Planning your new bathroom

By Amanda03/11/201910/21/2024 Bathroom, Blog, Design, Interior design, Planning

Planning a bathroom renovation Download our bathroom planning checklist! Renovating creates an ideal opportunity to design a beautiful bathroom that makes good use of your available space and flows well.Set a budget Whatever your budget, you’ll need to have a healthy contingency fund, since issues such as water damage or old pipes are often…

Tips for ergonomic kitchen design

By Amanda11/14/201802/14/2024 Blog, Kitchen

Ergonomic kitchen design Download our kitchen planning checklist! Considering how much time you’ll spend in your new kitchen, it makes sense to ensure it’s ergonomically designed.To ensure good ergonomic kitchen design you’ll need to consider how to make sure each aspect of the room and the things in it, are functional, fit for purpose and…

Planning your kitchen layout

By Amanda10/09/201802/14/2024 Blog, Kitchen

Choosing your kitchen layout Download our kitchen planning checklist! Most family kitchens are much more than a place to cook. It’s also a casual dining space, homework area, charging station for devices and entertainment hub. Make sure to carefully plan a functional kitchen layout before getting to the fun task of choosing your finishes…

Safe residential asbestos removal

By Amanda09/19/201801/25/2021 Planning

Is asbestos in your home? If you’re planning a major renovation or doing some DIY around your home, keep safe by checking for asbestos. If your home was built before 2000, and especially those built or renovated between 1940 and the mid 1980’s, then it’s likely to contain some form of asbestos. You may even…

Advice on making decisions

By Amanda07/12/201809/28/2020 Blog, Design, Planning, Renovation

Making decisions While renovating your home or building a new one is fun and exciting, it can also be really challenging. With so many available choices, making decisions for your new build can leave you feeling totally overwhelmed! We recommend you start by prioritising the important decisions: budget, choosing your architect and builder and finalising your design….

Do I need building consent?

By Amanda05/06/201806/25/2024 Blog, Design, Planning, Renovation

Do I need building consent? Get advice In Auckland, building and planning rules come from four key sources:Resource Management Act – ensures the environmental effects are managed wellAuckland Unitary Plan – outlines which activities are permitted and what you need resource consent forBuilding Act 2004 – sets out the rules for construction, alteration, demolition…

Who should draw the building plans?

By Amanda04/05/201809/28/2020 Blog, Design, Planning, Renovation

Great building plans are essential for a successful build or renovation Building plans aren’t just about design, but are vital for Council consent. Your building plans are part of your building consent application and need to comply with the Building Act and Building Code. Everyone who works on your build will follow them and throughout…

Choosing a project manager

By Amanda03/26/201810/10/2022 Blog, New build, Planning, Renovation

What does a project manager do? A project manager schedules and coordinates your build to ensure it progresses efficiently and safely. What are they responsible for? Having a great project manager means you only need to deal with one person, while they take care of everything else. The project manager is the Lead Contractor or…

Handy building survival tips

By Amanda02/13/201810/10/2022 Blog, Renovation

Tips for surviving your new build or renovation! It’s incredibly exciting when the planning is over and you’re watching your new home become a reality. Help the process go smoothly by following our handy building survival tips. Moving out Depending on how big your renovation is, it may be more efficient for the builders (and…

Plan for a warm, healthy home

By Amanda06/06/201711/28/2019 Blog, Heating, Planning, Renovation, Technology

Planning a warm, healthy home. Your home’s ability to generate and retain heat is a key factor in your family’s health and wellbeing, especially over winter. In New Zealand, 1.6 million homes perform poorly in terms of warmth, dampness and mould. Since most of these homes were built between 1950 and 1990, if you’re renovating…