RESIDENTIAL DESIGN

CONCEPT TO COMPLETION


Melbourne's leading architect for boutique residential design service



A special message from Rob


Rob, studied architecture in Glasgow, Scotland and Holland.

With extensive travel experience throughout Europe, North America, India, the Middle East, South East Asia and Australia his eye for design has matured alongside his years of experience .


Rob emigrated to Melbourne in 2002 and after several years working for architectural practices in the city, he started his own residential design practice.


Rob has always had a passion for residential design, inspired by his own personal projects and the diverse range of people he has met.


Rob has designed 100's of homes over the years. From cosmetic renovations, single storey extensions, 1st floor additions and new homes.


He is an expert in spatial design understanding the needs and the wants for a family wanting to grow with their home.


His practical and affordable designs have been constructed all around Melbourne’s South Eastern suburbs.


Rob has a solid proven track record and a great reputation, he is easy to deal with and most importantly he listens to the needs of the client.

He is very proud of the repeat referrals and testimonials he receives on all his projects.


"I get a lot of joy watching a client's dream home come to life and being able to provide affordable and creative solutions that have not previously been considered".  








Our Latest Projects

CAULFIELD SOUTH, PROJECT


01. CAULFIELD SOUTH

01. SCOPE

Renovating and extending a 1920s California bungalow in a heritage overlay zone.

Modernizing the interior while preserving key original features, including a master bedroom, walk-in wardrobe, and formal living spaces.

Adding an open-plan kitchen, living, and dining area with seamless indoor-outdoor integration.

Creating a dedicated children’s zone on the first floor.


02. CHALLENGES

Heritage overlays in this particular area are characterized by the deep setbacks and beautiful lush gardens.

One of the things we do when designing on a heritage overlay is we have to keep the front of the house.

In this case the first four rooms and the facade.r

03. DESIGN SOLUTION

Renovated and extended a 1920s California bungalow within a heritage overlay zone, ensuring careful consideration of the existing architectural character.

Modernized the interior while preserving key original features, including a master bedroom, walk-in wardrobe, and formal living spaces.

Demolished and extended the rear living area, transforming the home into a contemporary family residence.

Designed the home to take advantage of deep setbacks, creating a lush garden at the front that enhances the property's curb appeal.

Added a first floor for the kids, which includes:

  • Two large bedrooms
  • Rumpus room
  • Large bathroom

This design provides the family with the individual living zones needed for everyone to have their own space.

Incorporated a carport for convenience and accessibility.

Positioned the mudroom centrally within the layout for easy access from the carport, enhancing functionality for family life.






4o mini

ORMOND, PROJECT

02. ORMOND

SCOPE


Restore a dilapidated 1940's weatherboard home within a heritage overlay, retaining the original front façade.

Create a family-oriented living space with an open-plan kitchen, living, and dining area.

Design a carport for practical use.

Include a master bedroom with a spacious walk-in robe (WIR) and an ensuite with skylights for natural light.

Design two children's bedrooms: one with an ensuite and the other with a walk-in robe (WIR).

Landscape the garden, integrating a large pool seamlessly with the home and maintaining ample garden space for family activities.

CHALLENGES


The home was in poor structural condition, with floors collapsing and plaster falling off, but due to the heritage overlay, the front of the house had to remain intact.

Balancing natural light in the west-facing backyard was crucial, so we designed extra-large eaves to maximize winter sunlight while blocking the harsh summer sun, ensuring a comfortable living environment year-round.

Ensuring the pool placement did not dominate or restrict the usable garden space.


DESIGN SOLUTION


To meet heritage guidelines, we retained the original façade and reimagined the rest of the house with a modern design.

The open-plan kitchen and living areas featured varied ceiling heights to create distinct zones while emphasizing the outdoor connection.

Skylights in the master ensuite enhanced natural lighting.

The children's bedrooms were thoughtfully designed with functional storage and privacy.

For the west-facing backyard, we added large eaves (1-1.2 meters) to:

  • Shield the interiors from intense summer sunlight.
  • Allow the winter sun to flood the space.

The pool was positioned in alignment with the kitchen and living areas to:

  • Ensure a natural flow between indoor and outdoor spaces.
  • Maintain a large garden for family activities.

A muted material palette of timber, aluminum, and tile tied the design together, creating a warm and cohesive environment.

Why Choose Us

We offer a free, no-obligation review of your project to understand your vision and needs for your dream home.

We will prepare a fixed-fee proposal for the entire project with no hidden charges or extra costs  We will also include all potential expenses such as arborist assessments and soil reports in our statement and additional consultation fees.

We understand the importance of timely progress; thus, we aim to deliver concept designs within 2 weeks of measuring your property

 

As we handle everything for you, from council queries to potential objectors, we ensure that you are informed at every stage. Each design decision is presented to you with its pros and cons, equipping you with the knowledge to make informed choices.

Thanks to our established relationships with external consultants, we ensure a seamless transition throughout the permit process.

 

 

 

The foundation of our service lies in our excellent communication and professionalism. Your satisfaction is paramount, and we continuously strive to deliver the finest service.

HOW WE CAN HELP YOU


As part of our process, our fixed fee proposals for home extensions are generally broken down into the following stages:



01.

CONCEPT DESIGN

We visit and measure your entire property so that we can transfer it to computer and prepare a number of design options for discussion. This is where we will explore all the different design options available to you based on your brief and budget.


02.

ESTIMATING

Once the concept plans are finalised, we will send your plans to builders so you have comfort and confidence the design meets your budget before proceeding to the permit stage.


03.

TOWN PLANNING

For many clients a town planning permit is required. We will let you know during our first conversation if this is required. If it is we will prepare all relevant drawings and reports and liaise with council on your behalf.


04.

SUBDIVISION PERMIT

We will prepare all the drawings and relevant documentation necessary to obtain a subdivision permit, including working with professional builders &external subcontractors where needed, for example: engineers, geo-technical specialists, land surveyors, energy rating providers, etc.



HOME EXTENSION

SUBDIVISION

RENOVATION

DRAFTING


Read our blog


Personalised & Supportive


Rob’s service is characterized as personable, professional, and quick. He offers support and guidance throughout the process, handling interactions with consultants and managing bureaucratic procedures with councils on behalf of his clients.


Creative Design Solution


"Rob offers his expertise in designing creative solutions for residential renovations, new homes, and sub-divisions. He takes pride in presenting personalized designs tailored to each client’s unique needs. Whilst balancing functionality, aesthetics, and high standards of quality."


Transparency


Rob provides a quick assessment of the client’s budget to determine if it aligns with their desired project. He ensures transparency by including not only his fees but also the fees of other consultants and permits, providing a clear picture of the project’s expenses upfront.

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“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

                                                                                                                             "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!”




Jess

Hughesdale

“Rob has been brilliant to work with from the moment we engaged him. We have really appreciated his honest feedback and guidance – where he believes one of our ideas won’t work he has explained why and worked with us to find a solution.  

Thanks for a great job Rob.”



Matt and Sarah,

Port Melbourne

Thinking Of Renovating Your Home?

Phone:

0412 183 643


Mail:

rob@elementsofhome.com.au


Location:

Caulfield South, Melbourne VIC 3162

CURRENT MEMBER OF:

Architects Registration Board of Victoria (ARBV)