Let the Renos begin!
Well, after a long blog posting hiatus, The Rambling Ditch is back to (hopefully) document our renovations.
I guess the best place is to start with the current state of play. Our 1956 built "original condition" 2 bedroom weatherboard house is in need of a bit of an update.
Well, the starting point was actually about a year ago when I started researching architects and ideas for the renovations. After an extensive search, we decided to go with Kathy Barnsley Architects in Moss Vale. We liked Kathy because we felt that she immediately understood where we were coming from with our ideas, and she was very approachable and helpful.
It turned out to be a good choice as we have had a great design experience with Kathy. We liked her design ideas from the start and she has been easy to work with. After a couple of iterations of the design, we finally submitted plans to council just before Christmas 2010.
While Council mulled over our proposed additions and alterations, it was time to find a builder. People recommended a number of local builders. We felt that a local builder was the go as they have to live here and have to live and die by their local reputation. It seems that the Berry builders have not been affected by the wider building downturn and finding a builder that could start within a reasonable timeframe proved a little harder than we had originally anticipated.
Luckily, the first builder to be recommended to us, Owen Carter of OPC Constructions, was willing and able to take us on. We are finally ready to roll.
I guess the best place is to start with the current state of play. Our 1956 built "original condition" 2 bedroom weatherboard house is in need of a bit of an update.
Well, the starting point was actually about a year ago when I started researching architects and ideas for the renovations. After an extensive search, we decided to go with Kathy Barnsley Architects in Moss Vale. We liked Kathy because we felt that she immediately understood where we were coming from with our ideas, and she was very approachable and helpful.
It turned out to be a good choice as we have had a great design experience with Kathy. We liked her design ideas from the start and she has been easy to work with. After a couple of iterations of the design, we finally submitted plans to council just before Christmas 2010.
While Council mulled over our proposed additions and alterations, it was time to find a builder. People recommended a number of local builders. We felt that a local builder was the go as they have to live here and have to live and die by their local reputation. It seems that the Berry builders have not been affected by the wider building downturn and finding a builder that could start within a reasonable timeframe proved a little harder than we had originally anticipated.
Luckily, the first builder to be recommended to us, Owen Carter of OPC Constructions, was willing and able to take us on. We are finally ready to roll.