Home Extensions in Mona Vale.

“Our projects involve(d) home improvements and additions, so relatively modest compared to some other works Martin has been involved in. The first one was around 15 years ago and we have been doing various things since: the date below merely states one of the more recent projects. Initially, I wanted to do a lot of research myself, project manage the thing and handle builders, as well as council. We did speak with some builders, but part of the way in, I realised the complexity of it and the fact we would lose oversight very quickly. We approached Martin first around 2000 and, on a Sunday, he visited us to discuss our ideas which, other than having some global notion of what we wanted to achieve, were not clear cut. Martin was able to translate our ideas into concrete plans and understandable language and took the whole burden of management off our hands. This first project was to design and build a fourth bedroom, walk in wardrobe and full bathroom, separate shower and spa bath, as well as a toilet. Space was our enemy, due to a 5 meter high rock face restricting expansion capability, as well as access for machinery. All of this was taken into consideration and, as our plans developed, we gained a good understanding of why certain design features were done the way they were. We saw a true professional at work with indepth knowledge and skills in his field, which is displayed in every detail of his work. We were kept informed about the stages and had regular meetings. Martin pro-actively managed the builders, tradespeople and all administrative aspects, such as council requiremetns ect. He is meticulous and extremely easy to get along with: we have always felt completely comfortable in letting him manage our projects. This year will see a further uprgade, this time a kitchen revamp, skylights installation and a possible extension of a suspended concrete slab (about 2.8m above undulated, rocky ground) to allow for a larger garage/workshop area. This particularly, requires some clever engineering and design and for us, the choice is simple: we will never embark on this, or any other project without Martin's full involvement from the beginning.”

“Working with Ms Dang is a pleasant and fulfilling experience. No problems with contacting or discussing issues. I found her authoritative where I was uninformed, able to understand differing views and to incorporate them to the realities of existing conditions. I think we should be able to bring my project to a successful completion.”

“We bought a total dump of a terrace which had serious structural and aesthetic issues. We hired Palaestra to help us reconfigure the building to make the most of the spaces, increase the light while keeping the cost low. Palaestra solved the puzzle of using the space as well as possible. We have a truly brilliant new stair configuration. They designed really great rooms and had real sensitivity to our rather serious budget constraints. Unlike a number of the people we hired on the job, Palaestra really got that we couldn't afford the best or most beautiful finishes but always come up with a good looking alternative. Palaestra always deliveredon time and responded to crises.”

“As a practicing building designer with my own studio, I engaged Neche Page for a specialist consultation earlier this year on a matter where we were looking for certain expertise. I found her not only professional and knowledgeable, but an authentically creative thinker. Can highly recommend her, especially for renovations and extensions to family homes.”

“Iris Lev has a wonderful sense of space, flow and how families live in a home. We are so thrilled with how she helped us to transform our outdated family house into our dream home. Iris took us expertly from concept through to completion.”

“I & K Dezzine, have been great to work with. They have provided a professional & reliable service, I found Ashwin to understand my ideas and take pride in my project, like it was his own. Ashwin has been very pleasant to work with, I look forward to my next project. Thanks I & K Dezzine.”

“I had a very specific vision of what I wanted in our renovation. Graham from Project Works Design was able to translate that vision into detailed plans that complied with all the relevant building codes and requirements that were unknown to us. PWS provides professional service and expertise at a reasonable price. I highly recommend them.”

“Tracy from Connected Design did a brilliant job of designing the renovation of our 100 year old semi-detached house in Sydney's Inner West. She really listened to what we wanted in our house, matched our eco prinicples in an extremely knowledgeable way, dealt calmly with hiccups along the way (our challenging neighbours and strict council accoustic standards) and expertly guided us through the planning process. Best of all she has designed us an extremely liveable space that is within our budget. I can't wait to see her plans become reality next month when we start building.”

“Aldo from Archistudio 67 worked with us on the renovation of our Surry Hills terrace and drove the project from concept stage right through to completion. He not only provided architectural services, he also project managed throughout the design, tender and build phases; plus he also assisted with interior design advice to ensure we achieved the total 'look' we wanted. Aldo doesn't lead clients to a particular architectural style, rather he asks probing questions to get you to think about what you like and why; and also encourages you to think about how you will use each room and the important functional/design components that are required to achieve this outcome. Throughout this process he remained open to our ideas even when our wish list started to outgrow the stated budget, he always worked to deliver to our brief. Throughout the build phase of the project it became very evident that the attention to detail Aldo applied in the design phase was a sound investment - all the trades were able to co-ordinate very well and all the fixtures, etc arrived on site exactly on schedule, resulting in minimal delays. The obvious question is - would you work with Archistudio again? The answer is yes indeed - we already are!”

“Hungerford & Edmunds are a very professional organisation to be associated with and it was our pleasure to be included as a nominated manufacturer of architecturally designed timber windows and doors for the Newtown House. Their attention to detail with the integration of our products into their design concept was exceptional and the end result of the completed project was a reflection of this. Well done Tim and Belinda of Hungerford & Edmunds Architecture & Design! – Russell Pugh | General Manager”