Testimonials
WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT US
We feel so fortunate and grateful to have had Rob work with us on our challenging project.
We are first time renovators/builders with no contacts or experience in the industry and, after a very disappointing experience with the first designer we worked with, we desperately needed someone who would look after us.
I was over 9 months pregnant when we realised we needed a new designer, after our first designer let us down badly. Fortuitously, Rob was recommended to us by a local builder. Rob came to our house for the first meeting within days after first making contact. I explained some of the disappointments (particularly lengthy delays), with the previous designer and he said ‘you won’t get any of that with me’.
Rob gave us a very reasonable cost proposal and started work on measurements, surveys and first design drafts within days.
In the design process, Rob was always willing to hear feedback, consider alternatives we might think of and re-cut ideas. He listened to us rather than imposing his own ideas inflexibly. That said, he was open and honest with his opinions and would point out any flaws or areas for improvement all while respecting our ideas or preferences.
We hit some very difficult hurdles with the local council as our home is a semi-detached Edwardian, on a reasonably small block with a heritage overlay.
Rob worked tirelessly with the council, navigated the advertising and objection process almost completely behind the scenes, re-cut our design many times and eventually managed to deliver a design that met our brief and satisfy the largely inflexible council requirements.
During the builder tender process, Rob again looked after our interests. He fairly tendered the job to multiple builders and again, was open and honest with us about his views on all of the builders who tendered. He was the partner and sounding board we had desperately needed.
Our son is now 2.5 years old and we are in the build stage and are keeping in touch with Rob regularly including as a sounding board for our interior design ideas. We can’t wait to see and live in the finished product which will be the output of Rob’s great work and a great partnership.
Rob Harris has been fantastic.
His main qualities we have enjoyed are his very prompt communication, his advice and obvious expertise.
We love his design.
We also loved how Robs personality has showed a fair and understanding approach to us as clients.
At stages it hasn’t been easy for him to answer the many emails and questions I have thrown at him.
We aren’t finished on our journey yet but have no hesitation in recommending him.
Thanks Rob.
We are really grateful to have worked so closely with Rob on our worker’s cottage in Elsternwick.
He demonstrates an acute attention to detail, is pragmatic and has unmatched efficiency – a combination of characteristics that are hard to come by.
To demonstrate this, within hours of hiring Rob he had conducted a site visit and began arranging the appropriate consultants to keep the project moving. This pace was maintained throughout the project, despite unforeseen & necessary pivots along the way.
Our project, like all renovations, had unique complexities attached to it. Rob was professional and honest, and guided us through each stage gate beautifully.
Our project could not have been completed to the standard it was without Rob. As such, we have already, and will continue to, recommend Elements of Home to those seeking to renovate their home.
Rob, just want to thank you for your work on our home in the lead up to our renovations which are now almost complete.
Our home still feels like our home, which was always important as we bought it because it had such a great feeling to it back then. Now it’s in a much better condition and has a floor plan that suits us now and undoubtedly well into the future.
One of the most important things to us is that you respected our home and focused on what we wanted from it. Your design has limited the physical extension to the house in line with our wishes. The usability of the spaces are now fit for purpose and we’re thrilled with the way they are coming to life.
I’m sure you won’t be surprised, but one of my biggest surprises was how spacious the family bathroom has ended up being. Same goes for the laundry.
Thanks for your patience and guidance from the start. We are really thrilled with the outcome as well as your responsiveness along the way.
Rob has been an absolute delight to work with. From day 1, he was up front, did exactly what we asked for and was able to give us great ideas to implement into the design of our place. He was extremely patient with us as our scope of works changed quite a bit and he was always accommodating. His timeliness of response was always instantaneous (even when he was away on holidays) and nothing was too difficult for him. He ran the whole project from design phase to obtaining the building permits from the building surveyors and council. I would not hesitate in recommending Rob to any of my friends or family should they need an architect – and I would not hesitate in using him again for future projects. Thanks Rob.
David, Ormond
My husband and I were that typical couple that started the renovation process with Rob then changed our mind and then about a year later approached Rob again. In both instances he was kind, gracious and understanding. We live in a unit in East Bentleigh and the intent was to reconfigure the floor plan to match the next stage of our lives and ensure the unit would be functional and practical as our boys grow into adulthood. We were also operating on a strict budget and Rob’s designs took those both into equal account – creativity is harder on a budget and Rob has a definite ability to do both. We have been back in our renovated unit for close to three months now and Rob’s design has truly changed the way we live. The space has completely opened up, each family member has their own breakout area and it is incredibly light. A big thank you to Rob, whom we have recommended to at least 3 people and will gladly continue to do so in the future and will gladly continue to do so in the future.
Dani and Derek Miller, East Bentleigh
My wife and I engaged Rob on what was a relatively small but really quite complex extension to our brick Victorian-era home. When we first met with Rob, we weren’t even sure whether what we had in mind was even possible or indeed realistically likely to be approved by Council. Our immediate impression of Rob was that he had great creativity, but was also extremely practical and knowledgeable of various Councils and their various and respective approaches to development, particularly where there is heritage overlay. Rob’s design ideas and plans came through surprisingly quickly, and were very much on point with what we imagined. The quality of the plans / drawings was excellent. He also made some suggestions which were vast improvements on what we had thought were ‘good ideas’. Once we settled on final plans, we went ‘to tender’ and received three proposals from builders, one of which we immediately discounted. Frankly, we found it very difficult to track ‘like for like’ between the two final contenders, and Rob volunteered to assist us in interpreting and comparing each on a ‘like for like’ basis. T On reflecting on our interactions with Rob, it is his willingness to resolve issues and problems that were not his doing that stand out to me as truly exceptional. We had some concerns regarding a number of issues with our builders early in the build phase, and with just a day or two’s notice, Rob involved himself and resolved the situation within minutes. Rob’s responsiveness, professionalism, knowledge, creativity and practicality were outstanding and he was truly the ‘glue’ the held our project together. Since our project completed, I have recommended Rob to three different acquaintances. I would have no hesitation in working with Rob again, and indeed plan to do so when we plan our larger extension. Thank you Rob!
Christian and Trish, Caulfield North
Efficient. Creative. Consultative ! Rob Harris is fantastic to work with. He listens to your ideas and creates designs that you wouldn’t have entertained. He challenges you and also provides a dose of reality when needed. Did I mentioned his efficiency? The project moves along at a quick pace when you are changing designs and making suggestions. Often he came back to us the same day with amendments (and mostly within hours). However, Rob is also happy to put things on the backburner if you need time to contemplate things. Rob can also suggest an array of other professionals to ensure your project runs smoothly. I would highly recommend Rob Harris for your next renovation. Thanks Rob !
David Logan, Ringwood North
Rob Harris provided a fantastic service with the drafting of design concepts for my house renovation. After the design concept was finalised Rob’s advice in relation to the building permit process was superb. What impressed me most was Rob’s open communication and quick turnaround time with the original drawings and subsequent amendments. I would highly recommend Rob to anyone looking to get a design for their building project.
Gregor, Caulfield East
“Over Delivered” is the easiest term to sum up Rob’s dealing with us with the design and planning of our extension. It’s a massive decision choosing someone to design your family home that you plan to live in for 20+ years. As much as you think you can research and look at referrals and past work, so much of it is down to the simple things that Rob just nails each and every time:
- Practical Design ideas. Rob’s got a great balance between leading edge design and the practicality and usability for a family
- Cost Conscious. Quality is key in his design, but he is also very aware on areas that could have alternative materials/ ideas for cost reduction
- Planning knowledge. Great experience of knowing what ‘could delay’ Planning
- Ego. Great style in listening to what you want, and not too precious to try and always force his ideas.
- Reliability. His strongest area without a doubt – Rob’s response times were always so fast. Nothing sits with him for long, keeping momentum ticking along nicely
- Style. It’s hard not to get on well with him. Might be due to the above reasons or simply that he is generally nice.
We spoke to 4 different Architects during our initial design stage – Rob was the best, easiest and right choice. Duncan & Kim, Hawthorn
Working with Rob was a pleasure and we would use him again for our next project. We were first time renovators and had a tight budget. Rob worked with us along the way to make sure we were comfortable with staging our renovation and considering the impact of today’s works on our longer term vision. He was also patient and worked with us through many variations and changes that came up as our knowledge grew and our thinking evolved. After this, we developed a good sense of rapport and trust with Rob and asked him to run the tender process to select our builder. Rob ran this process thoroughly and gave us a lot of comfort around the various criteria that we should use in builder selection. Even after this Rob remained committed to the project and constantly checked in with us (and the site) during the build. We have just recently moved in and couldn’t be happier with Rob’s input and effort into shaping our family home.
Yehuda and Rachel, Caulfield North
I would like to express our deepest appreciation for your assistance in obtaining town planning for our project in Bentleigh East. You have provided us with various floor plan options and were very patient with us while we decided which floor plan was going to suit our target market best. The town planning process is extremely complicated for both first time developers, as well as professional developers. You took the pressure off by liaising directly with council and our builders. We look forward to our next project together and next time we will consult with you as soon as we purchase our block.
Judy and Louis Rosenblum
Rob was fantastic to work with. A great listener, thorough, a clear communicator with quick turnaround times. He left decision making to us but tested any of our non-standard ideas and made smart suggestions (which we ended up using). He went out of his way to be helpful for our specific needs. Great value for money. You’ll be happy you decided to work with Elements of Home.
Teige Cahill – Malvern
Looking at the challenge of finding more space but with a limited budget we turned to Rob for ideas. His collaborative approach allowed us to combine his ideas and experience with our lifestyle preferences to come up with a design we love. He was responsive and flexible and provided both creative and pragmatic advice about the design which was critical for us given it was our first time working through a major renovation. Thank you Rob
Sonya, Caulfield South
I am pleased to write this testimonial for Elements of Home. Rob prepared a number of different design options for us to review. We discussed the different options and finalised a plan based on our needs. He was flexible, good humoured and committed to helping us achieve our vision. With budget and time constraints to contend with Rob helped to manage the process without complaint or difficulty and he helped liaise with the other experts and consultants when we needed them. I would be happy to recommend Rob and Elements of Home in the future.
Jonathan Schauder, Caulfield North
We were introduced to Rob Harris & Elements of Home to provide designs for a major renovation of our home. Rob’s careful and detailed eye presented us with a beautiful design solution which delicately balanced our criteria to retain elements of our existing home, whilst accommodate the number of rooms and open plan living areas we were seeking. Most importantly, Rob displayed a professional and approachable manner at all times, which enabled the design process to be collaborative. The end result has produced a design which we are confident will be as beautiful in actuality as it is currently on paper! We would not hesitate to partner with Rob again for future projects.
Simone and Mark, Malvern East
We used Rob for drafting plans for a renovation of a house we just purchased. Rob was prompt and very professional in all our dealings with him. He was helpful taking our ideas and turning them quickly into plans we could use. He was also helpful with suggestions and providing other services which made the process much easier for us. We highly recommend Rob
Orlando, Surrey Hills
Rob is a true professional who provided expertise and helped us with work we would not have been able to do ourselves. Within a very short period of time he had a result for us. At all times he kept us informed of the status of the project and provided guidance when further details were needed. He further helped us by engaging other consultants who needed to provide information to assist our application to council. Without his persistence we would not have the positive result we have today. Thanks Rob so much for your effort, we are delighted 
Judy, St Kilda West
Judy, St Kilda West
We contacted Elements of Home after buying our first home, which needed a lot of work, but we were struggling with a limited budget. From our first meeting, Rob Harris helped us prioritise and map out the most cost effective things we could do to best update our home. He was generous with his time and advice, managed the high quality tradespeople he organised to do the work and ensured our renovations were undertaken on time and to the absolutely highest standard. Rob was very patient with all of our questions and nothing was too much trouble. His advice was always spot on. We now have an amazing kitchen and bathroom and we’ll be contacting Rob again when we have any other work to do
Jeremy and Susan, Caulfield North
Thanks for the work you did designing the rather complicated home extension we required. The whole design process took a lot less time than I thought it would, and the end result is fantastic. You managed to incorporate the spirit of fun the kids wanted in the entertainment areas without resorting to the sorts of gimmicks they had wanted. No fireman’s poles and bowling alleys this time! Even though we live in a house that’s 90+ years old, the modern areas you designed are seamless additions. Thank you again for all that you did. If I can recommend you to potential customers, I most certainly will. I know you are working on a design for a good friend of mine and I know she is happy with what you have done. Looking forward to continuing to work with you in the future.
Cathy Valentine,Toorak
Recently my partner and I completed a renovation of our home. More than just a renovation! We virtually gutted the entire house which involved architectural drawings, engineering drawings, plans being approved by council, pulling down walls, lifting floors replacing architraves, ceilings and all fittings, a new kitchen, new bathrooms and cupboards. Needless to say this involved all of the trades you can imagine As we both lead busy lives, there’s no way in the world we could have handled this major project without help. So we called in Rob Harris of Elements of Home™ to assist us. I must say that Rob did more than assist! He did all the architectural drawings and got everything passed by council, organised every single trade, got various quotes, even got on his hands and knees at one stage and worked alongside the trades. Rob was there every morning to let the trades in and made sure that the house was pristine when we got home at night. Rob made sure that we always had a clean place to sleep and orchestrated the works around our needs. There is no way we could have undertaken such a major project on our own. I can thoroughly recommend Elements of Home™ for any project, no matter how big or small. We always felt comfortable taking our renovation issues to Rob. Not only is Rob the paragon of patience, he was always courteous and available. Importantly, he got the job done. That was what I wanted. Rob’s team of tradesmen is accountable to Rob, and vice versa. I did not have to get involved with the nitty-gritty. I felt comfortable in dealing with Rob who then made sure that my needs were met. Needless to say, had I not utilised the services of Elements of Home, my budget would have blown out substantially. Whilst there is always some budget blow out, I do believe that Rob made every effort to curtail this. My partner and I thank Rob and his team for a sterling effort, a professional delivery and creative result.
Alan Rosendorff, Rosendorf Lawyers
We engaged Rob to progress our renovation after a few years of deliberating over plans.
He helped us with some quick reality checks on what we can get for our money and took us through various options to allow us to agree a way forward.
We loved his flexibility and the amazing turn around of numerous ideas and changes.
We worked with Rob through the detailed design process and the builder selection process which gave us a solid baseline to work with our chosen builder.
We are very happy with the end result.
The overall design and numerous features that Rob contributed are fantastic.
The clever use of space is a real standout. We would highly recommend Rob to anybody planning a renovation.
Karen & Steve, Ormond
There has been plenty of second guessing since we started planning our renovations but our decision to use Rob has been the one thing neither my husband or I have ever second guessed.
Throughout the entire process he has been unbelievably prompt, patient and professional.
He listened to what we wanted and delivered everything whilst also being honest and up front regarding any potential limitations.
His experience, advice and recommendations have been invaluable and we have already recommended him to a number of friends.
Thanks Rob!
Rachel and Tim, Carnegie,
Rob drafted the plans for a much-needed renovation to our 1930s home.
He was great to work with – incredibly engaged and responsive, very easy to get along with, and professional in all his work.
He was able to provide practical solutions to tricky layout problems, and happily modified and updated plans in response to endless requests from us (including several changes of mind!).
Rob was great at helping us engage with the building surveyor and our local council – this meant we met pressing deadlines and ensured all our paperwork was approved by the time our builder was ready to commence works.
His calm and practical approach was just what we needed throughout the process!
Rob did a great job guiding a new owner-builder like me through the process of getting a building permit for our verandah and deck extension.
Not only did Rob draft all of the drawings required for the build, but also helped me secure the services of a civil engineer and private building surveyor.
Rob has been extremely patient and knowledgable throughout the entire build process, and I cannot recommend his services enough. Thank-you Rob!
We selected Elements of the Home to work with us on our first home renovation. We had no experience in this area, and were conscious of selecting a trustworthy and honest guide to provide advice on design and costs. Rob instantly put us at ease with his thorough and considered approach. He was quick to understand our vision. He always responded to any queries within a short time frame, which was very important to us as we were keen to get the project moving and avoid delays. Rob’s commitment to us and his patience with our many questions was exemplary. We thoroughly recommend his services
Troy and Emma, Middle Park
Rob was a delight to work with on my application for an extension to the Bayside City Council. It was my first time applying and so I appreciated the time Rob took walking me through the stages of the application, the costs involved, and high level design options. Once we decided on our budget and basic requirements, he worked through several iterations and ideas with us until we were happy with the final design. While Rob was very good at following up and advising us of the next steps, at no point did he rush the process. He was meticulous with the documentation submitted to the council, which was evident by the fact that we received our approval within 8 weeks (including time spent advertising and taking into consideration our property has an heritage overlay). For anyone else wanting to work with Rob, I think the stand-out points are that he will stick to his budget, he is experienced and brings this to the process, and has a very good work ethic.
Gaurav, Brighton East
Nicole and I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your time and patience over the last six months. We had heard so many bad stories about starting a renovation and all the associated problems that go along with it, and we are thrilled to say we have gone through completely unscathed. With every concern and question we had during the process, you and your team took the time to explain everything clearly and made us feel comfortable and at ease at every step. Nicole and I are both in business, at a level that when we ask for something to be done we expect it to be carried out with utmost efficiency. With yourself and the team from Elements of Home™, this was done on every occasion. We will not only be referring you to everyone that asks, but we now have a nice story to tell people about the building process. Thank you.
Todd Newton Senior Sales Consultant Hocking Stuart Caulfield
We found Rob’s (Elements of Home) details online after a general google search for a renovation architect/consultant to help extend our home. We met with Rob, as well as a couple of other companies over a 2 week period. From the first meeting with Rob we felt very comfortable discussing our home extension plans & confident that he had a great ability to listen & translate our ideas in to a feasible plan for a build. Rob worked quickly to provide a set of plans we were happy with, before then arranging for all of our engineering & council requirements. He was able to recommend some builders to include in the tender process & we ended up going with one of the companies he suggested. We are ecstatic with the final design & physical end result of our transformed 1950’s style home, Rob’s design was brought to life by a great building team & the whole project ran very smoothly. Throughout the entire design process we received nothing but outstanding service, communication, honest consultations and advice from Rob. He was accommodating and attentive in providing any alterations we requested, which was really comforting and crucial to the amazing end result. Whether by phone, email or text Rob made himself available at any time, and we were never left waiting for a response. Rob is genuine, respectful and proud of his work and this is further enhanced by the obviously strong relationships he has with engineers, builders etc. Elements of Home can’t be beaten for attention to detail, ongoing professionalism and service excellence. Everything Rob did turned out even better than we had imagined. For anyone thinking of building/extending we would highly recommend engaging Rob’s services to assist with the design & plans before going ahead.
Danielle and Jackie, Burwood
Trevor and I would like to thank Rob for making the whole renovation process so easy!
Within a week of engaging Rob,he was out at our place discussing our requirements and measuring up plans. Shortly thereafter, we had our first set of drawings – Rob then worked with us to make minor revisions and finalise the plans. He was always available to talk and responded to any questions very quickly.
In addition to the architectural side, Rob also assisted with all the additional paperwork (soil tests, permits etc) which made the process easier as we had one point of contact – no hassle!!
As we didn’t have a specific builder in mind, Rob was proactive in assisting us with obtaining quotes and providing recommendations. We ended up selecting a builder recommended by Rob, and as expected, the builder has been fantastic to deal with as well.
We would happily recommend Rob to anyone – brilliant service, logical plans and provides end to end support.
Trevor & Imasha, Bentleigh East
We have had exceptional service from Elements of Home. Rob always made himself available to look at properties with us and gave us opinion and advice willingly, which was a very useful part of the decision making process. The team are timely, polite, good listeners and also have great practical and creative ideas. All of this makes for a harmonious and pleasant experience, from buying to planning a build. Nothing was too much trouble for Rob. He even took time out on a personal visit interstate to look at a property with me. We have already recommended Elements of Home to friends wanting to renovate and update, especially those who want someone to manage the whole process from start to finish. We will continue to do so.
J. Marwick and M. Simkovic, Caulfield
Rob has worked for us designing an extension to the basement and adding a top floor to our house. Rob took our specifications on board and accommodated our many requests for changes as the finer details were put together. We were most appreciative of Rob taking care of the planning process with council and working through obtaining planning and building approval. Rob knows the planning and building process in depth. He was always clear to us on the process required and his fees at each stage. Rob also has many reputable contacts in the planning and building area so could recommend other excellent people to work with. I would readily recommend Rob’s work to others planning to renovate.
Kyra – St Kilda West
Rob is the best value architect on the market. I strongly recommend Rob to anyone looking to build or renovate. Rob was outstanding to work with. Reliable, honest and very responsive. Rob completed our revisions within 24 hours of request and we had plans complete within 2-3 weeks. He was available whenever we needed him and performed site inspections during the renovation. Once again, I strongly recommend Rob for your architectural requirements.
Elliot, Caulfield South
Soon after acquiring our Edwardian home, we hired Elements of Home to assist with the design of our renovation. Rob Harris not only provided exemplary creative and technical input but stewarded the successful permit processes at the local council. Rob is always prompt to respond with any query – big or small and provided invaluable advice every step of the way. He was also able to provide excellent supporting resources as required. I have no hesitation in wholeheartedly recommending Elements of Home.
Martin and Heidi, Elsternwick
As first time renovators, Rob helped us turn a single storey three bedroom house into a larger two storey home that will accommodate our family for many years to come. He came up with both practical and attractive ways to turn our ideas into a flowing design. He came up with different options for things that allowed us to make informed decisions. He also helped us liaise with builders, council and made sure that everything went according to plan. He was timely in his responses to our queries and we have no hesitation in recommending him to others.
Carolyn and Brad, North Caulfield
We engaged the services of Rob Harris from Elements of Home to help us with our extension plans. The main area of our house, where we spend the majority of our time, was cramped, had no space for entertaining and no connection with our backyard. We had a fair idea of what we wanted to achieve from our renovation and working with Rob enabled us to bring these ideas to life. What I really liked about working with Rob was he didn’t walk away when the drawings were handed over to the builder. He supported us every step of the way and was only a phone call away for any questions I had, or if I ever doubted any of the decisions I’d made. One of my favourite parts of our project was seeing Rob’s face when he came to see the finished product. He was as genuinely pleased with the end result as we are. We now have a house that connects with its surrounds, has ample room to entertain and has changed the way we live our lives. We couldn’t be happier!
Carolyn, Ormond
We used Elements of Home to provide plans and advice for the renovation of our home. Rob provided continuous support and assistance in crystallising our requirements so that the final plans were both practical and pleasing. Rob patiently worked through the options with us and assisted in tendering out the work. All our queries were dealt with in a prompt, knowlegeable and courteous way. We would recommend Rob Harris to anyone thinking of renovating their home.
Carolyn and Gerald, McKinnon
Rob, just want to thank you for your work on our home in the lead up to our renovations which are now almost complete.
Our home still feels like our home, which was always important as we bought it because it had such a great feeling to it back then. Now it’s in a much better condition and has a floor plan that suits us now and undoubtedly well into the future.
One of the most important things to us is that you respected our home and focused on what we wanted from it. Your design has limited the physical extension to the house in line with our wishes. The usability of the spaces are now fit for purpose and we’re thrilled with the way they are coming to life.
I’m sure you won’t be surprised, but one of my biggest surprises was how spacious the family bathroom has ended up being. Same goes for the laundry.
Thanks for your patience and guidance from the start. We are really thrilled with the outcome as well as your responsiveness along the way.
Rob has been an absolute delight to work with. From day 1, he was up front, did exactly what we asked for and was able to give us great ideas to implement into the design of our place. He was extremely patient with us as our scope of works changed quite a bit and he was always accommodating. His timeliness of response was always instantaneous (even when he was away on holidays) and nothing was too difficult for him. He ran the whole project from design phase to obtaining the building permits from the building surveyors and council. I would not hesitate in recommending Rob to any of my friends or family should they need an architect – and I would not hesitate in using him again for future projects. Thanks Rob.
David, Ormond
My husband and I were that typical couple that started the renovation process with Rob then changed our mind and then about a year later approached Rob again. In both instances he was kind, gracious and understanding. We live in a unit in East Bentleigh and the intent was to reconfigure the floor plan to match the next stage of our lives and ensure the unit would be functional and practical as our boys grow into adulthood. We were also operating on a strict budget and Rob’s designs took those both into equal account – creativity is harder on a budget and Rob has a definite ability to do both. We have been back in our renovated unit for close to three months now and Rob’s design has truly changed the way we live. The space has completely opened up, each family member has their own breakout area and it is incredibly light. A big thank you to Rob, whom we have recommended to at least 3 people and will gladly continue to do so in the future and will gladly continue to do so in the future.
Dani and Derek Miller, East Bentleigh
My wife and I engaged Rob on what was a relatively small but really quite complex extension to our brick Victorian-era home. When we first met with Rob, we weren’t even sure whether what we had in mind was even possible or indeed realistically likely to be approved by Council. Our immediate impression of Rob was that he had great creativity, but was also extremely practical and knowledgeable of various Councils and their various and respective approaches to development, particularly where there is heritage overlay. Rob’s design ideas and plans came through surprisingly quickly, and were very much on point with what we imagined. The quality of the plans / drawings was excellent. He also made some suggestions which were vast improvements on what we had thought were ‘good ideas’. Once we settled on final plans, we went ‘to tender’ and received three proposals from builders, one of which we immediately discounted. Frankly, we found it very difficult to track ‘like for like’ between the two final contenders, and Rob volunteered to assist us in interpreting and comparing each on a ‘like for like’ basis. T On reflecting on our interactions with Rob, it is his willingness to resolve issues and problems that were not his doing that stand out to me as truly exceptional. We had some concerns regarding a number of issues with our builders early in the build phase, and with just a day or two’s notice, Rob involved himself and resolved the situation within minutes. Rob’s responsiveness, professionalism, knowledge, creativity and practicality were outstanding and he was truly the ‘glue’ the held our project together. Since our project completed, I have recommended Rob to three different acquaintances. I would have no hesitation in working with Rob again, and indeed plan to do so when we plan our larger extension. Thank you Rob!
Christian and Trish, Caulfield North
Efficient. Creative. Consultative ! Rob Harris is fantastic to work with. He listens to your ideas and creates designs that you wouldn’t have entertained. He challenges you and also provides a dose of reality when needed. Did I mentioned his efficiency? The project moves along at a quick pace when you are changing designs and making suggestions. Often he came back to us the same day with amendments (and mostly within hours). However, Rob is also happy to put things on the backburner if you need time to contemplate things. Rob can also suggest an array of other professionals to ensure your project runs smoothly. I would highly recommend Rob Harris for your next renovation. Thanks Rob !
David Logan, Ringwood North
Rob Harris provided a fantastic service with the drafting of design concepts for my house renovation. After the design concept was finalised Rob’s advice in relation to the building permit process was superb. What impressed me most was Rob’s open communication and quick turnaround time with the original drawings and subsequent amendments. I would highly recommend Rob to anyone looking to get a design for their building project.
Gregor, Caulfield East
“Over Delivered” is the easiest term to sum up Rob’s dealing with us with the design and planning of our extension. It’s a massive decision choosing someone to design your family home that you plan to live in for 20+ years. As much as you think you can research and look at referrals and past work, so much of it is down to the simple things that Rob just nails each and every time:
- Practical Design ideas. Rob’s got a great balance between leading edge design and the practicality and usability for a family
- Cost Conscious. Quality is key in his design, but he is also very aware on areas that could have alternative materials/ ideas for cost reduction
- Planning knowledge. Great experience of knowing what ‘could delay’ Planning
- Ego. Great style in listening to what you want, and not too precious to try and always force his ideas.
- Reliability. His strongest area without a doubt – Rob’s response times were always so fast. Nothing sits with him for long, keeping momentum ticking along nicely
- Style. It’s hard not to get on well with him. Might be due to the above reasons or simply that he is generally nice.
We spoke to 4 different Architects during our initial design stage – Rob was the best, easiest and right choice. Duncan & Kim, Hawthorn
Working with Rob was a pleasure and we would use him again for our next project. We were first time renovators and had a tight budget. Rob worked with us along the way to make sure we were comfortable with staging our renovation and considering the impact of today’s works on our longer term vision. He was also patient and worked with us through many variations and changes that came up as our knowledge grew and our thinking evolved. After this, we developed a good sense of rapport and trust with Rob and asked him to run the tender process to select our builder. Rob ran this process thoroughly and gave us a lot of comfort around the various criteria that we should use in builder selection. Even after this Rob remained committed to the project and constantly checked in with us (and the site) during the build. We have just recently moved in and couldn’t be happier with Rob’s input and effort into shaping our family home.
Yehuda and Rachel, Caulfield North
I would like to express our deepest appreciation for your assistance in obtaining town planning for our project in Bentleigh East. You have provided us with various floor plan options and were very patient with us while we decided which floor plan was going to suit our target market best. The town planning process is extremely complicated for both first time developers, as well as professional developers. You took the pressure off by liaising directly with council and our builders. We look forward to our next project together and next time we will consult with you as soon as we purchase our block.
Judy and Louis Rosenblum
Rob was fantastic to work with. A great listener, thorough, a clear communicator with quick turnaround times. He left decision making to us but tested any of our non-standard ideas and made smart suggestions (which we ended up using). He went out of his way to be helpful for our specific needs. Great value for money. You’ll be happy you decided to work with Elements of Home.
Teige Cahill – Malvern
Looking at the challenge of finding more space but with a limited budget we turned to Rob for ideas. His collaborative approach allowed us to combine his ideas and experience with our lifestyle preferences to come up with a design we love. He was responsive and flexible and provided both creative and pragmatic advice about the design which was critical for us given it was our first time working through a major renovation. Thank you Rob
Sonya, Caulfield South
I am pleased to write this testimonial for Elements of Home. Rob prepared a number of different design options for us to review. We discussed the different options and finalised a plan based on our needs. He was flexible, good humoured and committed to helping us achieve our vision. With budget and time constraints to contend with Rob helped to manage the process without complaint or difficulty and he helped liaise with the other experts and consultants when we needed them. I would be happy to recommend Rob and Elements of Home in the future.
Jonathan Schauder, Caulfield North
We were introduced to Rob Harris & Elements of Home to provide designs for a major renovation of our home. Rob’s careful and detailed eye presented us with a beautiful design solution which delicately balanced our criteria to retain elements of our existing home, whilst accommodate the number of rooms and open plan living areas we were seeking. Most importantly, Rob displayed a professional and approachable manner at all times, which enabled the design process to be collaborative. The end result has produced a design which we are confident will be as beautiful in actuality as it is currently on paper! We would not hesitate to partner with Rob again for future projects.
Simone and Mark, Malvern East
We used Rob for drafting plans for a renovation of a house we just purchased. Rob was prompt and very professional in all our dealings with him. He was helpful taking our ideas and turning them quickly into plans we could use. He was also helpful with suggestions and providing other services which made the process much easier for us. We highly recommend Rob
Orlando, Surrey Hills
Rob is a true professional who provided expertise and helped us with work we would not have been able to do ourselves. Within a very short period of time he had a result for us. At all times he kept us informed of the status of the project and provided guidance when further details were needed. He further helped us by engaging other consultants who needed to provide information to assist our application to council. Without his persistence we would not have the positive result we have today. Thanks Rob so much for your effort, we are delighted
Judy, St Kilda West
Judy, St Kilda West
We contacted Elements of Home after buying our first home, which needed a lot of work, but we were struggling with a limited budget. From our first meeting, Rob Harris helped us prioritise and map out the most cost effective things we could do to best update our home. He was generous with his time and advice, managed the high quality tradespeople he organised to do the work and ensured our renovations were undertaken on time and to the absolutely highest standard. Rob was very patient with all of our questions and nothing was too much trouble. His advice was always spot on. We now have an amazing kitchen and bathroom and we’ll be contacting Rob again when we have any other work to do
Jeremy and Susan, Caulfield North
Thanks for the work you did designing the rather complicated home extension we required. The whole design process took a lot less time than I thought it would, and the end result is fantastic. You managed to incorporate the spirit of fun the kids wanted in the entertainment areas without resorting to the sorts of gimmicks they had wanted. No fireman’s poles and bowling alleys this time! Even though we live in a house that’s 90+ years old, the modern areas you designed are seamless additions. Thank you again for all that you did. If I can recommend you to potential customers, I most certainly will. I know you are working on a design for a good friend of mine and I know she is happy with what you have done. Looking forward to continuing to work with you in the future.
Cathy Valentine,Toorak
Recently my partner and I completed a renovation of our home. More than just a renovation! We virtually gutted the entire house which involved architectural drawings, engineering drawings, plans being approved by council, pulling down walls, lifting floors replacing architraves, ceilings and all fittings, a new kitchen, new bathrooms and cupboards. Needless to say this involved all of the trades you can imagine As we both lead busy lives, there’s no way in the world we could have handled this major project without help. So we called in Rob Harris of Elements of Home™ to assist us. I must say that Rob did more than assist! He did all the architectural drawings and got everything passed by council, organised every single trade, got various quotes, even got on his hands and knees at one stage and worked alongside the trades. Rob was there every morning to let the trades in and made sure that the house was pristine when we got home at night. Rob made sure that we always had a clean place to sleep and orchestrated the works around our needs. There is no way we could have undertaken such a major project on our own. I can thoroughly recommend Elements of Home™ for any project, no matter how big or small. We always felt comfortable taking our renovation issues to Rob. Not only is Rob the paragon of patience, he was always courteous and available. Importantly, he got the job done. That was what I wanted. Rob’s team of tradesmen is accountable to Rob, and vice versa. I did not have to get involved with the nitty-gritty. I felt comfortable in dealing with Rob who then made sure that my needs were met. Needless to say, had I not utilised the services of Elements of Home, my budget would have blown out substantially. Whilst there is always some budget blow out, I do believe that Rob made every effort to curtail this. My partner and I thank Rob and his team for a sterling effort, a professional delivery and creative result.
Alan Rosendorff, Rosendorf Lawyers
Rob drafted the plans for a much-needed renovation to our 1930s home.
He was great to work with – incredibly engaged and responsive, very easy to get along with, and professional in all his work.
He was able to provide practical solutions to tricky layout problems, and happily modified and updated plans in response to endless requests from us (including several changes of mind!).
Rob was great at helping us engage with the building surveyor and our local council – this meant we met pressing deadlines and ensured all our paperwork was approved by the time our builder was ready to commence works.
His calm and practical approach was just what we needed throughout the process!
We selected Elements of the Home to work with us on our first home renovation. We had no experience in this area, and were conscious of selecting a trustworthy and honest guide to provide advice on design and costs. Rob instantly put us at ease with his thorough and considered approach. He was quick to understand our vision. He always responded to any queries within a short time frame, which was very important to us as we were keen to get the project moving and avoid delays. Rob’s commitment to us and his patience with our many questions was exemplary. We thoroughly recommend his services
Troy and Emma, Middle Park
Rob was a delight to work with on my application for an extension to the Bayside City Council. It was my first time applying and so I appreciated the time Rob took walking me through the stages of the application, the costs involved, and high level design options. Once we decided on our budget and basic requirements, he worked through several iterations and ideas with us until we were happy with the final design. While Rob was very good at following up and advising us of the next steps, at no point did he rush the process. He was meticulous with the documentation submitted to the council, which was evident by the fact that we received our approval within 8 weeks (including time spent advertising and taking into consideration our property has an heritage overlay). For anyone else wanting to work with Rob, I think the stand-out points are that he will stick to his budget, he is experienced and brings this to the process, and has a very good work ethic.
Gaurav, Brighton East
Nicole and I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your time and patience over the last six months. We had heard so many bad stories about starting a renovation and all the associated problems that go along with it, and we are thrilled to say we have gone through completely unscathed. With every concern and question we had during the process, you and your team took the time to explain everything clearly and made us feel comfortable and at ease at every step. Nicole and I are both in business, at a level that when we ask for something to be done we expect it to be carried out with utmost efficiency. With yourself and the team from Elements of Home™, this was done on every occasion. We will not only be referring you to everyone that asks, but we now have a nice story to tell people about the building process. Thank you.
Todd Newton Senior Sales Consultant Hocking Stuart Caulfield
We found Rob’s (Elements of Home) details online after a general google search for a renovation architect/consultant to help extend our home. We met with Rob, as well as a couple of other companies over a 2 week period. From the first meeting with Rob we felt very comfortable discussing our home extension plans & confident that he had a great ability to listen & translate our ideas in to a feasible plan for a build. Rob worked quickly to provide a set of plans we were happy with, before then arranging for all of our engineering & council requirements. He was able to recommend some builders to include in the tender process & we ended up going with one of the companies he suggested. We are ecstatic with the final design & physical end result of our transformed 1950’s style home, Rob’s design was brought to life by a great building team & the whole project ran very smoothly. Throughout the entire design process we received nothing but outstanding service, communication, honest consultations and advice from Rob. He was accommodating and attentive in providing any alterations we requested, which was really comforting and crucial to the amazing end result. Whether by phone, email or text Rob made himself available at any time, and we were never left waiting for a response. Rob is genuine, respectful and proud of his work and this is further enhanced by the obviously strong relationships he has with engineers, builders etc. Elements of Home can’t be beaten for attention to detail, ongoing professionalism and service excellence. Everything Rob did turned out even better than we had imagined. For anyone thinking of building/extending we would highly recommend engaging Rob’s services to assist with the design & plans before going ahead.
Danielle and Jackie, Burwood
Trevor and I would like to thank Rob for making the whole renovation process so easy!
Within a week of engaging Rob,he was out at our place discussing our requirements and measuring up plans. Shortly thereafter, we had our first set of drawings – Rob then worked with us to make minor revisions and finalise the plans. He was always available to talk and responded to any questions very quickly.
In addition to the architectural side, Rob also assisted with all the additional paperwork (soil tests, permits etc) which made the process easier as we had one point of contact – no hassle!!
As we didn’t have a specific builder in mind, Rob was proactive in assisting us with obtaining quotes and providing recommendations. We ended up selecting a builder recommended by Rob, and as expected, the builder has been fantastic to deal with as well.
We would happily recommend Rob to anyone – brilliant service, logical plans and provides end to end support.
Trevor & Imasha, Bentleigh East
We have had exceptional service from Elements of Home. Rob always made himself available to look at properties with us and gave us opinion and advice willingly, which was a very useful part of the decision making process. The team are timely, polite, good listeners and also have great practical and creative ideas. All of this makes for a harmonious and pleasant experience, from buying to planning a build. Nothing was too much trouble for Rob. He even took time out on a personal visit interstate to look at a property with me. We have already recommended Elements of Home to friends wanting to renovate and update, especially those who want someone to manage the whole process from start to finish. We will continue to do so.
J. Marwick and M. Simkovic, Caulfield
Rob has worked for us designing an extension to the basement and adding a top floor to our house. Rob took our specifications on board and accommodated our many requests for changes as the finer details were put together. We were most appreciative of Rob taking care of the planning process with council and working through obtaining planning and building approval. Rob knows the planning and building process in depth. He was always clear to us on the process required and his fees at each stage. Rob also has many reputable contacts in the planning and building area so could recommend other excellent people to work with. I would readily recommend Rob’s work to others planning to renovate.
Kyra – St Kilda West
Rob is the best value architect on the market. I strongly recommend Rob to anyone looking to build or renovate. Rob was outstanding to work with. Reliable, honest and very responsive. Rob completed our revisions within 24 hours of request and we had plans complete within 2-3 weeks. He was available whenever we needed him and performed site inspections during the renovation. Once again, I strongly recommend Rob for your architectural requirements.
Elliot, Caulfield South
Soon after acquiring our Edwardian home, we hired Elements of Home to assist with the design of our renovation. Rob Harris not only provided exemplary creative and technical input but stewarded the successful permit processes at the local council. Rob is always prompt to respond with any query – big or small and provided invaluable advice every step of the way. He was also able to provide excellent supporting resources as required. I have no hesitation in wholeheartedly recommending Elements of Home.
Martin and Heidi, Elsternwick
As first time renovators, Rob helped us turn a single storey three bedroom house into a larger two storey home that will accommodate our family for many years to come. He came up with both practical and attractive ways to turn our ideas into a flowing design. He came up with different options for things that allowed us to make informed decisions. He also helped us liaise with builders, council and made sure that everything went according to plan. He was timely in his responses to our queries and we have no hesitation in recommending him to others.
Carolyn and Brad, North Caulfield
We engaged the services of Rob Harris from Elements of Home to help us with our extension plans. The main area of our house, where we spend the majority of our time, was cramped, had no space for entertaining and no connection with our backyard. We had a fair idea of what we wanted to achieve from our renovation and working with Rob enabled us to bring these ideas to life. What I really liked about working with Rob was he didn’t walk away when the drawings were handed over to the builder. He supported us every step of the way and was only a phone call away for any questions I had, or if I ever doubted any of the decisions I’d made. One of my favourite parts of our project was seeing Rob’s face when he came to see the finished product. He was as genuinely pleased with the end result as we are. We now have a house that connects with its surrounds, has ample room to entertain and has changed the way we live our lives. We couldn’t be happier!
Carolyn, Ormond
We used Elements of Home to provide plans and advice for the renovation of our home. Rob provided continuous support and assistance in crystallising our requirements so that the final plans were both practical and pleasing. Rob patiently worked through the options with us and assisted in tendering out the work. All our queries were dealt with in a prompt, knowlegeable and courteous way. We would recommend Rob Harris to anyone thinking of renovating their home.
Carolyn and Gerald, McKinnon
Rob, just want to thank you for your work on our home in the lead up to our renovations which are now almost complete.
Our home still feels like our home, which was always important as we bought it because it had such a great feeling to it back then. Now it’s in a much better condition and has a floor plan that suits us now and undoubtedly well into the future.
One of the most important things to us is that you respected our home and focused on what we wanted from it. Your design has limited the physical extension to the house in line with our wishes. The usability of the spaces are now fit for purpose and we’re thrilled with the way they are coming to life.
I’m sure you won’t be surprised, but one of my biggest surprises was how spacious the family bathroom has ended up being. Same goes for the laundry.
Thanks for your patience and guidance from the start. We are really thrilled with the outcome as well as your responsiveness along the way.
Rob has been an absolute delight to work with. From day 1, he was up front, did exactly what we asked for and was able to give us great ideas to implement into the design of our place. He was extremely patient with us as our scope of works changed quite a bit and he was always accommodating. His timeliness of response was always instantaneous (even when he was away on holidays) and nothing was too difficult for him. He ran the whole project from design phase to obtaining the building permits from the building surveyors and council. I would not hesitate in recommending Rob to any of my friends or family should they need an architect – and I would not hesitate in using him again for future projects. Thanks Rob.
David, Ormond
My husband and I were that typical couple that started the renovation process with Rob then changed our mind and then about a year later approached Rob again. In both instances he was kind, gracious and understanding. We live in a unit in East Bentleigh and the intent was to reconfigure the floor plan to match the next stage of our lives and ensure the unit would be functional and practical as our boys grow into adulthood. We were also operating on a strict budget and Rob’s designs took those both into equal account – creativity is harder on a budget and Rob has a definite ability to do both. We have been back in our renovated unit for close to three months now and Rob’s design has truly changed the way we live. The space has completely opened up, each family member has their own breakout area and it is incredibly light. A big thank you to Rob, whom we have recommended to at least 3 people and will gladly continue to do so in the future and will gladly continue to do so in the future.
Dani and Derek Miller, East Bentleigh
My wife and I engaged Rob on what was a relatively small but really quite complex extension to our brick Victorian-era home. When we first met with Rob, we weren’t even sure whether what we had in mind was even possible or indeed realistically likely to be approved by Council. Our immediate impression of Rob was that he had great creativity, but was also extremely practical and knowledgeable of various Councils and their various and respective approaches to development, particularly where there is heritage overlay. Rob’s design ideas and plans came through surprisingly quickly, and were very much on point with what we imagined. The quality of the plans / drawings was excellent. He also made some suggestions which were vast improvements on what we had thought were ‘good ideas’. Once we settled on final plans, we went ‘to tender’ and received three proposals from builders, one of which we immediately discounted. Frankly, we found it very difficult to track ‘like for like’ between the two final contenders, and Rob volunteered to assist us in interpreting and comparing each on a ‘like for like’ basis. T On reflecting on our interactions with Rob, it is his willingness to resolve issues and problems that were not his doing that stand out to me as truly exceptional. We had some concerns regarding a number of issues with our builders early in the build phase, and with just a day or two’s notice, Rob involved himself and resolved the situation within minutes. Rob’s responsiveness, professionalism, knowledge, creativity and practicality were outstanding and he was truly the ‘glue’ the held our project together. Since our project completed, I have recommended Rob to three different acquaintances. I would have no hesitation in working with Rob again, and indeed plan to do so when we plan our larger extension. Thank you Rob!
Christian and Trish, Caulfield North
Efficient. Creative. Consultative ! Rob Harris is fantastic to work with. He listens to your ideas and creates designs that you wouldn’t have entertained. He challenges you and also provides a dose of reality when needed. Did I mentioned his efficiency? The project moves along at a quick pace when you are changing designs and making suggestions. Often he came back to us the same day with amendments (and mostly within hours). However, Rob is also happy to put things on the backburner if you need time to contemplate things. Rob can also suggest an array of other professionals to ensure your project runs smoothly. I would highly recommend Rob Harris for your next renovation. Thanks Rob !
David Logan, Ringwood North
Rob Harris provided a fantastic service with the drafting of design concepts for my house renovation. After the design concept was finalised Rob’s advice in relation to the building permit process was superb. What impressed me most was Rob’s open communication and quick turnaround time with the original drawings and subsequent amendments. I would highly recommend Rob to anyone looking to get a design for their building project.
Gregor, Caulfield East
“Over Delivered” is the easiest term to sum up Rob’s dealing with us with the design and planning of our extension. It’s a massive decision choosing someone to design your family home that you plan to live in for 20+ years. As much as you think you can research and look at referrals and past work, so much of it is down to the simple things that Rob just nails each and every time:
- Practical Design ideas. Rob’s got a great balance between leading edge design and the practicality and usability for a family
- Cost Conscious. Quality is key in his design, but he is also very aware on areas that could have alternative materials/ ideas for cost reduction
- Planning knowledge. Great experience of knowing what ‘could delay’ Planning
- Ego. Great style in listening to what you want, and not too precious to try and always force his ideas.
- Reliability. His strongest area without a doubt – Rob’s response times were always so fast. Nothing sits with him for long, keeping momentum ticking along nicely
- Style. It’s hard not to get on well with him. Might be due to the above reasons or simply that he is generally nice.
We spoke to 4 different Architects during our initial design stage – Rob was the best, easiest and right choice. Duncan & Kim, Hawthorn
Working with Rob was a pleasure and we would use him again for our next project. We were first time renovators and had a tight budget. Rob worked with us along the way to make sure we were comfortable with staging our renovation and considering the impact of today’s works on our longer term vision. He was also patient and worked with us through many variations and changes that came up as our knowledge grew and our thinking evolved. After this, we developed a good sense of rapport and trust with Rob and asked him to run the tender process to select our builder. Rob ran this process thoroughly and gave us a lot of comfort around the various criteria that we should use in builder selection. Even after this Rob remained committed to the project and constantly checked in with us (and the site) during the build. We have just recently moved in and couldn’t be happier with Rob’s input and effort into shaping our family home.
Yehuda and Rachel, Caulfield North
I would like to express our deepest appreciation for your assistance in obtaining town planning for our project in Bentleigh East. You have provided us with various floor plan options and were very patient with us while we decided which floor plan was going to suit our target market best. The town planning process is extremely complicated for both first time developers, as well as professional developers. You took the pressure off by liaising directly with council and our builders. We look forward to our next project together and next time we will consult with you as soon as we purchase our block.
Judy and Louis Rosenblum
Rob was fantastic to work with. A great listener, thorough, a clear communicator with quick turnaround times. He left decision making to us but tested any of our non-standard ideas and made smart suggestions (which we ended up using). He went out of his way to be helpful for our specific needs. Great value for money. You’ll be happy you decided to work with Elements of Home.
Teige Cahill – Malvern
Looking at the challenge of finding more space but with a limited budget we turned to Rob for ideas. His collaborative approach allowed us to combine his ideas and experience with our lifestyle preferences to come up with a design we love. He was responsive and flexible and provided both creative and pragmatic advice about the design which was critical for us given it was our first time working through a major renovation. Thank you Rob
Sonya, Caulfield South
I am pleased to write this testimonial for Elements of Home. Rob prepared a number of different design options for us to review. We discussed the different options and finalised a plan based on our needs. He was flexible, good humoured and committed to helping us achieve our vision. With budget and time constraints to contend with Rob helped to manage the process without complaint or difficulty and he helped liaise with the other experts and consultants when we needed them. I would be happy to recommend Rob and Elements of Home in the future.
Jonathan Schauder, Caulfield North
We were introduced to Rob Harris & Elements of Home to provide designs for a major renovation of our home. Rob’s careful and detailed eye presented us with a beautiful design solution which delicately balanced our criteria to retain elements of our existing home, whilst accommodate the number of rooms and open plan living areas we were seeking. Most importantly, Rob displayed a professional and approachable manner at all times, which enabled the design process to be collaborative. The end result has produced a design which we are confident will be as beautiful in actuality as it is currently on paper! We would not hesitate to partner with Rob again for future projects.
Simone and Mark, Malvern East
We used Rob for drafting plans for a renovation of a house we just purchased. Rob was prompt and very professional in all our dealings with him. He was helpful taking our ideas and turning them quickly into plans we could use. He was also helpful with suggestions and providing other services which made the process much easier for us. We highly recommend Rob
Orlando, Surrey Hills
Rob is a true professional who provided expertise and helped us with work we would not have been able to do ourselves. Within a very short period of time he had a result for us. At all times he kept us informed of the status of the project and provided guidance when further details were needed. He further helped us by engaging other consultants who needed to provide information to assist our application to council. Without his persistence we would not have the positive result we have today. Thanks Rob so much for your effort, we are delighted
Judy, St Kilda West
Judy, St Kilda West
We contacted Elements of Home after buying our first home, which needed a lot of work, but we were struggling with a limited budget. From our first meeting, Rob Harris helped us prioritise and map out the most cost effective things we could do to best update our home. He was generous with his time and advice, managed the high quality tradespeople he organised to do the work and ensured our renovations were undertaken on time and to the absolutely highest standard. Rob was very patient with all of our questions and nothing was too much trouble. His advice was always spot on. We now have an amazing kitchen and bathroom and we’ll be contacting Rob again when we have any other work to do
Jeremy and Susan, Caulfield North
Thanks for the work you did designing the rather complicated home extension we required. The whole design process took a lot less time than I thought it would, and the end result is fantastic. You managed to incorporate the spirit of fun the kids wanted in the entertainment areas without resorting to the sorts of gimmicks they had wanted. No fireman’s poles and bowling alleys this time! Even though we live in a house that’s 90+ years old, the modern areas you designed are seamless additions. Thank you again for all that you did. If I can recommend you to potential customers, I most certainly will. I know you are working on a design for a good friend of mine and I know she is happy with what you have done. Looking forward to continuing to work with you in the future.
Cathy Valentine,Toorak
Recently my partner and I completed a renovation of our home. More than just a renovation! We virtually gutted the entire house which involved architectural drawings, engineering drawings, plans being approved by council, pulling down walls, lifting floors replacing architraves, ceilings and all fittings, a new kitchen, new bathrooms and cupboards. Needless to say this involved all of the trades you can imagine As we both lead busy lives, there’s no way in the world we could have handled this major project without help. So we called in Rob Harris of Elements of Home™ to assist us. I must say that Rob did more than assist! He did all the architectural drawings and got everything passed by council, organised every single trade, got various quotes, even got on his hands and knees at one stage and worked alongside the trades. Rob was there every morning to let the trades in and made sure that the house was pristine when we got home at night. Rob made sure that we always had a clean place to sleep and orchestrated the works around our needs. There is no way we could have undertaken such a major project on our own. I can thoroughly recommend Elements of Home™ for any project, no matter how big or small. We always felt comfortable taking our renovation issues to Rob. Not only is Rob the paragon of patience, he was always courteous and available. Importantly, he got the job done. That was what I wanted. Rob’s team of tradesmen is accountable to Rob, and vice versa. I did not have to get involved with the nitty-gritty. I felt comfortable in dealing with Rob who then made sure that my needs were met. Needless to say, had I not utilised the services of Elements of Home, my budget would have blown out substantially. Whilst there is always some budget blow out, I do believe that Rob made every effort to curtail this. My partner and I thank Rob and his team for a sterling effort, a professional delivery and creative result.
Alan Rosendorff, Rosendorf Lawyers
Rob drafted the plans for a much-needed renovation to our 1930s home.
He was great to work with – incredibly engaged and responsive, very easy to get along with, and professional in all his work.
He was able to provide practical solutions to tricky layout problems, and happily modified and updated plans in response to endless requests from us (including several changes of mind!).
Rob was great at helping us engage with the building surveyor and our local council – this meant we met pressing deadlines and ensured all our paperwork was approved by the time our builder was ready to commence works.
His calm and practical approach was just what we needed throughout the process!
We selected Elements of the Home to work with us on our first home renovation. We had no experience in this area, and were conscious of selecting a trustworthy and honest guide to provide advice on design and costs. Rob instantly put us at ease with his thorough and considered approach. He was quick to understand our vision. He always responded to any queries within a short time frame, which was very important to us as we were keen to get the project moving and avoid delays. Rob’s commitment to us and his patience with our many questions was exemplary. We thoroughly recommend his services
Troy and Emma, Middle Park
Rob was a delight to work with on my application for an extension to the Bayside City Council. It was my first time applying and so I appreciated the time Rob took walking me through the stages of the application, the costs involved, and high level design options. Once we decided on our budget and basic requirements, he worked through several iterations and ideas with us until we were happy with the final design. While Rob was very good at following up and advising us of the next steps, at no point did he rush the process. He was meticulous with the documentation submitted to the council, which was evident by the fact that we received our approval within 8 weeks (including time spent advertising and taking into consideration our property has an heritage overlay). For anyone else wanting to work with Rob, I think the stand-out points are that he will stick to his budget, he is experienced and brings this to the process, and has a very good work ethic.
Gaurav, Brighton East
Nicole and I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your time and patience over the last six months. We had heard so many bad stories about starting a renovation and all the associated problems that go along with it, and we are thrilled to say we have gone through completely unscathed. With every concern and question we had during the process, you and your team took the time to explain everything clearly and made us feel comfortable and at ease at every step. Nicole and I are both in business, at a level that when we ask for something to be done we expect it to be carried out with utmost efficiency. With yourself and the team from Elements of Home™, this was done on every occasion. We will not only be referring you to everyone that asks, but we now have a nice story to tell people about the building process. Thank you.
Todd Newton Senior Sales Consultant Hocking Stuart Caulfield
We found Rob’s (Elements of Home) details online after a general google search for a renovation architect/consultant to help extend our home. We met with Rob, as well as a couple of other companies over a 2 week period. From the first meeting with Rob we felt very comfortable discussing our home extension plans & confident that he had a great ability to listen & translate our ideas in to a feasible plan for a build. Rob worked quickly to provide a set of plans we were happy with, before then arranging for all of our engineering & council requirements. He was able to recommend some builders to include in the tender process & we ended up going with one of the companies he suggested. We are ecstatic with the final design & physical end result of our transformed 1950’s style home, Rob’s design was brought to life by a great building team & the whole project ran very smoothly. Throughout the entire design process we received nothing but outstanding service, communication, honest consultations and advice from Rob. He was accommodating and attentive in providing any alterations we requested, which was really comforting and crucial to the amazing end result. Whether by phone, email or text Rob made himself available at any time, and we were never left waiting for a response. Rob is genuine, respectful and proud of his work and this is further enhanced by the obviously strong relationships he has with engineers, builders etc. Elements of Home can’t be beaten for attention to detail, ongoing professionalism and service excellence. Everything Rob did turned out even better than we had imagined. For anyone thinking of building/extending we would highly recommend engaging Rob’s services to assist with the design & plans before going ahead.
Danielle and Jackie, Burwood
Trevor and I would like to thank Rob for making the whole renovation process so easy!
Within a week of engaging Rob,he was out at our place discussing our requirements and measuring up plans. Shortly thereafter, we had our first set of drawings – Rob then worked with us to make minor revisions and finalise the plans. He was always available to talk and responded to any questions very quickly.
In addition to the architectural side, Rob also assisted with all the additional paperwork (soil tests, permits etc) which made the process easier as we had one point of contact – no hassle!!
As we didn’t have a specific builder in mind, Rob was proactive in assisting us with obtaining quotes and providing recommendations. We ended up selecting a builder recommended by Rob, and as expected, the builder has been fantastic to deal with as well.
We would happily recommend Rob to anyone – brilliant service, logical plans and provides end to end support.
Trevor & Imasha, Bentleigh East
We have had exceptional service from Elements of Home. Rob always made himself available to look at properties with us and gave us opinion and advice willingly, which was a very useful part of the decision making process. The team are timely, polite, good listeners and also have great practical and creative ideas. All of this makes for a harmonious and pleasant experience, from buying to planning a build. Nothing was too much trouble for Rob. He even took time out on a personal visit interstate to look at a property with me. We have already recommended Elements of Home to friends wanting to renovate and update, especially those who want someone to manage the whole process from start to finish. We will continue to do so.
J. Marwick and M. Simkovic, Caulfield
Rob has worked for us designing an extension to the basement and adding a top floor to our house. Rob took our specifications on board and accommodated our many requests for changes as the finer details were put together. We were most appreciative of Rob taking care of the planning process with council and working through obtaining planning and building approval. Rob knows the planning and building process in depth. He was always clear to us on the process required and his fees at each stage. Rob also has many reputable contacts in the planning and building area so could recommend other excellent people to work with. I would readily recommend Rob’s work to others planning to renovate.
Kyra – St Kilda West
Rob is the best value architect on the market. I strongly recommend Rob to anyone looking to build or renovate. Rob was outstanding to work with. Reliable, honest and very responsive. Rob completed our revisions within 24 hours of request and we had plans complete within 2-3 weeks. He was available whenever we needed him and performed site inspections during the renovation. Once again, I strongly recommend Rob for your architectural requirements.
Elliot, Caulfield South
Soon after acquiring our Edwardian home, we hired Elements of Home to assist with the design of our renovation. Rob Harris not only provided exemplary creative and technical input but stewarded the successful permit processes at the local council. Rob is always prompt to respond with any query – big or small and provided invaluable advice every step of the way. He was also able to provide excellent supporting resources as required. I have no hesitation in wholeheartedly recommending Elements of Home.
Martin and Heidi, Elsternwick
As first time renovators, Rob helped us turn a single storey three bedroom house into a larger two storey home that will accommodate our family for many years to come. He came up with both practical and attractive ways to turn our ideas into a flowing design. He came up with different options for things that allowed us to make informed decisions. He also helped us liaise with builders, council and made sure that everything went according to plan. He was timely in his responses to our queries and we have no hesitation in recommending him to others.
Carolyn and Brad, North Caulfield
We engaged the services of Rob Harris from Elements of Home to help us with our extension plans. The main area of our house, where we spend the majority of our time, was cramped, had no space for entertaining and no connection with our backyard. We had a fair idea of what we wanted to achieve from our renovation and working with Rob enabled us to bring these ideas to life. What I really liked about working with Rob was he didn’t walk away when the drawings were handed over to the builder. He supported us every step of the way and was only a phone call away for any questions I had, or if I ever doubted any of the decisions I’d made. One of my favourite parts of our project was seeing Rob’s face when he came to see the finished product. He was as genuinely pleased with the end result as we are. We now have a house that connects with its surrounds, has ample room to entertain and has changed the way we live our lives. We couldn’t be happier!
Carolyn, Ormond
We used Elements of Home to provide plans and advice for the renovation of our home. Rob provided continuous support and assistance in crystallising our requirements so that the final plans were both practical and pleasing. Rob patiently worked through the options with us and assisted in tendering out the work. All our queries were dealt with in a prompt, knowlegeable and courteous way. We would recommend Rob Harris to anyone thinking of renovating their home.
Carolyn and Gerald, McKinnon
Rob, just want to thank you for your work on our home in the lead up to our renovations which are now almost complete.
Our home still feels like our home, which was always important as we bought it because it had such a great feeling to it back then. Now it’s in a much better condition and has a floor plan that suits us now and undoubtedly well into the future.
One of the most important things to us is that you respected our home and focused on what we wanted from it. Your design has limited the physical extension to the house in line with our wishes. The usability of the spaces are now fit for purpose and we’re thrilled with the way they are coming to life.
I’m sure you won’t be surprised, but one of my biggest surprises was how spacious the family bathroom has ended up being. Same goes for the laundry.
Thanks for your patience and guidance from the start. We are really thrilled with the outcome as well as your responsiveness along the way.
Rob has been an absolute delight to work with. From day 1, he was up front, did exactly what we asked for and was able to give us great ideas to implement into the design of our place. He was extremely patient with us as our scope of works changed quite a bit and he was always accommodating. His timeliness of response was always instantaneous (even when he was away on holidays) and nothing was too difficult for him. He ran the whole project from design phase to obtaining the building permits from the building surveyors and council. I would not hesitate in recommending Rob to any of my friends or family should they need an architect – and I would not hesitate in using him again for future projects. Thanks Rob.
David, Ormond
My husband and I were that typical couple that started the renovation process with Rob then changed our mind and then about a year later approached Rob again. In both instances he was kind, gracious and understanding. We live in a unit in East Bentleigh and the intent was to reconfigure the floor plan to match the next stage of our lives and ensure the unit would be functional and practical as our boys grow into adulthood. We were also operating on a strict budget and Rob’s designs took those both into equal account – creativity is harder on a budget and Rob has a definite ability to do both. We have been back in our renovated unit for close to three months now and Rob’s design has truly changed the way we live. The space has completely opened up, each family member has their own breakout area and it is incredibly light. A big thank you to Rob, whom we have recommended to at least 3 people and will gladly continue to do so in the future and will gladly continue to do so in the future.
Dani and Derek Miller, East Bentleigh
My wife and I engaged Rob on what was a relatively small but really quite complex extension to our brick Victorian-era home. When we first met with Rob, we weren’t even sure whether what we had in mind was even possible or indeed realistically likely to be approved by Council. Our immediate impression of Rob was that he had great creativity, but was also extremely practical and knowledgeable of various Councils and their various and respective approaches to development, particularly where there is heritage overlay. Rob’s design ideas and plans came through surprisingly quickly, and were very much on point with what we imagined. The quality of the plans / drawings was excellent. He also made some suggestions which were vast improvements on what we had thought were ‘good ideas’. Once we settled on final plans, we went ‘to tender’ and received three proposals from builders, one of which we immediately discounted. Frankly, we found it very difficult to track ‘like for like’ between the two final contenders, and Rob volunteered to assist us in interpreting and comparing each on a ‘like for like’ basis. T On reflecting on our interactions with Rob, it is his willingness to resolve issues and problems that were not his doing that stand out to me as truly exceptional. We had some concerns regarding a number of issues with our builders early in the build phase, and with just a day or two’s notice, Rob involved himself and resolved the situation within minutes. Rob’s responsiveness, professionalism, knowledge, creativity and practicality were outstanding and he was truly the ‘glue’ the held our project together. Since our project completed, I have recommended Rob to three different acquaintances. I would have no hesitation in working with Rob again, and indeed plan to do so when we plan our larger extension. Thank you Rob!
Christian and Trish, Caulfield North
Efficient. Creative. Consultative ! Rob Harris is fantastic to work with. He listens to your ideas and creates designs that you wouldn’t have entertained. He challenges you and also provides a dose of reality when needed. Did I mentioned his efficiency? The project moves along at a quick pace when you are changing designs and making suggestions. Often he came back to us the same day with amendments (and mostly within hours). However, Rob is also happy to put things on the backburner if you need time to contemplate things. Rob can also suggest an array of other professionals to ensure your project runs smoothly. I would highly recommend Rob Harris for your next renovation. Thanks Rob !
David Logan, Ringwood North
Rob Harris provided a fantastic service with the drafting of design concepts for my house renovation. After the design concept was finalised Rob’s advice in relation to the building permit process was superb. What impressed me most was Rob’s open communication and quick turnaround time with the original drawings and subsequent amendments. I would highly recommend Rob to anyone looking to get a design for their building project.
Gregor, Caulfield East
“Over Delivered” is the easiest term to sum up Rob’s dealing with us with the design and planning of our extension. It’s a massive decision choosing someone to design your family home that you plan to live in for 20+ years. As much as you think you can research and look at referrals and past work, so much of it is down to the simple things that Rob just nails each and every time:
- Practical Design ideas. Rob’s got a great balance between leading edge design and the practicality and usability for a family
- Cost Conscious. Quality is key in his design, but he is also very aware on areas that could have alternative materials/ ideas for cost reduction
- Planning knowledge. Great experience of knowing what ‘could delay’ Planning
- Ego. Great style in listening to what you want, and not too precious to try and always force his ideas.
- Reliability. His strongest area without a doubt – Rob’s response times were always so fast. Nothing sits with him for long, keeping momentum ticking along nicely
- Style. It’s hard not to get on well with him. Might be due to the above reasons or simply that he is generally nice.
We spoke to 4 different Architects during our initial design stage – Rob was the best, easiest and right choice. Duncan & Kim, Hawthorn
Working with Rob was a pleasure and we would use him again for our next project. We were first time renovators and had a tight budget. Rob worked with us along the way to make sure we were comfortable with staging our renovation and considering the impact of today’s works on our longer term vision. He was also patient and worked with us through many variations and changes that came up as our knowledge grew and our thinking evolved. After this, we developed a good sense of rapport and trust with Rob and asked him to run the tender process to select our builder. Rob ran this process thoroughly and gave us a lot of comfort around the various criteria that we should use in builder selection. Even after this Rob remained committed to the project and constantly checked in with us (and the site) during the build. We have just recently moved in and couldn’t be happier with Rob’s input and effort into shaping our family home.
Yehuda and Rachel, Caulfield North
I would like to express our deepest appreciation for your assistance in obtaining town planning for our project in Bentleigh East. You have provided us with various floor plan options and were very patient with us while we decided which floor plan was going to suit our target market best. The town planning process is extremely complicated for both first time developers, as well as professional developers. You took the pressure off by liaising directly with council and our builders. We look forward to our next project together and next time we will consult with you as soon as we purchase our block.
Judy and Louis Rosenblum
Rob was fantastic to work with. A great listener, thorough, a clear communicator with quick turnaround times. He left decision making to us but tested any of our non-standard ideas and made smart suggestions (which we ended up using). He went out of his way to be helpful for our specific needs. Great value for money. You’ll be happy you decided to work with Elements of Home.
Teige Cahill – Malvern
Looking at the challenge of finding more space but with a limited budget we turned to Rob for ideas. His collaborative approach allowed us to combine his ideas and experience with our lifestyle preferences to come up with a design we love. He was responsive and flexible and provided both creative and pragmatic advice about the design which was critical for us given it was our first time working through a major renovation. Thank you Rob
Sonya, Caulfield South
I am pleased to write this testimonial for Elements of Home. Rob prepared a number of different design options for us to review. We discussed the different options and finalised a plan based on our needs. He was flexible, good humoured and committed to helping us achieve our vision. With budget and time constraints to contend with Rob helped to manage the process without complaint or difficulty and he helped liaise with the other experts and consultants when we needed them. I would be happy to recommend Rob and Elements of Home in the future.
Jonathan Schauder, Caulfield North
We were introduced to Rob Harris & Elements of Home to provide designs for a major renovation of our home. Rob’s careful and detailed eye presented us with a beautiful design solution which delicately balanced our criteria to retain elements of our existing home, whilst accommodate the number of rooms and open plan living areas we were seeking. Most importantly, Rob displayed a professional and approachable manner at all times, which enabled the design process to be collaborative. The end result has produced a design which we are confident will be as beautiful in actuality as it is currently on paper! We would not hesitate to partner with Rob again for future projects.
Simone and Mark, Malvern East
We used Rob for drafting plans for a renovation of a house we just purchased. Rob was prompt and very professional in all our dealings with him. He was helpful taking our ideas and turning them quickly into plans we could use. He was also helpful with suggestions and providing other services which made the process much easier for us. We highly recommend Rob
Orlando, Surrey Hills
Rob is a true professional who provided expertise and helped us with work we would not have been able to do ourselves. Within a very short period of time he had a result for us. At all times he kept us informed of the status of the project and provided guidance when further details were needed. He further helped us by engaging other consultants who needed to provide information to assist our application to council. Without his persistence we would not have the positive result we have today. Thanks Rob so much for your effort, we are delighted
Judy, St Kilda West
Judy, St Kilda West
We contacted Elements of Home after buying our first home, which needed a lot of work, but we were struggling with a limited budget. From our first meeting, Rob Harris helped us prioritise and map out the most cost effective things we could do to best update our home. He was generous with his time and advice, managed the high quality tradespeople he organised to do the work and ensured our renovations were undertaken on time and to the absolutely highest standard. Rob was very patient with all of our questions and nothing was too much trouble. His advice was always spot on. We now have an amazing kitchen and bathroom and we’ll be contacting Rob again when we have any other work to do
Jeremy and Susan, Caulfield North
Thanks for the work you did designing the rather complicated home extension we required. The whole design process took a lot less time than I thought it would, and the end result is fantastic. You managed to incorporate the spirit of fun the kids wanted in the entertainment areas without resorting to the sorts of gimmicks they had wanted. No fireman’s poles and bowling alleys this time! Even though we live in a house that’s 90+ years old, the modern areas you designed are seamless additions. Thank you again for all that you did. If I can recommend you to potential customers, I most certainly will. I know you are working on a design for a good friend of mine and I know she is happy with what you have done. Looking forward to continuing to work with you in the future.
Cathy Valentine,Toorak
Recently my partner and I completed a renovation of our home. More than just a renovation! We virtually gutted the entire house which involved architectural drawings, engineering drawings, plans being approved by council, pulling down walls, lifting floors replacing architraves, ceilings and all fittings, a new kitchen, new bathrooms and cupboards. Needless to say this involved all of the trades you can imagine As we both lead busy lives, there’s no way in the world we could have handled this major project without help. So we called in Rob Harris of Elements of Home™ to assist us. I must say that Rob did more than assist! He did all the architectural drawings and got everything passed by council, organised every single trade, got various quotes, even got on his hands and knees at one stage and worked alongside the trades. Rob was there every morning to let the trades in and made sure that the house was pristine when we got home at night. Rob made sure that we always had a clean place to sleep and orchestrated the works around our needs. There is no way we could have undertaken such a major project on our own. I can thoroughly recommend Elements of Home™ for any project, no matter how big or small. We always felt comfortable taking our renovation issues to Rob. Not only is Rob the paragon of patience, he was always courteous and available. Importantly, he got the job done. That was what I wanted. Rob’s team of tradesmen is accountable to Rob, and vice versa. I did not have to get involved with the nitty-gritty. I felt comfortable in dealing with Rob who then made sure that my needs were met. Needless to say, had I not utilised the services of Elements of Home, my budget would have blown out substantially. Whilst there is always some budget blow out, I do believe that Rob made every effort to curtail this. My partner and I thank Rob and his team for a sterling effort, a professional delivery and creative result.
Alan Rosendorff, Rosendorf Lawyers
Rob drafted the plans for a much-needed renovation to our 1930s home.
He was great to work with – incredibly engaged and responsive, very easy to get along with, and professional in all his work.
He was able to provide practical solutions to tricky layout problems, and happily modified and updated plans in response to endless requests from us (including several changes of mind!).
Rob was great at helping us engage with the building surveyor and our local council – this meant we met pressing deadlines and ensured all our paperwork was approved by the time our builder was ready to commence works.
His calm and practical approach was just what we needed throughout the process!
We selected Elements of the Home to work with us on our first home renovation. We had no experience in this area, and were conscious of selecting a trustworthy and honest guide to provide advice on design and costs. Rob instantly put us at ease with his thorough and considered approach. He was quick to understand our vision. He always responded to any queries within a short time frame, which was very important to us as we were keen to get the project moving and avoid delays. Rob’s commitment to us and his patience with our many questions was exemplary. We thoroughly recommend his services
Troy and Emma, Middle Park
Rob was a delight to work with on my application for an extension to the Bayside City Council. It was my first time applying and so I appreciated the time Rob took walking me through the stages of the application, the costs involved, and high level design options. Once we decided on our budget and basic requirements, he worked through several iterations and ideas with us until we were happy with the final design. While Rob was very good at following up and advising us of the next steps, at no point did he rush the process. He was meticulous with the documentation submitted to the council, which was evident by the fact that we received our approval within 8 weeks (including time spent advertising and taking into consideration our property has an heritage overlay). For anyone else wanting to work with Rob, I think the stand-out points are that he will stick to his budget, he is experienced and brings this to the process, and has a very good work ethic.
Gaurav, Brighton East
Nicole and I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your time and patience over the last six months. We had heard so many bad stories about starting a renovation and all the associated problems that go along with it, and we are thrilled to say we have gone through completely unscathed. With every concern and question we had during the process, you and your team took the time to explain everything clearly and made us feel comfortable and at ease at every step. Nicole and I are both in business, at a level that when we ask for something to be done we expect it to be carried out with utmost efficiency. With yourself and the team from Elements of Home™, this was done on every occasion. We will not only be referring you to everyone that asks, but we now have a nice story to tell people about the building process. Thank you.
Todd Newton Senior Sales Consultant Hocking Stuart Caulfield
We found Rob’s (Elements of Home) details online after a general google search for a renovation architect/consultant to help extend our home. We met with Rob, as well as a couple of other companies over a 2 week period. From the first meeting with Rob we felt very comfortable discussing our home extension plans & confident that he had a great ability to listen & translate our ideas in to a feasible plan for a build. Rob worked quickly to provide a set of plans we were happy with, before then arranging for all of our engineering & council requirements. He was able to recommend some builders to include in the tender process & we ended up going with one of the companies he suggested. We are ecstatic with the final design & physical end result of our transformed 1950’s style home, Rob’s design was brought to life by a great building team & the whole project ran very smoothly. Throughout the entire design process we received nothing but outstanding service, communication, honest consultations and advice from Rob. He was accommodating and attentive in providing any alterations we requested, which was really comforting and crucial to the amazing end result. Whether by phone, email or text Rob made himself available at any time, and we were never left waiting for a response. Rob is genuine, respectful and proud of his work and this is further enhanced by the obviously strong relationships he has with engineers, builders etc. Elements of Home can’t be beaten for attention to detail, ongoing professionalism and service excellence. Everything Rob did turned out even better than we had imagined. For anyone thinking of building/extending we would highly recommend engaging Rob’s services to assist with the design & plans before going ahead.
Danielle and Jackie, Burwood
Trevor and I would like to thank Rob for making the whole renovation process so easy!
Within a week of engaging Rob,he was out at our place discussing our requirements and measuring up plans. Shortly thereafter, we had our first set of drawings – Rob then worked with us to make minor revisions and finalise the plans. He was always available to talk and responded to any questions very quickly.
In addition to the architectural side, Rob also assisted with all the additional paperwork (soil tests, permits etc) which made the process easier as we had one point of contact – no hassle!!
As we didn’t have a specific builder in mind, Rob was proactive in assisting us with obtaining quotes and providing recommendations. We ended up selecting a builder recommended by Rob, and as expected, the builder has been fantastic to deal with as well.
We would happily recommend Rob to anyone – brilliant service, logical plans and provides end to end support.
Trevor & Imasha, Bentleigh East
We have had exceptional service from Elements of Home. Rob always made himself available to look at properties with us and gave us opinion and advice willingly, which was a very useful part of the decision making process. The team are timely, polite, good listeners and also have great practical and creative ideas. All of this makes for a harmonious and pleasant experience, from buying to planning a build. Nothing was too much trouble for Rob. He even took time out on a personal visit interstate to look at a property with me. We have already recommended Elements of Home to friends wanting to renovate and update, especially those who want someone to manage the whole process from start to finish. We will continue to do so.
J. Marwick and M. Simkovic, Caulfield
Rob has worked for us designing an extension to the basement and adding a top floor to our house. Rob took our specifications on board and accommodated our many requests for changes as the finer details were put together. We were most appreciative of Rob taking care of the planning process with council and working through obtaining planning and building approval. Rob knows the planning and building process in depth. He was always clear to us on the process required and his fees at each stage. Rob also has many reputable contacts in the planning and building area so could recommend other excellent people to work with. I would readily recommend Rob’s work to others planning to renovate.
Kyra – St Kilda West
Rob is the best value architect on the market. I strongly recommend Rob to anyone looking to build or renovate. Rob was outstanding to work with. Reliable, honest and very responsive. Rob completed our revisions within 24 hours of request and we had plans complete within 2-3 weeks. He was available whenever we needed him and performed site inspections during the renovation. Once again, I strongly recommend Rob for your architectural requirements.
Elliot, Caulfield South
Soon after acquiring our Edwardian home, we hired Elements of Home to assist with the design of our renovation. Rob Harris not only provided exemplary creative and technical input but stewarded the successful permit processes at the local council. Rob is always prompt to respond with any query – big or small and provided invaluable advice every step of the way. He was also able to provide excellent supporting resources as required. I have no hesitation in wholeheartedly recommending Elements of Home.
Martin and Heidi, Elsternwick
As first time renovators, Rob helped us turn a single storey three bedroom house into a larger two storey home that will accommodate our family for many years to come. He came up with both practical and attractive ways to turn our ideas into a flowing design. He came up with different options for things that allowed us to make informed decisions. He also helped us liaise with builders, council and made sure that everything went according to plan. He was timely in his responses to our queries and we have no hesitation in recommending him to others.
Carolyn and Brad, North Caulfield
We engaged the services of Rob Harris from Elements of Home to help us with our extension plans. The main area of our house, where we spend the majority of our time, was cramped, had no space for entertaining and no connection with our backyard. We had a fair idea of what we wanted to achieve from our renovation and working with Rob enabled us to bring these ideas to life. What I really liked about working with Rob was he didn’t walk away when the drawings were handed over to the builder. He supported us every step of the way and was only a phone call away for any questions I had, or if I ever doubted any of the decisions I’d made. One of my favourite parts of our project was seeing Rob’s face when he came to see the finished product. He was as genuinely pleased with the end result as we are. We now have a house that connects with its surrounds, has ample room to entertain and has changed the way we live our lives. We couldn’t be happier!
Carolyn, Ormond
We used Elements of Home to provide plans and advice for the renovation of our home. Rob provided continuous support and assistance in crystallising our requirements so that the final plans were both practical and pleasing. Rob patiently worked through the options with us and assisted in tendering out the work. All our queries were dealt with in a prompt, knowlegeable and courteous way. We would recommend Rob Harris to anyone thinking of renovating their home.
Carolyn and Gerald, McKinnon
Rob, just want to thank you for your work on our home in the lead up to our renovations which are now almost complete.
Our home still feels like our home, which was always important as we bought it because it had such a great feeling to it back then. Now it’s in a much better condition and has a floor plan that suits us now and undoubtedly well into the future.
One of the most important things to us is that you respected our home and focused on what we wanted from it. Your design has limited the physical extension to the house in line with our wishes. The usability of the spaces are now fit for purpose and we’re thrilled with the way they are coming to life.
I’m sure you won’t be surprised, but one of my biggest surprises was how spacious the family bathroom has ended up being. Same goes for the laundry.
Thanks for your patience and guidance from the start. We are really thrilled with the outcome as well as your responsiveness along the way.
Rob has been an absolute delight to work with. From day 1, he was up front, did exactly what we asked for and was able to give us great ideas to implement into the design of our place. He was extremely patient with us as our scope of works changed quite a bit and he was always accommodating. His timeliness of response was always instantaneous (even when he was away on holidays) and nothing was too difficult for him. He ran the whole project from design phase to obtaining the building permits from the building surveyors and council. I would not hesitate in recommending Rob to any of my friends or family should they need an architect – and I would not hesitate in using him again for future projects. Thanks Rob.
David, Ormond
My husband and I were that typical couple that started the renovation process with Rob then changed our mind and then about a year later approached Rob again. In both instances he was kind, gracious and understanding. We live in a unit in East Bentleigh and the intent was to reconfigure the floor plan to match the next stage of our lives and ensure the unit would be functional and practical as our boys grow into adulthood. We were also operating on a strict budget and Rob’s designs took those both into equal account – creativity is harder on a budget and Rob has a definite ability to do both. We have been back in our renovated unit for close to three months now and Rob’s design has truly changed the way we live. The space has completely opened up, each family member has their own breakout area and it is incredibly light. A big thank you to Rob, whom we have recommended to at least 3 people and will gladly continue to do so in the future and will gladly continue to do so in the future.
Dani and Derek Miller, East Bentleigh
My wife and I engaged Rob on what was a relatively small but really quite complex extension to our brick Victorian-era home. When we first met with Rob, we weren’t even sure whether what we had in mind was even possible or indeed realistically likely to be approved by Council. Our immediate impression of Rob was that he had great creativity, but was also extremely practical and knowledgeable of various Councils and their various and respective approaches to development, particularly where there is heritage overlay. Rob’s design ideas and plans came through surprisingly quickly, and were very much on point with what we imagined. The quality of the plans / drawings was excellent. He also made some suggestions which were vast improvements on what we had thought were ‘good ideas’. Once we settled on final plans, we went ‘to tender’ and received three proposals from builders, one of which we immediately discounted. Frankly, we found it very difficult to track ‘like for like’ between the two final contenders, and Rob volunteered to assist us in interpreting and comparing each on a ‘like for like’ basis. T On reflecting on our interactions with Rob, it is his willingness to resolve issues and problems that were not his doing that stand out to me as truly exceptional. We had some concerns regarding a number of issues with our builders early in the build phase, and with just a day or two’s notice, Rob involved himself and resolved the situation within minutes. Rob’s responsiveness, professionalism, knowledge, creativity and practicality were outstanding and he was truly the ‘glue’ the held our project together. Since our project completed, I have recommended Rob to three different acquaintances. I would have no hesitation in working with Rob again, and indeed plan to do so when we plan our larger extension. Thank you Rob!
Christian and Trish, Caulfield North
Efficient. Creative. Consultative ! Rob Harris is fantastic to work with. He listens to your ideas and creates designs that you wouldn’t have entertained. He challenges you and also provides a dose of reality when needed. Did I mentioned his efficiency? The project moves along at a quick pace when you are changing designs and making suggestions. Often he came back to us the same day with amendments (and mostly within hours). However, Rob is also happy to put things on the backburner if you need time to contemplate things. Rob can also suggest an array of other professionals to ensure your project runs smoothly. I would highly recommend Rob Harris for your next renovation. Thanks Rob !
David Logan, Ringwood North
Rob Harris provided a fantastic service with the drafting of design concepts for my house renovation. After the design concept was finalised Rob’s advice in relation to the building permit process was superb. What impressed me most was Rob’s open communication and quick turnaround time with the original drawings and subsequent amendments. I would highly recommend Rob to anyone looking to get a design for their building project.
Gregor, Caulfield East
“Over Delivered” is the easiest term to sum up Rob’s dealing with us with the design and planning of our extension. It’s a massive decision choosing someone to design your family home that you plan to live in for 20+ years. As much as you think you can research and look at referrals and past work, so much of it is down to the simple things that Rob just nails each and every time:
- Practical Design ideas. Rob’s got a great balance between leading edge design and the practicality and usability for a family
- Cost Conscious. Quality is key in his design, but he is also very aware on areas that could have alternative materials/ ideas for cost reduction
- Planning knowledge. Great experience of knowing what ‘could delay’ Planning
- Ego. Great style in listening to what you want, and not too precious to try and always force his ideas.
- Reliability. His strongest area without a doubt – Rob’s response times were always so fast. Nothing sits with him for long, keeping momentum ticking along nicely
- Style. It’s hard not to get on well with him. Might be due to the above reasons or simply that he is generally nice.
We spoke to 4 different Architects during our initial design stage – Rob was the best, easiest and right choice. Duncan & Kim, Hawthorn
Working with Rob was a pleasure and we would use him again for our next project. We were first time renovators and had a tight budget. Rob worked with us along the way to make sure we were comfortable with staging our renovation and considering the impact of today’s works on our longer term vision. He was also patient and worked with us through many variations and changes that came up as our knowledge grew and our thinking evolved. After this, we developed a good sense of rapport and trust with Rob and asked him to run the tender process to select our builder. Rob ran this process thoroughly and gave us a lot of comfort around the various criteria that we should use in builder selection. Even after this Rob remained committed to the project and constantly checked in with us (and the site) during the build. We have just recently moved in and couldn’t be happier with Rob’s input and effort into shaping our family home.
Yehuda and Rachel, Caulfield North
I would like to express our deepest appreciation for your assistance in obtaining town planning for our project in Bentleigh East. You have provided us with various floor plan options and were very patient with us while we decided which floor plan was going to suit our target market best. The town planning process is extremely complicated for both first time developers, as well as professional developers. You took the pressure off by liaising directly with council and our builders. We look forward to our next project together and next time we will consult with you as soon as we purchase our block.
Judy and Louis Rosenblum
Rob was fantastic to work with. A great listener, thorough, a clear communicator with quick turnaround times. He left decision making to us but tested any of our non-standard ideas and made smart suggestions (which we ended up using). He went out of his way to be helpful for our specific needs. Great value for money. You’ll be happy you decided to work with Elements of Home.
Teige Cahill – Malvern
Looking at the challenge of finding more space but with a limited budget we turned to Rob for ideas. His collaborative approach allowed us to combine his ideas and experience with our lifestyle preferences to come up with a design we love. He was responsive and flexible and provided both creative and pragmatic advice about the design which was critical for us given it was our first time working through a major renovation. Thank you Rob
Sonya, Caulfield South
I am pleased to write this testimonial for Elements of Home. Rob prepared a number of different design options for us to review. We discussed the different options and finalised a plan based on our needs. He was flexible, good humoured and committed to helping us achieve our vision. With budget and time constraints to contend with Rob helped to manage the process without complaint or difficulty and he helped liaise with the other experts and consultants when we needed them. I would be happy to recommend Rob and Elements of Home in the future.
Jonathan Schauder, Caulfield North
We were introduced to Rob Harris & Elements of Home to provide designs for a major renovation of our home. Rob’s careful and detailed eye presented us with a beautiful design solution which delicately balanced our criteria to retain elements of our existing home, whilst accommodate the number of rooms and open plan living areas we were seeking. Most importantly, Rob displayed a professional and approachable manner at all times, which enabled the design process to be collaborative. The end result has produced a design which we are confident will be as beautiful in actuality as it is currently on paper! We would not hesitate to partner with Rob again for future projects.
Simone and Mark, Malvern East
We used Rob for drafting plans for a renovation of a house we just purchased. Rob was prompt and very professional in all our dealings with him. He was helpful taking our ideas and turning them quickly into plans we could use. He was also helpful with suggestions and providing other services which made the process much easier for us. We highly recommend Rob
Orlando, Surrey Hills
Rob is a true professional who provided expertise and helped us with work we would not have been able to do ourselves. Within a very short period of time he had a result for us. At all times he kept us informed of the status of the project and provided guidance when further details were needed. He further helped us by engaging other consultants who needed to provide information to assist our application to council. Without his persistence we would not have the positive result we have today. Thanks Rob so much for your effort, we are delighted
Judy, St Kilda West
Judy, St Kilda West
We contacted Elements of Home after buying our first home, which needed a lot of work, but we were struggling with a limited budget. From our first meeting, Rob Harris helped us prioritise and map out the most cost effective things we could do to best update our home. He was generous with his time and advice, managed the high quality tradespeople he organised to do the work and ensured our renovations were undertaken on time and to the absolutely highest standard. Rob was very patient with all of our questions and nothing was too much trouble. His advice was always spot on. We now have an amazing kitchen and bathroom and we’ll be contacting Rob again when we have any other work to do
Jeremy and Susan, Caulfield North
Thanks for the work you did designing the rather complicated home extension we required. The whole design process took a lot less time than I thought it would, and the end result is fantastic. You managed to incorporate the spirit of fun the kids wanted in the entertainment areas without resorting to the sorts of gimmicks they had wanted. No fireman’s poles and bowling alleys this time! Even though we live in a house that’s 90+ years old, the modern areas you designed are seamless additions. Thank you again for all that you did. If I can recommend you to potential customers, I most certainly will. I know you are working on a design for a good friend of mine and I know she is happy with what you have done. Looking forward to continuing to work with you in the future.
Cathy Valentine,Toorak
Recently my partner and I completed a renovation of our home. More than just a renovation! We virtually gutted the entire house which involved architectural drawings, engineering drawings, plans being approved by council, pulling down walls, lifting floors replacing architraves, ceilings and all fittings, a new kitchen, new bathrooms and cupboards. Needless to say this involved all of the trades you can imagine As we both lead busy lives, there’s no way in the world we could have handled this major project without help. So we called in Rob Harris of Elements of Home™ to assist us. I must say that Rob did more than assist! He did all the architectural drawings and got everything passed by council, organised every single trade, got various quotes, even got on his hands and knees at one stage and worked alongside the trades. Rob was there every morning to let the trades in and made sure that the house was pristine when we got home at night. Rob made sure that we always had a clean place to sleep and orchestrated the works around our needs. There is no way we could have undertaken such a major project on our own. I can thoroughly recommend Elements of Home™ for any project, no matter how big or small. We always felt comfortable taking our renovation issues to Rob. Not only is Rob the paragon of patience, he was always courteous and available. Importantly, he got the job done. That was what I wanted. Rob’s team of tradesmen is accountable to Rob, and vice versa. I did not have to get involved with the nitty-gritty. I felt comfortable in dealing with Rob who then made sure that my needs were met. Needless to say, had I not utilised the services of Elements of Home, my budget would have blown out substantially. Whilst there is always some budget blow out, I do believe that Rob made every effort to curtail this. My partner and I thank Rob and his team for a sterling effort, a professional delivery and creative result.
Alan Rosendorff, Rosendorf Lawyers
Rob drafted the plans for a much-needed renovation to our 1930s home.
He was great to work with – incredibly engaged and responsive, very easy to get along with, and professional in all his work.
He was able to provide practical solutions to tricky layout problems, and happily modified and updated plans in response to endless requests from us (including several changes of mind!).
Rob was great at helping us engage with the building surveyor and our local council – this meant we met pressing deadlines and ensured all our paperwork was approved by the time our builder was ready to commence works.
His calm and practical approach was just what we needed throughout the process!
We selected Elements of the Home to work with us on our first home renovation. We had no experience in this area, and were conscious of selecting a trustworthy and honest guide to provide advice on design and costs. Rob instantly put us at ease with his thorough and considered approach. He was quick to understand our vision. He always responded to any queries within a short time frame, which was very important to us as we were keen to get the project moving and avoid delays. Rob’s commitment to us and his patience with our many questions was exemplary. We thoroughly recommend his services
Troy and Emma, Middle Park
Rob was a delight to work with on my application for an extension to the Bayside City Council. It was my first time applying and so I appreciated the time Rob took walking me through the stages of the application, the costs involved, and high level design options. Once we decided on our budget and basic requirements, he worked through several iterations and ideas with us until we were happy with the final design. While Rob was very good at following up and advising us of the next steps, at no point did he rush the process. He was meticulous with the documentation submitted to the council, which was evident by the fact that we received our approval within 8 weeks (including time spent advertising and taking into consideration our property has an heritage overlay). For anyone else wanting to work with Rob, I think the stand-out points are that he will stick to his budget, he is experienced and brings this to the process, and has a very good work ethic.
Gaurav, Brighton East
Nicole and I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your time and patience over the last six months. We had heard so many bad stories about starting a renovation and all the associated problems that go along with it, and we are thrilled to say we have gone through completely unscathed. With every concern and question we had during the process, you and your team took the time to explain everything clearly and made us feel comfortable and at ease at every step. Nicole and I are both in business, at a level that when we ask for something to be done we expect it to be carried out with utmost efficiency. With yourself and the team from Elements of Home™, this was done on every occasion. We will not only be referring you to everyone that asks, but we now have a nice story to tell people about the building process. Thank you.
Todd Newton Senior Sales Consultant Hocking Stuart Caulfield
We found Rob’s (Elements of Home) details online after a general google search for a renovation architect/consultant to help extend our home. We met with Rob, as well as a couple of other companies over a 2 week period. From the first meeting with Rob we felt very comfortable discussing our home extension plans & confident that he had a great ability to listen & translate our ideas in to a feasible plan for a build. Rob worked quickly to provide a set of plans we were happy with, before then arranging for all of our engineering & council requirements. He was able to recommend some builders to include in the tender process & we ended up going with one of the companies he suggested. We are ecstatic with the final design & physical end result of our transformed 1950’s style home, Rob’s design was brought to life by a great building team & the whole project ran very smoothly. Throughout the entire design process we received nothing but outstanding service, communication, honest consultations and advice from Rob. He was accommodating and attentive in providing any alterations we requested, which was really comforting and crucial to the amazing end result. Whether by phone, email or text Rob made himself available at any time, and we were never left waiting for a response. Rob is genuine, respectful and proud of his work and this is further enhanced by the obviously strong relationships he has with engineers, builders etc. Elements of Home can’t be beaten for attention to detail, ongoing professionalism and service excellence. Everything Rob did turned out even better than we had imagined. For anyone thinking of building/extending we would highly recommend engaging Rob’s services to assist with the design & plans before going ahead.
Danielle and Jackie, Burwood
Trevor and I would like to thank Rob for making the whole renovation process so easy!
Within a week of engaging Rob,he was out at our place discussing our requirements and measuring up plans. Shortly thereafter, we had our first set of drawings – Rob then worked with us to make minor revisions and finalise the plans. He was always available to talk and responded to any questions very quickly.
In addition to the architectural side, Rob also assisted with all the additional paperwork (soil tests, permits etc) which made the process easier as we had one point of contact – no hassle!!
As we didn’t have a specific builder in mind, Rob was proactive in assisting us with obtaining quotes and providing recommendations. We ended up selecting a builder recommended by Rob, and as expected, the builder has been fantastic to deal with as well.
We would happily recommend Rob to anyone – brilliant service, logical plans and provides end to end support.
Trevor & Imasha, Bentleigh East
We have had exceptional service from Elements of Home. Rob always made himself available to look at properties with us and gave us opinion and advice willingly, which was a very useful part of the decision making process. The team are timely, polite, good listeners and also have great practical and creative ideas. All of this makes for a harmonious and pleasant experience, from buying to planning a build. Nothing was too much trouble for Rob. He even took time out on a personal visit interstate to look at a property with me. We have already recommended Elements of Home to friends wanting to renovate and update, especially those who want someone to manage the whole process from start to finish. We will continue to do so.
J. Marwick and M. Simkovic, Caulfield
Rob has worked for us designing an extension to the basement and adding a top floor to our house. Rob took our specifications on board and accommodated our many requests for changes as the finer details were put together. We were most appreciative of Rob taking care of the planning process with council and working through obtaining planning and building approval. Rob knows the planning and building process in depth. He was always clear to us on the process required and his fees at each stage. Rob also has many reputable contacts in the planning and building area so could recommend other excellent people to work with. I would readily recommend Rob’s work to others planning to renovate.
Kyra – St Kilda West
Rob is the best value architect on the market. I strongly recommend Rob to anyone looking to build or renovate. Rob was outstanding to work with. Reliable, honest and very responsive. Rob completed our revisions within 24 hours of request and we had plans complete within 2-3 weeks. He was available whenever we needed him and performed site inspections during the renovation. Once again, I strongly recommend Rob for your architectural requirements.
Elliot, Caulfield South
Soon after acquiring our Edwardian home, we hired Elements of Home to assist with the design of our renovation. Rob Harris not only provided exemplary creative and technical input but stewarded the successful permit processes at the local council. Rob is always prompt to respond with any query – big or small and provided invaluable advice every step of the way. He was also able to provide excellent supporting resources as required. I have no hesitation in wholeheartedly recommending Elements of Home.
Martin and Heidi, Elsternwick
As first time renovators, Rob helped us turn a single storey three bedroom house into a larger two storey home that will accommodate our family for many years to come. He came up with both practical and attractive ways to turn our ideas into a flowing design. He came up with different options for things that allowed us to make informed decisions. He also helped us liaise with builders, council and made sure that everything went according to plan. He was timely in his responses to our queries and we have no hesitation in recommending him to others.
Carolyn and Brad, North Caulfield
We engaged the services of Rob Harris from Elements of Home to help us with our extension plans. The main area of our house, where we spend the majority of our time, was cramped, had no space for entertaining and no connection with our backyard. We had a fair idea of what we wanted to achieve from our renovation and working with Rob enabled us to bring these ideas to life. What I really liked about working with Rob was he didn’t walk away when the drawings were handed over to the builder. He supported us every step of the way and was only a phone call away for any questions I had, or if I ever doubted any of the decisions I’d made. One of my favourite parts of our project was seeing Rob’s face when he came to see the finished product. He was as genuinely pleased with the end result as we are. We now have a house that connects with its surrounds, has ample room to entertain and has changed the way we live our lives. We couldn’t be happier!
Carolyn, Ormond
We used Elements of Home to provide plans and advice for the renovation of our home. Rob provided continuous support and assistance in crystallising our requirements so that the final plans were both practical and pleasing. Rob patiently worked through the options with us and assisted in tendering out the work. All our queries were dealt with in a prompt, knowlegeable and courteous way. We would recommend Rob Harris to anyone thinking of renovating their home.
Carolyn and Gerald, McKinnon
“We were novices when it came to renovations and were lucky to have found Rob. He stepped us patiently through the whole process, he was friendly, helpful and communication and turnaround times exceptional. So good were his services that we highly recommended him to friends who are also renovating and they too decided to use his services. Absolutely no hesitation in recommending Rob Harris” – Maureen, Carnegie