Designer For A Day
Big design thinking, without the big commitment.

Contemporary kitchen renovation by Ocean Grove architect Jane Macrae – Bellarine Peninsula home with custom timber joinery and open-plan design

Or wondering...

“Can I renovate this house if I buy it?”

“Could we fit a granny flat in the yard — would it be allowed?”

“Can we rework the plan to get an extra bedroom or do we need to extend?”

“Could we keep our house and subdivide the backyard?”

“Is it even worth getting an architect for something this small?”

Designer for a Day is exactly what you need.

This isn’t a cookie-cutter consult or templated report — the outcome depends on the problem.

It’s personal.

It’s practical.

And it’s a whole lot of momentum from just one focused day.

Got a design to-do list?


Half Day – $799
Up to 3 hours

Full Day –$1399
Up to 6 hours

Each option includes preparation and follow-up time: you'll receive a briefing document in advance and a tailored summary with notes and recommendations afterwards. If the briefing reveals that specific planning or building regulations need to be clarified, we’ll take care of that research beforehand to make sure your session is as productive as possible.

Investment

Case Study: Courtney’s Home Refresh

Courtney first reached out with a tentative email:
“I’m not sure if you’d take on something this small, but we’d love to bounce around some ideas about reworking our home within the current footprint.”
— Courtney

The Brief

  • Rework kitchen and dining for better flow

  • Make the home feel lighter and brighter

  • Explore if a fourth bedroom or second living room could fit

  • Stay within the existing footprint — no extensions

The Day

  • Step 1: Walkthrough & briefing
    We started with a walk through the home and reviewed Courtney’s pre-filled briefing doc.

  • Step 2: Measure & draft
    A quick laser measure and scaled real estate plan became the base for drafting a working layout in CAD.

  • Step 3: Live design + feedback
    We explored kitchen options with rapid SketchUp models whilst Courtneyreviewed and refined them with us in real time.

  • Step 4: Planning options
    We sketched out options for a reworked living/fourth bedroom layout with no structural changes, and brainstormed strategies to bring in more natural light.

  • Step 5: Wrap up
    A follow up document was sent confirming our advice, next steps and listing recommendations for materials & trades.

The Outcome

  • A clear plan for refurbishing the home in stages — no extension needed

  • Real-time design decisions and instant feedback

  • basic 3D kitchen models and a cad plan taken straight to the joiner for shop drawings (cost effective and quick!)

  • One productive day = serious momentum

  • A beautiful new kitchen and a flexible living/guest bedroom upstairs and a house that feels modern, bright and more spatious even though no floor area was added

Modern kitchen renovation in Ocean Grove with wooden cabinets, a white countertop, black appliances, a window, and natural sunlight.
Modern kitchen with wooden cabinets, marble backsplash, black built-in oven, white countertop, a vase with yellow flowers near the sink, and a white fruit bowl with yellow pears on the island.
Original Ocean Grove kitchen before renovation by architect Jane Macrae – dated layout, aging cabinetry, and limited light.