Refreshing a 1950’s cottage interior

We engaged Chris in 2017 to design and project manage the execution of a major interior makeover of our 1950’s weatherboard cottage. The cottage had last been updated in the mid 1990’s and really needed a refresh.

The scope of works was; repair or replace the plaster in the living/dining area, paint the interior throughout the house, replace all curtains and blinds, remove carpets, repair and polish the floor boards, replace the lighting, switches and power points to a new plan, open up spaces by removing doors, replace the heating system and select new furniture for the living areas – in all, quite a project!

Chris guided us through the design process and was very good at working closely with us to understand our emotional response to the house and put forward options that resonated with us – a home to live in is very different from a house to look at.

Her recommendations around colour schemes, materials, curtains, blinds and furniture were contemporary but sympathetic to the original cottage.

With the design part locked down we promptly packed our bags and disappeared on an overseas holiday for three weeks, leaving Chris to manage the works while we were away. The best renovation move you can make! We had 100% trust in Chris’s judgement and project management skills. Chris worked with our selected builder and we returned to a completed, beautifully renovated home.

Next, in 2019, we decided to renovate the kitchen. We called in Chris again, to help with the design and project manage the work. Kitchen renewals are so infrequent that the changes in technologies, materials and design from one kitchen to the next are substantial. Chris’s knowledge of current technologies and trends proved most useful in thinking about the functional design as well as what appliances and equipment to install.

The kitchen scope of works was; remove the old kitchen, strip out the old plaster walls and floor coverings, replace the plaster and flooring, replace the power board and rewire the kitchen, install new kitchen cabinetry, glass splashbacks and appliances (induction cooktop, gas wok ring, electric oven, steam oven, sink, boiling/chilled water unit).

Chris’s cabinetmaker was excellent. The kitchen was fully assembled with appliances at the factory. We were able to see the ‘finished’ kitchen and sign off before installation.

Again, we packed our bags and headed overseas, leaving Chris to project manage the kitchen installation. Arriving home once more to another finished renovation, the kitchen was perfect. We were very pleased with the result.