Renovating
3 Pros Share Their Favourite Projects of 2022
As the year comes to a close, three design professionals reflect on their most fulfilling project of 2022
If you run your own business, chances are 2022 has been a year of both challenges and triumphs. As we start to wind down for the (well-earned) holidays, three design professionals look back upon the one project they enjoyed the most this year and explain what makes it so special.
Interior designer Donna Guyler.
What did you love about it?
It was an all-female collaboration between my team and the building team. We worked together to interpret and deliver our client’s design brief, with complete trust and very little input from our clients along the way.
Learn more about Houzz Pro all-in-one business software
What did you love about it?
It was an all-female collaboration between my team and the building team. We worked together to interpret and deliver our client’s design brief, with complete trust and very little input from our clients along the way.
Learn more about Houzz Pro all-in-one business software
What was your brief?
This was our client’s holiday home and it has been in their family for many years. It holds a lot of sentimental value.
It was built in the early 1970s and hadn’t been touched or renovated since. It was cosy but dark and dated with blue tiles on the floor and walls of the bathroom, yellow laminate benchtops and a popcorn ceiling.
This was our client’s holiday home and it has been in their family for many years. It holds a lot of sentimental value.
It was built in the early 1970s and hadn’t been touched or renovated since. It was cosy but dark and dated with blue tiles on the floor and walls of the bathroom, yellow laminate benchtops and a popcorn ceiling.
Our client was looking to modernise the beachside home and customise it to suit the needs of their family, who wanted to spend quality time here together to celebrate milestones, such as birthdays and Christmas lunches. It needed to be warm, comfortable and liveable – a foundation for making precious memories for years to come.
They gave us a few references of colours they loved and some layout changes that were critical to the outcome, but other than that they were entirely open to our ideas and recommendations for the redesign.
They gave us a few references of colours they loved and some layout changes that were critical to the outcome, but other than that they were entirely open to our ideas and recommendations for the redesign.
What was your design solution?
From our initial site visit, we knew we wanted to maintain the charm and originality of this home. It had a distinctly ’70s beach-shack vibe, which we wanted to lean into but reinvent in a contemporary yet honest way.
We redesigned every room in the home. We created a coastal scheme, weaving in hints of mid-century modern, which felt synonymous with the home’s era. The result is a modernised home that still feels warm and inviting and, being inside it, you certainly know you are only minutes away from the beach.
From our initial site visit, we knew we wanted to maintain the charm and originality of this home. It had a distinctly ’70s beach-shack vibe, which we wanted to lean into but reinvent in a contemporary yet honest way.
We redesigned every room in the home. We created a coastal scheme, weaving in hints of mid-century modern, which felt synonymous with the home’s era. The result is a modernised home that still feels warm and inviting and, being inside it, you certainly know you are only minutes away from the beach.
What challenges did you face?
A pandemic! Our client initially reached out to us pre-Covid and we commenced work on the project during the pandemic, which presented logistical challenges in terms of accessing materials and trades.
The building team was incredibly resourceful and helpful, and worked closely with us to overcome supply issues so we could complete the project as quickly and efficiently as possible.
A pandemic! Our client initially reached out to us pre-Covid and we commenced work on the project during the pandemic, which presented logistical challenges in terms of accessing materials and trades.
The building team was incredibly resourceful and helpful, and worked closely with us to overcome supply issues so we could complete the project as quickly and efficiently as possible.
How did Houzz Pro software help?
We ran this entire project through the Houzz Pro workflow. We used Houzz Pro to detail each item selected for this project, which we were then able to show our client and obtain their approval. We issued our fee proposal, purchase orders and final invoicing from Houzz Pro.
With every project we run through Houzz Pro, including this one, we share the Dashboard with our clients. We find it’s a great communication tool to keep our clients up-to-date at all times with the running costs of their project, and it ensures we receive payment when it’s due, as invoicing and proposals are clearly listed and accessible.
We ran this entire project through the Houzz Pro workflow. We used Houzz Pro to detail each item selected for this project, which we were then able to show our client and obtain their approval. We issued our fee proposal, purchase orders and final invoicing from Houzz Pro.
With every project we run through Houzz Pro, including this one, we share the Dashboard with our clients. We find it’s a great communication tool to keep our clients up-to-date at all times with the running costs of their project, and it ensures we receive payment when it’s due, as invoicing and proposals are clearly listed and accessible.
The renovated ensuite.
Michelle Broussard, interior designer and founder of Colour Confidence Interiors
Favourite project of 2022: This year I loved working with a repeat client, completing the heritage part of their new home.
Client: A couple
Location: Windsor, Victoria
What did you love about it?
It’s such a compliment when clients can’t imagine going through the renovation process without you and then the result exceeds their expectations.
Michelle Broussard, interior designer and founder of Colour Confidence Interiors
Favourite project of 2022: This year I loved working with a repeat client, completing the heritage part of their new home.
Client: A couple
Location: Windsor, Victoria
What did you love about it?
It’s such a compliment when clients can’t imagine going through the renovation process without you and then the result exceeds their expectations.
What was your brief?
The extensive brief for this project included:
The extensive brief for this project included:
- Completely redo and update of the main ensuite.
- Create a new guest bathroom.
- Rework the floor plan from the entry to the extension.
- Enlarge the main walk-in wardrobe to make it more functional and inviting for two people to share.
- Bring more natural light into the home.
- Introduce a more contemporary scheme that is sympathetic to the heritage home.
- Introduce storage, practical spaces and beautiful materials.
What was your design solution?
- Reconfigured the entry foyer, which had a lot of wasted space.
- Steal some space from the entry and home office to create a new guest bathroom.
- Add skylights over the showers in each bathroom to bring in more light.
The new guest bathroom.
- Install new window treatments to draw attention to the stunning high ceilings and to update the rooms.
- Add new lighting, including stunning feature pendants and mindful placement of more practical lighting, such as LED strip lights.
What challenges did you face?
Uncovering things we didn’t expect to find in the walls and under the floor of this old house, which required solutions to be nutted out with the builder, often on the spot.
Working with the team at Simply Bathroom Solutions made for a mutually respectful and friendly environment; their attention to detail and care for the home and client are second to none.
Uncovering things we didn’t expect to find in the walls and under the floor of this old house, which required solutions to be nutted out with the builder, often on the spot.
Working with the team at Simply Bathroom Solutions made for a mutually respectful and friendly environment; their attention to detail and care for the home and client are second to none.
Another bathroom in the home.
How did you use Houzz Pro for this project?
How did you use Houzz Pro for this project?
- The 3D Floor Planner provided a great first look for the client at how the finished spaces would be laid out.
- The Houzz Pro Product Clipper tool is good to use as a selections tool for organising all the products and materials required. With multiple rooms to select for, it keeps all the items room-specific and is easy to update and present to the client. We regularly use the Product Clipper tool for our projects.
Amy Eldridge, senior building designer at Concepts Unlimited Design
Favourite project of 2022: One of my favourite residential projects of 2022 was a stunning new contemporary home for a returning client. We completed both the building and the interior design for this home.
Client: A family of four with two older children
Location: Chapel Hill, Queensland
What did you love about this project?
I loved the grand scale of this home. All the rooms are generous sizes, and the entertainer’s kitchen is at the heart of the home and connects so beautifully with the living/dining/alfresco spaces.
Favourite project of 2022: One of my favourite residential projects of 2022 was a stunning new contemporary home for a returning client. We completed both the building and the interior design for this home.
Client: A family of four with two older children
Location: Chapel Hill, Queensland
What did you love about this project?
I loved the grand scale of this home. All the rooms are generous sizes, and the entertainer’s kitchen is at the heart of the home and connects so beautifully with the living/dining/alfresco spaces.
What was your brief?
Our brief was to design a modern home with breakout spaces for each member of the family to escape to, and create a generous living space for them to come together and entertain. We needed to design a home that will suit the family for many years to come.
What was your design solution?
We designed an open-plan kitchen/dining/living space that wraps around the alfresco area to create an entertainer’s dream. The spaces are large but well-defined by the furniture selections.
Our brief was to design a modern home with breakout spaces for each member of the family to escape to, and create a generous living space for them to come together and entertain. We needed to design a home that will suit the family for many years to come.
What was your design solution?
We designed an open-plan kitchen/dining/living space that wraps around the alfresco area to create an entertainer’s dream. The spaces are large but well-defined by the furniture selections.
To ensure the home would suit the family long-term, it was important to include a secondary main bedroom suite on the lower level for any elderly family members in the future. This suite is tucked away off the entrance, but close enough to the living area to feel connected to the family areas.
To provide the younger family members with space and privacy, every bedroom has its own bathroom and walk-in wardrobe.
Three separate living spaces were included to allow entertaining over multiple levels.
To provide the younger family members with space and privacy, every bedroom has its own bathroom and walk-in wardrobe.
Three separate living spaces were included to allow entertaining over multiple levels.
What challenges did you face?
The site itself was a challenge as it is bordered by roads on three sides, two of which are fairly busy. We had to create a home that looked great from all angles, while maintaining privacy for the occupants.
The front of the block faces north-west and has a lovely view. We added feature screening on the front facade to create privacy and heat protection while adding depth and interest. This screening also allows the occupants to enjoy the view as the blades can be adjusted throughout the day.
The site itself was a challenge as it is bordered by roads on three sides, two of which are fairly busy. We had to create a home that looked great from all angles, while maintaining privacy for the occupants.
The front of the block faces north-west and has a lovely view. We added feature screening on the front facade to create privacy and heat protection while adding depth and interest. This screening also allows the occupants to enjoy the view as the blades can be adjusted throughout the day.
How did you use Houzz Pro for this project?
We used the Houzz Pro Product Clipper tool during the interior design stage of this project. Product Clipper is an excellent tool to load products into our library so we can quickly populate Room Boards within a project.
We used the Houzz Pro Product Clipper tool during the interior design stage of this project. Product Clipper is an excellent tool to load products into our library so we can quickly populate Room Boards within a project.
Your turn
Which residential design or building project did you enjoy the most this year? Tell us about it in the Comments below and upload images to your Houzz profile – we’d love to see your favourites!
More
Want to learn more about how Houzz Pro can streamline your projects? Check out this story Southern Highlands Houzz: A Country Home Reworked Entirely Online
Which residential design or building project did you enjoy the most this year? Tell us about it in the Comments below and upload images to your Houzz profile – we’d love to see your favourites!
More
Want to learn more about how Houzz Pro can streamline your projects? Check out this story Southern Highlands Houzz: A Country Home Reworked Entirely Online
Donna Guyler, creative director at Donna Guyler Design
Favourite project of 2022: It’s very hard to pick a favourite! We have been lucky enough to work on some interesting and challenging projects this year. Our Beach Shack Revival project was a highlight for us, which was a home that we completed this year after making a start on it right before the pandemic hit.
Client: A retired couple with two adult children
Location: Gold Coast, Queensland