Home Renovation

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Category: Home Renovation

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CategoriesHome Renovation

7 Expert Rules of Renovating Your Home

By Period Extensions Team,

When doing a home renovation, everyone you talk to will have their own opinion about how to do things in the right way. We’ve put together our list of 7 expert rules of renovating a house that will help keep the renovation process smooth and efficient.

1. Plan for all costs.

Putting together a budget means that you will be prepared for any and all expenses that might come up during your renovation. You’ll need to consider valuation fees, council taxes, legal costs, reconnection costs, building regulation fees, insurance, internal and external repairs, general building costs, interior design and decorating costs, warranties and all preliminary costs.

2. Be realistic with your budget.

While many of us want the look and feel of a multi-million-dollar home, most of us simply can’t afford it. You may need to cut back on some of your ‘wants’, or make compromises on design ideas so that you can stay within your budget. It is best to be upfront with the designer regarding your budget so that the designer can design for you according to your budget.

tiny wood house on top of calculator

3. Stick to a schedule.

Planning a home renovation, what needs to be done, and by when will help you along the way. Working as a team with the builder ensures a smooth build.

4. Allow some room for delays.

Even though sticking to a schedule is key, you should always allow some buffer time in case one part of the renovation takes longer than expected. Delays can be caused by weather, late deliveries or an emergency, so have a contingency plan in place.

5. Don’t make rash decisions.

Your renovation is your renovation. If you are not sure about an idea that has been presented to you, don’t feel pressured to say yes if you are not happy with it.

6. Make notes of all of your ideas.

Working with our design team, we will want to hear all of your ideas for your dream home. Our designers are experts at taking ideas and turning them into workable plans.

7. Don’t micro manage your design and build team.

It can be difficult not to micro manage a renovation project but put your trust in the professionals, and know that they will get everything done correctly. Have regular update meetings but otherwise feel free to let them do what they do best.

Need a hand with your home renovation?

The design and build team at Period Extensions & Designs will be delighted to work with you on your next renovation project. Give us a call on 03 9882 5255 to find out more about how we can help.

CategoriesHome Renovation

Five Ways to Change Your Open Plan Living

By Period Extensions Team,

[vc_row content_placement=”middle”][vc_column][vc_column_text]At the heart of open plan living is one simple word. Connection.

Once upon a time, living rooms such as the kitchen or lounge room were built for a specific function. There was even a door to close us away from the rest of the house. Living within four walls was simply the way it was.

But over the years, as lifestyles have changed, so has our need for stronger connection with our family, friends and the digital world.

As we try to pack more into every day, every moment matters – whether it is preparing meals while helping with homework, cooking while supervising the kids at play, catching up on the news while packing the dishwasher, or preparing a dinner party with friends. Open plan living gives us greater comfort, convenience and connection.

Want to make the most of your open plan living renovation? Try these five tips for your period home.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” desctop_pt=”padding-lg-40t”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

TAKE OUT A WALL (OR TWO)

Removing walls to open up your living space is easier than you think. Surrounding walls can be adjusted in any home to achieve open plan living, dining and kitchen space – including period homes! You’ll just need to make time for some careful planning for your living room renovation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”3209″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” desctop_pt=”padding-lg-40t”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

CREATE YOUR OWN OPEN PLAN LIVING ISLAND

At the heart of your living space is the kitchen – and the most popular and effective design is a large central island bench. It’s the perfect gathering spot for the family for breakfast and allows ample room for meal preparation, so you can encourage the family to get involved too. It’s the most ‘social’ choice for your kitchen renovation as well – there’s no need to be stuck in the kitchen away from all the fun when you are entertaining. Be careful of clutter, though. All that space can also become a magnet for the rest of the family’s belongings.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”3210″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” desctop_pt=”padding-lg-40t”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

GO WITH THE FLOW

Getting the flow from area to area, room-to-room is absolutely vital to any open plan design. Traffic flow is especially critical, ensuring everyone can move freely throughout your space. When planning on extendingyour period home, make sure you take the time to investigate how your space should be designed for a natural flow between the living, dining, kitchen and outdoor areas.

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THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME

No matter what size of home you have, thoughtful design can create the right shape of living space. In our experience when building a house extension, a long, rectangular space works best, enabling a great length to width ratio and it’s also ideal for all size and shape of furniture. This shape can also direct all activity to the great outdoors.

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LET THERE BE LIGHT

Two of the most important elements of a successful open plan space are windows and ceiling height. It’s all about building ambience in your period home. Natural light adds a sense of welcome and warmth to a room but it’s also about functionality – you’ll love being able to complete tasks during the day without having to switch on a light. The right ceiling height, combined with clever design during your living room renovation, provides the illusion of a much larger room – and a soaring ceiling can also provide a wonderful feeling of grandeur

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”3213″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][vc_column][vc_column_text]Our top tip gained from many years working with clients is to talk to an experienced building designer that can add their expertise to your great ideas, creating a space that that flows perfectly. When it comes to your period home renovations, it’s all about the flow!

Why not talk to Period Extensions about how to transform your home? Our professional design team would love to help. Contact us today to discuss your period home – call 03 9882 5255 or email [email protected][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

CategoriesHome Renovation

Don’t Skimp On Space – You’ll Always Need More Than You Think

By Period Extensions Team,

[vc_row content_placement=”middle”][vc_column][vc_column_text]“Space – the final frontier.” Just like the brave Star Trek crew, you’ll be amazed at the space you can find in your own home if you are open to exploration and new ideas!

There are so many benefits to thinking ahead about space. A more comfortable lifestyle, extra years in your current home before you have to move, the lifestyle benefits of having more space for the whole family to enjoy and ultimately, a better selling price.

And while you’ll need to make some compromises in your period home, most likely due to council restrictions, your original façade and foundation walls, your larger block offers an enormous range of options.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”middle” desctop_pt=”padding-lg-40t”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

HERE ARE OUR TOP SEVEN TIPS FOR CREATING MORE SPACE IN YOUR HOME

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#1 THE FIRST STEP IN YOUR VOYAGE?

Think big! When you begin planning for an extension, always allow for more space than you think you’ll need. It won’t be easy to adjust your renovations if you realise you don’t have enough space. Think ahead about all the possibilities for your family and their needs. Cut corners now and you’ll regret it in the long run.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”3199″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” desctop_pt=”padding-lg-40t”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

#2 THINK ABOUT FLOW

One of the biggest planning mistakes people make is not considering the way their home connects together. The flow of your extension needs to be a seamless connection between the old and the new, which can be cleverly achieved through selection of fittings, paint colour and architectural features.

You may be interested to know that the most popular trend amongst Period Extensions’ clients is to extend out, not up. Due to changing lifestyles, more people are choosing to lose yard space to create a larger footprint, single storey home rather than extending up.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”3200″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” desctop_pt=”padding-lg-40t”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

#3 TAKE IT FROM US AND OUR CLIENTS

There are certain areas of your home you will always want more space – living areas and bedrooms. As your family grows, so does the need for more bedroom space. The kids will need desk and study space, as well as a place to hang out with their friends and have sleepovers. And as the kids grow and you have more time on your hands, you’ll also want more space for entertainment and relaxation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”3201″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” desctop_pt=”padding-lg-40t”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

#4 OPEN UP WALLS AND RETAIN THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY

At Period Extensions the complaint we hear most often is ‘I wish I had more space for open plan living!’ Due to the traditional structure of period homes, many areas may tend to feel dark and closed off from the rest of the house, which simply doesn’t work with today’s preference for open plan living. The good news is that removing walls  – as long as the structural integrity of your home remains intact – is a relatively easy way to open up and breathe new life into dark spaces.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”3202″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” desctop_pt=”padding-lg-40t”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

#5 KITCHEN, BATHROOM AND LAUNDRY SPACE

If you want to just dip a toe in the water with a home extension, the three easiest places to find more space and make changes are your kitchen, bathroom and laundry. You’d be amazed what can be achieved through relocating bench tops, adding new appliances, changing window stylesto achieve more natural light, removing doors and connecting walls and installing new fixtures and fittings in bathrooms.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”3203″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” desctop_pt=”padding-lg-40t”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

#6 THINK OUTSIDE THE SQUARE!

Clever planning and design will achieve wonders. Use of your attic, roof cavity, basement or yard can deliver extra space and add enormous value to your home.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”3204″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” desctop_pt=”padding-lg-40t”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

#7 MAKING THE MOST OF THE SPACE WITH THESE TIPS AND TRICKS

If you’re not quite ready to jump into major structural and architecturalchanges just now, there are loads of tricks and tips to help make the most of the space you have. To deliver the illusion of space, try the following:

  • Choose a lighter paint colour – the use of bright white and pale tones will lift and brighten any space.
  • Consider a skylight. The addition of natural light is a cost effective, low impact way to bring a sense of space to a dark hallway or room.
  • Change your windows! Period homes often feature traditional heavy wooden sash style windows that can restrict the flow of natural lightinto your home. Replace with new style, sleek windows, with narrow frames and maximum glass, to bring the outside in.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”3205″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][vc_column][vc_column_text]If you want to talk about how Period Extensions can accompany you on your ‘journey into space’ and transform your home, the professional design team at Period Extensions would love to help. Contact us today by calling (03) 9882 5255 or email [email protected][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

CategoriesHome Renovation

Three Reasons Why You Need A Wine Cellar Renovation

By Period Extensions Team,

[vc_row content_placement=”middle”][vc_column][vc_column_text]When planning your home renovation, don’t forget a wine cellar renovation as well. Having your own wine room is an investment in your home’s value and your own lifestyle.

Are you giving your wine collection the appreciation it deserves? You can instantly recognise the difference between a Mornington Pinot Noir and a Beechworth Shiraz and your collection of vintages is becoming quite impressive but you still store your bottles in a boring old wine rack.

Isn’t it time to commit to being the connoisseur you really are and install your very own home wine cellar?

Having your own wine room is an investment in your home, your wine collection and your lifestyle and here’s why it should be a part of your next home renovation or extension.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

PRESERVATION

Wine is quite temperamental and sensitive to the conditions it’s stored in. It’s for this reason that the best wine rooms are climate controlled.

Wine needs to be stored at a cool and constant temperature to avoid them cooking or the moisture in the corks drying out. Wine is also sensitive to wild fluctuations in temperature so the cold winters and scorching summers we get here in Melbourne can really put your collection at risk.

Regulating the humidity where your collection is stored is just as important as controlling the temperature. Humidity under 50% can dry out your corks but humidity over 80% will promote the growth of mould.

UV rays can prematurely age your wines which is why cellars and windowless rooms are perfect for storing your collection. You’ll even find that the best wine rooms use incandescent bulbs to light the room as they don’t emit UV rays like regular household lights.

Wines don’t like being shaken or disturbed. The fear is that unnecessary vibrations can prematurely start the chemical reactions in the bottles before they are opened. Serious collectors make sure their cellars are solid and don’t allow for bottles to move in their racks.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”3161″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.periodextensions.com.au/project/brighton-east/”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” desctop_pt=”padding-lg-40t”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”3162″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

ORGANISATION IN YOUR RENOVATION

You’ll find the best stocked wine rooms have their bottled ordered by specific bottle size, bottle shape, varietal and year. Having a meticulously organised wine room is essential to the connoisseur’s experience. The collectors who do this properly, know exactly what’s in their cellar and even have a planned ‘drink by date’ for every bottle they own. They update every time they get a new box and they rotate the collection every year. A disorganised collection can mean that special bottles get missed and even forgotten.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”middle”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

AESTHETIC APPEAL AND INVESTMENT

Wine cellars and rooms aren’t just an extra storage place in your house. They become focal features in your home which just enhance the simple act of having a glass of wine. Even selecting a bottle to open becomes a delight in a well organised room. The best wine rooms use the space not just store wine but accentuate the have a feature wall, arch or even an art space.

Upgrading to a room or cellar also has the added advantage of being able to store bulk wine orders. Buying wine in bulk is excellent value but without ample storage space, your favourite wines just stay in a cardboard box.

In addition to aesthetics adding a wine cellar to a house immediately increases its market value. The house is now set it apart from other houses in the street and the suburb.

As a connoisseur, adding a wine cellar to your home is best decision you can make. Talk to us about installing a wine room which suits your needs, compliments your home and showcases your wine collection.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row desctop_pt=”padding-lg-40t”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”3163″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][vc_single_image image=”3164″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][vc_single_image image=”3165″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][vc_single_image image=”3166″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][vc_single_image image=”3167″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][vc_single_image image=”3168″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][vc_single_image image=”3169″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][vc_single_image image=”3170″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][vc_single_image image=”3171″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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