Kitchen, Bathroom, WC & Exterior Renovation In Newlands, Wellington

We received a renovation request for a 1950s three-bedroom bungalow in Newlands, Wellington.

The owner of the home, Wendy Lewis wants to open up the cramped kitchen into a spacious living area that opens to an outdoor space and to upgrade the bathroom and WC for modern living. Also, Wendy wanted to enhance the exterior with new French doors leading to an outdoor area with a pergola.

Structural and Design Challenges

The renovation had major changes to the home’s layout. From the removal of an internal wall to the installation of a new beam to create an open-plan kitchen and living area. All the structural changes also necessitated the installation of French doors which connected the interior space to the outdoors.

During demolition, the team discovered that the wall between the hallway and living room was skewed and non-compliant, requiring it to be reframed to meet safety standards.

Detailed Work and Trades Involved

The renovation covered multiple areas of the home:

• Bathroom upgrade: Modernizing the existing bathroom and WC.
• Kitchen renovation: Creating an open-plan kitchen with indoor-outdoor flow.
• Living room: Connecting the living space to the kitchen and outdoors.
• Exterior work: Installing French doors and creating an outdoor area with a pergola.

The work was carried out by a team of skilled tradespeople which included:

• Builder
• Electrician
• Plumber
• Flooring Specialist
• Tiler
• Kitchen Joiner
• Window Joiner

We required the council's consent to remove the internal wall, install the new beam, and make changes to the exterior wall.

Innovative Design Solutions and Features

The renovation featured innovative design elements like the use of handmade Fired Earth orange tiles as a kitchen splashback. These tiles added a bright splash of color that contrasted beautifully with the dark joinery. It made the kitchen a focal point of the home. The design was further enhanced by the Rimu frames that tied the aesthetic together.

Final Result and Client Feedback

The renovation successfully created a cohesive design that flows effortlessly from the living room to the kitchen and out to the outdoor area. The discovery of Rimu flooring under the carpet in the living room led to an additional feature, where the flooring was continued into the hallway and polished. It added to the home’s charm.

Wendy Lewis was thrilled with the final result. She expressed her satisfaction in an online review and praised the Refresh Renovations team for their guidance. She also highlighted our attention to detail, and ability to bring her vision to life. Wendy appreciated how the team listened to her ideas and enhanced them with three concept designs, ultimately creating a space that exceeded her expectations.

In her words:

"Lia and her team guided me through the whole process from the initial ideas through to the finished product. They were very good at listening, understanding and enhancing my own ideas to create three concept designs for me to choose. Their knowledge of local council bylaws and changes to regulations was up to date. They worked hard to keep to the completion date and any concerns that I brought to them were acted on immediately. I cannot speak highly enough of them. I had no concept of the work that is required in the planning and building of my renovations. I now have this amazing space that I live in and could not have done it without them. Thank you so much Refresh Renovations."