Planning & Design

Welcome to Part Two of our kitchen layout guide. Now that you’ve settled upon the floor plan that will work best for your family, space and needs, it’s time to consider what luxuries you want to include… Consider features in your kitchen layout such as an eat-in area, small computer nook/home office, entertainment center, walk in pantry or other specialised meal preparation areas. Whether its a builder, designer or handyman, a tradesperson from Builderscrack can help you realise your kitchen layout dreams. Enhancing your kitchen layout Eat-in area – Your family size and your entertaining style will decide the type ...

Choosing the layout for your new kitchen can be a daunting task. Depending on the space, you can choose from “U” or “L” shape, island, or galley to name only a few. We look at the advantages and requirements of the most popular layouts…  Whether you’re starting with the floor plan or other features in your dream kitchen, there’s a number ways to include comfort, luxury and practicality into this room. When you’re looking through different design options, think about the different ways you can make a beautiful yet functional room.  Use the Builderscrack dream kitchen layout guide to help ...

A good working relationship between client and architect is a vital ingredient in the success of any building project. Therefore it’s therefore essential to choose an architect whose design approach and practice philosophy best fit your requirements… However, you may have noticed there are a fair few architects out there. How on earth do you begin narrowing them down? As with any tradesperson, a good way to start is by posting a job on Builderscrack.co.nz. Once you have found architects who are interested you can check their reviews on the site. Once you have narrowed down the list you should ...

For its size, the kitchen is one of the most complex spaces in the house to design. A good Kitchen Designer is worth their weight when it comes to achieving the perfect balance between functionality and aesthetics for your home… The kitchen is one the busiest rooms of a home. Nowadays, it often features prominently as a part of the open-plan living area, so it must not only be a hardworking, practical, robust space, but also needs to look great. A beautiful and well-planned kitchen will also add to the value of your home when you come to sell. Given the ...

With thousands of shades to choose from in paint – let alone all the other materials that make up your house – you can easily become paralysed by choice when it comes to picking the ideal scheme. A colour consultant can help… Perhaps the safe palette you’ve seen in every showhome turns out to feel ‘not me’. Or perhaps you turn into a kid in a candy store and go wild with an all sorts assembly of colours, which then looks too disjointed. Whichever applies, help is at hand. Colour consultants can pin down your preferences for an overall result ...

A construction surveyor inspects and measures land parcels that are being considered for building projects.  They’ll gather information on all of the land characteristics, including boundaries, elevation, size and curves of the plot. This is used by other interested parties to decide on the best use of the land. Surveyors & Engineers A construction surveyor or engineer will work in a range of environments surveying projects that include residential developments, commercial buildings, malls, highways and even airports. They may work for a private company or for a local body authority. They are often required to produce plats, which are maps ...

Resource Management consultants are tradespeople who specialise in getting the most out of a homeowner’s land and home. Resource Management Consultants They seek to maximize the utility (efficiency and effectiveness) of every resource and to consider what additional resources would improve the capabilities. In essence, the resource manager improves the homes functionality by making the most out of available resources. Resource managers will be able to assist with resource consent applications, assess the effects on the environment, and project planning and management. They will be able to undertake environmental planning and work with councils on behalf of homeowners on difficult ...

A property inspector is usually employed during the home buying process. The inspector’s job is to provide information about the building being purchased. Property Inspectors This information aids the buyer in deciding if the home or building is worth purchasing or if there are major faults that could affect their purchase decision. When hiring a property inspector to look over a property, they will check everything that is visible. They are generally not responsible for any internal issues like faulty wiring or plumbing hidden by walls. Each property inspector will have a disclosure listing their responsibilities and what errors or ...

A Kitchen Designers job is to work with you on your new kitchen design. This will include the layout, materials, fittings, fixtures, lighting, appliances and the overall aesthetics… They are skilled in technical drawing and CAD and will have an understanding of the principles of interior design and architecture as a kitchen remodel will require an in-depth knowledge of these. Kitchen designers will know about local building requirements and codes and often will have worked on the construction side of design, therefore being knowledgeable in building practices, techniques and laws. A good kitchen designer will be able to work well ...