Martina Hayes

Renovation grant – Am I eligible for 25K?

Renovation grant – Am I eligible for 25K?

The 25K renovation grant from the government is a most welcome gift if you are on the cusp of a substantial update of your home.

Use the checklist below to find out if you are eligible for this cash injection.

House renovation grant
Check out if you are eligible for the $25,000 renovation grant

Eligibility criteria for the 25K renovation grant

If you can say YES to all 6 criteria listed below then – happy days – you are eligible for the subsidy under the Government’s HomeBuilder program:

  • Are you 18 years old or older?
  • Are you an Australian citizen?
  • Do you live in the property yourself or intend to move into the house once it has been renovated?
  • Is the current value of the house including land less than $1.5 million?
  • Is the renovation work worth between $150,000 and $750,000?
  • Did you earn below $125,000 (single) or $200,000 (couple) per year?
complete-home-renovations-sydney
Optimising the layout of your interiors for better functionality

Did you say YES to all criteria listed? Then congratulations! You just scored yourself a financial injection for your home improvement project. No repayment necessary, this is a gift from the government to encourage you to pull forward any renovation work you intend to undertake.

Not eligible? Here’s an offer for you!

But even if you are not eligible for the 25K grant, we have some good news for you. To do our little part to stimulate the Coronavirus affected economy, Martina Hayes offers a highly competitive package deal for all home renovators based in Sydney including all its suburbs.

Home transformation for less

As a one-stop-shop for home renovators we offer you the following services:

  • designing a floorplan you always dreamt of
  • getting your project through Council or a private certifier
  • renovating your kitchen and bathrooms
  • helping you select finishes, such as flooring, tiles and kitchen benchtop
  • assisting you with builder selection and tender and so much more.

Request more information about our package deal. Call Martina on 0434 498 450 or schedule a call. Alternatively, just leave your name and email below.

But let’s get back to the government’s $25,000 renovation grant.

Income cap for renovation grant

By the way, the earnings cap refers to your taxable income in the financial year 2018-2019. So you might wish to dust off your last year’s notice of assessment from the ATO to check out the amount of taxable income which is printed right on the top.

But not all is lost when your earnings were too high to meet the renovation grant criteria. The government also accepts it if you meet the income cap in the tax year 2019-2020. This is excellent news for homeowners who experienced a loss of income during the Coronavirus pandemic. Because your drop of income might just get you over the line.

Home improvement incentive

If this sounds like you, then you might wish to submit your tax return as soon as you can because there is no time to lose. And the prospect of potentially scoring $25,000 is a pretty good incentive to sort out your tax paperwork, I guess.

Subsidy available only in 2020

If you don’t want to go away empty-handed, be aware that you need to sign the builder contract by 31 December 2020. Furthermore, the work must commence within 3 months. This means time is of the essence.

Bear in mind that there are many tasks for you to complete before you are in the position to sign a renovation contract. You wish to have the design nailed down and got building permission if this is required. In addition, allow some time for the builders to submit their tenders. Compare their pricing carefully to avoid any regret afterwards.

Start your renovation project

To get the ball rolling, we are happy to come to your home to discuss what improvements you have in mind and to answer all the questions you might have. Call Martina on 0434 498 450 or schedule an appointment today. Alternatively, you can use this contact form. This initial site visit is free of any obligation.

Subsidy available for main property

To be eligible, your renovation must improve the accessibility, liveability and safety of your property. Excluded are any structures that are not attached to the property. This means for you, there is no government contribution if you wish to build or remodel a shed, pool or granny flat.

Documentation for renovation grant

To assess your application, you need to submit the following documentation at a minimum:

  • Proof of identity.
  • Contract with date and signature of you and your licensed builder.
  • Copy of the builder’s licence.
  • Your 2018-19 tax return (or later) to demonstrate that your income meets the income cap.
  • Documents such as council approvals, building contracts or occupation certificates and evidence of land value.
Architectural drawings
Redesign of a floorplan

Case study on renovation subsidy

A couple, Ryan and Emma, just purchased a run down Californian Bungalow in Sydney’s suburb of Lane Cove for $1.4 million. They are over 18, Australian citizens and have a combined taxable income under $200,000. Ryan and Emma redesign the floorplan and obtain a building permit before they sign the $160,000 renovation contract with the builder in November 2020. Ryan and Emma pay the builder $10,000 to commence renovation of their home on 2nd February 2021. They then apply directly to their NSW revenue office to receive the $25,000 renovation grant. The revenue office approves the application and submits the financial contribution directly to the couple.

As the couple are both first home buyers, Ryan and Emma may also apply for to the NSW State’s First Home Owner Grant and stamp duty concessions as well as the Commonwealth’s First Home Loan Deposit Scheme and First Home Super Saver Scheme.

How to apply for the renovation grant

You will be able to apply for HomeBuilder when the NSW Government signs the National Partnership Agreement with the Commonwealth Government. Check any updates on the Australian Treasury website where you can also register to receive an email as soon as more information is available.

Why HomeBuilder was implemented

The Government implemented the HomeBuilder program to help the construction industry to bounce back from the Coronavirus crises. The financial incentive encourages the commencement of new home builds and renovations this year.

Start your home transformation today

The first step towards your home transformation is to schedule a site visit with us. This is your opportunity to discuss your plans with a renovation design expert and ask whatever comes to mind to get a clearer picture of your project. We will talk you through possible options and guide you step by step through the entire renovation process.

Schedule an appointment with Martina here or call on 0434 498 450. Alternatively use this contact form.

We have compiled this information with the utmost care. However, no responsibility can be taken for the correctness of this content. Please refer to the Government website for detailed information.

Complete Home Renovations Sydney

Complete Home Renovations Sydney

Achieving a complete home renovation in Sydney

Complete Home Renovations Sydney, making the decision to completely renovate your home is a big deal. It involves a substantial financial commitment, and without the correct knowledge and expertise it can be daunting and overwhelming.

So it’s good to know that you have experts on your side. We will guide you through from the beginning planning stage to the construction phase and all the way to the final steps of the design. In addition, our own Budget Bridle process ensures that our solutions fit your budget whether being small, medium or luxurious.

complete-home-renovations-sydney
Optimising the layout of your interiors for better functionality

Read on to discover the steps in which to follow when completing a home renovation as well as the services we offer in the Sydney area to help you achieve your dream home.

The steps you need to follow to achieve a complete home renovation Sydney

Planning

Complete home renovations Sydney, a good renovation must start with thorough planning. This is the stage in which you make decisions that will affect the rest of the build and the overall conceptual design. It is in this beginning planning stage that you need to think about and set what it is you wish to achieve in your space, what is essential and what is nice to have.

In this step of the process we can help you with the design and how to best optimise your space.

Floorplan with pencil, scale ruler and colour swatches
A successful renovation starts with a good plan

Learn the potential of your space

We design and provide professional concept plans including realistic 2D and 3D visual representation showing you how your space has the potential to look like as well as function. This provides you with a very clear image of what you’re going forward with in your home renovation. We can start with options and then break them down to perfectly tailor it to your needs and desires.

Drafting Services 2D 3D

What we do for you

When carrying out a complete home renovation it can be overwhelming and with the fast paced lives of Sydneysiders it can be hard to fit everything into your schedule as well as thoroughly going through the process of your complete home renovation. What we can do for you is take the daily stress out of your home renovation. We look after and coordinate the process for you so that you can enjoy watching your dream space come together.

Services we offer to you:

  • Initial ideas on how to get the best out of your space
  • Conceptual visual 2D and 3D designs
  • Coordination of structural engineers, surveyors and other building professionals as required
  • Provision of drawings for council submission (DA) and and/or private certifier (CDC). Learn more on the NSW Planning Portal
  • Comparison of builders quotes. Selection and collaboration with builder
  • Expert kitchen and bathroom designs including detailed plans for joiners
  • Selection of finishes and furniture for your complete home renovation
  • finishes-home-renovation
    Beautifully matched finishes bring out the best of your house

When your renovation is underway we continue on the process by selecting finishes for all spaces including tiles for your kitchen and bathroom as well as the selection of furniture and decorative pieces that will add character to your space, making it truly feel your own. It’s what makes a house a home.

Budget confidence for your complete home renovation Sydney

The biggest concern for Sydney home owners undertaking a complete home renovation is to keep the costs under control. That’s why we have a well proven process in place that keeps track of your budget.

Houses made of dollar notes
Keeping the budget in check is crucial for a successful renovation
  • Advise us on the budget you wish to spend.
  • On this basis we provide at least 2 proposed options. One is your ‘dream design’ containing everything you dream about, the other option includes some compromises you’re happy to accept to keep a lid on the budget.
  • Before committing, we get both priced up for you to make an informed decision on which option to choose.
  • When it comes to furniture and finishes, our recommendations include their purchase prices. This gives you full cost transparency.
  • If you wish to cut back, we can point out areas where you could save some money and where you should not.
  • Only once you are confident with the overall cost, you commit yourself to moving ahead.
  • This way you won’t experience any unpleasant surprises down the track.

Complete home renovations Sydney wrapped up

We coordinate everything from start to finish for the entire renovation process. This takes a lot of pressure off you. Your main task is to decide on the recommendations we present to you.

If you have any questions about your complete home renovation in Sydney, please call me on 0434 498 450 or email to martina@martinahayes.com.au. If you prefer, you can also use this contact form.

Open Plan Kitchen Design

Open Plan Kitchen Design

Lifestyle of Open Plan Living

An open plan kitchen design is on top of many homeowners’ list to have. This is because open plan living is the new way of life, everyday living that brings your family congregating together.

What is Open Plan Kitchen Design?

Open plan kitchen design is being referred to when the kitchen is combined with the dining and living area creating one large space. The opposite is a kitchen that is tucked away in a separate room.

White open plan kitchen design
Open plan kitchen design with marble look benchtop in Ryde

Why is Open Plan Kitchen Design so popular?

Even being on kitchen duties, an open plan kitchen includes you into the family life. Allowing you to keep an eye on your kids while preparing meals makes this design very popular with families.

If entertaining is your favourite weekend activity, an open plan kitchen is a must. You can finalise the food preparation while chatting with your guests. More often than not the kitchen island bench becomes the centrepoint of the party where everyone congregates.

White-kitchen
White open plan kitchen with industrial touch in Mosman

How to achieve an Open Plan Kitchen Design?

Lucky you when your house has already a large kitchen-dining-living area. If not, you might wish to consider removing or relocating an existing wall to open up the space. If you need help with drawing up the plans check out our drafting services.

Open Plan Kitchen in Willoughby: Case Study

Grey-Open-plan-kitchen-design
A warm and welcoming open plan kitchen in Willoughby

Our clients in Willoughby wanted to create an inviting atmosphere in their home. So we developed an open concept kitchen in their desired style of simple, modern and sleek. The end result is a kitchen that promotes a warm and welcoming atmosphere while being functional and practical.

What makes an Open Plan Kitchen Design?

Kitchen Island Bench

In this kitchen design we made the island bench act as the focal point of the space. The space in which the eye is naturally most drawn to. The island bench is not only a feature to be looked at but very practical for everyday use. It acts as a preparation area, breakfast bar as well as creating space for additional storage underneath which comes in handy in this mid-sized kitchen.

Benchtop and Cabinetry

The benchtops in this particular kitchen design are made from Caesarstone. Caesarstone is a man-made manufactured quartz stone that is durable providing its surface with exceptional properties of heat, stain, scratch and chip resistance.

The cabinetry has a Polyurethane finish (also called two-pack) in a light grey and a charcoal tone for the island bench.

Practicality

As well as creating a beautiful kitchen design practicality must also be implemented. In an open concept kitchen, the elevated dishwasher goes easy on the back while packing and unpacking the dishes. Therefore creating a beautiful looking kitchen while also making an everyday task very simple.

Lighting

Pendant lights over kitchen bench

Kitchens can sometimes come across as hard and harsh due to the abundance of hard surfaces. All this means is that you need to create more atmosphere. In this design we added texture in the shape of Abaca pendant lights to hang above the striking island bench. They are a beautiful texture adding lots of warmth to the space. The light globe adds a soft glow as well as the organic shape of the pendants creating character in the form of free flowing art.

These are all great elements that go into creating a great kitchen design.

If you have any questions about your open plan kitchen design, please call me on 0434 498 450 or email to martina@martinahayes.com.au. If you prefer, you can also this contact form.

Bathroom Finishes for you!

Bathroom Finishes for you!

The right bathroom finishes can either make or break your space. The finishes that you decide, have a great effect on how your space will feel as well as developing its personality. Choosing your bathroom finishes is an exciting part of your renovation project as in this stage you really see your space come to life.

Contemporary bathroom white & timber
Contemporary bathroom design

A bathroom is a space that is served several times each day so it’s important to choose bathroom finishes that are well functioned as well as making you feel good each and every time you use the interior space. We achieved this for our client, a young couple in North Ryde, where we designed multiple spaces in their home, including bathrooms and kitchen. Have a look at their kitchen here.

Candles decor bathroom
Candles add atmosphere to your bathroom

Little decor items such as in the image above add character and your own personal touch to your bathroom.

The Bathroom Finishes we chose

The bathroom renovated for our clients was designed with the contemporary interior design style in mind as this is the look they desired to create through their home.

Tiles

Tiles cover the majority of the open surface area in your bathroom. Floor tiles and wall tiles are very important bathroom finishes that work at creating the vibe and feel of the space. It also determines the final colour scheme you choose for the bathroom.

Our client’s bathroom is quite large in scale, therefore providing us the opportunity to choose a large square floor tile. Sourced from Amber Tiles in Chatswood it measures at 600 x 600mm. The colour is a deep and luxurious cappuccino colour, creating a modern and sleek contemporary design.

The wall bathroom finishes are also in the modern contemporary style as to tie the bathroom design together cohesively. The wall tile we chose is one whose design emulates the marble Calacatta look. Grey veins run through the tile’s design footprint.

Tapware

Tapware is a bathroom finish that has the potential to add a lot of character and genuine style to your interior space. It’s also a simple way to make your bathroom feel more luxurious. As we were designing this bathroom in the contemporary style we decided to use classic but stylish chrome tapware.

Wall-mounted Vanity

The gorgeous wall-mounted vanity features a dark and moody timber veneer finish. It features his and hers basins on the vanity’s stone top that is also in a deep and rich cappuccino colour. Having the vanity wall hung is another element in this bathroom that adds to the luxe look.

Above the bathroom vanity is a large rectangular mirror that is sleek, modern and contemporary in design.

Walk-in Shower

A beautiful feature of this contemporary bathroom design in North Ryde is the walk-in shower. It’s glass all around illuminating sleek lines. In the shower is a built-in niche just the right size to fit all your essential body washes, shampoos, and other toiletries. The showerhead sits on a rail to make it an adjustable element in this bathroom design.

Lighting

Adequate bathroom lighting is essential for any bathroom. It’s important for getting ready each and every day, so you’ll really want to get this bathroom finish right. For this design, we chose downlights as to illuminate areas that need the most lit up. We also included LED strip lights as to add a soft glow and ambiance.

This is our bathroom design in North Ryde complete with bathroom finishes that add style, character and flair to your space.

If you have any questions about your bathroom finishes and design in Sydney, please call me on 0434 498 450 or email to martina@martinahayes.com.au.

If you prefer, you can also use this contact form.

Standard dimensions for Australian kitchen design

Standard dimensions for Australian kitchen design

When you intend to reno­vate your kitchen, you wish to work towards the standard dimensions for Australian kitchen for optimum ergonomics and functionality.

Please find your expert guide for optimal kitchen design measurements below.

Kitchen Design Lower North Shore Sydney
Standard kitchen dimensions ensure functionality and sophisticated looks  

Benchtop

Height

Standard benchtop height is 900mm. However, depending on your stature it can range from 850mm to 1000mm.

Depth

Standard depth of a benchtop is 600mm. But have a look at your fridge’s depth first. If you don’t want the fridge to protrude out of your kitchen row, adjust the depth of your benchtop accordingly. See standard fridge dimensions below.

Thickness

The most popular benchtop materials in Australia are engineered stones (e.g. Caesar­stone, Quantum Quartz, Essastone, Smartstone) and laminate finishes. The average thickness of the latter one is around 33mm, whereas engineered stone usually comes in 20mm or a multiple thereof. If you wish to choose an engineered stone, our recommendation was to go with a thickness of 40mm as this looks well-proportioned and classy.

Island Bench

Distance

Galley kitchens with an island bench are still going strong in 2020. If you wish to install one, allow for approx 1200mm between the kitchen row and the island bench. If this space is too narrow, it becomes awkward when more than one person is working in the kitchen or the kids are running around your legs. If the distance is too wide, the kitchen becomes less efficient to work in.

Width and depth

The size of your kitchen island bench can be as large as your space allows. The only restriction is the width of the slab, if you opt for an engineered stone. A standard slab size is 3060mm by 1440mm, but some suppliers offer oversized jumbo slabs which eliminate the need of an unsightly joint between two slabs.

A good island width to work with is 1200mm, especially if you plan to place some barstools on the other side. In this case you wish to accommodate for the necessary leg room.

Leg room

An island bench is a great place to sit on bar stools while having your breakfast or a snack. Allow for 300mm of leg room underneath the benchtop to sit comfortably. You need to check with your kitchen manufacturer how big an unsupported benchtop overhang can be based on your chosen material.

Walkway

Plan for 1000mm walkway either side of the island bench. This will allow enough space for people to move around without having to turn sideways.

Fridge

The sizes of fridges vary significantly. For a single door fridge allow around 800mm width and 780mm depth. A double door fridge is around 1200mm wide and 850mm deep. If you have selected a fridge, check its required ventilation space in the manual to incorporate this space into your planning.

Oven

Whether you go for a wall or under bench oven, the standard width is 600mm. For large families and for entertainment standard options include 700mm and 900mm.

Overhead cupboards

Clearance between benchtop and overhead cupboards to be a minimum of 600mm. However, if you wish to install a gas cooktop, you need to allow for at least 650mm. Read the manual of the cooktop and rangehood manufacturers and follow their requirements. If uncertain, please check with a licensed electrician for the safety of your family.

Dishwasher

Dishwashers and dish drawers are usually 600mm wide, but they also come in 450mm suitable for an apartment or studio.

Sink

Sinks come in all shapes and sizes. For a double sink allow for a length of around 800mm and a width of 480mm plus drainage area on the benchtop. The depth of the sink is around 200mm.

If you wish to plan your kitchen sink with a single bowl allow for a length of 550mm and a width of around 500mm.

Kickboards

Kickboards height is usually between 90mm and 150mm and set back from the cabinet’s carcass by around 50mm.

We hope these information help you with the design of your new kitchen. You can get a pdf version emailt directly to you to be printed out. Please type in your name and email address below:

If you have a question or need help with your kitchen makeover, please send an email to martina@martinahayes.com.au or call 0434 498 450. Alternatively, you can use this contact form.

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR THE $2.5K RENOVATION GRANT?

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Click on the image to find out immediately!

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