Hi everyone! I'm wanting to start renovating our home but before we get started I wanted to get some ideas and figure out what is possible, what is recommended and what is the best design that would suit our lifestyle. I have little to no understanding of who needs to be contacted to give the thumbs up that something CAN be done and HOW it should be done (such as removing load bearing walls, new floor layout- etc). We have a two story house with the bedrooms upstairs (3 bedrooms and one bathroom) and downstairs we have the utility room, a spare toilet and the garage. we're wanting to start renovating downstairs as it's the area that needs the most work but as first time home owners (and really young home owners) we're a bit lost. If you have any advice or even links to information/books that would be amazing. Thanks all and have a great day :D!

In my experience Moewaka, it is usually more economic to keep as much of the existing as you can and add on what you need. Some things do depend on the level of finish you want to achieve too. We have done a number of Alteration and New Build projects, so feel free to contact if you would like further help www.gtarc.co.nz

Hello, I am hoping to get some ideas for reconfiguring the lay out for my 1950’s home I’ve purchased if anyone can help please? I am single, live alone and it will be my ‘forever’ home and has great views of the Tauranga harbour which I want to make the most of, of course :) Any ideas for one or all requirements are gratefully accepted thanks! They are as follows: 1. A new ensuite and walk in robe off the side of the front bedroom beside the lounge as I want that to be my bedroom with a view. There is sufficient room to build along the outside of that side of the house toward the boundary; the ensuite to face the view please. Perhaps change the entrance door to that bedroom off the hall way somehow? 2. Reconfigure a new kitchen; the existing one is quite skinny and there is really only room for one person between the bench and the return bench. No room to build out from that side of the house, but the deck is huge. I have considered building out over the deck but assume it would involve a lot of $ as would require engineers reports etc. The deck is a solid (old) concrete roof over what is now a block basement which used to be the old garage. 3. To somehow join the existing garage up to the house so I have internal entry from that. In the ‘joining’ space somewhere is where I envisage the front entry way with some storage cupboards etc as the house has almost no storage. The existing garage is an old tin one and needs to be replaced. It is also raised higher than the house level and there is as retaining wall between the garage and the house. Ideally I’d like to dig it all out and make it one level but that will be dictated by finances. However, I've been unable to work out how to join them if they are different levels - aesthetically wise. There would have to be steps down (which I don't really want if I’m getting old here…) so how would the roof line look right? 4. Reconfigure/Remove the existing toilet and/or bathroom as presently the main door into the house comes inbetween these and I don't want the entrance right beside the toilet - eek! The existing bathroom is also the laundry. My thoughts were to move them in to either bedroom 2 or 3, and extend to get another bedroom somehow, or, put them at the back of the new addition joining the garage to the house somehow? 5. The lounge and dining room have alcoves built in that serve no real purpose; both the dining and lounge could be larger if possible. I want to put my couch along the wall which backs on to the dining room so I can look at the view while watching TV etc. I’m not overly keen on open plan so thought I could build a wall there and move the entrance to the dining closer to the hall end of the lounge? 6. To retain 3 bedrooms, one to be used as an office. I am very grateful for any ideas anyone could put forward - many thanks in advance :) Unfortunately the website will not allow me to upload photos so I will have to contact them to see what is going on - sorry!

Warehouse Stationery are able to print A3 size plans, You can trace over the black lines with a black pen to make it more visible. Andrew