Brian van der Plaat Design Studio

We bought a stunning piece of land that we fell in love with but we had to work with some restrictions in that the bulk of the land is environmentally protected hanging swamp, has a small stream near the site of the house build and the land is zoned as category 4 flame area! The land we could build on had pre-approved council plans for a house design that we did not like! We commissioned Brian to re-design all aspects of the house with a modern, minimal, open plan aesthetic. We wanted something that would blend in with the bush surrounds, be environmentally friendly and a have lovely living space for our small family. Brian took the time to understand how our family lived and what was important to us regarding functionality and comfort. He thought about maximizing the small floor space and how to capture the wonderful view. He understood our budget and financial situation and worked the design to meet our requirements. He recommended spending on premium products such as insulation, fire resistant building materials and double glazed windows, plus key design features to make the house unique. Brian’s creativity with the re-design was beyond our wildest expectations. The mezzanine area, double story window, exposed steel beams, custom made staircase and cabinetry are all practical, minimal and beautiful. The space actually draws us into the communal area where the windows look onto the stream and surrounding hanging swamp. We absolutely trusted Brian in this process and would not have taken the project on without his involvement. Brian smoothly dealt with the council regarding the change of the house design. He recommended the engineer, builder and trades. Brian regularly travelled to site to inspect progress and ensure good quality work. He regularly reviewed the budget and liaised with the key stakeholders to advocate for us. Any changes were thoroughly explained to us. He has been in constant communication with us, and the building team, regarding the details of the house to ensure all is on track. Brian’s expertise in creative design and problem solving plus his meticulous, organised nature makes him a wonderful lead in a project like this. He works ethically and his calm nature and experience in the field make him extremely dependable and able to deal with any situation. From the initial drawings and models he provided we were sold on the beautiful design and functionality of the house. It is wonderful to see this creative vision come to life. It has been a pleasure working with Brian and a dream to have our home finally a reality.