BOX Design Studio

"Renovating a house, let alone a Victorian terrace in a heritage conservation area, was a total foreign concept to me and initially quite overwhelming. I had no idea where to begin and what council approvals I would need. Engaging BOX Design Studio and working with Brian took the guess work and a lot of the stress out of the whole process. I immediately started to feel more confident and decisions then became easier to make. Brian listened carefully and really understood what I wanted to achieve from the renovation. He came up with some fantastic design ideas and solutions. He is professional, organised and has incredible attention to detail. Brian went out of his way to meet with me multiple times to discuss different design options and in doing so was able to maximise every millimetre of space and successfully transform my ideas into reality. His experience in dealing with council, heritage controls and building code requirements ensured that the correct information was submitted to council. The result was an amazing design and a successful DA Approval achieved in less than 12 weeks. Brian was a pleasure to work with and I would have no hesitation in recommending him and BOX Design Studio to anyone thinking of renovating or building their dream home

My husband and I decided to build our own house and found the perfect site with amazing views across the Irish countryside. We wanted to make sure we got the right outcome from the build and it was very important that we maximised the views from the house. After a month or two of working on plans directly with a builder, we realised that some difficult but important decisions had to be made so we decided to get professional architectural help. When Brian came on board the project, everything changed. Brian’s experience in the field was immediately evident and he put us at ease during what had been a very stressful time. The decision making aspect of the project had been very difficult however having Brian there to talk us through the details actually made the experience enjoyable. I started to feel that my choices were informed as opposed to ‘hoping for the best’. Brian is very easy to deal with and he communicated clearly ensuring we always understood. He listened to our opinions but importantly was not afraid to point us in the right direction if he felt our decisions were a little off point. He also communicated on our behalf with the builder and sub-contractors which made life a lot easier, as we both worked full time throughout the planning and building stages. There were 2 very important factors that we absolutely had to get right which were the aspect/outlook and the internal layout. We needed to make sure that neither compromised the other and Brian’s input made that a reality. We decided to scrap the original layout we had envisaged after Brian pointed out some basic design flaws we had made. Then Brian put forward a number of options and we immediately could see the value in working with a professional. Brian delivered what was to be the perfect internal space whilst maximising the views from both the living and dining areas. The final layout flows from room to room and externally incorporates architectural features that fit perfectly with the building style of neighbouring properties and the area. We are extremely happy with our new home and would highly recommend Brian to anyone who is considering employing him. Brian is very professional, easy to work with and always ensured we got the best outcome possible. Thank you Brian for a wonderful result!

Brian came with a recommendation from our neighbour who was renovating at the same time, and from our first meeting we really felt we were in safe hands. Brian managed our expectations very well from the, outset and we relied heavily on his guidance to navigate the complex rules when renovating within Sydney City council area, both as part of a strata complex and within a heritage area. Brian challenged our thinking when it came to the design, and I’m so glad he did!! The window he added in the en-suite, which I was very unsure about, is now my favourite feature!! Brian even went as far as designing our custom joinery for our walk-in wardrobes, as he knew the joiner wasn’t delivering on my vision. Brian went completely over and above when it came to finally getting our build approved by the project certifiers, as our builder failed on several attempts to complete the required paperwork. Brian stepped in and got it all sorted within a matter of days, when it had already taken our builder months to submit. I couldn’t recommend Brian highly enough. As well as being extremely professional he is just a lovely guy, he truly cares about his work and his clients, and it shines through in all that he does. His commitment to getting the job done means he consistently delivered well beyond what we would normally expect from any architectural service. We will absolutely be using him again the next time we build. Sam and Bianca – Penthouse Woolloomooloo

Working with Brian almost made my renovation experience an enjoyable one! It was great to work with someone so good at their job and who is genuinely interested in it. Brian is a very talented and innovative designer and had some really exciting ideas but he was always mindful of our brief and budget. He kept it simple and came up with a stylish yet affordable design that maximised every last millimetre of space. His management of some areas of the project meant that instead of a “good” renovation, we got an “amazing” one. His attention to detail, his perseverance with every outstanding task and his communication with the trades people ensured a high quality finish across the board. He’s not only a great building designer but has a great eye for interiors, providing advice on contemporary finishes and colour schemes which are perfect for the space. And all this with a good sense of humour, great communication and ge