We all have dreams of home renovations. Your current goal might be an extension to your existing home. Or perhaps you’re on the path of achieving your ultimate dream: a brand new, self-designed home. No matter your goal, choosing an architect that can bring your vision to life will make your project much easier.
Finding the right architect for your home renovation is essential for success but that doesn’t mean it has to be overwhelming. Here’s our advice on how to find and choose the best individual or company for your project.
An Architect’s Role
An architect’s role in your home renovation project goes far beyond a simple sketch or design. They provide valuable contributions to your build from negotiating planning procedures and building regulations to site-specific designs that optimise natural light and maximise space. They assist with finding the right materials, fixtures and finishes and can even help you to design bespoke furniture and décor if needed.
The individual or company that you choose will not only add value to your property in a monetary sense, they’ll add value to your quality of life too. Just think of the accomplishment and emotional attachment you’ll enjoy once the work is completed. So it’s worth taking the time to choose the right architect for your renovation.
Understand Your Vision
First and foremost, it’s important to have a well-rounded understanding of what you are trying to achieve. An architect will help you to bring your vision to life, but they don’t have your brain. They will be relying on you to detail the nature of your project. Rest assured that this doesn’t have to be a fully comprehensive list but a basic idea of your design requirements will make your journey much smoother. It could be as simple as knowing the number of rooms you’re looking to renovate, whether you prefer a modern or a traditional aesthetic and if you dream of open-plan spaces or individual rooms. Having these requirements will form a good foundation when you are looking for the right architect to work with.
During this phase, it’s beneficial to have an understanding of the level of involvement you are looking for in an architect. Do you need someone to help with your design and plans only? Someone to assist in managing your entire project? Or something in between. Having these answers upfront will help you when you are conducting your research.
Do Your Research
This stage is the most essential when choosing an architect to work with on your home renovation, especially if you are looking for something tailored, such as site-specific architectural design. In this instance, a great starting point is the register for architects in your state. In Melbourne for example, you could search the Architects Registration Board of Victoria. If your project is less specific, word of mouth is a common place to start. Speak to friends and family for recommendations. Similarly, if you pass by a property with a renovation that’s similar to your needs, you could knock on the door and ask who their architect was.
Find Common Ground
The aim of your research is to find architects that have values and specialties that align with your vision. Look at the type of architectural design that each offers and consider whether this matches what you’re hoping to achieve. If you prioritise sustainability and hope to include eco-friendly materials, smart technologies and green energy solutions within your renovation, you should look for an architect that specialises in this area. Similarly, if you are yet to request planning permission or building control, it would be advantageous to shortlist architects that are familiar with local policies.
Remember that you are placing your vision in the hands of this individual or company, so it’s important to find someone that is well placed to bring it to life. This will make your project run a lot more smoothly. If you are still defining your vision, it’s helpful to view their previous work on their website or social media. This will showcase the quality of their work, their specialisms, construction styles and more. Reading through the testimonials of past clients if available will also help you to identify names for your shortlist.
Set Up Meetings
Throughout your research phase, you will have identified a list of potential names or companies. The next step is to set up meetings to discuss your plans and really understand if they are a good match for your project. This meeting will not only show whether their values align with yours, but also whether you can establish a strong working relationship. Communication is key during home renovation, so choosing an architect that you feel comfortable with will be advantageous.
In your meeting, you should discuss the parameters that are most important to you. Home renovation projects are a balance of time, cost and design. If your project is time-specific, or there’s a budget that you need to adhere to, it is essential to air these in your meeting. This will help you to identify whether the individual or company is the right fit for your project.
We recommend heading into your meetings with a set list of questions that you can ask each architect. This will help you to compare your findings and give you a clear understanding of the best individual or company to work with.
Get Started Today
Choosing the right architect will take time but it’s an essential step on the road to success. A worthwhile investment, you’ll be working together throughout the entire renovation. If you are looking for experienced, knowledgeable architectural designers that ensure your needs are met then get in touch with BY Projects Architecture. Offering a comprehensive partnership, we can take care of your entire home renovation project if needed.
Get started today by browsing our portfolio and booking your free consultation. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
I highly recommmend the team at BY Architecture.
Barbara, Howard and the team designed a wonderful extension to my late 1960s Melbourne home, ran the tender process to find me a builder, and superintended the build contract.
The design process that Barbara took me through was comprehensive, well-considered and highly collaborative, and the resulting extension and renovation was incredibly well-tailored to my specific needs and desires.
The tender process was similarly well-run, and we ended up choosing a builder that Barbara had worked with many times before and recommended. The recommendation was a great one and the entire build ran very smoothly, with the many quirks arising in a typical renovation being dealt with intelligently and with no fuss.
During the entire time I worked with them, Barbara and her team went over-and-above to keep me happy. As a result of their attention to detail and their focus on customer service, they ensured that what can often be a stressful time was actually a pleasure. I cannot thank them enough and would work with them again in a heartbeat.
Barbara, Howard and the team designed a wonderful extension to my late 1960s Melbourne home, ran the tender process to find me a builder, and superintended the build contract.
The design process that Barbara took me through was comprehensive, well-considered and highly collaborative, and the resulting extension and renovation was incredibly well-tailored to my specific needs and desires.
The tender process was similarly well-run, and we ended up choosing a builder that Barbara had worked with many times before and recommended. The recommendation was a great one and the entire build ran very smoothly, with the many quirks arising in a typical renovation being dealt with intelligently and with no fuss.
During the entire time I worked with them, Barbara and her team went over-and-above to keep me happy. As a result of their attention to detail and their focus on customer service, they ensured that what can often be a stressful time was actually a pleasure. I cannot thank them enough and would work with them again in a heartbeat.
Barbara is very friendly and easy to work with. Thank you for the great advices.
Response from the owner 23:14 17 Jun 24
thank you Arik. Happy to be helpful 
Barbara and the BY Projects team were fantastic to work with for our knockdown-rebuild. We had no idea what we were doing or getting ourselves in for, and through every stage of the process Barbara explained everything and was supportive and transparent.
She drew plans for a beautiful house for us which fulfilled everything we wanted while adding such flair and style that we never could have imagined ourselves.
I was so glad to have her and her team on my side throughout the build process, as we would have struggled to advocate for ourselves (or even notice) mistakes or defects by the builder.
Overall, we just couldn’t be happier with the final result.
She drew plans for a beautiful house for us which fulfilled everything we wanted while adding such flair and style that we never could have imagined ourselves.
I was so glad to have her and her team on my side throughout the build process, as we would have struggled to advocate for ourselves (or even notice) mistakes or defects by the builder.
Overall, we just couldn’t be happier with the final result.
Response from the owner 06:53 31 May 24
Thank you for your enthusiasm Emily. And thank you for trusting us with your dream Home. It's been a pleasure working with you and your family, and we trust you will enjoy your home for the years to come. 
We recently had the pleasure of carrying out a renovation for Barbara and BY Projects Architecture.
The project ran very smoothly from receiving the plans, to handover day.
Barbara pays very close attention to detail and takes great pride in her work.
We look forward to working with BY again on future projects.
The project ran very smoothly from receiving the plans, to handover day.
Barbara pays very close attention to detail and takes great pride in her work.
We look forward to working with BY again on future projects.
Response from the owner 22:11 30 Mar 21
Thank you Koray. It was a pleasure working with AMCON Homes, we look forward to working with you again in the future. 
Barbara provided excellent professional advice regarding Town planning and approval process by the Council. She went out of her way to find the right information and help me. Will surely use their services again when necessary.
I would highly recommend them.
I would highly recommend them.
Response from the owner 01:37 16 Feb 21
Thank you Jarardhan. We do hope you find a more suitable site soon to build your dream homeBarbara 
We were in a very difficult position after a VCAT rejection. Barbara came into our project and reimagined what was possible with our property. Going from a house with three shops with significantly reduced value to a development with two town houses, a cafe and all able to be subdivided into three separate properties. Barbara was positive, enthusiastic, charming at planning meeting and all in all kept us positive and hopeful. Barbara went through the whole process with us and I would say went above and beyond what would generally be expected. She worked well with our development team, working out strategies for planning challenges. We are very thankful for her time and energy.
We engaged Barbara and her team many times over many years for our Building Development Projects, including Multi Residential, Child Care and Mixed Use. Most recently for a couple of houses in Port Melbourne with complex Heritage Overlay requirements.
Barbara worked with us closely to ensure all design requirements were achieved to exceed market expectations. All permit requirements were managed in a professional and timely manner, and all processes were met on time and on budget.
The finished buildings were outstanding and the realized sales well above market expectations.
We highly recommend BY Projects Architecture for their Design sense and construction experience.
Barbara worked with us closely to ensure all design requirements were achieved to exceed market expectations. All permit requirements were managed in a professional and timely manner, and all processes were met on time and on budget.
The finished buildings were outstanding and the realized sales well above market expectations.
We highly recommend BY Projects Architecture for their Design sense and construction experience.
I have worked with Barbara and the team at BY Projects on a number of projects now. Its hard to think how you could get better value for money. They are great architects - that goes without saying. But its the extra mile they go to on your behalf in order to secure the very best for you that makes all the difference. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them for your next project.
Response from the owner 06:02 24 May 19
Thank you Virginia for your kind words. It is always a pleasure working with you. 
