Review

Seeking a Draughtsperson for Living Area Redesign – Rolleston, NZ

We’re looking for an experienced draughtsperson to help us redesign our living space to better suit our growing family. About Our Home & Current Challenges • Built in 2019 in Rolleston, NZ • 172m², 4-bedroom home • Initially designed with two separate living areas—one intended as a kids’ lounge and the other a smaller TV area beside the kitchen • In reality, our kids (now 7, 11, and 13) prefer spending time in the main open-plan area, leaving the separate lounge under-utilised • The main living space feels cramped, while the separate lounge is mostly used for laundry folding and occasional guests Our current floor plan is the picture that has a purple line on it - the other two for plans are what a kind lady on Facebook did for me on Photoshop as a potential idea of how to open up our space. What We’re Looking For We’d like a practical and cost-effective redesign to create a more open, functional living area, potentially by: • Removing the wall between the two lounges (pending structural feasibility) • Relocating the pantry next to the fridge by closing off the current hallway access door in the kitchen • Adding a new door to the hallway from the new open-plan living space (since the existing hallway access from the kitchen will be removed) • Adding recessed sliding doors for flexibility (so we can close off the space when needed) • Ensuring the water cylinder cupboard isn’t an awkward design feature in the new layout. It’s been suggested maybe it could be moved into the roof? We’re open to better design ideas that maximise space, enhance flow, and work within a tight budget. Inspiration & References I’ve included the floor plan of a show home I viewed last year, which inspired the idea of recessed doors. While the layout of that home is very different from ours, it demonstrates how an open-plan living area can still incorporate hidden doors to create a second living space when needed. I’ve also attached pictures of the show home to provide further context. I thought this might help any prospective draughtsperson visualise how we’d like to achieve a balance between an open-plan feel while maintaining the option to close off part of the space. Who We Need • A draughtsperson with experience in residential renovations • Someone with potential access to reliable, cost-effective licensed builders to carry out the project • An understanding of building codes and feasibility (we don’t want to invest in a design we can’t afford to implement) We have floor plans and concept ideas to share (added in pics) but we need professional guidance to make this work. If you’re interested, please get in touch with your experience, rates, and availability. We’d love to discuss how to bring this project to life!

Full workmanship review

Workmanship	5.0
Cost	5.0
Schedule	5.0
Communications	5.0

"Tony has been incredible—professional, kind, and endlessly helpful. He delivered everything to a high standard and continued to support us well beyond his role, helping with project management and trades even after my unexpected surgery. He truly went above and beyond, and we now consider him a friend. We’d recommend Tony to anyone without hesitation."

Work carried out by the owner/operator

Review posted by Kristyl on 30th May 2025

Verified Builderscrack review

Job completed by

Saracen Architecture Limited

Architecture & Design Christchurch

5.0

Hi, Saracen Architecture is a small architectural design and drafting company in Christchurch. We provide design and drafting services to builders and private homeowners who are looking for someone who listens to clients' ideas and their wish-list without a pre-ordained agenda, understands their budget constraints, is able to apply flair and innovation in design, provides a prompt & quality service and gets on well with everyone we are engaged by. Unlike many in the industry, who we fee