DESIGN
STRATEGY
GET THE CLARITY YOU NEED BEFORE MAJOR DESIGN WORK BEGINS.
Because guessing what’s possible only gets more expensive the further you go.
You have a site, or a home you want to renovate.
You have ideas - maybe even a Pinterest board full of them.
But you don’t actually know:
what you’re allowed to build under council or heritage guidelines
whether your ideas are realistic for your budget, or
what it’s likely to cost, before you’re locked into a design.
MOST HOME PROJECTS DON’T FAIL IN CONSTRUCTION
They fail before a single drawing gets done
CHANGING PLANS
UNEXPECTED COSTS
UNNECESSARY STRESS
We’ve seen homeowners fall in love with an idea, only to find out later it's not allowed, or it's way outside their budget, and by then, it's an expensive mistake to unwind.
THE DESIGN STRATEGY GIVES YOU CERTAINTY, SO YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD KNOWING YOUR PROJECT HAS BEEN CAREFULLY CONSIDERED FROM EVERY ANGLE.
“For over 20 years I’ve seen how overwhelming those early decisions can be - so many decisions, mixed advice, and no clear sense of what's actually possible”
- Kathy
HAVE A SITE OR HOME BUT NO REAL IDEA WHAT’S ACTUALLY POSSIBLE ON IT
WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT’S INVOLVED IN RENOVATING A HERITAGE HOME
WANT TO EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL OF A NEW HOME SITE
WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND LIKELY CONSTRUCTION COSTS BEFORE INVESTING IN DETAILED DESIGN
For homeowners who:
THE DESIGN STRATEGY IS NOT FOR EVERYONE
You’re a good fit if:
You’re planning a renovation, extension, or new build in the next 6-12 months
You want clarity on cost and feasibility before committing to detailed design
You’re ready to make decisions based on real numbers and real information, not guessed
It’s probably not for you if:
You've already settled on a design and just need someone to draw it up. This stage exists to test ideas before they're fixed, not to document decisions already made
You're more than a year away from starting, or still deciding whether to stay in your current home at all
You'd rather skip the feasibility work and go straight to detailed design, and you're comfortable finding out the real costs later
CONCEPT FLOOR PLAN
A preliminary layout showing what's possible on your site.
BUILD COST ADVICE
An indication of your likely construction costs.
COUNCIL & PLANNING REVIEW
Advice on planning controls, overlays and approvals so there are fewer surprises later.
PERSONAL STRATEGY SESSION
We'll sit down together and walk through everything we've discovered, answer your questions and discuss the best path forward.
WHAT YOU’LL RECEIVE
The Design Strategy includes:
I’M KATHY
For over 20 years, I've helped homeowners create homes that truly fit how they want to live, and I've also seen how overwhelming those early stages can be. So many decisions, mixed advice, and no clear sense of what's actually possible.
That's why I created the Design Strategy, it gives you clarity upfront, so you know what's achievable, what it's likely to cost, and whether it fits your vision and budget.
With a clear brief and shared priorities from day one, the whole design journey feels smoother, more enjoyable and far less stressful.
Because my job isn't just to design your home, it's to help you feel informed, supported and confident every step of the way
HOW IT WORKS
1
BOOK A CALL
We’ll chat to you about your project, your ideas and your brief.
2
WE’LL MEET WITH YOU
to sit down and discuss your priorities, wishes and what you’d like to achieve.
3
WE’LL PRESENT OUR STRATEGY
as a concept plan along with a project budget estimate and your regulatory site constraints.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
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Anthony & Heidi
ELWOOD, Renovation & Extension
Working with you on our renovation was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. You took the time to understand how our family lives and translated that into a design that is both beautiful and incredibly functional. You were incredibly patient, adaptable and supportive, helping us work through every decision without ever making us feel like it was a problem.Your communication throughout the project was excellent, and your calm, practical approach made what can be a stressful process feel much more manageable.
We couldn't be happier with the finished result—particularly the covered spa area, which has become one of our favourite spaces.
You are a talented designer who genuinely cares about achieving the best outcome for their clients.
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Sylvia & Dean
PARKDALE, Renovation & Extension
Working with Kathy was such a wonderful experience from start to finish.For our home modernisation, we wanted to seamlessly blend the new with the old, and Kathy brought that vision to life in a way that far exceeded our expectations.
Her creativity, architectural eye for detail, and dedication to quality on site made the whole journey feel both exciting and reassuring
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Fiona & Cath
NORTHCOTE, Heritage Renovation & Extension
What a pot of gold she is! She is a fast mover with fantastic expertise and brilliant communication. Always collaborative, listens carefully - and in a lovely calm and honest way finds solutions, presents wonderful ideas, and then follows through without exception or delay.
Communication and trust is of course the key - brilliant. Collaboration- we wanted to be involved in the dream - and we were. She marries the practical with the aesthetic perfectly - and has indeed designed such a beautiful house - every detail has been considered. She is confident but really unassuming and instead of stress (all gone!) there has been persistent laughter and delight. We think even the Council have loved working with her.
The process is going seamlessly. Happy to rave on more when it is complete - we know it will be magical!
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Irene & Arthur
MALVERN EAST, Heritage Renovation & Extension
It was an absolute pleasure working with Wyk Architecture. We were so impressed with Kathy's professionalism, attention to detail and creativity. Wyk Architecture understood our needs and what we wanted to achieve and they made it all happen.We are delighted with our new home and would highly recommend Wyk Architecture!
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Helen & Ange
MORDIALLOC, Renovation & Extension
Wyk architecture provided a highly professional and tailored service that exceeded my expectations. They were solutions-driven and really understood my brief and need for a visual understanding of concept drawings.
Kathy made the decision-making process a breeze by presenting concepts and finishes that were well-considered.
The end result is stunning, I feel a sense of calmness in my home and the flexible spaces are perfect for our busy family.
Thank you Kathy, you have created a space that is functional, timeless and really beautiful.
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Shane Mcgrath - Built by Luxe
MALVERN EAST, Renovation & Extension
As a Melbourne based residential Builder, working with various Architects we find Wyk Architecture to be a creative & knowledgeable firm. We have been able to work collaboratively with Wyk & owners to deliver projects that all parties can be proud of. Wyk's attention to design detail makes the building process seamless. Any issues are addressed with a creative & logical solution & in a timely manner.
We have no hesitation in recommending Wyk Architecture for your dream home.
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Damien & Maire
OAKLEIGH, Renovation & Extension
Wyk Architecture was the right choice for us. This was the first extension for my wife and I (although it was large enough to almost be considered a new build in my mind) and my wife and I had lots of questions, suggestions and requirements – and even the odd divergent view. Wyk Architecture worked at our pace and both my wife and I always felt considered and included in the process.
Loving our “new” house.
Part of your investment is credited towards your architectural design fees should you choose to continue working with us.
This isn’t simply a report
It’s the confidence that comes from knowing you’re making the right decisions before embarking on your next renovation or new build.
Your Design Strategy starts from $5,500
We work with a small number of clients so we can give each project the attention it deserves.
As the Design Strategy is a detailed process,
We offer one session per month.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
Take a look at the FAQ’s
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The Design Strategy takes approx. 4 weeks from the time of our first meeting
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That's OK and that’s on on us to manage. Part of the job is making the process legible, explaining what's happening at each stage, what decisions need to be made and when, and what to expect next. You should never feel like a passenger in your own project. We guide you through the process and take the stress out of it. Have a look at our testimonials, our clients love that we take the stress out of a project but still keep them involved in the process.
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Starting a big home project can feel overwhelming, and before a single drawing is done, there are some really important questions worth thinking through.
Is renovating actually the right move for your home and what you're hoping to achieve? Would adding extra space solve the problem, or could some clever reworking of what's already there get you to the same place and possibly for less? And sometimes, a more significant change ends up being the smartest path forward.
There are practical questions too. What's a realistic budget for what you have in mind? Are there any heritage listings or planning rules that could affect what's possible on your property? And could the project be an opportunity to make your home more comfortable, cheaper to run, and worth more in the long run?
That's exactly what the Design Strategy helps you work out, before you commit to anything.
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In our industry 40% of projects that are designed do not get built due to them being far over budget. When we establish a clearly defined brief and understand the site constraints from the very beginning, you know what your project is going to cost.
When you jump into a project without a clear plan, it's easy to spend a lot of time, money, and energy going in circles, without ever feeling like you're actually moving forward. Without early clarity, projects can lose direction, consume time, energy and resources before a clear strategy is established. The Design Strategy gives you the space to work through the big questions first, allowing a clear and confident pathway to emerge before design work begins.
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Cost blowouts usually happen when the brief isn't locked down, the design isn't fully resolved before tendering, or the wrong builder is selected. A good project scope and clear direction allows the architect to control all three. We'll establish a clear cost target early, design within it, and go to tender with complete documents so builders are pricing the same thing, not guessing.
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The drawings are the least of what you're paying for. You're paying for the thinking behind them, the hours spent questioning assumptions, testing options, and navigating council constraints.
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The Design Strategy stage is a great way to see if our values are aligned. The right architect working with you with your project should be someone you share your values with and who you can communicate clearly with. It’s important you feel listened to and that they are taking on board your priorities. Take a look at our testimonials, our clients have loved working with us and we have loved working with them.
FAQs
If you’d like to chat, or are ready to get started,