Family Home Extension Creates Room to Grow in Pirimai

Project Overview

With four young children and bedrooms already being shared, this family had simply outgrown their 1960s bungalow in Pirimai.

Moving was one option, but they loved their neighbourhood and the property's large section. Instead, they decided to extend the house and create enough space for everyone to have their own bedroom. A new master suite would also give the parents a private bedroom, ensuite and walk-in wardrobe.

Having never renovated before, the homeowners were unsure where to begin. Refresh Renovation Consultant Sophia and her team guided them through the entire process, from initial concepts and budgeting to council consent and construction.

Design & Planning

One of the first questions was how much an extension of this scale would realistically cost.

Rather than asking the homeowners to commit to a budget without enough information, Refresh first prepared low-level concept plans. These allowed a Quantity Surveyor to assess the proposed work and provide an initial build estimate of approximately $230,000. Once the design was developed and priced in detail, the build contract came to approximately $240,000.

The planning stage also included a geotechnical assessment, working drawings and council consent.

From the first meeting to the start of construction, the pre-build process took around 12 months. This reflected the time needed to move through concept development, quantity surveying, geotechnical work, detailed drawings and council approvals during the particularly busy construction environment of 2021.

Throughout the design process, Sophia helped the family make practical selections that balanced appearance, function and cost.

Project Execution

The extension created a dedicated master wing with an ensuite and walk-in wardrobe, while the changes to the wider home meant the children could each have their own bedroom.

The renovation also improved other parts of everyday family life. The laundry was redesigned with generous storage, including dedicated space for school bags and coats. In the ensuite, an acrylic shower and large vanity provided a practical balance between comfort, storage and budget.

A new deck extended the usable living area outside and strengthened the home's indoor-outdoor connection.

Refresh coordinated the architect, geotechnical work, builders, roofer, joinery specialists, plumbers, drainlayers, electricians, plasterers, painters, flooring installers and laundry cabinetry specialists required to complete the project.

Challenges Overcome

Construction took place during a difficult period for the building industry, with post-COVID supply problems and frequent material price increases.

Products that had been available when the project was initially scoped could become difficult to source by the time they were required on site, while costs were also changing regularly.

For Sophia, maintaining open communication was essential. The homeowners were kept informed about availability and pricing so they understood the challenges and could make decisions as they arose.

Despite these industry-wide pressures, the build was completed within approximately the planned 14–16-week timeframe.

Client Experience

As first-time renovators, the homeowners valued guidance at each stage rather than having to navigate design, consent, budgeting, and construction themselves.

Their feedback after the project highlighted both the communication and support they received: “Sophia and Mike project managed our extension to our house. They were very professional, great at communicating and easy to talk through our ideas and ideas they had for the space.”

They also appreciated having the project managed as one process: “Would totally recommend them on any house renovation/project. From design right to the end of build. Would totally use them in the future.”

Final Thoughts

The extension allowed a growing family to stay in the neighbourhood they already loved without continuing to compromise on space.

The children went from sharing bedrooms to having rooms of their own, while the parents gained a private master wing complete with an ensuite and walk-in wardrobe. Practical additions such as improved laundry storage support busy family life, while the new deck makes better use of the home's generous section.

For Renovation Consultant Sophia, the finished result shows what can be achieved when an extension is planned around both a family's immediate needs and how they want to live in their home long term.

Running out of room but don't want to leave the neighbourhood you love? Explore the possibilities for extending your Hawke's Bay home and contact Sophia today to discuss how your existing property could grow with your family.