Testimonials

WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT US

“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

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. Other designers we met with had trouble working with us to give us the design we were looking for to suit our lifestyle & existing home….they seemed more interested in promoting their own ideas alone. 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

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

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

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

We were very pleased with Rob’s professionalism, patience and ability to listen to and interpret our needs. He collaborated very well with our interior designer and we are more than happy with his final plans. We would not hesitate to recommend Rob to anyone planning a renovation or a new build. Deborah – Caulfield North

I found Rob Harris to be extremely professional, courteous and thorough. His work was delivered promptly and he was able to explain all aspects of the process. His ideas and explanations were invaluable to us as first time renovators. Alan, Armadale

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

Used rob to prepare my drawings for a pergola. Excellent service and always got back to be with honest advice. Thanks Sean, Bentleigh East

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

Used Rob Harris on a residential project I was working on. Rob made the process simple, was reliable and I can highly recommend him to anyone for any building project. Martin, St Kilda

We have used Rob for a number of projects around our properties. He has provided excellent, innovative designs, arranged all the permits and provided quality tradespeople to complete the work. We will continue to use his services and gladly recommend them to others. Jonty, Malvern

Rob gave us some great ideas for our small renovation at home. He was friendly, reliable and efficient. He was happy to come back whenever needed or to speak to us to help us out. We would definitely use him again Genia, Caulfield

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

Our experience of working with Rob and Ari has been a very positive one. From the ‘getting to know you’ meetings to finalising plans and adjusting expectations to reality, they have made the journey both informative and smooth. Our comments and questions have been welcomed in the design process. They have provided immediate advice when needed, and worked hard to ensure that deadlines are met. We look forward to working with them again on future projects. Mary Koutzas and Deb Pietsch

Just wanted to say how impressed I am with your service and the standard of the work. From the initial discussions with Rob through to the regular contact from Ari to make sure all was going along well, it was exceptional service.Josh and Doug have been very particular and are a refreshing change from the tradespeople we have used before. I would, and will, gladly recommend your service to many others.

Thanks again for a job well done. Karen Brown Brown's Bed and Breakfast

Rob and Ari at Elements of Home™ were our ‘renovation partners’, and together we transformed our house. It was a great source of support to be able to tap into their resources, experience and contacts, especially with so many unexpected things that inevitably occur. We would not have achieved the same level of design and execution without them. Angela Turrell Senior Strategist, CHE

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

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 have used Rob from Elements of Home™ on several occasions to do small repairs and renovations on our Brighton East home. We have found Rob and his team to be most reliable in providing prompt, high quality work at a reasonable price.

Rob has a good design eye and can make helpful suggestions if you need to renovate. His suggestions for our kitchen/family room were implemented very quickly and have made a huge difference to the look and comfort of this most used part of our house. We also appreciated Rob’s role in supervising the work of contractors to make sure quality work was achieved.

We have no hesitation in recommending Elements of Home™ for home repairs/refurbishment. Mike & Sylvia Haberfield Brighton 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

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.

As with any architect or build there were a few minor errors but Rob was a delight to deal with and offered good solutions to any issue that came up. 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

Rob was very punctual and extremely efficient in our dealings.

He listened to what we had to say and we are very pleased with what he produced. Natalie, Ormond

I found Rob very easy to deal with. Rob was reliable, fast and very good with his turn around time. I look forward to working with Rob again in the future and have no problems with recommending Rob Harris to anyone. thanks Rob James, Kew

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

Rob has excellent communication skills, responds very quickly and produces fast and quality work. Would love to work with Rob again! Vivienee, Clayton

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

Rob was a great and professional help to us with long term planning about what we might do with our house. He’s practical and realistic and knows what a family needs Jocelyn, Caulfield

Rob was fantastic to work with on redesigning a floorplan and applying for a permit and liasing with other trades people. He was very efficient and always quick to respond to correspondence. His ideas and skills were excellent and he was also very responsive to my feedback and ideas and honest and helpful about them. I would highly recommend him. Helen Ireland, Brighton

Its been a pleasure working with Rob and the team from start to finish. From guiding me through the initial design and ideas stage, to managing every aspect of the work, Rob kept me informed and feeling confident throughout. The final look of my property was exactly what I was hoping for, and the value for money and overall cost was a pleasant surprise, coming in lower than the original quote Ash, Toorak

Rob and Ari of Elements of Home™ recently developed a design and drew up plans for an extension and renovation to our home.

During the initial design development period, Rob was always prompt in arriving for meetings and he was very creative in proposing designs and ideas that would meet our needs, and were also aesthetically pleasing. Nothing was too much trouble, including frequent emails with progress reports, informing us of suitable suppliers and advising on fittings and decorations.

Once we had decided on our design and plans were drawn up, Rob and Ari were efficient and prompt in obtaining all our documentation for submission to council and in eventually receiving our permit to build.

I would highly recommend Elements of Home™ to anyone wanting assistance with design development, planning and documentation, or general advise regarding renovations or building. I would certainly use them again if the need arose! Mary Swiderski, South 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

Contact Rob

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Contact

Phone

0412 183 643

Mail

rob@elementsofhome.com.au

Location

Caulfield South VIC 3162