a clean slab for the installation of the new tiles and laminate flooring.  When it was time to level the 60sqm outdoor area in preparation for a new concrete slab to support the new charcoal tiling, we discovered that the stormwater piping was incorrectly installed which was causing the stormwater to retract back into a muddy and damp outdoor area. All of these unexpected issues added further pressure to the tight project timeline,” explained Hashim.

Kitchen renovation

The old kitchen was completely demolished and a column was removed from the middle of the kitchen-dining area, to create an uninterrupted flow throughout the space. A new kitchen, featuring white Amorini cabinets and a white Caesar Stone benchtop was installed, with a charcoal mirror splash-back adding contrast and style to this new state of the art kitchen.

Bedroom and bathroom renovations

Upstairs, the three bedrooms were completely refurbished and now feature spacious, mirrored built-ins. The two bathrooms showcase quality tiles and feature-walls, freestanding bathtubs, high-end vanities, European mixer taps, and frameless shower screens.
The guest toilet was redesigned to maximise use of the available space and to serve a fourth bedroom, which was added on the ground level; it now features: a frameless glass shower screen, a wall-hung vanity, with floor to ceiling large format tiles, giving the bathroom a feeling of luxury.

Laundry and flooring updates

The laundry underwent a complete overhaul and boasts a long benchtop for sorting and folding laundry, with space underneath for the washing machine and dryer. Overhead cabinetry provides ample storage.
A practical and functional combination of tile and laminate flooring throughout the house, new windows and doors, a fresh coat of paint, LED downlights and the installation of imported 2-layer Vision Roller Blinds on the windows, complete the transformation of, what is now, an elegant family home.

The work was completed in the nine-week timeframe and came in on budget.
“The key factors to a successful outcome were careful planning, coordination, multitasking, managing suppliers and managing changes and variations, all done without impacting the deadline. There were days when the project manager was orchestrating the work of five to six different trades, like a conductor of a symphony,” said Hashim.

House renovation feedback

“We had a really good experience with Hashim and the team at Refresh Renovations. They had a great commitment to quality and provided a permanent fix rather than work-around solutions to issues that arose during the project. They took full ownership of the renovation and made recommendations to improve the final outcome, which I believe has helped increase the value of our property.  We really appreciated their professional approach, continuous communication and regular progress updates. Overall it was great work by everyone involved and a job very well done,” said the delighted homeowner.

You may also be interested in reading Compact Kitchen Renovation in Sydney

Get in touch with Refresh to discuss your home renovation project

If you would like to discuss home renovation options for your next renovation project, please use the enquiry form on this page to provide us with your contact details. We will get in touch with you at a time that suits you to discuss your project. If you would like to provide us with more information about your project, we have a more comprehensive enquiry form on our "Get in touch" page too.
*All information is believed to be true at the time of publishing and is subject