Going Green – Building with the future in mind

Advantages of Hiring a Professional Designer

Designers aren’t just for dresses! Designers draw in detail a plan for something yet to be accomplished. They have vision, knowledge and understanding. They can formulate floor plans, provide storage solutions and in general work magic! Yes, you heard that right, work magic!

Designers have more than just years of experience in the industry, valuable contacts for things like fabric, wall paper and even furniture. They also know what to do with each of them! Let’s face it; your degree in law gives you the advantage in the court room.

Our designers have the education, background and experience that give them the advantage when it comes to design for home renovation. Reinforcing this advantage is their vast knowledge. From small space renovations, house additions to home extensions in Perth and new home designs, designers know their field.

Cost Efficient

Designers can save you money as well. Did we mention that they draw out everything in detail? Want to see what your room is going to look like before you pack your items into a box to store them while home renovators work in your home? Do you want to see what that crazy colour you’ve chosen in your dreams  will look like even though everyone from Mom to the dog has let out a yelp upon seeing it? A designer can show you.

Designers utilise everything from paper and pencils to complicated design software programs that allow them to produce sophisticated designs for your perusal. The designs show details like texture and colour as well as layout of rooms, reflections of light and even where the overhead lighting will provide light and shadow to your newly designed space.

As Perth renovators, we always work with designers and they are used to working with us. We communicate in a language while not completely foreign may sound that way to those not in the business. We make an effort to translate as best we can, but in the end the Designer becomes the translator for your ideas and your wants and desires. He or she can incorporate your tastes into the newly designed home renovation and make the space yours.

Weigh Your Options

Many a home owner has gone it alone, sans designer and the results while satisfying could have been spectacular! Designers can show you how to best utilise space. Maybe that awkward niche along the stairs is something you want to remove completely and in their design it becomes a beautiful display space for artwork and some lighting. Perhaps they move a wall that you didn’t even know could come down!

Whatever the case, rest assured that working with a designer will be one of the highlights of your project. And it’s one you will not soon forget and will likely want to make use of again and again with each new project.

Budget-Friendly

Remember a Designer can help keep your project on budget. You can avoid redoing things because suddenly you don’t like them. You will have seen and approved each change going into the design prior to commencing home renovation. This in and of itself is a great stress reliever.

Oh and should your chosen tile be discontinued mid-project, your designer will be the one hard at work finding a suitable if not better replacement. As affordable home renovation experts, subdivision renovators and new home builders, we cannot stress enough the importance of nailing down details before you start the project. You really don’t want to ask the guys building your home addition or extension, why the door is where it is. Their answer will likely be to show you the plans they are working from.

The Designer will explain that having the door in its location provides a hidden nook for the toilet. Furthermore, it hides the pantry shelving or improves the flow into the room. Your Designer is going to have the answer that makes sense and gives you the peace of mind you are seeking.

As home renovators, we are asked this question daily. What is the best flooring for my Home addition? What kind of flooring should I use in my home renovation? Let’s face it; we walk around day in and day out, not giving the flooring much thought. Now is the time to put in the work so that later, you can lounge in your socks or comfortably walk across that brand new floor of tile, wood or wood-look tile and not be concerned with how much thought actually went into the choice.

Trending right now in 2018 is tile that looks like wood. Yes, we said it, porcelain tile that looks like wood, but leaves behind all the maintenance of wood. This is helpful because a lot of people love the look of wood but hate the work that goes with it. Others hate the feel of tile. Either way, we want your home addition to fit your needs. We want your home renovation to promote the pitter patter of little feet, furry or otherwise and bare or stocking clad! In a word, comfort. Home renovations should still make you feel comfortable.

Timber Flooring: Important Factors

Let’s break it down to a few important factors, cost, durability, installation and cleaning. If we can narrow your choices down under those four headings, the choice will certainly be easier.

 

Flooring Type	Cost	Durability	Installation	Cleaning
Ceramic or Porcelain Tile	This type of flooring is at the low end of the budgeting options.	Extremely Durable	Difficult to install. Should be done by an experienced professional.	Easy to clean but the grout between tiles may attract extra dirt.

 

So you’re thinking great, tile is cheap, easy to clean and will last forever. Not so fast. Tile is most common in bathrooms, even kitchens but unlikely in living areas. Most items dropped on tile will break, with the exception of plastics and plush. It’s also cold to walk on, fine in summer but what about winter? Hmmm…what about it?

Tile Living

Tile is available in many color choices and patterns, even wood-look tile. So now you can have the beauty of wood with the ease of tile.  Ahhh this complicates the choice just a little. It still does not change the fact that tile is cold, unless you install radiant under floor heating and supplement with area rugs. But, you can quickly mom the area and cleaning is basically done.

 

Flooring Type	Cost	Durability	Installation	Cleaning
Timber Flooring	Hardwood or Engineered, wood flooring is on the high end of the budget.	Extremely Durable	Difficult to install. Should be done by an experienced professional.	Easily swept up, vacuumed or dry mopped.

Wood flooring provides a warm, welcoming look in a home. Your home renovation will definitely make a statement with all wood flooring. It’s not something you can install on your own. Wood flooring requires professional installation and is time consuming as well. The dust alone makes us cringe! However, it is easily cleaned up and will be but a distant memory once your flooring is installed and you are enjoying the durability of your new wood flooring.

What about scratches? Rest assured wood flooring scratches. Is that part of the charm? It can be. However others will hold the scratch in extreme dislike. Just remember, with wood, you can sand the surface and refinish it several times over the life of the flooring.  As for color choices well, you can choose from blonde to brunette to almost black basically. Color choices are much more limited than tile.

 

Most importantly look at your life style and decide what works best for you. It’s your home renovation, your home extension and only you know what will make your home renovation in Pert WA stand out as a winner in your eyes.

Perth Kitchen Renovations

What’s in store for that kitchen renovation in 2018? Unique Residence has the answer! As kitchen renovators we look at function and form a close second. Everything in a kitchen has a purpose and function. It is one of the most high-traffic areas in any home. Unless you have a staff that cooks your meals and cleans your dishes and floors, you are going to be in the kitchen!  Let’s make that as pleasurable as possible.

In 2018 we are striving to integrate the kitchen more with the rest of the home.  What does that mean? Well, we are bringing in warmer, less stark finishes. We’re going to cozy things up a bit. No longer will each piece be regarded only for its function. Now we will look at esthetics as well. How does it look? How does it feel? Is it cold? Is it warm?

Who says you can’t have open shelving? Do you like cookbooks? Well let’s get them out of the library or worse yet, that box in storage and put them on display! The feeling for 2018 is that you should be surrounded with the items that make you happy and that also serve purpose in the kitchen.  Kitchens are taking on a more inviting, homey look than ever before.

Homey Kitchen Renovation

How do we accomplish this inviting/homey look? Well we do it through layout and finishing. We can use any basic layout that allows you to accomplish the tasks you desire and still warm it up a bit. However, we can also optimize your layout based on your needs. Perhaps a breakfast bar instead of an eat-in area? The breakfast bar is space-saving, additional counter space when needed and often we can fit storage underneath for those odd platters used only at holiday time or any number of pressure cookers, odd shaped items, and your blow torch for crème brulee! We can find a place or make a place to store it all. There are things we don’t mind seeing every day, but others that only need to make an appearance when in use!

At Unique Residence, we have the plans, the ideas and the expert staffing to provide you with the best Perth home renovation and kitchen renovation experience possible.  Allow us to discuss finishes that will warm your kitchen to your liking and make you feel like a welcomed visitor to a much loved space. Gone are the days of industrial, stark looking spaces that resemble operating rooms. Decorate your kitchen as you would any other space. We encourage you to be creative!

Talk to Perth Renovation Specialists

Call Unique Residence to speak to an expert about your desire for engineered quartz stone, granite or even marble. Whatever your desire, we can make it work or offer alternative suggestions if that is what you are interested in finding. We will work within your budget and often your time constraints to make this project happen. We don’t take on too many projects at one time or stretch ourselves too thin. Let’s make your project our first priority. Call Unique Residence to get the first class treatment you and your project deserve.