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Emily and Tom Fitzgerald

We were recommended to SKETCH by a friend and couldn’t be happier with the design and support they’ve given us. We had a 1950’s house and were, at first, looking to principally expand upstairs to provide space for our growing family. We met with Darrin and Chris to go through our ideas and objectives and they came up with a fantastic concept which expanded our renovation to meet ideas we originally thought we would tackle in future years. All this while still maximizing the existing structure so as not to add too much cost.

We also used SKETCH to draft electrical plans and provide full Interior Design Services. This was was not only great value for money but also helped us think through all aspects of the build prior to going to tender and enabled us to get all-inclusive quotes from the builders.

Sketch’s industry contacts have been beneficial with the surveyor and engineer providing great service at the start, but also as we adjusted plans on the build. Sketch also recommended a number of builders, with our chosen builder being first class and having a great working relationship with Sketch, making the whole process effortless.

Emily and Tom Fitzgerald

Gabriel Yousif (Fortier)

Darrin Albert, Andrew Brown and their team at SKETCH produce outstanding work.
Quite simply, they are good people who are a pleasure to deal with.

We have collaborated with SKETCH for our developments and they listened to what we wanted, integrated in our requests, brought some great ideas to the table and ultimately were really enjoyable to work with.

As a builder, the handover pack SKETCH provides, makes our ability to quote the job so much easier.

Highly recommend to anyone looking for a smooth design process transitioning into a smooth build.

Gabriel Yousif

Aaron

Great value designers.
The team were very patient with us when we paused and resumed our project several times. Thanks for your help!!

Aaron

Garry Bell

I wanted to take the time to express my sincere thanks to Darrin Albert and his team at SKETCH for the outstanding work they did in helping us to design an extension to our house in Hampton that entailed a bathroom, kitchen, butler's pantry, dining room, living room and outdoor alfresco area.

Darrin's expertise in swiftly understanding our needs and wants and then being able to deliver it promptly with all necessary approvals was simply outstanding.

I have even had a couple of Builders comment on the quality of the Handover Pack provided which they say has made their ability to quote the job so much easier.

Many thanks SKETCH.

Garry Bell

Kate Stirling

SKETCH came highly recommended by friends and we couldn't be happier with the design of our new home. The whole team were so helpful and supportive right from the initial brief through to final design. They even helped us select the right builder. We feel very lucky for the initial introduction.

Kate Stirling

Darren and Chantal Bonney

Our total experience with SKETCH was faultless. Our project was a very challenging one. We needed a design studio that could work with our wishes and make the process as easy as possible. We expected the process to be emotional, challenging and exhausting, however, Sketch took us on an easy journey; step to step. We felt fully supported throughout the entire process from design, to meeting with the council, meeting with neighbors and helping us choosing the best and most appropriate builder. I would definantly engage Sketch again and recommend them to anyone taking on a new build or renovation of their property

Darren and Chantal Bonney

Danny Rosenbloom

After watching many years of Kevin McCloud on Grand Designs UK, Kevin was always insisting and pleading with families engaging in a Grand Design, that the best way to have a chance at a successful project was to start off with good planning and design.
We engaged the team at SKETCH with this attitude, "failing to plan is planning to fail".
Try and nut out your dream design by working with professionals who do this day and day out.
Well so far so good. The team at Sketch methodically mapped out our design and we were able to confidently present our builder with a design package that was comprehensive, that clearly presented our vision of what we wanted to achieve.
Along with our builder we are very excited to start our renovations in January 2021.
Thank you to Andrew Brown and his team for great service and a wonderful experience!!!!!!!

Danny Rosenbloom

Vanessa B

We have had the best experience with the entire team at SKETCH. From our initial call to their offices and meeting with Darrin Albert over a coffee, we decided Sketch was the perfect partner to undertake our cool Richmond terrace project. Renovating is a huge deal, financially and emotionally, so we wanted to make sure we had a great relationship with the entire team who understood our vision, wants and needs. Our footprint is tiny and what the team at Sketch presented us with was an amazing design which included everything on our wish list. From the design team, to the experts in town planning, we were confident that our project was in the right hands. We found the services provided by Sketch were also cost-effective for us and were clearly presented with no surprises. Sketch were also able to recommend several builders from which we selected. We are at the pointy end of our project now and hope to be enjoying our beautiful new home very soon.

Vanessa B

Shane King

The team at SKETCH understood what was important to us and were able to seamlessly deliver the full documentation package ready for building. Darrin and the team were always available to take our calls and were responsive to our needs. At each point I always felt as though we were dealing with a professional company and we have no hesitation in recommending Darrin and his team. Sketch made a complicated process easy!

Shane King

Belinda Minc

SKETCH is a great team to work with. They are all about keeping it simple, but at the same time, have a good eye for design and they get the essentials of the job done without fuss or pomp. Unlike working with other architects or individual designers who I've learnt from experience often put the needs of their own reputation, ahead of the needs of the client when creating a design. Sketch really do allow the client to sit in the driver's seat, while they skillfully navigate, ensuring you reach your destination without any bingles along the way!

Belinda Minc

Bryan Scott (Residential Builder)

Bryan Scott Projects Has worked with SKETCH on numerous projects. We have found that the design and documentation from a builder's point of view, is clear and very easy to work with. This enables that no detail is missed and produces the high-end finish required. Communication with the staff is a pleasure which creates a great working relationship. Combining with their Interiors team makes the projects flow perfectly.

Bryan Scott (Residential Builder)

Rob & Wendy

We have had the great privilege of working on a number of SKETCH Projects. Darrin and the team at Sketch are great communicators and always available to assist throughout he build if required. We have found that the designs created for their clients are on brief and specific to each individuals tastes and needs. They take great care in the design to ensure both form and function are considered. Our feed back from clients is that they work with them from initial discussions though to handing over to a select group of builders. We feel proud to be one of those preferred builders.

Rob & Wendy

Tom Maidment

I have worked with SKETCH over many years. They have designed large townhouses projects through to bespoke renovations. The team has always been professional and provided exceptional service from all areas of design, documentation and town planning. I am happy to recommend the team wholeheartedly.

Tom Maidment

Scott Reid

When my wife and I purchased our property, we knew from the start that we would have to do a lot of work. SKETCH were recommended to us as a potential design company for the proposed works. Not only did they help us create an amazing design to fit with our current floor plan, but they also helped us with all of the engineering, soil testing and building permits required to get or project started. Although the COVID-19 pandemic presented many challanges to all of us here in Victoria, Sketch remained committed to providing us with the best service possible during these trying times. Now that the design is complete, we are able to proceed to bringing Sketch's amazing design to life.

Scott Reid

Peter Koteras

Overall we were really impressed with SKETCH and wouldn't hesitate to recommended them to others. For context, we had a complex brief - Design a large family home, on a very small inner Melbourne block, with an existing heritage overlay and a relatively conservative construction budget.

Sketch was great from the start, working around the site constraints and incorporating our wishes and ideas into the design. Sketch has an in-house town planning department and this showed in their ability to navigate council and the site's heritage overlay to get the overall design approved with minimal changes.

Sketch also completed the construction drawings, interior design and specification and helped us to select our builder. Again all these services were delivered to a really high standard and Darrin and the team went above and beyond in helping us navigate the tricky process of selecting the right builder.

We would highly recommend SKETCH.

Peter Koteras

Melinda Hogan

We engaged Darrin Albert from Sketch Building Design to design our family home renovation. Darrin came highly recommended and we were certainly not disappointed. Our vision was to develop a contemporary two storey addition to our Edwardian home. The design delivered and service provided exceeded our expectations.
Darrin and the team were professional, enthusiastic, responsive and focused on our needs and budget. They were a pleasure to deal with and we would happily recommend.

Melinda Hogan

Tom Hartlett

I engaged SKETCH to handle my complex inner city extension and renovation plans. The team were dedicated and driven. They handled all the town planning permits and heritage overlay conditions with minimal fuss. The end result was a seamless delivery from concept to completion. I'd definitely use Sketch again.

Thanks Darrin, Andrew and the entire sketch team.

Tom Hartlett

Irene Argeres

We engaged Sketch to design an extension for our 1920s single-storey home in Brunswick East. Sketch's elegant and timeless design well exceeded our expectations. Just as importantly, the service provided by Darrin Albert was exemplary. He patiently accommodated the changes we asked for along the way and continually provided us with practical and helpful advice. Darrin went above and beyond the scope of his engagement to help us, even providing advice when we had issues with other aspects of our build, well after the design phase was complete. We also found Sketch's prices to be very reasonable and competitive. We highly recommend Sketch, and Darrin Albert in particular.

Irene Argeres

Anthony Baldi

Darrin and the team at Sketch were recommended by friends and right from the start, we could certainly see why.
They listened attentively to our vision from the very first meeting. They were patient as we adjusted our thinking throughout the process and the end result is definitely our dream home. The opportunity to work through the interiors was hugely beneficial with regards to detailed material selections.
We would have no hesitation recommending Sketch Building Design to help create your dream.

Anthony Baldi

Michaela Rankin

I engaged Sketch Building Design to design the renovation of my Victorian cottage in a Heritage overlay area. I can't speak highly enough of Darrin, Chris and the whole team at Sketch. They made the whole process easy and stress free. They listened to what I wanted and produced design options to suit my needs, the site and style of my home. Through the whole process of design, development of planning and building permit documentation, facilitating permits and liaising with other professionals, the communication of the whole team has been fantastic!

Michaela Rankin

Daniel Punch

I engaged Sketch for the design of a townhouse development several years ago and was extremely impressed with their design skills, responsiveness and value for money. I have since worked with several members of the Sketch team on several other projects and can't speak highly enough of them.

Daniel Punch

Robbie Coccaro

Sketch have been nothing short of supportive, timely and honest throughout my experience. I have now used them on a number of development projects, and I can not speak highly enough of them. Their team of staff are responsive to my needs and are there to follow up within a manageable time frame which suits my lifestyle.
Sketch took all the headache out of dealing with certain areas like surveyors, landscapers, and engineers not to mention councils high demands and regulations, this was all done with minimal fuss. This gave me the ability to concentrate on my full time role. They are happy to make some strong suggestions which aligned to my thinking & budget for the project, and were always there when I had forgotten something and dealt directly with my builder to clarify if the need arose.
I will be definitely using Sketch again in the future! I would highly recommend their services.

Robbie Coccaro

Ben Norman

Darrin and the team provided a great service, working with us to understand our requirements and made some great suggestions to improve the layout and look of our renovation project. We were very pleased at the level of professionalism shown and are happy to recommend Sketch to others.

Ben Norman

Sam Frey

Sketch did a great job in turning my ideas into a great design. They handled the whole process from designs, plans and interior design through to town planning and building permits.
They introduced me to my builder and were very responsive during the process.
I worked with Chris Walker who did a great job for me.

Sam Frey

Jesse Kochen

We found Sketch to be timely, great value for money, and most importantly, they came up with a great design that was specific to our property. We were really happy with everything and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

Jesse Kochen

Ben Abbott

The team at Sketch undertook the massive task of helping to design our dream home. As part of this we knocked down the front 3/4 of the existing home and build a two story in its place.
We are thrilled with what Sketch created. They listened to what we wanted, integrated in our requests, brought some good ideas to the table and ultimately were really enjoyable to work with.
We would use them again for future renovation projects.

Ben Abbott

Nic Chapman

Sketch were such a pleasure to work with. They took our design brief and expanded on the vision and really impressed us with what was possible for our new home design.

Nic Chapman

Damian McCarthy

Sketch managed to design a great home for us when others said there wasn't enough room. We have plenty of storage and a beautiful home to live in with plenty of space. They have great ideas and are a great team to work with. They listened to everything we wanted and needed and they delivered! Highly recommend Sketch.

Damian McCarthy

First Avenue Homes

“Sketch have been engaged by ourselves and a number of our clients and have always been a pleasure to work with.
From meeting timing constraints to beautifully delivered designs, Darrin, Andrew and their team have always made ourselves and our clients visions and goals into a reality.
We could not be more happy with their service.”

First Avenue Homes

Kate Flavell

After searching for the right designer across Melbourne for our renovation for 2 years, we found Sketch who were right around the corner! Sketch ticked all the boxes for us.......
1. The fee structure (fee for service) and price point was reasonable
2. They had worked on many renovations in the area and understood our demographic well. They appreciated that we had done some renovations in the past so knew what we wanted and were accepting of us having some input into the design.
3. They recommended builders they had worked with before and co-ordinated the tender process.
4. We felt supported all through the design process, they kept us on track in regards to budget, and regularly checked-in during the building phase.

I would use Sketch again for my next renovation.

Kate Flavell

Steph Hegerty

Darrin and the team at Sketch came highly recommended by a good friend of ours. We had a big renovation job on our hands, and after meeting Darrin, we knew the team from Sketch were the ones to help us achieve what seemed like the impossible.

We had a fairly good idea of what we wanted in the way of a floor plan, so the guys at Sketch were fantastic at bringing our ideas to life. We really valued their opinions and expertise in areas that we didn't feel very confident in, so for us, it was a perfect match. We had the right level of guidance and advice, but equally, Darrin and the team were really respectful of what we wanted, and how best to get there with the budget we had.

The team from Sketch managed all of our council documentation and liaising, which was a huge weight off our shoulders. They were efficient in their dealings with council, always keeping us up to date on correspondence and progress. We've been really happy with the suppliers they've connected us to, to help get the job done. All in all, our experience with Sketch has been nothing short of excellent. This is our first, but certainly not or last renovation, and we look forward to Sketch working alongside us for the projects that lie ahead. A huge thanks to Darrin and the team!

Steph Hegerty

Jacqui Vanderzeil

The team at Sketch initially flexed with us as we explored the options of a renovation versus re-build. Once we had decided, Sketch made our new build design process very easy. Having collated a number of images to share our design vision, the team at Sketch worked many of the elements into a floor plan that maximised the space available but also in keeping with the modern, contemporary design elements we loved.
Building a custom design house for the first time is quite an undertaking and so you rely on the industry expertise to guide you through. You don't know what you don't know as a client and so it is important you have a design agency that can inform decisions up front, rather than having to navigate through change further along in the build process, which in turn incurs cost.

Jacqui Vanderzeil

Scott Jones

Sketch was easy to work with and took all our thoughts of what we wanted for our house and delivered drawings matching the profile given. Darrin also offered suggestions that we hadn't considered which complimented the design & layout. The team at Sketch were very accommodating with numerous changes of the drawings until finalised, also their turnaround in permit applications was stress free for us as they handled everything from end to end. After the drawings were completed, Darrin was able to recommend preferred builders which gave us comfort knowing they had worked with Sketch previously. We most certainly recommend Sketch to design your dream home.

Scott Jones

Lisa Perrett

We engaged Darrin and the team at Sketch to design our two storey renovation/addition and get our plans through council approvals.
We had a pretty good idea of what we wanted in our renovation and the team at Sketch helped us achieve our dream. They came up with some great ideas, which included awesome bathroom layouts, an amazing curved wall, huge circular skylight over feature stairs and floor to ceiling sliding doors, allowing us to integrate the indoor/outdoor space.
Although we had to ask our neighbours for consent regarding our plans, Sketch successfully managed the council approval process and our plans were approved in good time.
I’m extremely happy with our end result and would like to thank the team at Sketch!

Lisa Perrett

Chris Bertacco

I engaged Sketch to basically design a modern black rectangle box on top of an Art Deco semi-detached house.
The result was amazing, we increase house from 2 to 5 bedrooms and from 1 to 3 bathrooms as well as extending the living area. The design still pays respect to the old ornate front half and then embraces a cutting edge modern addition highlighted by large format floor to ceiling window/sliders, oak floors and a steel staircase, with a 5m2 large glass Velux roof, illuminating the ground floor. Sketch were able to design to my budget and were always happy to re-design when slight changes were required. Sketch cleverly helped me overcome a number of issues to allow us to get a building permit through council without the need for a planning permit or sign off from adjoining neighbours. If you have a design in your head that you want to make a reality, then Sketch is the company for you. I would highly recommend the team at Sketch to guide you through the process.

Chris Bertacco

Brad and Yvette Lloyd

We engaged Sketch to design the extension of our Victorian home after they came highly recommended by a builder friend.
Darrin’s professionalism and passion for design was evident from the first meeting. He and Chris were exceptional in guiding us through the design process and offering us varied options when we weren’t sure where to start. They were very accommodating and efficient with changes and all aspects of the council requirements.
We wouldn’t hesitate to use Sketch again and thank them for all their incredible advice and for designing such a beautiful home for our family!

Brad and Yvette Lloyd

Angelina Lugana

Darrin, Chris and the Sketch team designed our dream home!
They were professional, honest and a pleasure to deal with.
They listened to our brief and designed a unique home that suits our family perfectly!

Angelina Lugana

Emily Antonis

Andrew and the team at Sketch were fantastic through this process. They created a beautifully designed renovation that is very functional and well proportioned.
They were also great value for money and we would highly recommend them to anyone considering a renovation or new build.

Emily Antonis

Natasha Jones

We engaged Sketch to help us renovate the back of our heritage house in Elwood which at one time was a private Bayside school in the 1940-50s.
It was a tricky job because of the heritage overlays and our desire to connect the external classroom located in the backyard (which was converted to a granny flat in the 1950s) to the house.
Sketch designed some great plans for us, sorted out our council permits and introduced us to our builder.

Natasha Jones

David Bell

My wife and I were planning a knock down and rebuild but had no idea where to start. We had a floorplan that we liked and a general idea of house styles that we liked, but had no idea what to do next or how to get our project to a point where builders could provide us with quotes. There were so many steps involved next with working drawings, surveying, engineering, energy rating and permits all required. It was overwhelming.

We found Sketch Building Design and are so pleased that we did.

Sketch took all of these steps out of our hands and arranged all of these external consultants on our behalf. They helped us design our dream home and were so experienced with the local regulations that they ensured everything complied with Bayside Council. When we did hit a speedhump with a site slope and a South East Water Easement, they prepared all the relevant documentation and submissions on our behalf to work around the issue.

I really couldn’t imagine taking on the process by ourselves and engaging all the different consultants and authorities on our own. I couldn’t recommend Sketch highly enough, particularly for first time builders like us.

The builders that we spoke to all said that the level of detail from Sketch was terrific and would allow them to put forward an accurate quote.

Thanks to Darrin’s experience in the industry he was also able to recommend a pool company and several builders that he has had terrific experiences with, and again we are so pleased we got these recommendations as we are halfway through our build at the moment and it has been a very smooth process.

David Bell

John Moonen

The Sketch team have done a great job on our recent renovation works, taking the project from concept through to council approvals and build completion, I have used Sketch on previous projects and will remain a loyal client with them for many more years.

John Moonen

Leigh Monti

We engaged Andrew, Chris and the team at Sketch to design our new home in Elsternwick. Whilst we had a good idea of what we wanted, Sketch provided the high level design combined with the practicalities of modern living to create a family home to love; a home with light-filled family spaces and warm personal environments. They where extremely calm and professional throughout the design process and provided great recommendations for local builders to bring our dream to life. Their interest continued as we commence the build......We couldn’t be happier

Leigh Monti

John Pasara

I have found Marlene and the whole Sketch team really good at working with us on our Duplex home design. We made many changes along the way. Marlene was well accomodating on making changes on our plans and working with us on improving the design of our Duplex.
I would be happy to recommend Sketch Building Design to anyone.

John Pasara

Marc Milner – Delco Build

If you are looking for professional design team to design and deliver your dream home or project, then the team at Sketch Building Design are who you need!
We have built many beautiful and interesting projects for Sketch and everyone of them has been individual and exactly what the owners wanted.
"When we have clients with the ideas and dreams but don't know where to start, we send them to Sketch!”

Marc Milner - Delco Build

Ryan Sherriff – Sherriff Constructions

I was first introduced to Darrin, Jess and the team at Sketch in 2010 through a building network I was currently part of.
From the get go they were super efficient and a pleasure to deal with whilst delivering accurate and easy to read construction drawings.
We are a Torquay based construction company so I was not sure how it would work not being able to just pop in if we needed to go over something, but here we are, over 10 years later and over 35 custom homes designed and we are still going strong.
They have been able to grow and evolve with the demand as the industry has boomed and the service and quality has never dropped off

Ryan Sherriff - Sherriff Constructions

Waydon Builders

We really enjoy working with Sketch Building Designs for all of our drafting needs. From the initial drafts to the complete set of final working drawings, Sketch’s Project Coordinator liaises with all members’ of our team and provides a very efficient and professional service. The communication is superb and their knowledge of all jobs is accurate and always provided in a very timely manner. Working in the industry for over 30 years, we see many different sets of plans and it makes us very proud of the standard of working drawings we are able to deliver our clients through working with Sketch.

Waydon Builders

Darvale Homes

We have been using Darrin, Andrew and the team at Sketch Building Design when they started up in 2006. Since then, we have seen the Sketch team grow and the quality of work produced today is outstanding. I would thoroughly recommend them to anyone wanting a quality, reliable & professional design and drafting service.
“Keep up the great work!”

Darvale Homes

Bedggood & Clark Builders

As part of the Hotondo Homes franchise since 1996, we have used Sketch Building Design for our drafting since they formed in 2006. We have found they are prompt with an initial draft and processing time to final working drawings and energy rating is excellent. Their communication is outstanding. We feel we are fortunate to have access to Sketch for our drafting. They are punctual and courteous and would not hesitate to recommend them to others.
"Sketch Building Design over many years have provided us with exceptional product and services.”

Bedggood & Clark Builders

Hotondo Homes Port Pirie

Darrin, Andrew and the Sketch team have been a critical link for our building company since 2006. I do enjoy working with good contractors and suppliers and Sketch are at the top of my list.

Hotondo Homes Port Pirie