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Your dream home doesn’t have to stay a dream. Whether you’re wanting a more modern space to jazz up your classic Queenslander home, you’re thinking of designing a pavilion extension, or you’re wanting to create the perfect Queenslander garden and pool area, we’ve got some tips to help make your project easier! Get the best Queenslander renovations!
If your Queenslander needs a renovation, it can be overwhelming to come up with ideas. There’s so many things to think about: solid walls vs stud walls, living areas with a heritage charm or a modern living vibe, the number of bathrooms you need, whether to adopt an open plan lifestyle, what type of flooring to use in your kitchen and living area…
If you’ve scoured the internet for examples of before and after Queenslander renovation projects, you know that the possibilities seem endless. How do you even decide what design, look, and feel to go for when renovating Queenslanders?It seems like every householder has their own idea of how they want their renovated Queenslander home to look. Maybe you have a traditional Queenslander home and you’re wanting to give it a more modern twist. Maybe you want a new kitchen with natural light and natural ventilation. Maybe even a garage renovation is on your mind. Whether you’re renovating under a Queenslander to make the most of the extra space, or your dreams lie in renovated Queenslander interiors – how do you turn your dreams into reality? Use our tips!
Renovating a Queenslander can be such a headache when it comes time for quotes. Many homeowners choose multiple companies to quote for each thing. But what if you want a combination of solid and stud walls, four bathrooms AND wood flooring? This could leave you going around in circles for months to get quotes.
The easiest way to find a company that can do everything is to use an online renovation calculator website. These websites take into account every aspect of your renovation, narrow it down using questions, and generate an accurate quote from builders who specialise in those specific areas. These kinds of renovated Queenslanders websites also often have testimonials from previous customers so you know exactly what type of work they can provide.
If this is your first renovation, or you are unsure of what to look for in Queenslander renovations – here are my top seven tips for Queenslander home renovations:
1) Solid Walls vs Stud Walls:
If you want the structural strength of solid walls but want the cheaper cost of stud walls instead, make sure the company you choose provides quotes for both wall types. This way you won’t be paying extra for things you don’t need. Some companies even offer a money back guarantee if they quote lower than another builder who didn’t include solid walls and you choose them instead.
2) Bathrooms:
Some Queenslander owners insist on having double the amount of bathrooms as the original house, even if some are just for show. If this is your first renovation, I recommend only having one bathroom until you’re sure the number is right for you. It’s easy to add more later on, but it can be difficult removing unnecessary ones if they turn out not to fit in with the overall layout of the renovated home.
3) Flooring:
For an extra touch that makes all renovations stand out from the rest, consider using hardwood flooring in your Queenslander house renovations – especially when there was existing carpet beforehand. Hardwood floors look luxurious and elegant and really give any room that certain je ne sais quoi.
4) Design and Look:
If you’re worried about staying within a certain design and look, or if you want to make sure somebody else doesn’t end up designing your renovation to be a cookie cutter of every other home on the street, pick a company that will allow you to hire an in-house designer who understands your vision. For more information on these services, be sure to ask when you get in touch with the company. It’s much easier than trying to create a coherent design yourself!
5) Budget:
Another important aspect of renovating old Queenslanders is making sure your budget matches the amount of work you expect to be done – otherwise it could lead to an avalanche of complaints from contractors later down the line. Again, if this is your first renovation I recommend choosing one contractor who takes care of every aspect for you, rather than trying to do it yourself.
6) Timeframe:
Time is precious, but if you’re the kind of person who prefers having something done yesterday (and no doubt many Queenslander owners are), then it’s worth asking companies how long their renovations took in the past when they renovated Queenslander homes. They might even be able to work on your renovation within your timeframe – which saves you time AND money!
7) Location:
Some companies specialise in specific areas – for example only doing Queenslander renovations in Brisbane (where I’m writing this blog post from!). If you want a renovated house done well, make sure your builders and Queenslander renovation architects have experience renovating near where you live. This could save you valuable time that would have been spent driving around looking at the different contractors’ work.
I hope this blog post has helped you in some way to see the importance of getting your renovation right the first time around. Whether you’re planning to live in your home or put your renovated Queenslander up for sale, our tips can help!
Feel free to share our ‘renovating a Queenslander blog’ with friends or family who are also looking at renovating their Queenslander homes!