Home Renovations
Home renovations work best when architecture, interior design and construction come together as one integrated service. Ballast Point brings all three to homes across Sydney, from the first ideas and planning approvals through to detailed design and construction. Our integrated team helps you make better decisions earlier and carries them through to a beautifully resolved result.
A home renovation reshapes a house that already exists. It rarely starts with a blank canvas. The structure standing today shapes what is possible. So does planning controls, heritage rules, site access, services and the conditions hidden behind walls.
Ballast Point brings architectural and construction thinking together from the start. Before you commit to a direction, Ballast Point weighs up the opportunities and constraints of your home. The result is a clearer path through design, approvals and construction, with fewer gaps between what is imagined and what can be built.
Design Lite Consultation
3D Design Consultation
3D Design & Sustainability Consultation
3D Design & Heritage Consultation
Ideal For
Ideal For
Ideal For
Ideal For
Features
Features
Features
Features
$3,650
incl GST
$4,850
incl GST
$6,225
incl GST
$6,390
incl GST
A home renovation often begins with questions rather than answers. What should stay, and what should change? Is an extension necessary, or could the existing footprint work harder? What approvals will be required, and how does the ambition fit the available budget?
Ballast Point’s design consultations bring a registered architect and licensed builder into those conversations early. That gives you practical insight into your home’s potential, and a clear direction for what comes next.
Thoughtful architectural responses shaped around your home, site, lifestyle and the planning context.
Builder input from the outset weighs up what can be built, existing conditions, the order of work and cost. That way, they don’t turn into construction problems later.
Ballast Point’s aligned team works across architecture, interiors and construction, creating continuity from first ideas through to completion.
Sydney’s established homes often come with qualities worth keeping, and constraints that need careful thought. Terraces, semis, freestanding homes and properties within heritage conservation areas each need a different balance between old and new.
Ballast Point combines local design knowledge, planning experience and construction expertise to create home renovations that respond to what is already there. The result keeps the character that matters, while improving the home’s space, light and comfort for the way you live today.
Here are some common questions to help you understand how our architectural design consultation works and what to expect.
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Most home renovations move faster when the architect and builder work as one team. Usually there’s a lag between designer and builder. Ballast Point closes that gap on home renovations across Sydney, the right person acts at the right time, whether that’s placing an order, talking to you, or working with a consultant.
You also get continuity. One team guides you through the whole process. Because design and construction are both in-house, Ballast Point plans the build while still designing it. Practical input comes early, so the new design fits the existing structure easily.
We can also investigate on site quickly. If we need to cut a test opening in a wall, our team can do it at short notice, then patch it up neatly. That means we solve construction problems while we’re still designing, not after.
Home renovation costs vary a lot, depending on the scope and the level of finish. You need a design, a measure of what’s involved, and a clear program before anyone can give you an accurate price. Some clients have a budget in mind, and we design to it. Others prefer we suggest a realistic budget once we know the scope.
Keep in mind that building costs have risen significantly in the last few years, and many people’s expectations haven’t kept up. As a rough rule of thumb:
These numbers change a lot with finishes and appliances. Some people spend $100,000 on appliances alone.
Yes. Ballast Point specialises in heritage buildings, and many of our home renovations sit in heritage conservation areas. Usually the original streetscape must be preserved. But unless a building is individually heritage-listed, you can change almost anything inside.
If a home is heritage-listed, the rules depend on how and where it’s listed, and what the listing covers. In those cases we start with a design consultation, then research the heritage impacts to work out what’s possible and what approvals you’ll need.
Yes — and home renovations add the most value when they’re targeted and strategic. Focus on fixes that solve inherent problems, because those are often the main objections a future buyer will have.
Adding bedrooms, or moving a home from one category to another, can give a clear boost. So can removing issues like a poor layout or structural faults. It’s not always about square metres — it’s about creating a complete home that appeals to more buyers.
Most home renovations take about six to nine months. It depends on the complexity of the job and on things like site access. Bathrooms take longer than people expect because so many trades are involved — allow around three months for a full bathroom renovation.
If you’re doing serious structural changes, excavation or underpinning, it might stretch to 14 or 16 months. Every project is different.
If you don’t have drawings yet, start with a design consultation. Ballast Point researches your property, visits the site, and talks through your scope and goals. We can sketch a couple of quick ideas so you can see the possibilities.
If you already have drawings, send them to us. We’ll take a look, then set up a Zoom call to work out where you’re at and what you need.
Start with why you’re renovating and what you want to achieve. The clearer your goals, the easier it is for your architect or builder to help. Then think about a realistic budget. You might fund the renovation yourself, or look at financing — either way, it helps to have a ballpark figure in mind.
Most of the time, yes. It rarely makes sense for a builder to work around you and your family. Moving out and renting for a while usually costs less than the extra a builder charges to schedule around you. If you have a separate space on site that doesn’t interfere with the work, you might stay, but nine times out of ten it’s better and cheaper to move out.
We try to avoid a full council Development Application (DA) where we can. If your project is mostly internal, we can often use a Complying Development Certificate (CDC) instead, which is quicker and cheaper than a DA.
If your site is in a heritage conservation area, you might still need a DA for any external changes. If the site is constrained in other ways, CDC may not apply. Ballast Point works out the best approval strategy once we understand your goals and the site conditions.
Some clients already know their budget and want to design around it. Others want a design first, then price it up to see what they can afford. Most people do a bit of both.
Keep some contingency — about 20% at the very start. Once the design is locked in, you might drop that to 10%. It’s good to have a buffer for surprises or changes.
The biggest challenge in most home renovations is the existing structure. Once we open up walls, we sometimes find problems that make it cheaper to rebuild than repair. You might plan to keep certain walls, then find they’re in poor shape once they’re opened up. Surprises like these add cost and time.
Focus on performance. Good insulation and well-chosen windows make a home more comfortable and cheaper to run. We look for ways to add shading, improve airflow, and balance insulation thickness against cost and space. A well-performing home is better for the environment and better to live in.
Avoid rushing to finish by Christmas if you can. It’s a busy period for trades, so it’s often more expensive and more stressful. Otherwise there’s no best season, just be aware that December and January get chaotic around holiday schedules.
It depends on your priorities. On a very tight budget, you might go with a small builder and a draftsman. Expect to carry more of the risk and coordination yourself.
Ballast Point does everything in-house, which can cost more upfront. We disclose our costs, so you know our fees and margins. That gives you more certainty in a hot market where prices swing.
You can, but staging costs more and takes longer. If possible, do everything in one go. Staging means paying twice for setup, site management and other costs. One continuous renovation is usually faster and cheaper overall.
Lock in your objectives and plans early, and avoid major changes once construction starts. Changes during the build are expensive and they disrupt the schedule.
Ballast Point is involved in the build from the design phase onwards, which simplifies construction and prevents surprises. Most of our home renovations are in Sydney’s Inner West. Good planning is what keeps costs under control.
Ballast Point brings architecture, interior design and construction together in one integrated practice — helping you make more informed decisions and create a home that is thoughtfully designed, carefully built and made for the way you live.
ABN 15604551886
Nominated Architect Peter Maxwell NSW 9317
Builders License 283176C
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