Utility Room Renovation in Cambridge

When Jonathan and Lynn moved into their dream home in the rural village of Harston, on the outskirts of Cambridge, they could not have been more delighted. The grand period property is both spacious and elegant, featuring original details such as inglenook fireplaces and open studwork, and sits in more than an acre of established gardens.
There was just one area they needed to improve. The rather dilapidated utility room, adjacent to the kitchen and rear hall, was in serious need of renovation to match up to the stylish, handcrafted kitchen and the rest of the house.
Jonathan and Lynn turned to the experts for help. “We knew it would be tricky to fit all the storage, worktops and appliances we wanted into the narrow space” says Jonathan, “So we asked Refresh Renovations to come up with a redesign for the room.”
After talking to the family to understand exactly what they wanted from the space, renovation specialist Simon Kelliher and his team translated this into concept drawings and cost estimates based on the clients’ brief. During this stage, the feasibility and practical considerations of the project were also assessed, including how to emphasise the original features of the room.
As Lynn explained “It may be a utility room, but we didn’t want it to look utilitarian! It was important that the contractor understood that we wanted the finished room to complement the rest of the house.”

All the team were most helpful and willing to be flexible when necessary

Home renovation designs and costs

Renovation projects can often uncover unexpected structural issues during the course of the work, particularly in older properties. The Refresh contract explained how those would be dealt with and costed for, if required, so there were no nasty surprises.
With concept designs agreed, the working drawings, specifications and detailed budget were prepared, including costings for all the required trades such as carpentry, plastering, electricals, plumbing and painting. Refresh has great relationships with a wide range of skilled craftsmen and used its buying power to provide the best workmanship within the project’s budget.
During this stage, Refresh also took responsibility for checking the legal requirements and obtaining all required building and resource consents.

Carrying out the utility room renovation

Having successfully completed the briefing, design and costing processes to the clients’ satisfaction, Simon briefed the project team and scheduled the work to take place on site. With a number of different trades operating in a limited space over just three weeks, coordinating the timing of each stage was crucial to stay on schedule and ensure the quality of the end result.
Near the end of the project, the Dowsons realised that they wanted to add some extra storage cupboards in their utility room.  This meant that the project slightly exceeded the original budget but, according to Jonathan, it wasn’t a problem for the Refresh team. “All the team were most helpful and willing to be flexible when necessary,” he said.
The finished project has given Jonathan and Lynn the beautiful and functional utility room that their period home deserves. It provides the much-needed storage and preparation space that every household needs without compromising the building’s original style and character.

The benefits of working with a Refresh Renovations franchise

Refresh Renovations Specialists work with reliable, local suppliers and a full network of experienced tradespeople including designers, builders, electricians, plumbers, bricklayers and gasfitters.

Contact a Renovation Builder in Cambridge

Want to know more? Get in touch with the renovation experts at Refresh now to find out what they can do for you and your home. Refresh Renovations Specialists offer a free initial one-hour consultation that will help you make the decision whether their team is the one for you. This consultation is no obligation and is a chance to understand what they can do for you.