Total Home Renovation in The Basin, Victoria

Nestled at the foothills of the majestic Dandenong Ranges in Victoria, is the home of Sara and Nick. Built in the 1970s, their solid brick house was showing it's age and Sara and Nick knew it was time to start the renovation they had always planned to do, since buying the house in 2008. The kitchen, living room, laundry and the family bathroom, were all in need of an update.
The couple met with Marcus Smith, Renovation Specialist and business owner at Refresh Renovations in Melbourne who talked them through the Refresh Renovations process, from the Briefing Phase through Concept and Feasibility, to the next step of Working Drawings and Costings, followed by the Build Phase and concluding with the Handover.

House renovation ideas

“When I first met Sara and Nick, they knew they needed to do the renovation but they didn’t know how to get started,” explained Marcus.  With a bit of guidance and some suggestions about the layout, it all came together. With a clearly defined brief, the project quickly got underway” he added.
A self-contained apartment above the double garage provided temporary accommodation for Sara, Nick and their 10-year-old daughter, while the interior of the house was demolished and underwent the transformation.

Discovering termite damage

“Prior to commencing the renovation, the couple expressed concern about a few soft spots in the floor. Unfortunately, once the demolition phase began, it became evident that there was extensive termite damage in the floor of the property,” explained Marcus. “Although this was a major setback so early in the process, we were quickly able to install a cost-effective, termite resistant floor throughout the house and the project moved forward,” he added.
Working with Marcus was fantastic. They were very flexible when we made changes during the project
The kitchen was extended, by removing a wall and doorway that led into the old laundry. A corner of the new kitchen now houses the washing machine and the extra space was fitted with additional floor to ceiling white cabinetry, from Amorini, providing plenty of kitchen storage. Black granite bench-tops and mosaic-tiled splashbacks complete the makeover of this stunning new galley style kitchen.

The bathroom and kitchen renovations

“The big surprise for Sara and Nick was how much bigger the kitchen space actually was when we opened it up just that little bit. Now it feels so much bigger and better than what they had before,” said Marcus.
By removing the wall separating the toilet and bathroom, the home now features a more spacious and functional, family bathroom. A wall-hung vanity and double sink, heated towel rail, frameless glass shower screen and floor to ceiling tiles, add a luxurious ambience to the room.

The floors were finished with Arkitek Grey, glazed porcelain tiles, from Beaumont Tiles. These were installed in the living areas of the house and create uniformity throughout. The walls were painted a soft shade of blue, with bright white ceilings, featuring LED downlights, resulting in a light, bright modern home.

Final thoughts

“Working with Marcus was fantastic. They were very flexible when we made changes during the project. They kept us informed all the way through and they were fun to work with too. We just love it all,” said Sara.

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*All information is believed to be true at the time of publishing and is subject to change.