Full house and new garage renovation in Ellerslie, Auckland

Pairing up with Saleem, their local Renovation Specialist, the sisters sat down to discuss their vision, development opportunities, and that they were working with a tight deadline. The project needed to be completed in three months time in order to meet a move-in date.
With this requirement in mind, Saleem conceptualised a full design that would realistically achieve their deadline while delivering the modern improvements the unit needed. This designing began with new floor plan layouts, internal elevations, and 3D perspective sketches that truly detailed how the space could feel. Confident in the illustrations, Annette and Teressa went ahead with the project, with Saleem leading the renovation.
“We found the entire process exceeded our expectations”, explain the sisters. “At all stages there was clear communication, a common sense approach, regular meetings and, with the customer portal, we could always see the total costs, change requests, approvals, and timeline.”

A First Look

Taking a first look at the property, it hadn’t been touched in decades. There was asbestos that needed removing and the interiors were extremely dated. But despite its desperate need for some TLC, the 1950s brick unit stood proudly in its original state on the corner of a tranquil street. Its exterior still kept an old-time charm, which offered a chance to combine its earliest character with the necessary modern improvements.
Eager to begin maximising the property’s potential, Saleem organised certified asbestos removal before getting into the renovation. With that clearance, a full strip-out of the interior was arranged. This exposed the original rimu framing and matai floorboards which were given new life with a full sand and satin polyurethane finish.
New insulation was then installed and followed by Gib lining of the walls and ceilings. To maintain the warm tones of the building’s original wood, solid timber doors, trims, and framing were installed throughout. But however much these features could be accentuated, the unit still required a modern upgrade. This focus really came to life in the kitchen.

The Designer Kitchen

Teressa and Annette chose a designer kitchen which maximised on storage space and was customised with a timeless white - ‘sea fog velvet’ - and European fixtures. Completing the classic look, a made-to-measure stainless steel benchtop was fit to finally transform the space into a contemporary, and highly-functional kitchen.
The laundry, once part of the kitchen, then moved to the hallway to have its own place concealed behind timber bi-fold doors. Inside this area, overhead shelving was constructed to increase storage room and offer a minimalist feel by keeping it out of plain sight.

Making a Statement

Another room that called for attention was the bathroom. Here, the old vinyl flooring was torn out, aqualine plumbing installed, and new tiles were fitted with underfloor heating. A total upgrade from what it was before, the space was lastly completed with a statement shower; custom-built to have frameless glass and tiled floors. This fixture stole the show. 
As the renovation continued, the unit was fitted with new electrics, a heating system, double glazed windows and focal lighting to compliment the home’s features. Using Resene paints, the interior was painted with a combination of ‘white pointer’ on the walls and ‘black white’ on the doors and trims.

Upgrading the Exterior

Moving outside, the exterior joinery was also painted to match the interior, but with an oil-based paint for extra durability and lustre. With the garage left to update, the original building was torn down, layed with a concrete pad, and replaced by a new Coloursteel garage. Using timber-framing to match the house, this fixture made for the perfect final addition to the property - and in good time for the three-month deadline.
“The workmanship of all the trades involved was of a high standard”, conclude Annette and Teressa. “We would definitely use Saleem and his team again for future projects as he really made the entire process stress free for us and delivered an amazing result.”

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