Experts in high-end residential construction, Austral Build has spent the past decade working on large-scale, luxurious projects. Earlier this year, the brothers embarked on a new journey: taking a modest apartment and transforming it to reflect their signature style and expertise.
More than a business venture, it was a chance for them to create something truly special.
“We wanted to create a challenge for ourselves – to see what we could do with this apartment that was obviously in much need of a renovation,” says Marty Zahr. “We wanted to create a high-end apartment that hasn’t been seen in this area. There are a lot of homes in the area that are built to that spec, but we wanted to see what would happen if we were to design this apartment to the same calibre, and I think the results speak for themselves.”
The challenge
The original layout of the apartment was typical of older buildings in the area. The kitchen was hidden and separated from the living area, with no connection between indoors and out. Much like its neighbours, it was also outdated and no longer suited to modern living.
Engaging the help of a trusted design partner from day one, the team was able to fast-track every decision. Emily from EMOH Interiors joined the project the day after the property was purchased, and within five days, the design phase was complete, allowing construction to begin immediately.
“Being our own property, we had the ability to make very quick decisions. From start to finish, the renovation of this apartment took 58 days,” says Marty.
Structural walls were removed and relocated to redefine the spaces in a way that suits modern lifestyles, and the interior scheme received a full overhaul.
“We’ve used a very neutral colour palette, but we wanted to make this apartment really stand out.”
Key to achieving this was sourcing the right stone.
“It took around four weeks of visiting different stone suppliers and different stonemasons before we found the right choice. We found a unique porcelain from Smartstone that has beautiful veining right through the slab. It looks like real stone while being budget- and user-friendly.”
Setting a standard for future projects
From outdated and rundown to sleek and inviting, Austral Build hopes the success of this project will inspire other apartment owners to engage with them to bring similar spaces to life.
“If you live in a rundown apartment and don’t know what to do with it, this is what could be achieved,” says Marty.
He also hopes that this renovation will help others realise that they don’t need to keep the same floor plan if it doesn’t suit their lifestyle. “A lot of people worry about moving and removing walls in their apartments, but this is a showcase of what can be done.”
Previously, the kitchen was a small room and a corridor led to the bedrooms. After removing the brick walls separating the kitchen and living room, the whole area feels much larger. “We also removed the corridor and incorporated that into the living room. So, there are so many things that you can do that people are often worried about or second-guess.”
With vast experience and expertise, Austral Build has helped many clients achieve the same level of transformation of their spaces. By engaging the team for Pre-Consultation, they can help identify any issues early in the process and advise from start to finish.
“We can assist in hiring the architect and the interior designer, or, if you already have a team, then we can work alongside them to make sure that the space will look and feel the way you want. Always hire the builder first and get them involved in all the design aspects, so that when it comes time to build, there is accurate costing and foresight on any potential challenges that might come up.”
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