Blog | Nyblad Construction

Planning a Bathroom Renovation That Works for the Long Term

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 03:11:54 GMT

Bathroom renovations are one of the most common upgrades homeowners make on the Sunshine Coast. Whether you want to modernise an older space, improve storage or create a more comfortable layout, a well-planned bathroom renovation can significantly improve how your home functions every day.

Bathrooms are also one of the most complex areas to renovate. Multiple trades work within a relatively small space, and decisions around layout, waterproofing, lighting and storage all influence the final outcome.

If you are considering a bathroom renovation, careful planning at the beginning of the project will help you avoid common issues and ensure the finished space works beautifully for years to come.

Start With How the Bathroom Will Be Used

Successful bathroom renovations begin with a simple question: How will the space be used every day?

For families, the focus is often on durability, storage and layouts that make busy mornings easier. For downsizers or homeowners planning for the long term, comfort and accessibility can become more important priorities. Consider:

How many people use the bathroom regularly
Whether additional storage is needed
If a bath or a larger shower suits your lifestyle better
Lighting and ventilation requirements

Understanding how the space will function helps guide every design decision throughout the renovation.

Focus on Layout Before Choosing Finishes

Many homeowners naturally start thinking about tiles, tapware and colour schemes first. While these elements are important, the layout of the bathroom has a far greater impact on how the space performs.

A well-planned layout can:

Improve movement through the room
Create a more open and comfortable space
Increase usable storage
Make cleaning and maintenance easier

In many renovations, repositioning a vanity, shower or toilet can significantly improve the usability of the room without increasing the size of the space. Working with an experienced renovation builder early in the planning stage helps ensure the layout makes the best possible use of the available area.

Plan Storage Carefully

Storage is one of the most overlooked elements of bathroom design, yet it makes a significant difference to how the space feels day to day. Thoughtful storage solutions can include:

Vanity drawers instead of cupboards
Recessed shower niches
Mirrored cabinets
Tall cabinetry for towels and toiletries

These practical design decisions help keep the space organised and prevent the bathroom from becoming cluttered over time.

Choose Fixtures and Finishes That Balance Style and Durability

Selecting fixtures and finishes is often the most enjoyable part of a bathroom renovation, but these decisions should balance style with long-term durability.

Bathrooms experience constant moisture, daily use and regular cleaning, so it is important to choose materials and fittings that will perform well over time. Common considerations include:

Tapware and shower fittings that are durable and easy to maintain
Tiles that provide adequate slip resistance for flooring
Vanity materials that handle humidity well
Finishes that complement the overall style of your home

Rather than choosing products purely based on appearance, it is helpful to consider how each element will function in everyday use. A well-designed bathroom combines aesthetic appeal with practical materials that remain reliable for many years.

Working with an experienced renovation builder or designer can also help ensure fixtures and finishes are selected early enough in the process so installation and timelines run smoothly.

Think About Comfort and Long-Term Living

A good renovation should support your lifestyle not just today, but also in the years ahead. For many Sunshine Coast homeowners, this means including features that provide long-term comfort and accessibility.

Examples include:

Walk-in showers without a raised step
Non-slip floor tiles
Adequate lighting around mirrors and vanities
Easy-to-reach storage

These features create a bathroom that remains functional and comfortable as needs evolve.

Take Waterproofing Seriously

While tiles, vanities and fixtures are the most visible elements of a bathroom renovation, the work behind the tiles is just as important. Correct waterproofing protects your home from moisture damage and ensures the bathroom meets Australian building standards.

A professional builder will also insist on stripping the bathroom back to the structure rather than renovating over parts of an existing bathroom. While partial updates may appear quicker or more cost-effective, they make it impossible to properly assess the condition of the existing waterproofing.

Australian waterproofing standards have evolved significantly over time, and many older bathrooms do not meet current requirements. By removing existing finishes and rebuilding the space properly, your builder can install a new waterproofing system that complies with modern standards and can be fully warranted.

This approach protects your home from potential water damage and ensures the renovation is completed to a high professional standard.

Work With an Experienced Renovation Builder

Bathroom renovations require careful planning, technical knowledge and attention to detail. Working with an experienced renovation builder helps ensure that each stage of the project is coordinated properly. A good builder will guide you through:

Layout planning
Product and fixture selection
Construction sequencing
Timelines and budgeting

Clear communication and planning early in the process help create a renovation experience that feels organised and predictable rather than stressful.

At Nyblad Construction, our team has extensive experience delivering renovation projects across the Sunshine Coast. Our work has been recognised through industry organisations such as Master Builders Queensland and the Australian Women in Construction and the Sunshine Coast Business Awards, reflecting our commitment to quality, professionalism and leadership within the construction industry.

Bathroom Renovations on the Sunshine Coast

Homes across the Sunshine Coast vary widely, from older beachside houses and units to newer family homes and townhouses. Each type of property can present different considerations when planning a bathroom renovation. For example, older homes may require updates to plumbing layouts or waterproofing systems, while unit renovations often involve body corporate guidelines and careful coordination with neighbouring properties.

Working with a builder who understands local construction standards and renovation requirements helps ensure the project runs smoothly and complies with current building regulations. At Nyblad Construction, we regularly deliver bathroom renovations throughout the Sunshine Coast, including areas such as Caloundra, Warana, Pelican Waters and Maroochydore , helping homeowners create spaces that are both practical and well suited to their homes.

The Value of Thoughtful Bathroom Renovation Planning

A bathroom renovation is an investment in the comfort, functionality and long-term value of your home. By focusing on layout, storage, durability and proper construction practices, you can create a space that supports your household for many years.

Thoughtful planning at the beginning of a renovation project often makes the biggest difference to the final result. If you are considering a bathroom renovation on the Sunshine Coast, taking the time to explore your options and work with experienced professionals will help ensure the finished space is both practical and beautifully designed.

Or better yet, just give us a call and we'll organise a detailed quote consultation with one of our Estimators.

Designing a Family-Friendly Kitchen on the Sunshine Coast

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 01:09:24 GMT

A well-designed family kitchen doesn’t just look good, it supports daily life.

When we talk about family-friendly kitchen renovations on the Sunshine Coast, we’re not talking about trends.

We’re talking about kitchens that make weekday mornings smoother. That handle school lunches, busy evenings and weekend entertaining without feeling chaotic.

A well-designed family kitchen doesn’t just look good — it supports daily life. Here’s what we focus on when planning kitchen renovations for families and unit owners across the Sunshine Coast.

1. Start With Layout — Always

Before choosing colours or finishes, the layout needs to work. In many Sunshine Coast kitchen renovations, improving flow alone transforms the space. A functional kitchen layout should include:

Clear walkways between the sink, cooktop and fridge
Enough space around islands or peninsulas
Easy access to storage
A natural connection to dining and living areas

Good kitchen layout design reduces congestion and creates a space that feels calm rather than cramped, especially in open-plan homes and unit kitchen renovations.

When layout is right, everything else becomes easier.

2. Prioritise Smart Storage Solutions

Families accumulate more than they expect. Water bottles. Lunch boxes. Small appliances. Bulk groceries. School forms. Without considered storage, clutter builds quickly so when designing family-friendly kitchen renovations, we often include:

Deep drawers instead of lower cupboards
Integrated bins
Dedicated pantry zones
Appliance cupboards to reduce bench clutter
Island storage for everyday items

Cabinetry selections from suppliers such as Polytec and Laminex offer durable, low-maintenance finishes that work well in high-use kitchens.

Thoughtful storage design makes the biggest difference to how a kitchen feels long after handover.

3. Create Generous, Practical Bench Space

In a family home, benches are rarely used for one purpose.

They become:

Homework stations
Casual breakfast bars
Conversation hubs
Entertaining spaces

Durable stone surfaces such as those from Better Stone are popular in Sunshine Coast kitchen renovations because they balance practicality with a refined finish. The key is sizing and positioning the island correctly so there’s enough clearance for movement - even when multiple people are using the space at once.

4. Keep the Kitchen Connected to Living Areas

On the Sunshine Coast, many homes and units are open-plan. The kitchen often sits directly alongside the dining and living spaces, which means it needs to feel connected but still practical. Connection doesn’t have to mean fully exposed. Instead, thoughtful design can create balance:

Islands or peninsulas that allow conversation while cooking
Consistent cabinetry colours and materials that flow into adjoining spaces
Strategic lighting that defines zones without closing them off
Bulkheads or ceiling treatments that subtly frame the kitchen area
Carefully considered island heights that provide visual connection while managing bench clutter

In family-friendly kitchen design, the goal is to stay part of the action, whether that’s supervising homework or entertaining guests, without the kitchen feeling messy or overwhelming. When layout, lighting and material selections are planned together, the kitchen becomes a natural extension of the living space rather than a separate room.

5. Choose Materials That Handle Real Life

Family kitchens work hard. Benchtops, cabinetry, sinks and hardware should be selected for durability and ease of maintenance — not just appearance. Quality fixtures offer long-term performance, while well-constructed cabinetry ensures doors and drawers continue operating smoothly for years.

When planning a kitchen renovation on the Sunshine Coast, material selection should always balance style with longevity.

6. Plan Beyond Today’s Needs

Children grow. Routines change. Appliances evolve. A well-planned kitchen renovation considers future flexibility:

Adjustable shelving
Space for larger appliances
Layouts that will suit both young children and teenagers

Planning ahead reduces the likelihood of needing another renovation sooner than expected.

Why Planning Makes the Biggest Difference

The most successful family-friendly kitchen renovations don’t happen by accident. They start with:

Clear documentation
Detailed selections
Thoughtful layout planning
Structured project management

At Nyblad Construction, we approach Sunshine Coast kitchen renovations with a planning-first mindset. This reduces stress for families and creates smoother, more predictable builds, particularly in busy households or unit complexes where approvals may be required.

When the process is calm and well managed, the outcome reflects that.

Thinking About a Kitchen Renovation on the Sunshine Coast?

If you’re considering a kitchen renovation in a family home or unit, start with layout and lifestyle, not finishes. A family-friendly kitchen should feel intuitive, practical and connected to the rest of your home. And with careful planning, it can continue working beautifully for years to come.

If you’d like to learn more about our approach to kitchen renovations on the Sunshine Coast, explore our recent projects or contact our team to begin the planning process.

Where to Start With a Renovation | Sunshine Coast Builders

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 05:39:08 GMT

Planning a renovation is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming.

Many homeowners know their home needs to change, yet feel unsure where to begin, how much to budget, or who to trust.

At Nyblad Construction, we speak with Sunshine Coast homeowners every week who are thinking about renovating but don’t want to rush into the wrong decisions. The good news? A successful renovation doesn’t start with demolition or design, it starts with clear, calm planning .

If you’re wondering where to start with a renovation, this guide will walk you through the first steps.

1. Start With Your Reason for Renovating

Before looking at layouts, finishes or fixtures, it’s important to understand why you want to renovate.

Ask yourself:

Is your home no longer functional for your lifestyle?
Are you renovating for a growing family?
Are you planning to age comfortably in your home?
Do you want to modernise without moving?

Your reason for renovating becomes the foundation for every decision that follows; from budget to design to timeline. When this is clear, the renovation process feels far more controlled and far less stressful.

2. Set a Realistic Renovation Budget Early

Budget uncertainty is one of the biggest causes of renovation stress. While exact costs come later, having a realistic budget range early on helps avoid redesigns, delays and disappointment.

When planning your budget, consider:

Whether you are renovating one area or multiple spaces
If structural work may be required
Approval requirements, such as strata or council approvals
Whether you are planning staged renovations over time

An experienced builder will help you understand what is achievable within your budget and where it makes sense to invest for long-term value.

3. Think About Timing and Day-to-Day Disruption

Renovations affect daily life, particularly for families or homeowners living in their homes. Early planning allows you to minimise disruption and plan around important dates.

Consider:

School terms or holiday periods (especially for unit renovations)
Approval timeframes for units or strata properties
How long certain areas of the home may be unavailable

Planning ahead gives you options. Leaving it too late often creates pressure.

4. Speak to a Builder Early

Many people believe they need full plans before contacting a builder. In reality, early conversations with the right builder help shape the entire project more effectively.

A professional builder should:

Ask clear, practical questions
Explain the renovation process in plain language
Be upfront about timelines and expectations
Help you plan - not pressure you to commit

At Nyblad Construction, we view renovation planning as a partnership. Our role is to guide you, provide clarity, and help you make informed decisions from the start.

5. Understand That Planning Doesn’t Mean Committing

If you’re still in the early thinking stage, that’s perfectly fine. Planning does not mean locking everything in immediately.

Starting the conversation early gives you:

Time to think clearly
Confidence in your decisions
A smoother renovation experience when you are ready to proceed

The calmest renovations are always the ones that are planned thoughtfully.

Renovating on the Sunshine Coast? Start With a Conversation

Whether you’re planning a renovation this year or simply gathering information, we’re always happy to help guide you through the early stages.

Clear communication, quality workmanship and organised planning are at the core of every project we deliver.

If you’re wondering where to start with your renovation, start with a conversation. So when you're ready, feel free to head over to our Contact Us section and give us a call or send us an email.

Moffat Beach Bathroom & Ensuite Renovation

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 03:46:00 GMT

A Calm Coastal Upgrade with ROI in Mind

Perched above the waves of Moffat Beach, this investment property renovation proves that practicality and beauty can go hand in hand.

Our interstate client wanted to refresh her bathroom and ensuite to enhance both liveability and market value and thereby creating spaces that would appeal to future tenants and buyers alike.

The Brief

This Moffat Beach unit had strong bones and stunning views but needed a modern touch. Because the building is older, we began with asbestos testing and made sure we received the all clear before moving ahead. The existing layout worked well, so our team focused on elevating finishes and fixtures rather than relocating plumbing.

The goal: design a pair of bathrooms that feel warm, timeless, and low-maintenance, perfectly reflecting the relaxed coastal lifestyle.

The Design Process

Managing a renovation remotely can be daunting so our team made it easy. Our Project Administrator met with the design team at Casa Ceramica to source tile samples and create several cohesive design options. We then curated mood boards in our Nyblad Construction showroom, giving our client a clear visual of how each finish would come together.

When she visited to sign the contract, the winning palette came together beautifully: warm tones, subtle textures, and brushed nickel finishes for a soft coastal look.

Final selections included:

Tiles by Casa Ceramica
Shower screens by GlazeIt Glass and Screens
Stone benchtop by Southeast Stone
Tapware and accessories from Art Bathrooms

The Build

Working within a unit complex , we coordinated carefully with the body corporate to comply with bylaws and minimise disruption - especially during busy holiday periods.

Because no major plumbing or layout changes were required, the renovation focused on precision detailing, high-quality installation, and coordination with trusted local trades. Our in-house team ensured each stage ran smoothly, from demolition through to final handover.

The Result

The finished ensuite and bathroom are calm, cohesive, and effortlessly elegant:

Fluted shower screens and pearly feature tiles bring depth and light.
Warm brushed nickel tapware and timber vanities create balance.
White stone benchtops and half-moon basins add refined simplicity.

The result is a modern coastal aesthetic that feels at home in Moffat Beach; a true reflection of Nyblad Construction’s focus on quality and detail.

The Outcome

The project delivered exactly what our client envisioned - a timeless update that will serve her investment for years to come.

And she loved the result so much that we’ll be returning soon to complete further works in other areas of the same unit. And we’re currently renovating the unit next door , continuing our work within this beautiful Moffat Beach complex.

Key Highlights

✅ Asbestos clearance prior to renovation
✅ Seamless remote design and selections process
✅ Collaboration with trusted local suppliers
✅ Full body corporate compliance
✅ Modern, coastal design that enhances ROI

Thinking of renovating your Sunshine Coast property?

At Nyblad Construction , we specialise in renovations that combine craftsmanship, collaboration, and the relaxed coastal feel our region is known for.

Whether you’re transforming your home or upgrading an investment, our team can help you bring your vision to life — beautifully, efficiently, and stress-free.

�� Get in touch to start your renovation journey.

Kitchen Trends 2025-2026: Ready to Start Your Kitchen Renovation?

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 04:51:53 GMT

If you live on the Sunshine Coast, you’ll know the kitchen isn’t just where meals are made; it’s where life happens. From early-morning coffee catchups to weekend entertaining, it’s the hub of the home.

At Nyblad Construction, we’ve been part of plenty of kitchen transformations across Caloundra and the wider Sunshine Coast, and we’ve seen what’s really working in 2025. The latest kitchen trends aren’t about chasing fads, they’re about creating spaces that feel calm, functional, and connected to the coastal lifestyle we love.

Here’s what’s trending now, and how we can help bring those ideas to life in your own home.

1. Sunshine Coast Colour Stories

Forget the all-white kitchens of the past — 2025 is all about warmth and personality. Sunshine Coast homeowners are leaning toward soft, natural tones inspired by our surroundings:

Sandy neutrals and warm whites that reflect the beach.
Ocean blues and seafoam greens for that relaxed coastal feel.
Warm timber textures that bring a touch of nature indoors.

These colours not only look beautiful but also bounce natural light around, making your space feel bigger and brighter.

Nyblad tip: We’re seeing a lot of clients mix textures and tones — like a soft white 2-pack finish paired with a Laminex or Polytec woodgrain island. It’s timeless, coastal, and effortlessly elegant.

2. Texture, Finish & Personality

Texture is playing a huge role in the way kitchens are designed right now. Laminex and Polytec’s woodgrain ranges are a standout choice for adding depth and warmth, without the maintenance of raw timber.

If you’re after something more streamlined, 2-pack finishes give a smooth, high-quality surface that’s easy to clean and can be colour-matched to your dream palette.

Because we work with several cabinetry makers across the Sunshine Coast , we can tailor your kitchen to get the exact look and feel you want, whether that’s modern coastal, classic Hamptons, or sleek contemporary.

3. Lighting & Rangehoods That Make a Statement

Lighting has moved from an afterthought to a design feature in its own right. Pendant lights, LED strips under cabinetry, and soft ambient lighting create a space that’s both functional and inviting.

Rangehoods are also stepping into the spotlight. Rather than blending in, homeowners are choosing designs that add character — wrapped in matching cabinetry, finished in bold colours, or featuring subtle curves.

Nyblad tip: Lighting should work for you morning to night. We’ll help you layer your lighting so it’s practical for cooking, but atmospheric for entertaining.

4. Smarter Layouts & Hidden Storage

Life on the Sunshine Coast is all about easy living, so kitchens are being designed with flow and functionality in mind. Multi-purpose islands, open layouts, and seamless connections to outdoor areas are big priorities.

Hidden storage solutions, like integrated appliances and concealed pantries, are helping homeowners achieve that clean, uncluttered look that feels calm and coastal.

Nyblad tip: We’ll work with you to plan every detail, ensuring your kitchen is as practical as it is beautiful. No wasted space — just clever design.

5. Turning Inspiration into Reality

We love that people come to us with inspiration — from The Block, Pinterest, or their own ideas. Our job is to make those visions real.

With strong connections to local interior designers and trusted cabinetry makers, we make the process simple and enjoyable. From the first sketches to the final install, you’ll have expert guidance and craftsmanship every step of the way.

Why These Trends Work So Well Here

Sunshine Coast kitchens are unique. Our light, lifestyle, and love for open living all play a role in shaping design choices. These trends fit perfectly because they:

Capture the natural beauty of coastal life.
Work for families, entertainers, and everyone in between.
Add long-term value to your home.

Ready to Start Your Kitchen Renovation?

Whether you’re building new or refreshing your existing space, our team at Nyblad Construction can help you design and build a kitchen that’s stylish, functional, and built to last.

We’ll take care of the details from Project Management to selections and cabinetry coordination so you can focus on enjoying your new space.

If you’re planning a kitchen renovation on the Sunshine Coast or in Caloundra , get in touch with us today. We’d love to help bring your dream kitchen to life.

Supporting Everyday Living: An NDIS Bathroom Renovation on the Sunshine Coast

admin@nyblad.com.au (Nyblad Construction Client) — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 05:39:29 GMT

At Nyblad Construction, we take pride in delivering high-quality Sunshine Coast renovations that are not only beautiful but practical and built to suit real life. One of our most recent projects was a NDIS bathroom renovation designed for a local family whose daughter, Keira, lives with achondroplasia — a form of dwarfism that affects bone growth and results in shorter stature.

This bathroom needed to be safe, accessible and functional, while also working well for other family members. The end result? A highly considered, NDIS-compliant space that balances thoughtful design with clean, modern finishes.

A Functional Design for the Whole Family

When designing a bathroom for NDIS participants, it’s essential to start by understanding the everyday needs of the user. Keira’s parents wanted her to feel independent in her own home — and that started with ensuring the layout and fit-off selections suited her height and mobility.

At the same time, this bathroom would be used by other members of the household, so our team created a layout that could comfortably accommodate everyone.

Some of the key features included:

A double vanity with two basin heights - a practical solution for shared family use
A Nero Mecca Care T-bar grab rail and adjustable shower head to allow for flexible showering and support
A shower niche placed at a height where Keira can independently access her own shampoo and toiletries
Light switches, taps, door handles and towel rails installed at accessible heights

These inclusions weren’t just about meeting code or ticking off requirements, they were about delivering a space that truly works for this family in everyday life.

Balancing Function and Style

We believe that accessible design shouldn’t come at the cost of visual appeal. This bathroom fits seamlessly with the rest of the home thanks to its modern finishes and high-end tile selections.

The clients supplied their own floor-to-ceiling tiles, which give the space a polished, timeless look while also being easy to clean and maintain. The brushed fittings and warm neutral tones elevate the design, proving that a functional bathroom can absolutely be beautiful, too.

The final outcome is a bathroom that’s inclusive, durable and visually cohesive. In other words, a space that feels like a natural extension of the home, not a clinical or institutional addition.

Built Under the NDIS

This renovation was completed under the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme), which provides funding for home modifications that support individuals living with a disability.

Our team is experienced in navigating the NDIS process and understands the requirements involved in these types of projects. We worked closely with the NDIS team to ensure all compliance standards were met while also prioritising usability and long-term value.

Whether it's adjusting fixture heights, ensuring non-slip finishes, or integrating grab rails and mobility supports, our approach is hands-on and tailored to the needs of the individual.

Why Accessible Renovations Matter

As part of our broader work in Sunshine Coast renovations, we often speak to families who want to improve the liveability of their home without compromising on style or quality. For families like Keira’s, the ability to safely and comfortably use a bathroom independently is about more than convenience; it's about dignity, empowerment, and daily comfort.

This project is a great example of how smart, inclusive design can make a lasting difference in someone’s life. It’s the kind of work that reminds us of the value in what we do and how considered renovations can create truly meaningful change.

Ready to Talk Accessible Design?

If you're planning a NDIS bathroom renovation or considering how to make your home more inclusive, we're here to help. At Nyblad Construction, we specialise in Sunshine Coast renovations that are customised, code-compliant, and built to last.

From initial consultation to completion, we work with clients to create spaces that suit their needs and style — whether it's for accessibility, functionality, or a complete home transformation.

Top Bathroom Renovation Trends for the Year Ahead

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 00:58:41 GMT

Bathrooms have evolved from purely functional spaces to luxurious retreats that reflect personal style and comfort. If you’re planning a bathroom renovation this year, staying on top of the latest trends can help you create a space that is both modern and timeless. At Nyblad Construction, we ensure that every renovation is designed with both style and practicality in mind. Here’s a look at the biggest bathroom trends set to dominate in the year ahead.

1. Statement Tiles Are Here to Stay

Bold, patterned, and textured tiles are continuing to make a statement in bathroom designs. Whether it’s large-format marble slabs, intricate mosaic designs, or terrazzo finishes, tiles are no longer just a backdrop – they are a focal point. If you’re looking to add personality to your space, consider incorporating a feature wall or a striking tiled floor.

2. Warm, Earthy Tones

Cool grey tones are taking a backseat to warm, natural colours. Think soft beiges, terracotta, olive greens, and rich browns that create a calming and inviting atmosphere. These earthy hues pair beautifully with natural materials like timber and stone, giving your bathroom a spa-like feel.

3. Spa-Like Features for Everyday Luxury

More homeowners are incorporating spa-inspired elements to turn their bathrooms into personal retreats. Features such as rain showers, freestanding baths, underfloor heating, and aromatherapy showerheads create a space that feels indulgent and relaxing. Soft lighting, built-in seating, and natural textures further enhance the tranquil atmosphere.

4. Smart Technology in the Bathroom

The integration of technology into bathrooms is on the rise, making spaces more convenient and efficient. Smart mirrors with built-in lighting and anti-fog features, touchless tapware, heated towel racks, and voice-controlled lighting are all growing in popularity. Investing in smart technology can enhance your comfort while improving energy efficiency.

5. Minimalist and Open Designs

Clean lines, floating vanities, and open shelving are continuing to dominate bathroom aesthetics. Minimalist design doesn’t mean boring – it means carefully curated elements that create a clutter-free, spacious feel. Frameless glass shower screens and concealed storage solutions keep the space sleek and functional.

6. Customisation and Personalisation

More homeowners are opting for custom designs that reflect their unique style. Whether it’s a bespoke vanity, handmade tiles, or personalised storage solutions, custom elements can make your bathroom feel one-of-a-kind. Nyblad Construction ensures that every renovation is tailored to suit your needs, from high-end finishes to cost-effective alternatives.

7. Bringing the Outdoors In

Biophilic design – incorporating natural elements into interiors – continues to be a strong trend. Think indoor plants, skylights, and large windows that allow natural light to flood the space. This connection to nature enhances relaxation and creates a refreshing, airy feel.

Ready to Transform Your Bathroom?

If you’re planning a bathroom renovation and want to work with a team that values quality, transparency, and customer satisfaction, get in touch with Nyblad Construction today . Let’s bring your dream bathroom to life!

Looking for more renovation inspiration? Follow us on social media for the latest trends, project updates, and expert advice!

Bathroom With Tub, Sink, Mirror, and Shower

Looking to renovate in 2025?

Contact to us to organise your quote consultation

Maximising Your Home’s Potential With Renovations & Extensions

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:58:36 GMT

The Sunshine Coast is one of the most sought-after places to live in Australia. However, with demand for land at an all-time high, finding a new property that ticks all the boxes can be both challenging and expensive. Instead of going through the stress of moving, why not invest in your current home? At Nyblad Construction, we specialise in full internal home renovations and extensions, helping homeowners create their dream space without uprooting their lives.

Why Renovate Instead of Moving?

Moving house can seem like an exciting prospect, but it comes with a range of hidden costs and stressors. Conveyancing fees, stamp duty, real estate agent commissions, and moving costs can quickly add up to tens of thousands of dollars. Instead of spending money on these unavoidable expenses, investing in a home renovation or extension allows you to improve and personalise your existing property to suit your lifestyle.

Finding the perfect home is not always easy, and compromises are often necessary when purchasing a new property. Instead of settling for a house that meets only some of your needs, a renovation allows you to tailor your home exactly how you want it. Whether it’s an open-plan kitchen, a luxurious master suite, or additional bedrooms for a growing family, Nyblad Construction can turn your vision into reality.

The Benefits of Staying in Your Neighbourhood

Beyond the financial aspect, staying in your current location has significant lifestyle benefits. If you love your neighbourhood, enjoy being close to work, schools, and amenities, and have built strong community connections, renovating allows you to maintain those advantages.

By choosing renovations or extensions, you avoid the emotional upheaval of moving while still achieving a fresh, modern, and functional space. It’s the best of both worlds—keeping what you love while enhancing your home to meet your changing needs.

Extensions: Creating More Space Without Moving

If your home feels cramped but you don’t want to move, an extension can be the perfect solution. Adding an extra bedroom, a second living area, or a home office can make a huge difference in your family’s comfort. Nyblad Construction specialises in designing and building extensions that blend seamlessly with your existing home, ensuring both aesthetic appeal and practicality.

With space at a premium on the Sunshine Coast, extending your home allows you to maximise your property’s potential without competing in the tough real estate market. Whether you’re expanding upwards with a second storey or extending outwards into your backyard, we can create a tailored solution that suits your needs and budget.

Adding Value to Your Property

One of the biggest advantages of renovating or extending your home is the significant increase in property value. A well-executed renovation enhances both the aesthetic appeal and functionality of your home, making it more attractive to potential buyers in the future. Features such as modernised kitchens and bathrooms, open-plan living spaces, and additional bedrooms or living areas can greatly boost your home’s marketability. Additionally, extensions that increase the overall square footage of your home add instant value, ensuring a strong return on investment should you ever decide to sell.

Granny Flats: A Smart Investment

Another excellent way to add value to your home is by building a granny flat. Whether you’re looking to accommodate elderly parents, provide a separate space for adult children, or create a rental income stream, granny flats offer flexibility and financial benefits.

Nyblad Construction builds high-quality granny flats that provide privacy, functionality, and comfort. These self-contained units can be customised to match your property’s style while serving multiple purposes, from guest accommodation to a home office or an Airbnb rental.

Why Choose Nyblad Construction?

At Nyblad Construction, we pride ourselves on quality craftsmanship, attention to detail, and client satisfaction. Our team understands that home renovations and extensions are significant investments, and we work closely with our clients to ensure their visions come to life.

We also emphasise the importance of working with licensed trades and staying within industry regulations, ensuring that your renovation or extension is done right the first time. With our expertise, you can feel confident that your project will be completed on time, within budget, and to the highest standards.

Ready to Transform Your Home?

If you’re considering a full internal renovation or an extension, now is the perfect time to take action. Instead of dealing with the uncertainty of the property market, invest in making your current home work for you. Whether you want a modernised interior, additional space, or a granny flat for extra income, Nyblad Construction is here to help.

Contact us today to discuss your renovation and extension plans. Let’s work together to create a home that meets your needs, enhances your lifestyle, and adds value to your property.

Looking to renovate in 2025?

Contact to us to organise your quote consultation

Incorporating Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2025 into Your Home Renovation

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:58:32 GMT

Every year, Pantone selects a Colour of the Year that sets the tone for design trends across fashion, interiors, and more. For 2025, the spotlight is on Mocha Mousse (PANTONE 17-1230) —a rich, warm brown that exudes sophistication, comfort, and timeless appeal. Whether you’re planning a full renovation or looking for an easy refresh, this versatile shade can bring depth and warmth to your home.

Using Mocha Mousse in Renovations

For those embarking on a renovation, Mocha Mousse is an excellent choice for kitchen cabinetry, bathroom vanities, and feature walls . It pairs beautifully with natural materials like timber, stone, and brushed metallics, creating a luxurious and inviting space. Consider incorporating this warm brown into:

Kitchen Cabinetry – Opt for woodgrain finishes or painted cabinets in a warmer brown for a timeless yet contemporary aesthetic.
Bathroom Vanities – Introduce this earthy tone to bring warmth to modern bathroom designs.
Feature Walls – A warm brown accent wall can add depth and character to living spaces.

Accent Pieces for a Flexible Update

If you’re not ready for a full renovation but still love this trending colour, there are plenty of ways to incorporate Mocha Mousse through textiles, décor, and accessories .

Soft Furnishings – Think cushions, throws, and rugs in warm brown tones to introduce subtle elegance.
Decor Elements – Ceramic vases, lampshades, or framed artwork in Mocha Mousse can add a refined touch.
Tiled Splashbacks – A great way to include the colour in a kitchen or bathroom without committing to major changes.

Pairing Mocha Mousse with Other Colours

To ensure balance in your design, pair Mocha Mousse with complementary shades like:

Neutrals – Off-whites, warm beiges, and soft greys create a calming palette.
Earthy Tones – Sage green, terracotta, and dusky pink enhance the natural feel of this colour.
Metallics – Brass and brushed nickel add a sophisticated edge to brown tones.

Why This Colour Works for Any Style

Mocha Mousse is a colour that can adapt to various interior styles, from modern minimalism to classic elegance . Its richness adds warmth to contemporary spaces while its earthy undertones bring a grounded feel to traditional homes. Whether you’re going bold or keeping things subtle, this shade is sure to add a sense of timeless sophistication to your interiors.

Ready to Transform Your Home?

If you’re planning a renovation and want to incorporate some warmth into your space, we can help! At Nyblad Construction, we specialise in high-quality renovations that balance style and functionality. Get in touch to discuss your project today.

Looking to renovate in 2025?

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Reflecting on an Incredible Year at Nyblad Construction

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:58:28 GMT

As we prepare to wrap up 2024, we’re taking a moment to reflect on what has been a truly remarkable year for Nyblad Construction. From significant milestones to exciting new ventures, this year has been a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion of our team, clients, suppliers, and contractors.

Award-Winning Achievements

One of the standout moments of 2024 was being recognised at the Sunshine Coast Business Awards , where we proudly took home the award for the Building and Construction category. This recognition reaffirms our commitment to excellence and innovation in the industry.

In addition, we were honoured at the AWIC (Awesome Women in Construction) Awards with two accolades, including the prestigious Changemaker Award. This award celebrates our efforts to elevate the profile of women in construction and inspire both young women and men to pursue careers in this dynamic industry. Empowering the next generation of builders remains a cornerstone of our mission, and we’re proud to lead by example.

Building a Stronger Team

We started 2024 with a brand-new team, and over the course of the year, we’ve not only grown in numbers but also as a cohesive unit. Our team’s commitment to collaboration, innovation, and excellence has been instrumental in elevating Nyblad Construction to new heights. Together, we’ve tackled challenges, celebrated victories, and set the foundation for an even brighter future.

Expanding Our Horizons

This year, we’ve continued to work with Master Builders and its Industry Champion initiative which has seen Linn visit local schools to chat to students about careers in the building industry. We’ve also participated in numerous Master Builders events, including their annual roadshow and Golf Days. These opportunities have allowed us to strengthen relationships within the industry, share knowledge, and continue growing our network of exceptional suppliers and subcontractors. Building these connections ensures that we can deliver the highest quality outcomes for our clients.

Giving Back to the Community

Community engagement has always been close to our hearts, and in 2024, we’ve deepened our involvement. We began sponsoring a Story Dogs team, supporting literacy and education for children through this wonderful program. Meanwhile, our ongoing sponsorship of the over 50s soccer team saw them take out an impressive second place in this year’s tournament. It’s inspiring to support initiatives that foster teamwork and community spirit.

Delivering Exceptional Projects

From stunning kitchen and bathroom renovations to full unit and home transformations, this year has been packed with incredible projects. We’ve also taken on larger-scale endeavours, such as multiple home extensions, showcasing our ability to adapt and grow to meet the needs of our clients. Each project reflects our unwavering commitment to quality craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we close out 2024, we’re filled with gratitude and excitement for the future. The milestones we’ve achieved this year are a testament to the trust our clients place in us, the dedication of our team, and the support of our suppliers and subcontractors. We’re ready to build on this success and continue raising the bar in 2025.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey this year. Here’s to another year of growth, success, and creating spaces that inspire!

Happy holidays and best wishes for the new year from all of us at Nyblad Construction!

We’re closed from 2pm on Friday 20 December 2024 and will be back in the office and onsite on Wednesday 8 January 2025. We look forward to discussing your 2025 renovations when we’re back!

Want a quote? Contact us!

From left: Emily (AWIC), Sanna, Amanda (AWIC CEO), Linn - 2024 AWIC Awards

Linn and Sanna Are Captured Smiling in the Photo

From left to right: Kenth, Sanna (Awardee, 2024), and Linn

Group Photo in Front of a "2024 Awards" Wall

A Group of Women Posing Together for a Photo

Three Women and a Dog Stand in Front of a Building

A Group of Children Placing Their Hands Together in a Circle

A Group of Men Standing on a Golf Course, Holding Golf Clubs

A Group of Men Posing for a Photo on a Soccer Field

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Nyblad Construction’s Commitment to Industry Excellence

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 06:39:00 GMT

2024 has been an exceptional year for Nyblad Construction. Not only have we received multiple award nominations, but we are also thrilled to announce that we are finalists in the prestigious Sunshine Coast Business Awards for the second year running! These recognitions, alongside our two recent wins at the 2024 AWIC (Awesome Women in Construction) Awards, highlight our ongoing dedication to raising industry standards and fostering a culture of respect and inclusion.

Raising the Bar in the Building Industry

At Nyblad Construction, our commitment extends beyond delivering high-quality craftsmanship. We are passionate about educating our clients on the importance of doing their due diligence when choosing a contractor. Too often, individuals are misled by unlicensed trades or contractors working outside their scope of license, resulting in poor workmanship, expensive fixes and not being covered by QBCC Insurances.

We encourage all clients to ask key questions, such as:

Does the contractor have the right licence to complete the works?
Are they qualified for the scope of work being proposed?
Do they have proven experience and positive client feedback?

By making informed decisions, our clients can avoid potential pitfalls and trust that their project is in the hands of skilled professionals. At Nyblad Construction, we pride ourselves on adhering to the highest industry standards, working only with licensed trades to ensure every project is executed to perfection.

Creating a Respectful Workplace

Building a respectful and inclusive workplace is at the heart of our company values. We believe that fostering an environment where every team member feels valued is essential for collaboration, creativity, and delivering the best results to our clients.

On every job site, we emphasise open communication, fairness, and respect for each person’s contribution. This culture of respect extends to our client relationships as well—we ensure that every homeowner and business owner we work with feels heard and valued throughout their renovation or building process.

Championing Women in Construction

We are especially proud of our work to highlight the importance of women in the construction industry. Our efforts to support and elevate women across all roles, from leadership to on-site work, earned us recognition at this year’s AWIC Awards where Nyblad Construction received the “Changemaker” award.

Women bring unique perspectives, skills, and strengths that are essential to the continued growth of the industry. At Nyblad Construction, we are committed to creating opportunities for women to thrive in this traditionally male-dominated field. Through mentorship, support, and advocacy, we are actively breaking down barriers and encouraging more women to pursue fulfilling careers in construction.

Sunshine Coast Business Awards Finalist

In addition to our recent accolades, we are honoured to be finalists in the Sunshine Coast Business Awards for the second year in a row. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication our team puts into every project, as well as our commitment to excellence in the local community. We are excited to continue serving the Sunshine Coast with outstanding construction services that exceed expectations.

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate this year’s accomplishments, Nyblad Construction is more motivated than ever to continue pushing for excellence in the industry. From educating clients on how to choose the right contractor to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace, we remain committed to making a positive impact.

By raising the bar and supporting a new generation of industry professionals, we are not just building homes—we are building the future of the construction industry.

Stay tuned for more updates from Nyblad Construction as we take on exciting new projects and continue to pave the way for a stronger, more inclusive industry.

From left: Emily (AWIC), Sanna, Amanda (AWIC CEO), Linn - 2024 AWIC Awards

Linn Batey - 2023 Sunshine Coast Master Builders Housing & Construction Awards

Linn Batey - AWIC Awards 2023

From left: Linn, Kenth, Susanne, Sanna - Qld Master Builders Housing & Construction

From left: Sanna, Linn, Susanne, Kenth - 2023 Sunshine Coast Business Awards

From left: Susanne, Linn, Sanna - 2022 AWIC Awards

From left: Kenth, Linn, Sanna, Susanne - 2021 Sunshine Coast Master Builders

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2024-2025 Kitchen Trends

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 05:20:00 GMT

As a renovation builder, keeping up with the latest kitchen trends is essential to creating spaces that are not only functional but also aesthetically striking. From smart innovations to sustainable materials, the 2024/2025 Kitchen Trends are about blending style and practicality, and this year’s The Block Australia kitchen reveals, aired on Sunday, 22 October 2024, showcased exactly how these trends are being embraced by renovators across the country.

Here’s what we loved about the latest trends in kitchen design and some takeaways from The Block that could inspire your next renovation project.

1. Smart Technology Integration

One of the biggest trends shaping 2024 kitchens is the seamless integration of smart technology. From voice-activated appliances to smart lighting and temperature controls, tech is transforming the heart of the home. This was on full display during The Block’s kitchen reveals, where contestants incorporated Wi-Fi-enabled ovens, touchless taps, and even smart fridges that allow homeowners to manage grocery lists through apps.

Takeaway : If you’re considering a kitchen renovation, investing in smart tech can significantly enhance the functionality of your space. Plus, it future-proofs your kitchen, ensuring it stays cutting-edge for years to come.

2. Natural Materials and Sustainability

Sustainability is a key theme for many homeowners and builders, and it’s shaping the materials we choose. The use of natural, eco-friendly materials such as reclaimed wood, bamboo, and recycled stone has gained momentum. On The Block, we saw several contestants incorporating sustainable cabinetry and benchtops made from eco-friendly quartz, ensuring that kitchens not only look stunning but have minimal environmental impact.

Takeaway : Opt for eco-friendly materials that don’t compromise on style. Sustainable kitchens can offer the same sleek finishes while helping to reduce your carbon footprint.

3. Bold Colour Palettes

2024 is the year for bold kitchens that make a statement. While all-white kitchens were a staple for years, homeowners are now turning to richer, moodier tones like navy, deep green, and matte black. On The Block, some contestants opted for striking, neutral tones paired with brass fixtures, giving their kitchens a modern yet luxurious feel, while others went for a moody black.

Takeaway : Don’t be afraid to explore dark hues and bold accents. They can add depth and drama to your kitchen, creating a unique and inviting atmosphere.

4. Minimalist and Concealed Storage

Another standout trend on The Block was the clever use of minimalist design and concealed storage solutions. Many of the kitchens featured handle-less cabinetry, integrated appliances, and hidden pantries, which kept the spaces sleek and clutter-free. With storage often a challenge in smaller spaces, these solutions are ideal for maximising both function and style.

Takeaway : Sleek, concealed storage is perfect for keeping your kitchen organised without compromising on design. It’s particularly effective in open-plan living spaces, where you want the kitchen to blend seamlessly with other areas.

5. Multifunctional Islands

Kitchen islands continue to evolve in 2024, offering more than just additional counter space. On The Block, contestants incorporated multifunctional islands with built-in sinks, wine coolers, and even pop-up electrical outlets. These islands act as both a practical workspace and a social hub, ideal for entertaining or family life.

Takeaway: Consider adding an island that serves multiple purposes. It’s a great way to enhance the functionality of your kitchen, especially in open-plan layouts where the kitchen doubles as an entertainment space.

6. Open Shelving and Glass Cabinets

Open shelving remains a popular trend, though it was primarily used in the butler’s pantries on *The Block*. In the main kitchens, one contestant opted for elegant glass cabinetry, offering a stylish way to display high-end kitchenware while keeping the space polished and clutter-free.

Takeaway : Open shelving in a butler’s pantry is a great way to add character without cluttering your kitchen. Glass cabinets, on the other hand, offer a balance between display and storage, giving your kitchen a refined and open feel.

Inspiration from The Block

The kitchen reveals on The Block 2024 reminded us why the kitchen is the heart of the home. Each contestant brought their unique take on current trends, blending style, function, and innovation. Whether it was the incorporation of smart technology, sustainable design, or bold colour choices, these kitchens were a true reflection of how renovators can push boundaries while creating practical spaces for everyday living.

If you’re planning a kitchen renovation, take inspiration from these trends and remember that functionality and personal style are the keys to a space you’ll love for years to come. Whether you’re drawn to sleek minimalism or bold, luxurious finishes, 2025 offers endless possibilities to create your dream kitchen.

Check out all the contestant’s kitchens here https://9now.nine.com.au/the-block/kitchen

And while we love the designs and inspiration The Block delivers, please note that the timelines on TV shows does not quite apply in real life renovations – And it’s also worth noting that the costs displayed on each kitchen only relates to the labour as the contestants are gifted or given vouchers for the actual cabinetry and appliances.

Ready to transform your kitchen?

Cabinet makers have already closed their books for 2024, which makes NOW the perfect time to get in touch with us for a kitchen renovation in early 2025. Don’t miss out—secure your spot now! Contact us today to discuss how we can turn your kitchen into the heart of your home

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Love Your Location but Not Your Home? Here’s Why Renovating Is the Perfect Solution

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 20:00:00 GMT

Finding the perfect location is no easy feat. Whether it’s the proximity to schools, a short commute, or simply the charm of your neighbourhood, you may have already fallen in love with where you live. But what if your home doesn’t quite match up? If your house isn’t the dream space you envisioned, you don’t have to move to get the best of both worlds. Renovating can transform your current home into a functional, beautiful space that fits your lifestyle—all while staying in the area you love.

Why Renovate Instead of Relocate?

Moving to a new home is often stressful, costly, and time-consuming. Packing up, selling your current property, and finding a new place in a location that ticks all the boxes can feel overwhelming. On the other hand, renovation allows you to customise your current home without sacrificing your beloved neighbourhood. Here’s why renovating is the smarter choice:

Customisation to Fit Your Needs : Renovating gives you the opportunity to tailor your home to your exact preferences. Whether you need an open-concept kitchen, a luxurious master suite, or a home office, you can create spaces that perfectly suit your lifestyle. And if you have a large enough block of land, you may even be able to include an extension to give you any extra space you may need.

Preserving Your Community Connections: When you renovate, you get to stay close to friends, neighbours, and local amenities that you cherish. There’s no need to uproot your life when you can improve your home right where it is.

Increasing Property Value: A well-planned renovation can significantly boost your home’s value. By upgrading key areas like the kitchen, bathroom, or adding energy-efficient features, you not only enhance your living experience but also make a smart investment in your property.

Transform Your Home into a Space You Love

Renovating isn’t just about improving aesthetics; it’s about creating a home that works for you. Here’s how a renovation can transform your house into a space that’s both functional and beautiful:

Maximise Space: Whether your home feels cramped or awkwardly laid out, a renovation can reconfigure the space to make it more open and usable. Knock down walls to create a larger living area or add built-in storage to keep your home organised.

Enhance Comfort: Update your home’s insulation, windows, and AC systems to create a more comfortable living environment. Modernising these elements can also make your home more energy-efficient, saving you money on utility bills.

Improve Flow and Functionality: Renovations can address issues like poorly designed kitchens or outdated bathrooms. By rethinking the layout, you can ensure that each room flows naturally and serves its intended purpose.

Incorporate Modern Design: If your home feels stuck in the past, renovating allows you to introduce contemporary design elements that reflect your personal style. From sleek benchtops to modern fixtures, the possibilities are endless.

Ready to Renovate? Here’s How to Get Started

If you’re considering a renovation, start by identifying the areas of your home that need improvement. Think about how you currently use your space and what changes would make your home more functional and enjoyable.

Next, consult with a professional renovation builder who can guide you through the process. They’ll help you plan your project, set a realistic budget, and bring your vision to life. With the right team, your home can be transformed into a space that’s not only beautiful but also perfectly suited to your needs.

Loving your location doesn’t mean you have to settle for a home that doesn’t meet your expectations. Renovating offers the best of both worlds—transforming your existing house into the dream home you’ve always wanted, without leaving the area you love. So, why move when you can improve? Start your renovation journey today and create a home that truly reflects your lifestyle and taste.

Contact us today if you would like to chat with our team about your upcoming renovation plans.

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A Step-by-Step guide to planning your home renovation

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 04:04:00 GMT

Planning a home renovation can be an exciting yet daunting task. With the right approach, careful planning, and the right team, you can transform your home into your dream space. Here’s a comprehensive step-by-step guide to help you navigate the renovation process from start to finish, specifically tailored for homeowners on the beautiful Sunshine Coast.

Step 1: Define Your Goals and Vision

Before diving into the renovation process, it is crucial to clearly define your goals and vision. Ask yourself the following questions:

– What do you want to achieve with this renovation? (e.g., more space, modern updates, increased property value)

– Which areas of your home need renovation?

– What style and design elements do you envision?

Next, we suggest you create a vision board or a collection of images that inspire you. This will help you communicate your ideas and your preferred style clearly to contractors and designers. Even though you might not know what the style is you are trying to achieve, by collating images of bathrooms, kitchens and other spaces that you love, you’ll start to see a theme coming through.

Step 2: Set a Budget

Establishing a realistic budget is essential. Consider the following:

– Cost of materials and labour: This can be hard to gauge if you have never renovated before. We suggest having a think about what you’re prepared to spend and then have a look at online renovation calculators – we find the realestate.com.au gives a good estimation for simple spaces. Please be mindful that these calculators do not consider non-standard spaces and your quote will vary with various design choices, e.g. gold brass tapware is going to be more expensive than your standard chrome and floor to ceiling tiles is going to be more costly than half-way up the wall etc.

– Permit fees and regulations (specific to the Sunshine Coast area): this is project dependant and might not even factor into your renovations. If you are not sure, speak to your contractor when you are getting your quotes and they will follow up with the certifier to confirm which permits are needed prior to commencement.

Step 3: Research and Hire Professionals

Choose reliable and experienced professionals to bring your vision to life. This includes:

– Contractors/Builder

– Architects or designers

When it comes to choosing your team to bring your vision to life, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, get recommendations from friends, family, or online reviews.

Next, check credentials on the QBCC licence search to make sure the contractor you are meeting with are licenced to do the work and is licenced to engage other trades. If you’re considering engaging contractors rather than a builder, make sure you keep in mind that you will be in charge of project managing the job and scheduling trades as required. This can be extremely time consuming, especially if you need to call multiple contractors and to schedule works in with their schedules.

The upside of engaging a builder is that they already have a pool of contractors on hand that have been vetted to ensure they have the required licences and insurances to undertake the work. The Builder will then schedule, and project manage the project from start to finish.

If you need help with overall design, you can also contact interior designers to help you with layout and colour selections. If you’re enlisting a builder, they will often have contacts for interior designers they have worked with on other projects.

Step 4: Contract

Make sure you are aware of what contracts are needed if you’re working with individuals rather than a builder. The QBCC is a good place to start to check the requirements for your renovations.

If you’re working with a builder, discuss possible starting dates and the expected completion date. The Builder will then produce the necessary contract documents to be signed by both parties.

Step 5: Prepare Your Home

Before construction begins, prepare your home by:

– Clearing out the renovation area

– Setting up temporary living arrangements if necessary

– Protecting furniture and belongings from dust and damage

If you’re living in your home during the renovation, speak to your contractor regarding staged renovations of the bathrooms so that you always have one functional bathroom available. If you only have one bathroom available, you will need to look at different options such as staying offsite for a few weeks.

Step 7: Check the Progress

Open communication with your renovation team is key to a smooth project. Speak to your contractor about how and when you will get project updates.

If there are any changes that need to be completed, make sure your contractor prepares a Variation document that outlines the scope and the costs involved and that it is signed off by both parties. This will ensure there are no ‘surprises’ when the final invoice comes through.

Step 8: Finalise and Enjoy

Once the renovation is complete, conduct a final walkthrough with your contractor to ensure everything meets your expectations. Address any remaining touch-ups or issues. Your contractor should have a Defect Document and record any agreed-upon or not-agreed upon defects and be signed off by both parties.

Finally, enjoy your newly renovated space! Host a gathering to show off your beautiful home and relish the satisfaction of seeing your vision come to life. If you’re living in a unit block, we can almost guarantee that your neighbours will want to come by for a stickybeak.

By following these steps and considering the unique aspects of living on the Sunshine Coast, you can ensure a successful and enjoyable home renovation experience. Happy renovating!

And if this post has inspired you to start your renovation journey, contact us to book a consultation with our Estimator.

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Thinking About Renovating? Check Out These Latest Renovation Trends

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 10:56:00 GMT

As we move further into 2024, the world of home renovation continues to evolve, bringing fresh ideas and innovative designs to the forefront. Whether you’re planning a complete overhaul or a few strategic updates, staying ahead of the trends can help you create a space that’s both stylish and functional. Here’s a look at some of the latest renovation trends that are making waves this year.

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Materials

Sustainability is no longer a niche concern; it’s a mainstream priority. Homeowners are increasingly seeking materials that are not only beautiful but also environmentally friendly. This trend includes the use of recycled materials, sustainably sourced wood, and low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and finishes. Bamboo flooring, reclaimed wood, and recycled glass countertops are all popular choices that bring unique character to a home while reducing its environmental footprint.

Biophilic Design

Biophilic design, which emphasises the connection between indoor spaces and nature, is gaining traction. This trend incorporates natural elements like plants, natural light, and organic materials into the home. Living walls, large windows that maximise natural light, and indoor gardens are just a few ways to bring the outside in. The goal is to create spaces that enhance well-being by fostering a sense of calm and connection to nature.

Multi-Functional Spaces

With the rise of remote work and the need for versatile living areas, multi-functional spaces are more important than ever. Home offices that double as guest rooms, kitchens with built-in workstations, and living rooms that transform into home theatres are all examples of how homeowners are maximising their space. This trend focuses on flexible design solutions that adapt to various needs without compromising on style. We recently completed a small unit renovation that incorporated a custom built work-space in the dining area that can be hidden away with a timber screen that then reveals a beautiful book shelf. To see all the before and afters, head over to our socials .

Space before being renovated.

Timber screen slides to the left to reveal a work space when in use and can then slide back to the right to hide workspace and reveal a bookcase

Smart Home Technology

Integrating smart technology into renovations is becoming a standard practice. From smart thermostats and lighting systems to security cameras and voice-activated assistants, technology is enhancing convenience and efficiency in the home. Smart kitchens, featuring appliances that can be controlled remotely and offer advanced functionality, are particularly popular. This trend not only adds a layer of luxury but also improves energy efficiency and home security.

Bold Colours and Patterns

Gone are the days of all-white interiors. Today’s homeowners are embracing bold colours and patterns to add personality and flair to their spaces. Rich jewel tones, such as emerald green, sapphire blue, and ruby red, are being used to create striking feature walls and accents. Patterned tiles and wallpapers are also making a comeback, allowing for creative and customised design statements.

Minimalism with a Twist

While minimalism remains a popular design philosophy, it’s evolving to include more warmth and character. This trend, often referred to as “warm minimalism,” combines clean lines and uncluttered spaces with cosy textures and inviting colours. Think neutral palettes accented with warm woods, soft textiles, and touches of brass or gold. The result is a space that feels both serene and welcoming.

Open Shelving and Custom Storage Solutions

Open shelving in kitchens and living areas continues to be a favourite among homeowners. It offers a practical way to display beautiful dishware, books, and decorative items while keeping the space airy and open. Custom storage solutions are also on the rise, with built-in cabinetry and clever organisation systems that cater to the specific needs of the household. This trend emphasises functionality without sacrificing aesthetics.

This kitchen and living area features timber accents to evoke warmth as well as various textures such as scalloped walls and various textiles to give the space an organic feel while the clean lines follow the minimalist trends.

This bathroom features hidden storage behind the mirror and plenty of cabinetry storage. We also included a feature open shelving, which can also be seen in the kitchen, for displaying special items that add to the overall aesthetics of the space.

Outdoor Living Spaces

Expanding living areas to the outdoors is a trend that’s here to stay. Whether it’s a fully equipped outdoor kitchen, a cosy fire pit area, or a serene garden retreat, creating functional outdoor spaces adds value and enjoyment to a home. These areas are designed to be used year-round, with features like pergolas, outdoor heaters, and weather-resistant furniture ensuring comfort in any season.

Keeping up with the latest renovation trends can inspire you to transform your home into a space that reflects your personal style and meets your evolving needs. Whether you’re drawn to sustainable materials, smart home technology, or bold design choices, there are plenty of ways to modernise your space and make it uniquely yours. At Nyblad Construction we’re here to help you navigate these trends and bring your renovation vision to life.

Contact us today to start planning your next project!

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Unlocking Extra Space and Income Potential with Extensions and Granny flats

Wed, 15 May 2024 23:50:00 GMT

As living costs and house prices continue to rise, purchasing a larger home is becoming increasingly hard. But have you considered adding to your already existing property in the form of an extension or granny flat to increase the amount of space to your home? Or expand to leverage your property for additional rental income?

Maximise Space

One of the most apparent benefits of building an extension or granny flat is the ability to maximise the available space on your property. Whether you need an extra bedroom, a dedicated home office, or a self-contained living space for extended family members, a builder can tailor the design to meet your specific needs and preferences.

Increase Property Value

Adding square footage to your home doesn’t just improve your quality of life; it also boosts the value of your property. On the Sunshine Coast, where real estate is in high demand, investing in home improvements can yield significant returns when it comes time to sell. A well-designed extension or granny flat adds both aesthetic appeal and functional value to your home, making it more attractive to potential buyers.

Enhance Lifestyle

Imagine having the extra space to pursue your hobbies, entertain guests, or simply relax and unwind. Whether it’s a spacious deck for outdoor gatherings, a sunlit studio for art projects, or a cozy retreat for reading and reflection, a builder can transform your vision into reality, creating a space that complements your lifestyle and enhances your everyday living experience.

Cost-Effective Solution

Compared to the expenses associated with purchasing a new home or renting additional space, building an extension or granny flat is often a more cost-effective solution. By leveraging your existing land and infrastructure, you can avoid the hefty upfront costs and ongoing expenses of relocation while still achieving your desired living arrangements or investment plans.

Generate Rental Income

With the Sunshine Coast experiencing a surge in demand for rental properties, adding a granny flat to your property presents an excellent opportunity to generate passive income. By renting out the additional space, you can offset your living expenses and even turn your property into a profitable investment. Plus, having a builder construct the granny flat ensures that it meets all regulatory requirements and is designed for optimal comfort and functionality.

Customisation Options

When you contract a builder for your extension or granny flat project, you gain access to a wealth of customisation options tailored to your preferences. From architectural design to interior finishes, you have the freedom to personalise every aspect of your new space, ensuring that it reflects your unique style and meets your practical needs.

As outlined, contracting a builder to build an extension or granny flat on your existing property offers a multitude of benefits that enhance your lifestyle, increase your property value, and provide opportunities for additional income. With the Sunshine Coast’s stunning natural beauty as your backdrop, there’s never been a better time to expand your horizons and make the most out of your living space.

Choosing the right builder for your extension

We encourage anyone who is looking to undertake any building or renovation works to do their due diligence when selecting a builder to undertake the works. In Queensland there are various licences that states what a contractor is allowed to undertake. To check if a contractor is licenced, you can go the Queensland Building and Construction Commission website and do a licence search . We also suggest you read our blog article How to Choose the Right Contractor for your Renovation Project

To save you a search, Nyblad Construction is a licenced builder and offers a one-stop-shop approach to all your extensions, granny flats and renovations. We can organise everything from getting drawings, engineering and plans, to organising all trades and contractors involved. We have a great network of subcontractors that have all been vetted to ensure they are licenced and have the required insurances.

You can be as involved as you like when it comes to design and choosing fixtures such as tapware, baths, tiles, flooring etc. Again, we have established relationships with local Sunshine Coast suppliers that are always willing to talk you through your choices. And if design choices is not for you, we have plumbing, flooring and tile packages available to make quick choices – an excellent option for investment properties. And if you want to take it a step further, we work with a few different Interior Designers located here on the Sunshine Coast.

If you would like to book in for a chat with our Estimator about your property and how you could maximise the space available on your property, give us call or send us an email .

Looking to renovate in 2024?

Contact to us to organise your quote consultation

Unit Renovations – How We Go the Extra Mile

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 23:08:00 GMT

Planning unit renovations on the Sunshine Coast? Nyblad Constructions is your trusted renovation experts. Specialising in bathroom, kitchen, and complete Sunshine Coast unit transformations, we ensure a seamless and enjoyable renovation journey for all involved. From protecting common areas and playing nice with your Body Corporate, our attention to detail sets us apart.

Protecting Common Areas

At Nyblad Constructions, we prioritise the protection of common areas during renovations. Our comprehensive approach includes strategic measures to minimise disruptions and maintain cleanliness throughout the building. From using protective barriers to scheduling works outside peaks such as school holidays, we prioritise the comfort and safety of all residents.

Preservation of Hallways and Lifts

Preserving hallways and lifts is paramount during renovations. Our team ensures these areas remain pristine and functional throughout the project. By implementing protective coverings like Ram Board and/or drop sheets, and adhering to strict protocols, we minimise noise and traffic, ensuring smooth accessibility for all residents.

Use of Drop Sheets and Ram Board

Nyblad Construction understands the importance of protecting floors and furniture during renovations. That’s why we use drop sheets and Ram Board extensively throughout the process. Whether it’s hardwood floors, vinyl planks, carpet or existing furniture, our meticulous attention to detail ensures everything remains intact and undamaged, exceeding expectations every time.

Collaboration with Body Corporate and Neighbours

Communication and collaboration are key to successful renovations. At Nyblad Constructions, we work closely with body corporate and neighbours to address concerns and establish clear expectations. By fostering positive relationships within the community, we ensure a harmonious renovation journey for all involved.

We prepare documents ahead of your renovation for you to present to your Body Corporate/Strata as well as put up notices in the unit complex to advise of high-noise days and when the unit renovation is expected to be completed.

Daily Removal of Debris

Keeping job sites and common areas clean means we remove building debris on a daily basis with the use of trailers. This means we don’t need to leave a skip-bin in the carpark, taking up valuable parking spaces and upsetting neighbours!

All in all, our experience working in units means we know what to expect when it comes to Body Corporate by-laws, keeping neighbours onside, and reducing disruption to surrounding residents as much as possible, all the while transforming your unit from old to new.

To arrange for our Estimator to meet you onsite and discuss your upcoming Sunshine Coast unit renovation plans, make sure to contact us today .

Looking to renovate in 2025?

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The Cost of Renovating

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 04:45:00 GMT

Renovating your home can be an exciting venture, breathing new life into your living space and potentially increasing its value. However, one of the biggest hurdles for many homeowners is understanding and managing the costs involved.

We’re all feeling the pressures of soaring living costs and in a post-COVID environment, we’ve also seen cost of building materials and labour increase significantly. So let’s talk numbers and explore some handy tools like renovation calculators to give you a good starting point for planning your renovations.

The first thing to consider is the size of the project. If you’re planning a single room renovation, how big is the space? Are you doing any structural works and/or are you changing the layout of the room? Any structural changes will incur increased costs as an engineer will need to be engaged. And if you’re planning a larger renovation with multiple rooms, costs will obviously be larger – and depending on how you choose to organise the renovations, costs will vary but we’ll discuss this under scheduling.

Another factor to consider is your building itself. If you live in a unit complex, it’s worth noting whether it has elevators or only stairs available. Some materials are too heavy or too large to carter up narrow stairways (especially if you’re located high up in the building), which means you may need to factor in costs for cranes or even just extra labour costs.

Bathroom renovations

When it comes to bathroom renovations, this is where costs can start to add up. The biggest expense in a standard bathroom renovation is the tiles. Choosing tiles for your bathroom can be a lot of fun – you can choose multiple styles of tiles to create feature walls or floors, to use as accents and to break up busy patterns or colours – however, depending on the tile you choose, there is more than just the cost of the tile to consider. Firstly, decide if you are tiling to a certain height or if you’re doing floor to ceiling tiles, the latter being more costly in both tiles and labour.

You also need to consider the type of tile you’re choosing as tiles being installed in more elaborate patterns, such as herringbone, and smaller mosaic-style tiles, unusually shaped tiles and tiles with a distinct pattern that needs to be installed in a specific order, will also incur extra labour costs – both in increased hourly rate and extra time to lay the tiles.

Next big ticket items in a bathroom would be things like your bath and tapware. Again, you have the power to adjust the fixings to work with your budget. Standard tapware in chrome will give you a timeless classic look and is a cheaper than more high-end finishes such as brushed gold, brushed nickel, and brushed copper.

When choosing a bath, again it’s not just the cost of the bath you need to consider. If you’re in an older property that doesn’t already have a bath, you’re probably aware that you need to consider plumbing costs – but did you also know you need to consider the weight of the bath? Depending on where you’re planning to put the bath and the structure of the building, you may need to factor in costs for extra support under the bath to ensure it doesn’t’ fall through the floor!

Another item to consider is the cabinetry. Do you want custom cabinetry that is made just right for the space available in the finishes you desire, or are you happy to install a pre-fabricated vanity? There are both pros and cons for both of these options but when it comes to costs, pre-fabricated options are generally more cost effective.

Kitchen renovations

Kitchen renovations can be costly, but most real estate agents will tell you, kitchens sell houses. So what do you need to consider before planning your new kitchen? Firstly, think about the layout of the kitchen. If you’re looking at changing the footprint of the kitchen, chances are you will also have to consider the flooring in the kitchen. Floors are often installed after the kitchen cabinetry, which means that if you remove certain areas of the kitchen you will have gaps where the cabinets previously sat. Whether this means you need to redo the whole floor or just a small section depends on your space. There are also plumbing and electrical costs to consider when moving things around in the kitchen.

Not changing the footprint of the kitchen is usually the cheaper option, but you may pay the price with a less functional kitchen design. This is why we suggest that you go through a Builder to discuss these options rather than heading straight to IKEA or Bunnings for a pre-fabricated kitchen.

The finishes of your cabinetry also plays a big part in your budget. Whether you choose standard Laminex finishes or go for feature accents from Polytec or 2PAC finishes all affect your overall kitchen price. Then there’s the splashback to consider, are you going to use tiles laid in a standard pattern or more intricate designs – as with the bathroom tiling, the type of tiles you choose will affect the costs. Other options to consider are glass splashbacks (usually more expensive than tiles) or matching your stone benchtop with a stone splashback (less expensive than glass).

As with the bathroom renovations, your appliances and tapware are also areas where you can adjust the finishes to suit your budget.

Scheduling and Project Managing

Depending on how you would like to schedule your works is also going to affect the overall costs of your renovations. If you are planning a multiple-room renovation but also decide to live in the property whilst works are being done, you will most likely see an increase in cost. The reason for this being that we have to complete your renovation in stages or room-by-room. This means we need to call back trades multiple times for things like plumbing and electrical disconnect and reconnect as well as all the other trades.

While the initial cost of re-doing a whole unit or house in one go may seem high, renovating your property room by room will ultimately be more expensive in the long run.

When it comes to Project Managing, if you choose to go with a Builder such as Nyblad Construction, costs associated with organising and scheduling trades are factored into the quote. Yes you can choose to enlist your own trades, but it is then up to you to ensure all trades attend when required and if there are any issues with the works completed, it is the client’s responsibility to get the relevant trades back to rectify. You have to decide if you have the time, experience and energy to deal with multiple trades or factor in the cost of Project Managing by professionals who have a whole team of trades at their disposal and the experience behind them to ensure each trade completes their jobs at a satisfactory standard. The onus is also then on the Builder to ensure any defective work is fixed as necessary.

Cost estimates

So how much will your renovation cost you? As we’ve explored above, multiple factors need to be accounted for when costing up a job. We have had a look at some estimating tools available to give you some idea of what you’re up for before you give your chosen builder a call. One that we’ve found fairly accurate is the realestate.com.au Renovation Calculator . This calculator let’s you choose your room, size and the quality of your renovation you’re looking for, ie. a mid-range kitchen renovation around 14m2, will cost you between $61,000 to $82,000. Change your finishes to more basic options and you’ve reduced the costs to about $43,389 to $59,000.

And a mid-range bathroom around 6m2 will cost you between $40,000 to $55,000, but choosing less expensive finishes can reduce this cost to somewhere between $33,000 to $45,000. Keep in mind these are estimates calculated with the realestate.com.au estimating tool and should not be taken as gospel. But they do give you a rough idea of what you might be facing once you ask your builder for a quote and give you an idea about what kind of finishes you want to achieve and whether it’s feasible with the budget you have available.

Licenced works

One final thing to consider is that using a licenced builder is always going to be more expensive than using an unlicenced builder. A licenced builder must comply with the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) licencing requirements.

This means that licenced builders have many costs associated with their licence to ensure they remain compliant, such as licencing fees, necessary insurances and contracts with both clients and subcontractors. Using an unlicenced builder might seem tempting to reduce costs, but it does put you at risk of works not being completed to standard, works not being insured under the QBCC Home Warranty Scheme and no point of recouping money exchanged for uncompleted works.

If you choose to use your own trades, unless they have their contractor licence, they are only allowed to undertake works to the value of $3,300 and they are not licenced to organise other trades. For example, a carpenter cannot organise a plumber or electrician to attend to your property and if the works are over $3,300, he/she needs to provide you with a contract for the works to be completed. Want to find out if a trade or builder is licenced to undertake the works? Simply head to the QBCC website , where there is a handy tool for checking that the person you’re dealing with is actually licenced to do the work!

We hope this helps you in your renovation planning and remember, we love talking shop so give us a call/email if you want to get a quote or estimate from our experienced Estimator.

Looking to renovate in 2025?

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2024 Kitchen Trends

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 03:51:00 GMT

These days, the kitchen is more just a space for culinary creations; Here on the Sunshine Coast, the kitchen is not just a space for cooking; it’s a hub for socialising, entertaining, and expressing personal style. Let’s explore the hottest kitchen trends that are set to make waves in 2024.

Style

Much like the 2024 bathroom trends we discussed in a previous blog post, bringing a sense of nature into the kitchen with not just greenery, but with earthy tones and textures is becoming increasingly popular. While a white kitchen is always going to be a classic choice, the white kitchens of 2024 are leaning towards more warmer tones of white, paired with textured splashback tiles and brass or gun-metal tapware and even metallic overhead cabinets in soft champagne tones.

When it comes to the overall style of the kitchen, our Sunshine Coast lifestyle continue to lend itself to the ever-popular Coastal style, combining light and bright with two-tone cabinetry and incorporating coastal hues of subdued blues and greens. Farmhouse and Hampton style continue to be popular options with shaker profile cabinetry.

Shaker-style cabinets

Two-tone cabinetry paired with textured white splashback tiles

Tapware

We’re also seeing a greater range of tapware colours on offer. Not only are there some beautiful neutral taps available in earthy tones such as almond, clay and soft beige, we’re also seeing an increasing number of metallic colour options such as brushed gun-metal and brushed copper – all of which create a warmer feel in the kitchen.

Storage

When it comes to storage, we’re seeing more and more people include a butler’s pantry into their design where space permits. Here, open shelving that allows you to show off your storage skills as well as easy access to ingredients is both functional and allows you to present a clutter-free kitchen. In smaller spaces, hidden storage solutions such as pull-out pantries, and clever corner pull-outs continue to provide a combination of both functionality and style.

Butler's Pantry with open shelving

Warm-toned tapware in brushed gun-metal, brushed copper and almond from ABI Interiors

Statement lighting

Lighting is becoming a focal point in kitchen design, with bold and stylish fixtures making a statement. Pendant lights above kitchen islands and statement chandeliers are stealing the spotlight, adding a touch of glamour and personality to the space. Mixing different textures and materials in lighting design is also a trend to watch out for.

Technology

As technology advances with each day, so does the technological integration in our homes and the kitchen is no exception. From smart fridges with cameras that allow you to view the inside of the fridge when at the shops to multi-function taps to offer hot, cold or sparkling water at your fingertips, our kitchens are becoming smarter by the day.

Multi-functional spaces

With the kitchen being the heart of the home, multi-functional spaces are gaining popularity. Australians are opting for versatile kitchen designs that seamlessly blend cooking, dining, and living areas. Islands with integrated seating, flexible storage solutions, and convertible workspaces are key elements in creating a dynamic and adaptable kitchen environment.

Engineered stone substitutes

The ban of engineered stone has been covered extensively in the media lately and with the use, supply and manufacture of all engineered stone being prohibited as of 1 July 2024, people are looking for alternatives to the stone-bench top that we all love so much.

Natural stone or granite is the obvious choice but tends to be pricier than the engineered stone. Other alternatives include Marble, porcelain, laminate, concrete and timber. All have their own pros and cons and depend on the overall look you’re trying to achieve. We’re sure we’ll see more alternatives pop up in the next foreseeable future and we’ll be sure to share what we learn in future posts.

Porcelain benchtop installed in Pelican Waters

As we delve into 2024, the kitchen landscape in Australia is evolving with a perfect blend of sustainability, technology, timeless design, and innovative storage solutions. From eco-conscious materials to smart appliances, earthy tones, and multi-functional spaces, these trends are shaping the kitchens of the future. Whether you’re a culinary enthusiast or a design aficionado, embracing these trends can help you create a stylish and functional kitchen that reflects the spirit of the times. So, let’s embark on this exciting journey of culinary creativity and aesthetic innovation in the world of Australian kitchens in 2024!

We would love to discuss your upcoming kitchen renovations – give us a call to book your consultation with our experienced Estimator or simply fill out our contact form and we’ll be in touch.

Looking to renovate in 2024?

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How to Choose the Right Contractor for Your Renovation Project

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 22:48:00 GMT

Embarking on a renovation journey can be both exciting and daunting, and choosing the right builder or contractor is a pivotal step in ensuring the success of your project. You play a crucial role in making an informed decision that aligns with your vision, budget, and expectations. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to help you choose the perfect builder or contractor for your renovation project.

Define Your Project Scope and Requirements

Before you start searching for a contractor, clearly outline your renovation goals, budget, and timeline. Determine the scope of work, specific requirements, and any preferences you may have. This initial clarity will help potential contractors understand your vision and provide accurate estimates. We also recommend that you put together a mood board or some pictures of the styles you like that reflect your vision of the space to be renovated as well as a list of “must haves” items you want in your new space.

Research and Recommendations

Tap into your network for recommendations. Ask friends, family, and colleagues about their renovation experiences and whether they can recommend reliable contractors. Additionally, explore online reviews and testimonials to gather insights into contractors’ reputations. A combination of personal recommendations and online research will give you a well-rounded view of potential candidates. Obviously, we want you to call us but we still think you should do you research!

Verify Credentials

Ensure that the contractors you are considering have a valid license. A valid license demonstrates that the contractor meets industry standards and are properly insured. Also, check for certifications or affiliations with reputable industry organisations, such as MBQ or HIA as these can be indicators of professionalism and expertise. To check if a builder or contractor is licenced is simple; the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) has a handy search tool . Keep in mind that only Builders are allowed to engage trade contractors with different licence classes (ie, electricians, plumbers, tilers etc) whereas a trade contractor can only engage qualified people in the same trade class as their own licence or engage and supervise unlicensed contractors (ie. a carpenter can only engage carpenters or labourers).

Request and Compare Multiple Quotes:

Contact at least three contractors to provide detailed quotes for your project. Ensure that each quote includes a detailed scope of works and realistic timelines. By comparing multiple quotes, you can gain a better understanding of costs and identify any discrepancies or outliers. It can sometimes be hard to compare quotes as some builders/contractors provide various scope of works or exclusions. Quotes will often have PC and PS amounts – keep these in mind when comparing quotes as each Builder/Contractor will have their own standard amounts for things such as tapware and tiles. You also need to take into account your own intuition when meeting with contractors. You will be working very closely together in the next few weeks so make sure you choose someone you feel comfortable communicating with and who you think understands your vision.

Communication is Key

Evaluate the communication skills of potential contractors. A contractor who listens to your needs, provides clear explanations, and is responsive to your inquiries is more likely to foster a positive working relationship. Effective communication is essential for a smooth and successful renovation experience.

Choosing the right builder or contractor for your renovation project requires careful consideration and thorough research. By defining your project scope, gathering recommendations, verifying credentials, comparing quotes, and evaluating communication and workmanship, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your vision and ensures a successful renovation journey. Remember, investing time in the selection process will pay off in the long run, leading to a more satisfying and stress-free renovation experience.

If you would like to organise a quote consultation with our Estimator, we would love to hear from you. Contact us today !

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Wrapping Up 2023: A year of Growth, Recognition and Gratitude at Nyblad Construction

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 04:15:00 GMT

As we bid farewell to 2023 and prepare for the exciting possibilities of 2024, it’s time to reflect on the incredible journey of the past year at Nyblad Construction. It has been a year marked by significant achievements, personal milestones, and moments of both joy and sadness.

Shining Bright: Linn’s Accolades and Recognition

One of the highlights of the year was undoubtedly our own Linn Batey’s accomplishments. Having obtained her Site Supervisor Licence – Medium rise, she further cemented her position as an invaluable asset to our team. Her dedication and hard work were recognized on numerous occasions, including:

Winning the Sunshine Coast Regional Women in Building Award at the Master Builders Sunshine Coast Housing & Construction Awards.
Reaching the finals in the Queensland Master Builders Housing & Construction Awards.
Being a finalist in three categories at the AWIC Awards, ultimately taking home the Outstanding Woman in Trade Award and Exceptional Business Manager Award.

Linn’s success is a testament to her talent, determination, and commitment to breaking barriers in the construction industry. We are incredibly proud of her achievements and inspired by her leadership.

Community and Recognition:

Our commitment to excellence extended beyond individual achievements. We were thrilled to be a finalist in the Building and Construction category of the esteemed Sunshine Coast Business Awards . While we didn’t take home the prize, the mere nomination placed us amongst the best of the best businesses on the Sunshine Coast, an honour we hold close to our hearts.

2023 also witnessed a significant milestone for us with our inaugural Pink Ribbon Breakfast. Through this event, we aimed to raise awareness and support for breast cancer research. The overwhelming generosity of our guests and the kind contributions from The Pastry Lab , Cocoa Spice , and Bakers Delight Currimundi helped us raise over $1,300 for this worthy cause. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the fight against cancer and make a positive impact in our community.

Continuous Learning and Growth

Throughout the year, we actively participated in various Master Builders info sessions and events to stay abreast of the evolving industry landscape. We focused on staying informed about the latest regulations, particularly those surrounding waterproofing and sustainable housing practices. This commitment to continuous learning ensures we deliver the highest quality and most innovative solutions to our clients.

Saying Goodbye to Valued Members of Our Team

This year also brought moments of sadness with the unexpected passing of one of our painters and the departure of our long-term employee, Tyler.

Tyler joined us five years ago as our first full-time carpenter and quickly climbed the ranks, demonstrating his exceptional skills and dedication. He progressed from Supervisor Carpenter to Project Manager and later to Estimator. While we are excited for him as he embarks on a new chapter in the new builds sector, Tyler will be deeply missed.

Looking Ahead to a Brighter Future

As we enter 2024, we are filled with optimism and enthusiasm. We are committed to continuing our journey of growth, innovation, and excellence. We are also dedicated to fostering a positive and supportive work environment that empowers our team to thrive.

Nyblad Construction wouldn’t be the same without the dedicated and skilled subcontractors who collaborate with us on every project. Their expertise, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to quality are essential ingredients in our success. We are deeply grateful for their hard work and dedication, and we wouldn’t be able to deliver the level of service we do without them.

We are incredibly grateful for the unwavering support of our clients, partners, and community. We look forward to embarking on new projects, achieving even greater heights, and creating spaces that inspire and delight.

Thank you for being a part of our journey. We wish you a prosperous and joyous New Year!

Looking to renovate in 2024?

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2024 Bathroom Trends

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 02:41:00 GMT

As another year is nearing the end, we have already started getting excited about the 2024 style trends. First up, 2024 Bathroom Trends.

With more and more of us spending more time working from home, and with an increased focus on mental health and self-care, the function of the humble bathroom is shifting. Where once upon a time it was a space for quickly getting ready and bickering siblings fighting over the mirror, it’s now more about creating a relaxing and almost-spa like ambience where you can calmly get ready for the day or take some time to unwind at the end of the day.

But how do we achieve this sense of calm and luxury you ask? Read on for the latest design predictions.

Biophilic design

It’s been well documented that spending time in nature is beneficial for mental health so it’s no surprise that we’re looking for more ways to connect us to nature whilst indoors. Biophilic design features that emphasises natural light, green walls and natural textures and warm tones are becoming increasingly popular. To tie into the biophilic design, cabinetry will continue to feature light-medium natural grains and textured wood.

Technology

While biophilic design aims to connect us to nature, we’ll also be seeing an increase in technology in the bathroom. Think baths with smart temperature control, toilets with seat warming and self-cleaning functions (yes please!) and even fridges to store beverages, medicines and make-up.

We’ve also seen and will continue to see heated towel rails installed. Might seem frivolous in our Queensland climate but heated towel rails actually help towels dry quicker in our humid summer months when nothing seems to dry!

Lighting

Bathroom lighting is also changing to adapt to the bathroom’s new function. We’ll be seeing a lot more decorative lighting as well as dimmable functions to go between function and ambiance; the light you need to get ready in the morning changes dramatically to what’s needed to get ready for bed for instance. We’re also seeing more and more people opting for back-lit mirrors and LED strips in the shower niche and under shaving cabinets for a cozy yet functional light option.

Tiles and wall treatments

To create that sense of luxury, we’ll be seeing wallpaper in bathrooms and powder rooms used as artistic features as well as pieces of artwork. And while patterned floor tiles continue to be popular, we’ll also be seeing a lot more large profile tiles to reduce the amount of grout lines for a more luxurious feel.

Tapware

When it comes to tapware, the recent trend of mixing metals is set to continue. Mixing warm metals (gold or brass) with neutrals such as black or white or cool metals (chrome or brushed nickel) with neutrals keeps the ambiance of the room without making it look off-balance.

To achieve that sense of spa luxury in the shower, we’re seeing a continued use of combined showers on rails with rain shower as well as separate ceiling rain showers matched with hand-held units. Double showers continue to be popular to give the bathroom an even greater sense of luxury.

There you have it; 2024 bathroom trends are all about creating a sense of spa-like luxury and bringing nature inside.

If you’re looking to update your bathroom space in 2024, give us a call. We’re already booking in jobs for March so get in quick if you want your bathroom ready for the Easter break .

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Linn Batey and the Role of Women in the Construction Industry

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 00:43:00 GMT

This year our very own Linn Batey was awarded the Sunshine Coast Regional Women in Building Award at the Master Builders Sunshine Coast Housing and Construction Awards held on 18 October 2023. While we all knew she isn’t just an amazing asset to our own company but to the building and construction industry in general, we were incredibly proud to see her recognised for her contributions. And while we and the judges know all about her qualifications, experience and industry contributions, many of our clients and potential clients may not be quite as familiar. We decided to sit down for a chat with Linn to talk about her achievements and her take on women and the construction industry.

A bit of background information

Linn’s passion for the building and construction industry started fifteen years ago when she entered the industry as an Accounts Administrator for an insurance repairs builder. From there she worked her way up the ranks before being offered a new position at a new homes builder. Then six years ago, she joined her parent’s existing small renovations business, where they shared a small home office. Fast forward six years, and Nyblad Construction is now a small company with over 10 employees, its own purpose-built premises, a trusted network of sub-contractors and a stellar reputation for quality renovations on the Sunshine Coast.

Throughout that time, Linn has been involved in Women in Building Australia’s mentorship program where she’s helped other women navigate their way through the building and construction industry. She’s also a member of various building and construction groups and associations and recently joined the Master Builders Industry Champions initiative which aims to attract and keep workers in the industry. And if that’s not enough, Linn has also obtained her Site Supervisor Licence – Medium Rise and is working towards getting her Builders Licence – Medium Rise. She’s also obtained a Bachelor of Business, Diploma in Building and Construction, Diploma in Estimating and a Diploma in Project Management.

As well as taking out the Sunshine Coast title of Women in Building, Linn is now automatically in the running for the Master Builders Queensland Housing and Construction Awards for the Women in Building Queensland category, being held in October 2023.

She’s also been announced as a finalist in three different categories at the AWIC (Awesome Women in Construction) Awards – Professional of the Year, Outstanding Woman in Trade and Exceptional Small Business Manager – also being held in October this year.

Linn, you’ve been in the industry for over 15 years, what are some of the challenges you have faced as a woman in the construction industry?

I have often been overlooked and underestimated when attending meetings with prospective clients or suppliers where questions or instructions have been directed to the male members of our team that have been at the meeting with me. They often just assume that as the woman in the company, I am there as an assistant.

How do you overcome these types of challenges?

This can be a challenge but sometimes it can be used to your advantage too. But mostly I answer any questions based on my knowledge and I’m not afraid to speak up. Everyone in the industry is constantly learning – whether you’re male or female – because the industry is constantly changing. Knowledge is power so I try to stay up to date with any changes by regularly attending industry information sessions and training. I also communicate with our trade team and ask them questions if there is something I need to get a better understanding of.

What advice would you give other women who are considering a career in construction?

Don’t be afraid to speak up and to ask questions. Even working in the office you learn a lot about building processes but sometimes you will have to ask your trade team for clarification – and that’s ok. Not being on site can sometimes help you problem-solve a situation as long as you have an overall understanding of the process – and by not being onsite you can evaluate the problem from another angle so to speak, and come up with a solution that someone onsite might not have considered.

Feeling and being confident definitely helps! But this comes from experience and from listening to your team and learning from them. It comes from learning about the industry and legislation and working within different areas of construction – being a renovator is quite different to building new homes which some people don’t always realise!

I would also say that you have to love problem solving to be in this industry.

What are you thoughts on the progress that has been made in terms of gender equality in the construction industry?

It’s been relatively slow but there is a great movement at the moment with more and more industry groups specifically for women and supporters of women holding networking events, awards and other initiatives to help women in the industry connect, learn from each other and to recognise our achievements. These are great for encouraging the younger generation to enter the industry – whether that be in a trade capacity or in an office-base role.

So what are some of the things that still need to be done to achieve gender equality in the construction industry?

I think we need more information and education to introduce women to the industry and show greater recognition for the female supervisors, estimators and builders out there. And some sort of onsite training for office based staff that are moving up into managerial roles who know the legislation and requirement but might need some site experience.

So, you were awarded the Women in Building award for the Sunshine Coast region, what are your goals for the future?

This is an exciting time for me and the Nyblad Construction team. This is the first year that Sanna, Callum and myself are taking control of the company as Kenth steps away from the every-day running of the business. We’re really focusing on growing the company, the team and taking on bigger projects. It’s a tumultuous time for the industry, and has been for a few years now, but we’re working hard on improving and adapting our processes to get a better result for our clients, our team and for the company. For myself, I want to continue to mentor other women entering the industry and continue to highlight the importance of women in the industry and how rewarding a career in construction can be.

Linn with Master Builder's Nicola Scott

Linn, Callum and Sanna

The NC Management Team with partners

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CASE STUDY: Unit Renovation in Caloundra

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 23:10:00 GMT

A few months ago, we were contacted by a lovely Sydney-based couple who were looking to renovate their investment property in Caloundra. The unit has amazing views of the ocean but was old and had been left in poor condition by the previous tenants. A friend of theirs, who live on the coast, had seen our signs around and gave us a call to discuss the possibility of remodelling the unit.

Pre-commencement

Our Construction Manager Callum met with the clients onsite. Together they went through the unit, the owners plans for the unit, and various solutions to turn this old and dark space into something that would match the unit’s amazing views and would ultimately increase their return-on-investment.

After the initial walk-through, we provided the clients with a quote for a full unit renovation. The quote included a kitchen, one bathroom/laundry, three bedrooms with new wardrobes and new flooring throughout. As Nyblad Construction project manages and organises all trades and supplies, all our client had to do was make some choices in regard to tiles, flooring, plumbing items and cabinetry and stone colours. Our Project Administrator Celeste then spoke with the clients about colours and the style they were after. She then met with the cabinet makers to select colour samples to send through. Celeste also spoke with our tile supplier and sent through suggestions for tiles.

As for the plumbing items, Celeste sent through our three plumbing packages that we designed with the investor in mind. We have three different packages from our three favourite suppliers for our clients to choose from. We put these packages together with style, budget and product quality and warranty in mind. Using our packages is a great way to minimise the amount of time spent going from store to store (or hours spent on the web browsing), viewing the many options available. In this instance, our clients selected our NCP Plumbing Package.

When it came to choosing tiles, Tile Wizard’s range of hybrid vinyl planks and tiles were chosen through samples we have available in our office show room. Whilst the client was not able to fly up to Caloundra to make their selections, we sent photos of the products we recommended or used FaceTime to consult on various choices.

Onsite

Once renovations were underway, we sent through progress photos on a regular basis – especially to show completion of each invoice stage set out in the contract. This gives all our clients peace of mind, knowing that they are not paying for stages that have not been completed.

The Nyblad Construction team took care of every little detail to keep the job progressing. Our poor team had their work cut out for them on this one. This was one of the dirtiest units our guys have ever had to clean out as part of the strip-out stage. See photos below.

Once stripped, our team set to work on making this old unit new again. In the kitchen, we removed the wall that was creating an awkward space between the unit’s main entry and the kitchen. Once that was removed, it changed the whole feel of the unit. Swapping out the orange-tinged timber matched with blue laminate benchtops were swapped out for white cabinetry teamed with a white stone benchtop capped off with mist-coloured subway tiles.

In the bathroom/laundry, the same mist-coloured subway tiles were used as a splashback behind the vanity and the laundry sink, mimicking the white cabinetry and white stone benchtops in the kitchen. The shower cubicle was exchanged for a beautiful glass-enclosed shower.

All bedrooms were treated to new built-in wardrobes and the old terracotta tiles featured throughout the unit were exchanged for hybrid vinyl planks in porcelain. This lighter coloured flooring has made a remarkable impact on the feeling of the room. The space feels larger and more contemporary.

The result

All in all, the renovations have resulted a modern, open plan space that is sure to attract many prospective tenants that would suit a number of different people. And best of all, our clients did not have to organise any trades themselves or project manage the works. It was all done for them by our team.

Our clients were very happy with the results, and as they were not available to meet us at the unit for our official handover and to go through any possible defects, we walked the client through the unit virtually via FaceTime. Callum even went as far as to show them inside the kitchen cupboards!

If you have been considering renovating but feel daunted by all the planning and scheduling involved, you need to give us a call. We will guide you through the process from start to finish with minimal stress. Contact us today to organise a quote visit at your property .

Looking to renovate in 2024?

Contact to us to organise your quote consultation

MATES in Construction Visits Nyblad Construction to Discuss Mental Health

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 00:52:00 GMT

Last Wednesday MATES in Construction visited Nyblad Construction for our monthly team meeting to discuss mental health in the building and construction industry. The visit was organised after coming across some pretty scary statistics about the prevalence of suicide in the building and construction industry compared to the overall suicide rates in Australia.

Thanks to our Master Builders Qld membership, we’ve seen MATES in Construction sponsor some of the events we’ve attended over the years and decided to reach out to see what we could do to better support our team.

After speaking with a MATES in Construction team member we enrolled the entire team in their General Awareness training program which has been designed to introduce workers to the nature of the problem, that it’s ok to talk about mental health and to provide a practical guide on how they can assist.

According to research quoted by MATES in Construction, 190 Australians working in the construction industry commit suicide every year; That’s equivalent of one construction worker every second day.

Construction workers are also eight times more likely to die from suicide than an accident at work. For younger workers, the facts state that they are well over two times more likely to take their own lives than other young Australian men. These are very sobering statistics, and we are so grateful that there are organisations like MATES in Construction to bring awareness to mental health and wellbeing as well as delivering training and programs for workers who need support.

With so much time spent at work, we believe that investing in the welfare of our team is just one way to support our team members. We are so grateful to the team at MATES in Construction for coming out and chatting with us.

If you are a construction worker who is struggling with mental health, please reach out to MATES in Construction for help. You can call their 24/7 helpline at 1300 650 890 or visit their website at www.matesinconstruction.org.au .

Resources

MATES in Construction: https://MATES.org.au/

Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

Lifeline: https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Suicide Prevention Australia: https://www.suicideprevention.org.au/

Looking to renovate in 2024?

Contact to us to organise your quote consultation

Renovating your Sunshine Coast property from out of town or interstate

Wed, 17 May 2023 02:57:00 GMT

Renovating a unit can be a daunting task, especially if you live in a different city. You must find a contractor, get quotes, manage the project, and deal with any unexpected problems. It can be a lot to handle, especially if you don’t have the time or expertise.

That’s where we come in. We are a one-stop-shop for clients wishing to renovate their Sunshine Coast property but live out of town or interstate. We take care of everything from start to finish, so you can relax and enjoy the process.

What We Do

We offer a comprehensive range of services, including:

Project management: We coordinate the entire project from start to finish, so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
Contractor selection: We have a trusted group of regular contractors behind us, so you can be sure you’re getting the best possible service.
Warranty: We offer a warranty on all of our work, so you can be sure your renovation is done right.
Plans and certifiers: We have a great network of drafting specialists and certifiers to help you with any structural changes
Suppliers: We have worked with our suppliers to put together some amazing plumbing and flooring packages that you can choose from for a quick and easy selection process. And if you enjoy shopping, you are welcome to choose products yourself.
Interior Design: If you would like professional interior design services, we can put you in contact with some local interior design companies that we have worked with before.

Why Choose Us?

We know Sunshine Coast units like the back of our hand, which means we know the type of problems likely to pop up once an old unit is stripped bare and how to solve them.
Along with building trusted relationships with our customers, we’ve designed a simple 7 Step Process to make sure renovating is as stress-free as possible.
We have a team of experienced professionals who can handle any type of renovation project.
We are committed to providing our clients with the highest quality service form both our onsite team and our administrative team.
We know how to keep the Body Corporates and neighbours happy during the time of the renovation.
We provide regular updates with photos to show you the progress of your renovation.
We are a licenced builder and warrant all our works as per the QBCC regulations.
We pride ourselves on our workmanship and we don’t take shortcuts.

Contact Us

If you’re ready to start your renovation project, contact us today. We would be happy to answer any questions you have and help you get started.

To view some of our previous works, make sure you to check out our Gallery . You can also find us on both Instagram and Facebook .

Looking to renovate in 2023?

Contact to us to organise your free quote visit

2023 Kitchen Trends

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 02:34:00 GMT

It’s time to talk kitchens and the trends we’re seeing for 2023 and we’re excited to see the new trends coming through already!

When it comes to overall design, white is out. And while white still has a place in the kitchen, people are moving towards warmer shades of white, accented by colourful splash backs and/or cabinetry.

Butler’s pantries are becoming increasingly more popular along with oversized kitchen islands. We’re also seeing more incorporation of technology in the kitchen and statement lights.

Cabinetry and Benchtops

While the farmhouse trend is slowing making way for a more coastal vibe, the shaker-style cabinets associated with the farmhouse and Hamptons look continue to make an appearance. We’re also seeing a lot more of a two-toned look with colourful cabinetry on the bottom and more subdued timber or white cabinetry on top. Contrasting islands are also becoming increasingly popular to add a bit of warmth or colour to the kitchen/living space.

Stone benchtops are continuing to trend but rather than going for the popular grey veins we’ve been seeing this past year, warmer gold-like hues are starting to take preference.

Colours

This year is all about warm tones and textures and coastal vibes. Hues of greens and blues mixed with other muted colours like soft terracotta and sandy colours are becoming increasingly more popular. While the sage green’s that we’ve been seeing lately are still popular, ocean blues are starting to take over for more of a coastal vibe.

Splashbacks

Extending the stone benchtops to the splashback is a continuing trend that we’ve had installed on a number of our kitchen renovations. Not only does it bring a sense of luxury to your kitchen but it also eliminates the grievances of cleaning grout lines. But using the splashback to bring colour and texture to the kitchen also continues to be popular. Think textured subway tiles, decorative pressed-metal look tiles and hand-made look square tiles.

Technology

With technology playing such a large part of our lives these days, it’s only natural that our kitchens start accommodating all our gizmos and gadgets. We’ve already been installing hidden power points and USB ports but more and more people are including charger stations and device holders to store and hold whatever device we’re using whilst in the kitchen.

Tapware

Once upon a time one of the biggest crimes in a kitchen design was to use different coloured metals. If you had a chrome tap, any other metals in your kitchen had to be chrome. This rule has been completely scrapped and you can now mix and match metals as you please – but the experts would tell you to keep it to three finishes and to only mix warm-toned metals with each other (ie. gold, brass and copper), using neutral contrasts or to only mix cool-toned metals such as chrome and nickel with neutral colours (black is considered both warm and cool).

Overall, the 2023 kitchen trends are all about creating a sense of playfulness as well as style by combining a range of textures and colours. And we’re so excited to see what designs our clients come up with.

And we understand that colour is not for everyone so if you’re still after a white kitchen, we can do that too. As long as we get to create a space that you love and that you feel works for you, we are more than happy to make this happen.

Contact our office to book a free, detailed quote today!

Looking to renovate in 2023?

Contact to us to organise your free quote visit

Finding the right builder for the job

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 03:26:00 GMT

This month we want to share with you the importance of doing your due diligence when deciding on a builder for your next renovation project. It is important to find the right builder for the right job.

This was prompted by an email we received from a potential client last week in regard to a quote we had sent her a few days earlier.

Like all wise women, she had asked another builder to quote as well as us and we had come in more expensive, and she wanted to give us the opportunity to reduce our price. To ensure we were quoting the works scope for scope with the other builder’s quote, we asked the client to send through the scope of works (without the prices if she preferred). The client sent us the full quote from the other builder and this is where alarm bells started going off for us.

An initial inspection of the quote showed marginal differences between the two quotes in terms of costs per trades and works and a few discrepancies of where we had quoted certain works to be done and the other builder had left out, vice versa. This explained the majority of the price difference, but we were still coming in a bit higher than the other builder.

But what had us worried was the lack of company information displayed on the quote. It was missing the builders’ QBCC Licence number and when we tried to look up the company name on the QBCC Licence search nothing came up. We did manage to find the builder through his ABN and matching the Builder’s own name to the QBCC Licence search. And this is where things really got interesting.

The builder in question had quoted works for various trades as a builder, however, he did not in fact have a builder’s licence and is not allowed to organise other trades. By undertaking these activities, this builder in question does not have the appropriate insurances or licences to undertake the works quoted – completely unbeknownst to the client. So what can we learn from this? You need to do your due diligence when engaging a contractor or builder.

The best resource to find out if a builder you’re contemplating using is licenced to carry out the works, is to use the QBCC Licence Search tool. The QBCC website also has some useful information on what to look for when choosing a contractor and how to spot an unlicenced contractor.

This isn’t the first time we’ve had clients reach out to us after contacting another builder. We’ve also seen clients come back to us after builders have tried using the wrong contract or have tried charging 50% for deposits (standard agreements only allow you to charge 5% or 10% deposit depending on L1 or L2 contracts) or the builder has agreed to do the works and then have simply fallen off the radar. Unfortunately, we think this might start happening even more.

With interest rates and cost of living going up, industry figures are reporting a sharp drop in new home loan approvals. What does this mean for our industry? We will see already struggling new home builders enter the renovation space to try and recoup some of their revenue. And what does this mean for you? The renovation game is completely different to new homes; especially unit renovations.

With new homes, the builder has a plan and he builds to it. When you’re renovating, you’re working with a plan that is as accurate as it can be up until the point where you start opening up or moving walls. You never quite know what you’re going to find. An experienced renovation builder may already have an idea in the back of the head of what he might find and can quote with this contingency in mind. A new home builder that is new to the renovation game will not have accounted for this and costs will quickly start to rise. Take this into an older building with leaking stacks, concrete cancer and the like, and you’ll be wishing you had paid the extra money to be dealing with an experienced renovation team.

So what’s the takeout from this post? Do your homework. Ask questions. A licenced builder who dots the i’s and crosses the t’s will not be upset if you ask to see their licence number (it should be on all advertising materials anyway) and punch it into the QBCC Licence Search. Check out their websites, their socials and their google reviews. You can also take a look at the Master Builders Qld Find a Master Builder tool to see if they’re a member. You’ll be glad you did.

If you’re looking at renovating this year, we’d love to hear from you. Simply give us a call or send us your details and we’ll contact you to organise for our Estimator to come out to site and provide you with a free quote.

Looking to renovate in 2023?

Contact to us to organise your free quote visit

2023 Bathroom Trends

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 01:52:00 GMT

We say it at the start of every year but here it is again – screw the new you, you’re already perfect, instead focus on the new bathroom, kitchen or heck, why not a whole new home (but not a new home build, that’s no fun!). We love sinking our teeth into new renovations and renovation trends and this month we thought we’d start by looking at the 2023 bathroom trends.

Colours and textures

White and timber has been ruling the roost for the past few years but we’re starting to see a trend towards lighter tones such as taupe, light pinks and creams paired with warm-toned timber and gold tapware for a soft and welcoming feel.

We’re also seeing more and more people include 3-4 different tiles or wall treatments in the one bathroom. Think VJ panels mixed with kit-kat tiles, small square tiles, and larger rectangle tiles to create dimension and interest to your bathroom.

Tiles

It’s hard to say what trend to follow here. Terrazzo continues to be popular, as does the kit-kat tiles and we’ve even seen penny-tiles making a comeback. We saw a lot of textured tiles being used for splashbacks last year and this is a trend that looks like it will continue.

Before making your decision on how ‘out there’ you want to go with your tiles, we suggest you think about the purpose of your space – is it a forever-home renovation or an investment-home renovation? For a forever-home renovation we say go for it – You do you and pick what sparks joy! For an investment property it would be more sensible to select a more neutral pallet that would appeal to more renters/buyers.

Wow-factor

This year it’s the baths and the basins taking centre stage. Free-standing baths will be the focus point in many bathrooms but we’re seeing colourful basins and even toilets(!) becoming popular. And not only that, forget the vanity, free-standing pedestal basins are making quite the come-back (remember Scotty’s pool cabana vanity?). From a practical point of view, we suggest keeping this trend to the powder room where storage is not really necessary. I mean, what would Shayna say?

Styling

Where the bathroom was once a room tucked away for private use, bathrooms have become perhaps the most exciting room in the home to decorate and to show off. And no, we’re not talking about colourful toilet paper! Wall sconces and pendant lights are used to add that little bit extra feel of luxury and pizzaz to the space. And don’t forget the artwork – turns out bathrooms are a great place to show off an amazing piece of art – who knew?!

So remember, you’re already fabulous so let’s get that bathroom of yours looking fabulous too!

Contact us today to arrange a free quote visit with our Project Managers Callum or Tyler.

Psst: there’s some pretty examples of the above trends below ��

Looking to renovate in 2023?

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2022: A year in review

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 04:20:00 GMT

As we start preparing ourselves for a well-deserved Christmas break, it’s time to reflect on the year that was 2022. And what a year we’ve had!

We have been incredibly busy, and just like other renovators and builders in Australia, but especially here on the Sunshine Coast, we’ve faced trade shortages and increased material costs. To find qualified and skilled carpenters has proven our greatest challenge but we’re proud to say that we have an amazing team behind us.

If we cast our eyes back just back to 2019, when Kenth, Sussi, Linn and Sanna were sharing an office in the spare room of Kenth’s and Sussi’s home, we’ve come a long way. Our office in Exeter Way now includes the four of us as well as Project Managers Tyler and Callum, Project Administrator Erin as well as our amazing Admin Assistant Camilla. But all the work in the office would not be possible without our amazing trade team that includes our Supervisor Carpenter Matt, Carpenter Ben, Trade Assists Steve and Pali and a 4th year apprentice Ryan. And then there’s of course our large team of subcontractors who keep our jobs moving along. Again, we’ve made some new connections and unfortunately had to say goodbye to some others. It was with great sadness that we said goodbye to our long-time sparkie, Paul Taylor who passed away in August. Paul had been a part of our team from way back when Kenth was working solo and his passing was a great loss to us all.

On a happier note, this year we celebrated Susanne’s 60th birthday and Linn’s 5-year anniversary working for the family business. And both Tyler and Ben walked down the aisle and said ‘I do’ to their respective partners.

This year also saw Kenth and Susanne taking a step back from the business starting their journey towards retirement (but don’t worry, they haven’t quite let go yet and can still be found in the office a couple of days per week!). As we continue working towards Kenth’s and Susanne’s retirement plans, Linn, Sanna, Tyler and Callum will continue to take over the reins as needed.

The team has been very busy not only completed countless bathrooms, kitchens and unit and home renovations for our happy clients. We’ve also attended multiple Master Builders events to keep up-to-date with industry and legislation updates to navigate the ever-changing building and construction industry.

We also pride ourselves on being a workplace that supports women in building and have continued our membership with Awesome Women in Building (AWIC) , a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing support, resources and networking opportunities to women working across Australia’s construction industry. Linn, Sanna and Sussi have attended numerous of local AWIC events and Linn was one of three finalists in the inaugural AWIC Awards in the Small Business Manager of the Year category. While she didn’t take home the trophy, she has been an integral part in the growth of Nyblad Construction over the past five years.

With the year we’ve had, full of uncertainty due to COVID, supplies shortages and trade shortages, it’s no surprise we and the team are ready for a break! Our last day before our Christmas and New Year break is Friday 16 December 2022.

As for next year, we already have a number of units, homes, bathrooms, ensuites and kitchens booked in and we’ll be ready to start back up again on Monday 9 January 2022. We predict it’s going to be another busy year and we can’t wait to see what our clients have in store for us!

Looking to renovate in 2023?

Contact to us to organise your free quote visit

Job Opportunities

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 03:36:00 GMT

We have multiple job opportunities available!

We are looking for a RENOVATION CARPENTER and a PROJECT ADMINISTRATOR to join our growing team. Click through below to find out more about each role.

INTERESTED?

Let's discuss your career at Nyblad Construction. Contact us!

2022 Tile Trends

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 00:46:00 GMT

When it comes to choosing tiles, there are so many options to choose from that it can become a bit overwhelming. So this month we’re focusing on the 2022 tile trends that we’ve noticed in the past six months as well as those predicted by the experts. We also discuss some of the things to consider when choosing your tiles.

Tile styles

Timber-look tiles are becoming more popular thanks to its technological advances that allow for tile-to-tile variation, giving it a more authentic timber-look.

Terrazzo tiles is another trend that continues to be popular. We’ve installed these in quite a few of our latest bathroom renovations and when taken from floor up the wall they look absolutely stunning! We’ve also seen them teemed with stunning feature walls and plain whites for that extra wow factor.

An emerging trend is travertine (usually used as a pool-side paver) being brought into bathrooms. Travertine does however need to be sealed and comes with some maintenance.

Timber-look tiles

Terrazzo tiles

Travertine tiles

Shapes and size

When it comes to size of tiles, large format slabs (800x1600mm) are becoming popular, not only because of the grandeur it brings to a space but also because of the minimisation of grout lines.

That doesn’t mean that mosaic and subway tiles are out of fashion! Linear tiles are in fact very in; think thin, kit-kat like mosaic tiles and stacked subway tiles used as contrasting features or in a more traditional white as an alternative to white 600x600mm tiles.

Colour schemes

When it comes to tile colours, we’re seeing a move away from the pastels of the past two years and moving towards more earthy tones such as greens and blues, and clays and stone. But for those who want a more glamourous or moodier feel, darker timber-look tiles, greys and marbles are the way to go.

Choosing your tiles

So now that we’ve got an idea of what’s trending, let’s chat about some of the things to think about before you choose your perfect tile. We shared our top five tips for choosing the right tile on our socials earlier this month but they’re worth another mention.

Investment property vs. Forever home

We’ve talked about the various things to consider when renovating an investment property or a forever home in previous blog posts but essentially, our main advice is this: spend the extra time and money on your forever home to make it a place/space that makes you happy. This doesn’t mean it has to be a copy of the latest bathroom featured on The Block. It should be a space that speaks to you and your family – both functionally and aesthetically.

Your investment property, on the other hand, you can afford to take a more standard approach. You generally want to play it safe with a clean and fresh feel that will appeal to a range of various tenants. That’s not to say you should choose the cheapest options around – depending on what rental income and the area your property is in, your choices, and in this case, your tile choices need to appeal to your target market.

Textures, scales and colours

When it comes to combining various textures, sizes and colours of tiles, have fun but try to think about your space overall. If combining multiple patterns, try to use the same tonal tiles or go for a dramatic feature wall or floor with simpler tiles to match.

Grout colour

Often when we ask our clients what colour grout they want with the their chosen tiles, we are met with a blank stare or a “oh whatever the tiler thinks” response. And while grout colour may seem like such a trivial detail in the grand scheme of a bathroom renovation, it can actually change the purpose of the tile.

For instance, a contrasting grout colour can make a coloured feature wall ‘pop’ or highlight the pattern or shape of a tile. But if you are after a softer look, matching your grout colour to your tile is your best bet.

Gloss or matte

One way to bring dimension to your space, is to mix glossy tiles with matte tiles. Our advice though is to leave the glossy tiles to the walls in the bathroom to avoid a safety hazard!

Atmosphere

The final thing to consider is what kind of atmosphere you are looking to achieve. Do you want your bathroom to be dark and glamorous, simple but elegant or fresh and bright? The atmosphere you want to create will heavily influence your tile choices. We suggest putting together a mood board, Pinterest board or saving some magazine clippings of the type of bathroom you would like to create. Taking this with you to the tile shop will assist you with your selections and help you achieve the look you are after.

Feeling inspired?

Don't just sit there! Contact us to book in your free quote visit today!

Decks and Outdoor Spaces

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 23:00:00 GMT

As we head into the second half of the year and we find ourselves already thinking about Christmas, it’s time to think about that outdoor space of yours. Whether it’s a small backyard or a bigger space with a pool, ask yourself, is it ready for hosting Christmas Lunch? Now is a great time to start thinking about installing an impressive entertainer’s deck, upgrading an existing deck, or even extending an already existing deck. This month we discuss the various decking materials available, so that you’re already across the various options when you call us to book your quote visit.

Hardwood decking

When we talk about decking, hardwood is one of the most common materials that comes to mind. And rightly so; it’s durable and equally as stunning. There are three main types of hardwood that are used when building a deck.

Jarrah is more grey in colour and tends to be more expensive than the other options. That being said, it is durable and fire resistant and has a beautiful finish.

Spotted Gum, is also know for it’s fire-resistant properties and usually comes with a higher price tag. However, unlike the Jarrah, it is available in warmer tones from chocolate to light brown.

Merabau is rot and insect resistant and is also very durable. This type of hardwood is more affordable than the Jarrah and Spotted gum and is a very popular choice when it comes to deck installations. However, Merabau is usually sourced from South East Asia rather than Australia.

While a hardwood deck offers durability and a sense of grandeur, it does require yearly maintenance (oiling and staining) to keep it looking good and to ensure its longevity.

Jarrah Hardwood

Spotted Gum Hardwood

Merabau Hardwood

Treated pine decking

If hardwood is out of your budget, the next option in timber decking is treated pine; A cost-effective option that is also very durable as long as it’s looked after. While pine also requires yearly oiling and staining, you do have the option to stain it in a range of different colours due to the light colour of the timber.

You can also get it with a smooth or gripped surface finish. The downside to treated pine is that it can start to look grey very quickly if not properly maintained and it doesn’t quite have that wow-factor that hardwood has.

If you are looking to extend your current deck, you may also want to consider installing some sort of roof or shade cover. A great option is fly-over roofs as the increased height offers better ventilation and stops hot air from being trapped, thereby keeping your area cooler. Last summer we installed an absolutely stunning deck and fly-over roof in Landsborough. To prevent the fly-over roof making the space too dark, the design included sky-lights to let light through as well as making it a stunning design feature. For more information on this particular build, click here .

Treated Pine

Composite decking

If yearly maintenance is not for you (some of us have better things to do on the weekends!) composite decking is your best bet. While it may cost a little bit more initially, over time, you will save money and labour as it’s virtually maintenance-free.

Composite decking is made from recycled plastic and wood grain, which means it’s an eco-friendlier option than natural timber. It’s naturally resistant to rot and insects and tends to be quicker to install. The main downside to this option is that once you’ve picked a colour, you cannot change it – unless you decide to remove it completely and install a new deck!

Composite Decking

So, before you get too lost in your daydream of cocktails and balmy nights on your new deck, make sure you contact us straight away to book your free quote visit. We have limited spots left to get your deck ready in time for Christmas so make sure you get in quick!

Contact us today!

2022 Kitchen Trends

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 00:48:00 GMT

This month we’re talking kitchens! In particular, the 2022 kitchen trends. We’re seeing some really exciting designs after years of plain white kitchens with white splashbacks so we thought we’d share some of the favourite kitchen trends we’re seeing and installing at the moment.

The kitchen, even if we aren’t great cooks, is the heart of the home, so it’s important that you make it a space that not only works for you, but also makes you happy.

Cabinetry and panels

This year there has been a real move away from just plain white kitchen cabinets. Instead, we’re seeing a mixture of materials and textures being used to create a relaxed yet contemporary design. And when it comes to the type of cabinets, it all comes down to your personal style but the Shaker cabinets for a Hamptons style kitchen continues to be popular as is the Outback Style cabinets for that country living inspired style.

When it comes to the kitchen panels, we’re seeing various materials and textures being used from Stecca wood, VJ board inspired panels as well as contrasting colours and wood grains.

Example of Polytec Steccawood

Kitchen completed in Pelican Waters with various colours and textures to create a relaxed yet contemporary design

Splashbacks

Splashbacks can be a fun and relatively inexpensive way to introduce some colour or texture in an otherwise neutral area. We’re seeing various materials, patterns and colours being introduced in the splashbacks to great effect. We still hold a lot of love for traditional subway tiles but lately we’ve been seeing textured subway tiles which can add some beautiful dimension to a kitchen.

Also increasingly popular is using the same stone or granite as your benchtop as the splashback. Depending on the size of your benchtop, you may be able to get this cut out of the same slab – and as you are already paying for the full slab, the only extra you’re paying for is the labour!

A splash of colour adds a beautiful contrasting feature in this white kitchen and reflects the amazing ocean views

The textured subway tiles in this white kitchen gives the kitchen a sense of dimension

Both these kitchens have used their stone benchtops as splashbacks to great effect!

Tapware

Next on the list is tapware. These days there are so many choices and it really comes down to two essential choices; the purpose of the kitchen and your own personal style.

If you are choosing tapware for your forever home, then we say take the time to do your research to make the best choice for the look you are going for – think gold and brass tapware or even blacks or whites. Brushed brass/gold is very popular at the moment and is also very versatile.

We spoke about tapware trends in the bathroom on our blog a few months back but the same principles apply in the kitchen. Teamed with white benchtops and cabinetry, gold/brass gives a very clean and modern look but pair it with a darker stone and cabinetry for a more glamour inspired kitchen.

For a sleek and modern kitchen, you can’t go wrong with matte black tapware. Not only does it look sophisticated in a monochrome scheme but it also pairs well with neutrals and most other colour schemes.

We were also recently shown some beautiful neutral toned tapware that we think are absolutely stunning.

If this is an investment property, then we suggest choosing a more mid-level range with a good warranty – here chrome and brushed nickel is a good option that has stood the test of time. We know that shopping for investment properties is not quite as exciting as shopping for your forever home and really, we all have other things to get on with, so here are some packages we prepared for you !

We’ve worked with our favourite suppliers to offer you three great plumbing packages – all quality products with great warranties. And best of all, these are all covered in our PC allowances in our quote so you know that there no extra costs coming your way.

Left: Brushed Nickel | Right: Matte Black

Click through to see our great plumbing packaging with Reece

Click through to see our great plumbing packaging with NCP

Click through to see our great plumbing packaging with Art Bathroom

Sinks

When it comes to sinks, you have a few different options. Again, we’re seeing a move away from the traditional chrome double sinks with drain for our clients’ forever homes. Instead, we’re seeing a lot of black and white sinks, 1.5 sinks and single sinks being installed.

Undermount is taking over the top-mounted sinks for a more seamless look on your benchtop. And according to the design experts, workstation sinks or prep-sinks are set to become more popular with more and more people installing extra sinks in their kitchens for washing vegetables etc.

All in all, kitchen trends for 2022 are all about varying colours, textures and materials to create a warm but clean look. How you do it really comes down to your own personal style – do you prefer a Hamptons look, contemporary, glam or country chic – this will heavily influence your choices. We suggest you put together your own mood board to narrow down your choices and to achieve the look you’re after. We did a blog post on mood boards a few months back that we suggest you take a look at if you don’t quite know where to start.

You spend a lot of time in the kitchen, let’s make it a space that makes you happy!

We work with a local cabinet maker to create beautiful custom-made kitchens for our clients. Contact us to book your free quote visit.

NC Investor Packages

Thu, 05 May 2022 00:01:00 GMT

This month we’re introducing our NC Investor Packages! We’ve been working with some of our favourite suppliers to help make the renovation process even easier for those of you renovating your investment properties.

Be it your holiday unit rentals or long-term property rentals, increasing your return on investment often means spending some cash to spruce it up a bit. But an investment property is meant to be working for you, so yes, you may have to fork out some money to make it look better, but that doesn’t mean you should have to spend all your time driving around the Sunshine Coast making your tile selections, plumbing selections, carpet selections etc. We’ve already done the hard work for you!

We’ve put together three plumbing packages for you to choose from that has everything you need for your kitchen, ensuite, laundry, WC and bathroom including sinks, baths, tapware, bathroom accessories and shower options. All these packages come in within our quoted Prime Cost (PC) allowances, so you know you’re not going to go over the quoted amount!

Check out the details of our pack below or come into our showroom in Caloundra West where we have a selection of products on show for our clients to have a closer look and touch.

Contact Nyblad Construction to discuss your next renovation project by calling 0412 679 990 or via our website contact form .

International Women’s Day 2022

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 02:00:00 GMT

This month was International Women’s Day 2022 and this year’s theme was Break the Bias . For us women in the construction industry, this was a very fitting theme as we are very often underestimated in our abilities – even us in the office!

So we thought this a great opportunity to celebrate and highlight the women in our team and the skills they bring to their roles.

Susanne Nyblad – Director & Accounts Manager

Susanne was doing the accounts for the family business back in the 90s prior to our arrival to Australia in 1999 (while working her own full-time job!). In the year 2000, Kenth once again went out on his own, starting his own renovation business, and again, Susanne looked after the accounts. Different country, different tax laws and a different language but the invoices were sent out and invoices were paid. Since then, the sole trader model has changed to a trust to a company and with it, numerous employees, larger accounts and so much more paperwork but she’s hanging in there and doing a great job!

Linn Batey – Business Manager

Linn has over 15 years of building and construction industry experience. She began her career as an Accounts Administrator for an insurance repair builder where she worked herself up to Administration Manager. She then joined a new homes builder where she was employed as Office Manager before making the decision to team up with father Kenth Nyblad and establishing Nyblad Construction. She also boasts a Bachelor of Business (Public Relations and Advertising (minor in Marketing) from QUT, a Certificate IV in Building and Construction, a Diploma in Project Management, and a Diploma in Estimating. It is no surprise that Linn has been instrumental in the expansion of Nyblad Construction in the last four years.

She has also taken on the role as Mentor to other young women through the Women Building Australia mentoring program.

Sanna Davis – Communications Manager

Sanna has a Bachelor in Business (Public Relations and International Business) from QUT and has worked with a range of companies such as IKEA, Lindt chocolates and Victa Lawnmowers as well as health and ageing clients. In 2014 she took on a role as Communications Adviser at The Master Builders Association of Victoria where she stayed until she went back on maternity leave and moved back to the Sunshine Coast. After a few more years of having babies, Sanna joined the family business and has been responsible for all aspects of marketing, from design, promotions and social media. She’s also stepped into internal communications roles such as preparing employment contracts, looking after all the COVID-related duties, occupational health and safety protocols and general human resources needs.

Camilla Gilbert – Administration Assistant

Camilla is our office admin assistant, and she is wealth of knowledge! She knows just about everyone on the coast and has over 30 years of experience in the building and construction industry, having entered the industry when she was just 15 years old. Throughout her career she has worked for the council’s building department, civil and structural engineers, and electrical contractors. Currently Camilla works for Nyblad Construction part-time, runs her own family plumbing business with her husband and son (you may know our plumber Bernie already!) and works as admin assistant at a flooring retailer and installer.

As you can see, the women of the Nyblad Construction team bring a host of different skills and experiences to the team.

And in true celebration of International Women’s Day, Sanna and Linn attended a couple of events held in honour of the da

We first attended Master Builders Queensland’s annual Influencer Lunch where we were treated to a fantastic panel discussion by Loren Hickey from John Holland, Alli Smith from Suncorp and Mikki Richardson from Master Builders, who spoke about the latest challenges our industry is facing.

A few days later we attended Awesome Women in Construction’s (AWIC) International Women’s Day Lunch where we met and connected with some fabulous women in our industry and heard from Consumer Futurist Amanda Stevens on the latest customer trends.

All in all, a very busy week but well worth it! We love being a part of these great industry-supporting organisations that guide us through the latest industry challenges and help us connect with fellow building and construction workers, facing similar challenges to ourselves in these tough times.

2022 Bathroom trends

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 00:54:00 GMT

2022 Bathroom trends

This month we’re talking bathroom trends! We’ve been receiving so many enquiries for bathroom and ensuite renovations that we thought we’d talk about the 2022 bathroom trends on the Sunshine Coast that we’ve been seeing – in our renovation projects and from our suppliers.

TAPWARE

One of the biggest trends we’ve been noticing (and love!), which you have probably noticed if you’re following us on Facebook and Instagram , is gold tapware and accessories. When it comes to gold, there are few different finishes; there’s the blingy gold or brass or for a more sophisticated look, brushed brass or brushed gold.

And gold tapware and accessories are surprisingly versatile! We love it against white tiles and timber features for a modern, clean look but pair it against dark grey or black tiles and benchtops for some bathroom drama (and we don’t mean the kind where your kids are fighting over the mirror!). But don’t stop there! Gold tapware also works wonderfully with pastels such as pinks and aqua and even pale greys but equally as well with bold colours such as teals and navy blues.

But if gold is not your thing, brushed nickel is also becoming increasingly popular. Like the brushed gold, it offers a more sophisticated and polished look than the traditional chrome. And just like traditional chrome it has that timeless look but with a more modern feel. And for those of us that are practicality-conscious, brushed nickel doesn’t show water spots and marks less easily than chrome. Brushed nickel also tends to look good with most bathroom styles.

FEATURE WALLS AND TILES

Another feature we’re seeing more and more of is the use of VJ Panels as feature walls. Not only does it look stunning but it’s also a cost-effective way to save some cash as it saves you from tiling that area. We’re definitely not recommending VJ Panels in the shower but installing it as a feature wall/splashback behind your vanity cabinet and mirror will create that modern yet “hygge” feel everyone is talking about.

When it comes to tiles, we seem to be moving away from the pastels that we’ve been seeing in the past few years. More earthy and natural feel and textures like timber tiles, terrazzo and travertine are becoming increasingly popular. Marble continues to trend – both large slab-like tiles and the smaller variety.

VANITY AND STORAGE

We’ve been seeing wall-mounted vanities for a while now and their minimalist elegance continue to dominate the 2022 trends. These are especially helpful in smaller bathrooms where the space under the vanity can help create an illusion of space. In terms of the look of the vanity, it all depends on the style of bathroom you are trying to achieve, ie. Industrial, Hamptons, spa sanctuary, scandi etc.

But if there is one thing that never dates when it comes to vanities, it’s storage! But storage isn’t just limited to vanities. Mirrored shaving cabinets come in many different shapes and sizes with clever storage solutions. We’re seeing a lot of curved mirrors such as arches and oblongs in our own renovations.

BATHS, BASINS AND SHOWERS

When it comes to baths, free-standing baths are definitely more popular than the traditional drop-in baths. However, while the free-standing baths can be a show-stopper in any bathroom, depending on the space available, cleaning around them can be an issue (again for those of you who like to be a bit more practical about these things). This is where the more traditional drop-in baths start winning votes. But if you really like the look of a free-standing bath but are short on space, we’ve found that back-to-wall free-standing baths work really well. They give the look of a free-standing bath but by having one long and short straight edge, it can be installed flat against the wall. This has been a popular choice with a lot of a clients in units with smaller spaces but where the client still wants the impact of a free-standing bath.

Wet rooms also continue to be popular along with walk-in showers and double showers. We’ve definitely seen a move away from small cubicle showers with many clients even choosing to remove baths from their bathrooms altogether to create a larger shower.

When it comes to basins, we’re seeing a lot of above-counter basins, with round ones being the most popular. While we’ve mostly been installing white ones, there are a lot of popular colour options out there such as navy, olive greens and pastels. Again, this is where the style of the bathroom you are trying to achieve comes into play.

STYLING

Styling is not just for your bedroom or living area. As we’re spending more and more time at home, we’re increasingly focusing on making every space of our homes a space that makes us feel happy and relaxed. Plants and greenery along with the token candles are making a huge splash in the bathrooms (pardon the pun!). But the fun doesn’t stop there! We’re also seeing cute lite bath side tables and vanity stools to brighten up the space as well as a variety of rugs and mats (don’t be limited to the traditional bathroom toggle mats!).

So those are the bathroom trends of 2022 that we’ve seen so far and we love what we’re seeing. There are so many options from colours, textures, finishes and materials.

We’d love to have a chat to you and your bathroom dreams. Just contact us to book in for a free quote visit.

Jean-Pierre and Heather’s Fly-over roof and Deck

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 22:54:00 GMT

Jean-Pierre and Heather's Fly-Over Roof and Deck

At the start of 2021, after completing two beautiful bathrooms for our clients Jean-Pierre and Heather in Landsborough, we were asked if we’d be willing to quote to extend their outdoor area by building a fly-over roof and deck to overlook their pool area. This was a much bigger project than we had ever taken on before but we’re always up for a challenge.

To say that the process was quick and easy would be a lie to say the least. From a quoting perspective, there were plenty of things we had to consider that didn’t fit our standard kitchen and bathroom quoting templates!

THE DESIGN

Jean-Pierre engaged Building Designers Taylor’d Distinction to draw initial plans for us to work from and between the three-parties, a fly-over roof design was settled on as the best option for the space to achieve the desired look.

Jean-Pierre said that they initially chose to work with Taylor’d Distinction because they already knew Pete and Jane from their coffee bean sales at the Currimundi Sunday Markets.

“Pete and his team came by and did a drone video and used their graphism application for an appealing design that was catchy. But it also brought up some concerns regarding water containment and link to the existing structures,” he said.

Kenth said the original design was not suitable for Jean-Pierre and Heather’s property as it included box-gutters.

“We’ve done a lot of insurance jobs in the past and box gutters tend to cause flooding issues into the house on properties where there are a lot of trees around,” he said.

“The benefit of the fly-over roof is that it allows the breeze to flow through while also bringing more light into what can otherwise become a very dark space – also helped by the segments of sky-lights installed.”

Jean-Pierre said during numerous discussions with Kenth regarding the feasibility of the Taylor’d Distinction design and it was obvious that some changes had to be made. Hence, he opted for the fly-over structure.

“The engineers had to modify the drawings to allow for the fly-over and to removing a concreted section to give way to a dry space under the deck,” Jean-Pierre said.

THE BUILD

Once the design had been locked in, we had to wait for building approvals before we could start. We were then also held back by COVID lock-downs. But in August we were finally able to start. Despite the timber shortages, we managed to secure the required timber and Merbau decking.

Unfortunately, when the fly-over roof sheets were delivered, some were dented and we had to send them back and await a new delivery, which again delayed the project, much to everyone’s disappointment. But no-one wants a dented roof so we worked through it and with a great effort on everyone’s part from chippies, electricians and plumbers to plasterers and painters, Jean-Pierre and Heather were finally able to stand on their finished deck and admire their new outdoor area 10 weeks after commencement. And it looks absolutely AMAZING (if we do say so ourselves).

THE RESULT

Jean-Pierre said that choosing Nyblad Construction for this project had been on the cards for a long time.

“We had good experiences from nine years ago when they participated in our kitchen renovation with Advance Kitchens and in 2020 when they completed the renovations of both our bathrooms, which are stunning,” he said.

“The new outdoor area is a great effort from the team – excellent project management by Mick and onsite supervision by head chippie Tyler. We have been Nyblified!”

Nyblad Construction Project Manager Mick said he was incredibly happy with the end result.

“The finish, the deck, stairs and roof all blend in well while still looking new and modern.

“We had our challenges with this project. As a small renovation company, a big project like this takes away a lot of our resources from other projects.

“But Jean-Pierre and Heather were awesome to deal with.”

Head carpenter at the time, Tyler Keys added that building the new deck and fly over roof for Jean-Pierre was something he was excited by as he hadn’t been involved in a job of that size since starting with Nyblad Constructions a few years ago.

“It’s great to see the team as a whole branching into a new area of construction,” he said.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better client than Jean-Pierre – not only was he so easy to deal with, but most mornings I was greeted to site with a coffee made from his homegrown beans!”

Kenth added that the effort of the Nyblad Construction team to deliver what had taken months of planning was a real credit to his team.

“Nyblad Construction has grown a lot in the last few years and to see us take on a project like this really shows how far we’ve come,” he said.

Check out the outstanding result in the video below and make sure you head over to our Facebook and Instagram and give us a like or a follow to see all our other amazing renovation projects around the Sunshine Coast.

And if you’re thinking of renovating, be it bathrooms, kitchens or a complete unit or house transformation, give us a call or send us an email to book a free site and quote visit.

2021 Recap

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 04:56:00 GMT

2021 Recap

As we’re getting closer to Christmas and our shut-down period (20/12/2021 – 9/01/2022) we thought we’d take a look back at the year that was.

The start of 2021 saw us move in completely in our brand new office and storage space in Caloundra West. We hit the ground running with a complete unit renovation in Golden Beach and a bathroom renovation in Alexandra Headlands and we kept the momentum going throughout the year.

In fact, we had so many requests for quotes and approvals that we had to hire more staff to keep up with the demand. We hired two more trade assistants, two new carpenters, and an admin assistant and also our Project Manager Mick to help us keep all the extra jobs on track. And we’ve also taken on an apprentice. With all these changes, Kenth and Susanne’s small home-office business with 4 employees has now grown to a team of 11 and has converted from a sole-trader to a Company! A busy year indeed!

Project Manager Mick

And as the jobs have grown, so has our administrative duties! Linn, Sanna, Mick and Kenth have been working hard throughout the year to update and adjust policies and procedures to reflect the busier schedule and to help keep the jobs running as they should. We’ve also had to brush up our skills on internal policies such as human resources and extra health and safety obligations to ensure our workers stay safe on our worksites.

We attended many Master Builders Queensland events to keep up to date with the industry, to expand our networks and to brush up on our skills. We even attended the Master Builders Housing and Construction Awards, which was a lot of fun. We also became members of Awesome Women in Construction (AWIC) which has given us the opportunity to meet up with other awesome women in the building and construction industry on the Sunshine Coast.

We’ve celebrated birthdays of our team members and we’ve worked through all the various COVID restrictions put on us to keep our workers and our clients safe.

But no matter how busy we’ve been, we have absolutely loved working with all our clients and seeing their bathrooms, kitchens or entire units transform from old to new (or Nybladified as our Project Manager calls it) and we’re looking forward to starting some amazing unit renovations early next year.

In the meantime, we are enjoying the slightly slower pace up towards our Christmas shut-down period and for all of our team to take some well-deserved time off with their families and to recharge their batteries, ready to hit the ground running again on 10 January 2022.

Mood boards; how they can help you stay on style and on budget

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 00:57:00 GMT

Mood boards; how they can help you stay on style and on budget

The building and construction industry is experiencing an unprecedented demand for materials at the moment and we’re not just talking timber and steel. Plumbing items such as basin mixers and shower heads are taking longer to arrive than before, as are tiles and flooring. We’re also experiencing regular price increases on most materials. But don’t despair, all is not lost!

There are some things we can do help your renovation run smoothly. The first thing we recommend is to start gathering pictures or samples of the look you are after. Think Instagram photos from your favourite renovation shows, Pinterest images, photos from any house and garden or renovation magazines etc. These are a great starting point to then take either to your builder who can then advise you on specific products and suppliers, or to take directly to the suppliers to help them guide you in the right direction.

When it comes to creating the actual mood board, there are a few different options for you to consider depending on how much time you have and how comfortable you are using computers and smartphones. There are a number of different apps and website tools available, such as Reece’s mood board creator , which allows you to choose products and upload your own images to get a sense of your overall look. Pintrest is also a great tool to create your own collection of images of materials, tapware, tiles, flooring, paint colours etc. And if technology isn’t your thing, a collection of magazine and brochure clippings will do the trick.

Here at Nyblad Construction we have our own little showroom with some of the more common materials and fixtures often used by our clients. And we’re always available to have a chat with our clients about the look they’re after and give advice on particular suppliers that we think would be suitable to achieve the look that you’re after – this is where your mood board comes in handy!

Once you have made your selections and the contract is signed, we will start ordering your materials straight away to ensure we lock in current prices and that we have everything ready to go when the renovations are scheduled to start.

Below are some mood boards put together by one of our clients for her recent home renovation.

We love to talk to our clients about their renovation plans and always happy to come with tips and suggestions to make your space both beautiful and functional. Contact us and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook or Instagram to keep up to date with our latest extension and renovations!

Sunshine Coast Extensions

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 03:30:00 GMT

Sunshine Coast Extensions

Have you heard our latest news? We are now doing alterations and extensions on the Sunshine Coast. It is getting harder and harder to buy your dream home on the Sunshine Coast as houses are snapped up in the blink of an eye. So if you are already have a home in an area you love, or you’ve just bought a house in your dream location, let us help you turn it into your dream home.

Earlier this year we welcomed our Project Manager Mick Demnar to the team. Mick has a solid background in new home builds and brings the expertise we need to continue to grow Nyblad Construction’s renovations services to include extensions on the Sunshine Coast.

So what does this mean for you? It means you can stay in an area or a home you already love even though you might need something bigger. Think an extra bathroom, granny flat for ageing parents or simply to earn some extra income, or even a bigger outdoor entertaining area.

As renovators, we are problem solvers. We are always considering functionality as well as aesthetics when it comes to remodelling new spaces. So even if you can’t see how you could possibly fit an extra room, give us a call and Mick will meet you at the site in question to have a look, measure and talk through various options with you.

We have great connections with draftsmen, engineers and certifiers who can help turn your vision into building plans. But we don’t want you to feel trapped so while we’re happy to recommend you to our contacts, you are welcome to work with any draftsmen, engineers or certifiers of your choice. And by dealing directly with them, it means you own the plans and you can choose another builder should you want to (but why would you want to?).

Once everything is approved, we can give you a detailed quote with full scope of works to turn your building plans into your dream home. After you approve the quote, we can move into some of the more fun stuff where you get to choose your flooring, tiles, fixtures and fittings etc. We keep a range of samples from our regular suppliers at our office location and we are always happy to have a chat to you regarding your build and the various products you are considering.

For more information, check out our 7-Step renovation process on our website and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see regular updates on our renovations, extensions and to get to know our team better.

Ready to unlock the potential of your current home? Contact us today to book your free quote visit! Let’s make your old home new again!

2021 Tapware Trends

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 00:59:00 GMT

We’re living and breathing bathrooms this month and especially the latest 2021 tapware trends. Last week The Block contestants were judged on their stunning bathroom reveals. We also happened to be invited over to our friends at Art Bathrooms to have a look around their showroom a few weeks back as well as a visit from Reece with their latest brochures, and today a beautiful bathtub was delivered to our office along with our client’s tapware selection. As such, we thought we’d look at the latest tapware trends of 2021 from colours and shapes to textures and fixtures.

Colour ranges

There is an abundance of colour choices in tapware these days from the common chrome to gold, brushed brass, brushed nickel, black, rose gold and more. It seems the rules on what colour to choose all depends on what look you are trying to achieve.

Brushed nickel continues to be the all-round staple, but monochromic tapware used to achieve either a tonal styling or to contrast against an all-white or all-black bathroom or kitchen.

Brass tapware looks beautiful teemed with natural finishes such as timber and marble for a modern but comfortable feel. And we’ve also seen a new range of ‘almond’ coloured tapware that also blends in beautifully with natural textures and tones such as wood and earth-toned tiles.

And then you’ve got bright gold tapware, which depending on what ‘feel’ you are trying to achieve, works with most colours to either complement or contrast. At the moment we’re seeing a lot of grey and blacks paired with gold for a really luxurious feel. Teem it with pink or other pastels for that modern Instagram-worthy makeover and for a classy and timeless look, you can’t go past navy and gold.

Shapes and textures

Textured handles is another trend we’re seeing more of. Knurled finishes and handles with grooves give your space a more high-end feel and can bring an extra layer of dimension to your kitchen or bathroom.

And when it comes to shape, we’re seeing a move away from the sharp-edged handles and the strong angled spouts. Instead, a softer, rounder shape is taking precedence to give your space a sense of warmth and comfort.

Fixtures

We’re seeing more rain-shower heads being installed and they were certainly present on The Block bathrooms last week. For that extra bit of luxury and functionality (we’re big fans of functionality!) choose a fixture that has dual attachments to give you the option of the overhead rain shower or the more focused spout.

We’ve also seen some fancy taps that allow you to pour instant boiled water, cold water and sparkling water. These can be a bit pricey but can save you some bench space as your kettle and soda-stream are no longer required. And it also means you don’t need a plumbed-in fridge, which generally means more inside fridge-space.

Trends can be hard to navigate. We all have our own sense of style and sometimes that doesn’t marry up with the latest trends. And that’s when you need to consider the space you are renovating. Are you renovating your forever-home or an investment property? This can definitely change your choices in terms of costs but also in design. Unless you are going to get a considerable rate of return on your investment property, splurging on gold tapware is probably not necessary. However, if this is your forever-home, we say do what your budget allows to give you a space that makes you happy every time you enter it.

We love chatting to our clients about their renovations so if you’re feeling inspired, give us a call or send us an email and we will book you in for your free quote visit. And feel free to come visit us in our very own mini-showroom – we have a ton of brochures, pictures, and samples from our regular suppliers. We can’t wait to discuss your renovation dreams with you!

2021 Cladding Trends

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 05:50:00 GMT

2021 Cladding Trends

We’ve been working on two major extensions these past few months and both clients have decided to use James Hardie Scyon cladding on the external walls, which got us thinking about the 2021 cladding trends the different looks that can be achieved.

One of our clients is in Dicky Beach and lives within walking distance to the beach. She has opted for Scyon LineaTM Weatherboard , which is to be painted white for a modern coastal look (the house is by the beach after all!). Something we tell many of our clients when it is time for product selection is to put together a mood board of sorts, whether that be on Pinterest or magazines, of the things they like to get a better idea of what they are looking for and to show the sales personnel so that they can better help with product selection. And this is exactly what our client had done. The photo below is her inspiration photos for the look she is trying to achieve by the end of her renovation and extension.

Our other client in Little Mountain, is working on a backyard extension of his alfresco area to make it the ultimate entertainers backyard. He has chosen Scyon AxonTM Cladding , which is installed vertically for a more sleek, modern look. We’ve included a couple of images of the installation progress below.

These are the two types of cladding we are working with now but that’s not to say there aren’t other options worth exploring.

Another popular option we’ve noticed is the Standing Seam Cladding in Colorbond®Steel with Bluescope’s Matt paint technology is also a popular choice for a sleek and modern look. The matt paint gives the building depth and contrasts well with other cladding systems or materials.

And then there’s the ever-popular timber cladding for warmth and texture. Installed vertically or horizontally with various shades of raw timber can give you a sense of modern elegance, especially when contrasted with other cladding materials such as the steel mentioned above.

Which brings us to the main cladding trend. If there is one trend that dominates the cladding world, it’s the practice of combining various cladding options with timber, bricks and/or render. Combining clean lines with neutral and strong colour and texture contrasts for a sense of depth and impressive visual impact.

So what style are you looking for to turn your house into your dream home? We’d love to hear your ideas and discuss with you how we can make your home feel new again. Contact us to organise a free quote visit.

The building industry’s profit-less boom

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 00:27:00 GMT

The building industry's profit-less boom

The profit-less boom. That’s what our industry bodies are telling us the building and construction industry is currently facing. In the last few months, we have started experiencing major supply issues and are constantly being notified from our suppliers about impending price hikes. There are a few factors that have contributed to the conditions we’re facing.

Firstly, we saw an unprecedented uptake of the Government’s HomeBuilder program, followed by an influx of residents from interstate as well as continued low interest rates. Secondly, the number of natural disaster insurance repairs have seen contractors tied up on other jobs. There’s also been a back log of work due to the wet summer months and a continued supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19. We’re also told by a large number of our own clients that they are choosing to spend what would have been their holiday budget, on doing up their homes (if you’re stuck at home, why not make it a place you actually love?!).

So what does this mean for the industry, and what does it mean for Nyblad Construction? Supply issues are causing costly delays to the majority of builders in Queensland. As an industry, most builders operate by providing clients with fixed price contracts. The supply cost increases means that many builders are beginning projects that were signed off last year, with the sober knowledge that they are at best going to break even.

For us here at Nyblad Construction we are in a more fortunate position than some new home builders in that we undertake more, but smaller, projects throughout the year. This means we can account for price increases to a certain degree, however, we have had to reduce the number of days our quotes are valid for in order to lock in prices with our suppliers. As for the supply delays, we are doing our best to source materials early in the process to ensure our projects continue to work to schedule.

Master Builders Queensland has kindly provided us with a general letter to the public regarding the challenges the industry is facing available below or you can download here .

Our 7-step process

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 04:13:00 GMT

Our 7-step renovation process

Been thinking about renovating? Sometimes just the thought of gathering quotes and prices on renovations can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve tried to make the process as smooth and simple as possible; we call it our 7-step renovation process .

Firstly, we will schedule an initial appointment with our Builder Kenth at your property where you will discuss what you would like done and where Kenth will be able to suggest additional ideas or suggestions to get the most out of your space.

Based on your discussions, Kenth will do up a fixed quote with a detailed scope of works so that you can see exactly what is included. If you have any changes or additional works to be included, we will make any necessary amendments. As with most things these days, COVID has wreaked havoc on the building industry and as such, many suppliers are behind and obtaining supplier quotes is taking longer than usual. There has also been an increased demand for building and renovation services, which has also affected our quote turn-around time.

Once you are happy with your quote, we will proceed to our contract stage where we prepare all the necessary contract and supporting documents to ensure we comply with Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) regulations. As members of Master Builders Queensland (MBQ) , we use standard contracts purchased through MBQ to ensure both parties are fairly represented. This is where you will be given a renovation commencement date and a practical completion date. All our contracts include clear payment stages based on what has been completed so that you can budget accordingly.

Throughout your renovation, the admin team will send you regular updates on what has been done and the week ahead. If you are renovating a holiday or investment property, we can arrange regular site visits or to send progress photos. Our aim is to make your renovation as stress-free as possible.

When your renovation is complete, we will schedule a final inspection where Kenth will review all works undertaken before giving you back your keys and let you enjoy your new and beautiful space!

Renovations can be daunting but we always try to do our very best to ensure you have a positive experience and that we deliver you your vision on budget and on time. We have put together a comprehensive list of FAQ’s on our website to help answer some of our most commonly asked questions.

And if you have any questions that we haven’t already answered, give us a call! We’re always happy to discuss your projects and only too happy to help.

And if you don’t believe us, here’s some lovely words from a recent client who had their bathroom and toilet renovated last month.

“We have recently had a full renovation of our bathroom and toilet at Colleen Court Units in Mooloolaba and the project was carried out by NYBLAD CONSTRUCTIONS a family business based in Caloundra.

To the whole team-Kenth Nyblad, builder, Susanne Nyblad, Accounts, Linn Batey, Office Manager and Sanna Davis, Marketing, we say thank you for a job well done..

The project was started and completed on time as promised, commencing with the complete demolition of the existing bathroom and toilet to the handover of the finished product. To the numerous tradies involved plumbers, carpenters, electricians, painters, tilers, stone masons, glass fitters a big thank you, everything moved smoothly and every care was taken to minimize dust especially during the early stage of demolition and daily rubbish removal and not forgetting the cleaner who did the final clean before handover.

We are completely happy and satisfied with the finished product and would recommend NYBLAD CONSTRUCTIONS for any projects you may be considering. In appreciation and a big thank you, Rob and Mollie”

Women in building – A Nyblad Construction perspective

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 03:04:00 GMT

Women in building - A Nyblad Construction perspective

March 8 was International Women’s Day so this month we’re taking the time to talk about women in the building industry, in particularly within Nyblad Construction. With everything that is going on in the media regarding sexual allegations of our politicians, this year’s IWD Choose to Challenge theme seems fitting. But what does it mean for the building industry? Well, we’re probably not qualified to speak to the industry as a whole so let’s focus on Nyblad Construction and our experiences.

Poor (or lucky?!) Kenth did not have any sons. Instead, he and Susanne were blessed with two beautiful, well behaved and practically-perfect-in-every-way daughters (I promise, no writer bias here what-so-ever). So when it comes to helping out the family business, he’s stuck with three women (2 daughters, 1 wife in case you can’t keep up) who have chosen careers that do not require manual labour (other than carrying boxes of wine up the stairs).

And while we’re not on the tools, we do all work to our strengths within the company. Linn has surprised many clients with her extensive knowledge of the intricacies of each job. Having worked in the industry for more than 10 years and with not only a business degree behind her, but also a Diploma in Project Management and Certificate IV in Building and Construction, her ability to quote and talk clients through the jobs shouldn’t really come as a surprise.

Meanwhile, Sanna has over 7 years of marketing experience with roles such Communication Advisor at Master Builders Association of Victoria and Account Executive at a boutique marketing firm in Melbourne, which is why she’s been in charge of marketing our services to the Sunshine Coast for the past two years.

Susanne has been looking after the accounts for Kenth for the past 20 years – part of that time whilst juggling her time between the business and her responsibilities as a Medical Receptionist at a busy Sunshine Coast medical practice. With the growth of the business, Susanne left her Medical Receptionist role to focus on the financial aspects of the business.

And as the company has grown from when Kenth ran it mostly on his own, his network of subcontractors has had to get used to liaise with us women (and following proper procedures!) as well as with Kenth. In most cases this has worked very well and we’ve not had any issues. In a few rare cases, we’ve had to redirect our work orders to other contractors because of a refusal of some individuals to liaise with the office staff. In many instances this would probably have been ignored but thankfully Kenth heard our frustrations and has supported us whenever there’s been an issue.

The reality of the building industry is that with the increasing amount of paperwork needed for jobs to comply with QBCC guidelines, health and safety protocols, and to ensure jobs run as smoothly as possibly, more women are entering the building and construction industry, although more so in administration roles rather than on the tools (although female tradies are also becoming more and more common). And we’re seeing organisations such as Master Builders Queensland promote women in building more and more by holding events and awards specifically for women.

One of those events was the Master Builders Qld Influencer’s lunch which Sanna attended in February where industry influencers discussed a range of building and construction industry business topics including the importance of digital marketing and social media. And earlier that month Susanne and Sanna also attended the Master Builders Sunshine Coast Influencers event where the experiences of being a female builder in a male-dominated industry were discussed.

All in all, things may be changing for women across industries but there is still a lot of work to be done – just like across most industries if the latest news are anything to go by! We look forward to continuing to work in this space to make the building and construction industry a more women-friendly industry.

Sanna from Nyblad Construction with Hayley from Arcadia Homes at the Master Builders Qld Influencer Lunch 2021

The Master Builders Qld Influencer Lunch venue at Victoria Golf Complex in Brisbane

One of the 'must-haves' on our list for the new office was a playroom for our kids to use when they come to the office with us, ie. school holidays and if they are unwell and for the one day a week that Linn's baby boy Erik joins us in the office. TV is yet to be installed!

A Caloundra unit renovation

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 02:05:00 GMT

A Caloundra unit renovation

We do a lot of unit renovations here on the Sunshine Coast and it’s something we consider ourselves to do really well (if you don’t mind us saying so). Whilst most units are similar in the types of things we need to consider, such as structural considerations, how to best remove debris, and, believe it or not, parking(!), it’s the owner’s choice of materials and finishes that sets one unit apart from another.

One of the units that really set it apart from others was one we worked on towards the end of 2020. The owner of the unit had enlisted Architect Jonathan Briggs from JA Architects to help them achieve the aesthetics they were after.

Jonathan said the client’s brief was to modernise the apartment and give it a light airy feel.

“I selected fresh beach themed materials such as light timber flooring, light paint colours, tiles and cabinetwork to produce a design with clean lines and crisp outlining”, he said.

“We also included design items such as fully recessed sliding doors that could be completely concealed, innovative bathroom layouts and designs as well as intricate cabinet work that you would not typically see without an architect involved.

“The clients and I met multiple times during the planning stage to go over the materials to be used and to guide them towards the end result.”

Beech veneer cabinets and white bench tops for a light and and airy feel

Light timber flooring and white walls throughout to continue the light and airy feel

Our builder Kenth and our team of chippies and subcontractors worked off the JA Architects plans to deliver a truly beautiful unit that meet the criteria sought by the client.

“The new bathroom has some very interesting design features such as a curved tiled wall in the main bathroom as well as an Acrylic Solid surface HI MACS Sand White floating-shelf that runs around and underneath the shaving cabinets into the shower, separated only by the shower screen,” Kenth said.

“We had to be very careful with placement of both shelves and shower screen to ensure we achieved a seamless finish.”

Curved and tiled shower wall

Acrylic Solid surface HI MACS Sand White floating-shelf

As with all renovation jobs, some degree of problem solving on site was required. One of those instances was to relocate the hot water system from the floor cupboard in the laundry to a higher cupboard to maximise the storage space. This required some innovative thinking on Kenth’s part to ensure the cupboard could keep the weight.

“Relocating the hot water system gave the owners more storage space in the form of a broom closet that would otherwise have been dead space,” Kenth said.

As the images show, not only does this unit have a beautiful view, they now also have a beautiful interior to match. And with so many units on the Sunshine Coast, we’ve made this old unit new again.

Don’t forget to visit our Facebook and Instagram to see more images from this beautiful unit.

And if you’re considering a unit renovation, please contact us and we will book you in for a site visit and provide you with a detailed quote, free of charge.

When cute baskets aren’t enough

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 02:53:00 GMT

When cute baskets aren't enough

It’s a new year, it’s a new dawn and we’re feeling good… well let’s just say 2020 was chaotic to say the least! And from what we’ve heard, we weren’t the only ones feeling it. So in true spirit of clearing out the “junk” (you know what we’re really trying to say here right?) of yesteryear, it seems all of the Sunshine Coast has been asking themselves if their items spark joy a la Marie Kondo style or buying every single storage box at K-mart to organise their homes Home Edit style. But if we’ve learnt anything from these shows, it is that sometimes the space is just not suitable to what you’re trying to achieve. And when that happens, you need to give us a call (or send us an email) .

Take the once-upon-a-time fancy butler’s pantry that could only be found in high-end homes. These are becoming more popular than ever. Why you ask? The old way of women in the kitchen preparing food while the men stand outside showing off their barbecue skills is becoming a thing of the past. Instead, the large island benchtops have allowed us to congregate around the kitchen to chat and enjoy some nibbles and wine whilst food is being prepared. But this also means that you’ve just lost all that space for your food processor and other appliances possibly needed to serve up that gourmet meal. That’s where the butler’s pantry comes in so handy. You can simply leave all your appliances on the bench in the pantry, process the food and bring it out to your prep area to continue your chat and glass of wine!

Butler's Pantry

But the butler’s pantry is not the only clever storage solution for your kitchen. For small spaces where a butler’s pantry is just not possible and even the traditional corner pantry is missing, a pull-out pantry can be just the thing you need. Other things to consider is to convert cupboards to drawers or to have special corner drawers put in to avoid wasting precious space.

Kitchen corner storage

Kitchen corner drawers

For the bathrooms, vanities with drawers provide an excellent source of storage. Teamed with mirrored shaving cabinets and some built-in cabinets , you will have more space than you ever could’ve dreamed of! If drawers are not your thing, stacked, floating benchtops is a fun way to add some personality with various baskets or storages boxes. For the shower, consider adding a niche to remove rusty old shower caddies.

Bathroom vanity with drawers

Bathroom with mirror shaving cabinets

Stacked floating benchtops

Shower niche

So what are you waiting for. Get that Pinterest board going and contact us . We want to see all your ideas and help you achieve them!

2020 Recap

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 23:50:00 GMT

2020 Recap

Who could have predicted the year we’ve had. A roller-coaster of a year with its ups and downs and really, too many twists and turns for our liking! When we were powering up for the new year back in January, little did we know that we were about to lose almost all our booked in jobs by March; As uncertainty took hold, many people decided to hold off on their renovations and wait out the COVID-19 storm.

And not only that, our Office Manager Linn gave birth to her beautiful baby boy Erik during lockdown. Whilst Sanna was meant to step into her shoes, she found herself at home with three kids under 6, home-schooling one child and trying to entertain the other two as well as trying to do a big chunk of the admin work. Let’s just say that Linn’s maternity leave was short-lived, while Susanne’s workday was split into accounts and baby-sitting her new grandson.

Meanwhile onsite, Kenth gave his team as much work as he could, trying to avoid job losses. When there wasn’t enough work onsite, he put them to work on his and Susanne’s own home renovation to try to mitigate the lack of work. We’re happy to say we didn’t have to let anyone go due to COVID but we were all wondering how long we could keep it up. then in June, BOOM! Queensland’s building industry was in full swing again and the jobs came flooding in!

Linn and Kenth were inundated with quote requests and have been playing catch-up ever since! And working to the recommended COVID Safe Plans to keep our workers and our clients safe, jobs took longer than usual with limited workers onsite at one time and our chippies having to stay home at any sign of illness. This meant less time in the office for Kenth to work on quotes and out on site to ensure our clients’ renovations continued on schedule.

Then in October, the opportunity to acquire a dedicated office space presented itself. Whilst the plan was to be in the new office by end of November, the number of jobs we had on our books saw that milestone come and go; But we do hope to be in at the start of 2021.

Let’s just say this year has taken its toll on all of us but we have been so grateful to all our clients for trusting us into their home and letting us be a part of their renovation journey – and also for being so patient with the office team trying to keep up with all the communication and paperwork required for a renovation to run as smoothly as possible.

We know that many other businesses have done it tough this year and we truly are grateful for how the year turned around for us. To all our clients and suppliers, a BIG thank you for making 2020 so much better than what could have been.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from us all at Nyblad Construction.

Ps. We’re taking a little break from 12pm 18 December 2020. We will be back in the office and onsite on Monday 11 January 2021.

2021 Renovation Trends

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 00:24:00 GMT

2021 Renovation Trends

Let’s face it, 2020 was not our favourite year so let’s skip ahead and see what 2021 has in store for us on the home front. If you’re already busy planning your 2021 renovation, you’re sure to come across some of these 2021 interior design and style trends.

Wood and natural elements

Lighter woods inspired by the ever-popular Scandi theme continue to be popular but look for woods with interesting grain lines and texture. A more natural and ‘raw’ look is set to steal the stage in 2021.

But wood is not the only natural element. Rattan, greenery and indigenous patterns that bring a sense of outside calm into our homes and that help ease our stressed minds are also high on the trends list.

Handmade and vintage

A lot of us took up new hobbies this year to keep our hands and minds occupied while Corona was wreaking havoc. While some of us succeeded, some of us had epic fails (sourdough disasters anyone?), but I think all of us have come to appreciate the time, effort and craftmanship of something handmade. Add in our constant strive to be kinder to the planet, and you’ll find that many of us are choosing to source handmade or vintage furniture and accessories.

Contemporary meets farm cottage

Farm cottage and contemporary are polar opposites when it comes to decorating but 2021 is set to fuse these two styles together (farmpoarary?) . Think Scandi -style exposed woods with floral textiles. Light and airy but with a sense of comfort.

Earthy colour palettes

When it comes to colours, natural tones continue to take the lead – ocean blues, subtle monotones, cool greens paired with warm orange and red tones are predicted to take centre stage in 2021.

Adaptable layouts

This trend has us interested! The word is that houses that grow with families and can adapt spaces to suit the need are becoming more popular. Non-permanent walls that can be shifted to create a more versatile space or spaces that suit the current need are growing in popularity– now where was this when you were trying to do that zoom meeting in your study nook while the kids were home schooling (aka complaining loudly) at the dining table?!

But these are just trends. Feel free to buck them. With overseas holidays on pause and borders closing and opening every other day, your home is your constant. So make it a space you love and feel good in. We’ll support you either way.

Give us a call or send us an email – we would love to hear what plans you have for your home in 2021 and how we can help you achieve them.

Bathroom renovations and what to expect

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 04:44:00 GMT

Bathroom renovations and what to expect

Bathroom renovations are probably one of the most disruptive renovations to you and your family. You lose water, your regular morning routine is thrown out the window and a whole bunch of trades keep showing up at your home throughout the day – often so early in the morning that you haven’t had time to have a coffee yet.

But don’t despair, there are ways to make the experience more bearable. We’ve shared the three most common questions we receive and what we tell all our clients.

1. Where do I do my business while my bathroom is being renovated?

If you have a home with multiple bathrooms – great! Ask us about staggering your bathroom renovation (if you’re renovating more than one) so that, for example, the whole family can use the ensuite while the main bathroom is being made over. Once the bathroom is done, you can all enjoy a brand new bathroom while the ensuite is being remodelled. Easy-peasy!

If you are a single bathroom home, things may not be so simple. Think about your needs and your options. We’re always happy to organise a mobile bathroom but this will incur an extra hire charge. Other options you may want to consider include asking nearby family members or your neighbours, or using public facilities near the beach, at your local pool or gym.

2. How long will my renovation take?

There is no straight forward answer to this other than it depends on your bathroom and what you are getting done. At the absolute minimum, you should expect at least three weeks. This is to allow for things such as waterproofing to dry, shower screens and/or mirrors to be measured and then made to size before installation, as well as stone benchtops to be templated before being cut to size and installed.

Other factors that would impact the length of your renovation is your choice of tile and how many square meters of tiles you are having installed. Some feature tiles are time consuming and labour intensive. And a full wall of tiles is obviously going to take longer to complete than half-tiled walls.

Have a chat to your builder when during the quoting stage to get an idea of the time frame.

3. Where are the workers? I thought they would be here every day.

There will be days during your renovation when it may seem like nothing is happening and you think your renovation has come to a stand-still but this is actually time that has been accounted for when the schedule was drawn up.

The very first hold-up is after the waterproofing has received its first coat. This needs time to dry before another coat can be applied. Again, the time for this depends on the size of your bathroom and how your shower is configured.

Then there’s time for the tiles, grout and silicon to dry and once all the fixtures are in, there will be a lag where the shower screen, mirrors and/or stone benchtops are being cut to measure.

We hope the above answers some of the concerns you may be having before you start a bathroom renovation. Of course, if you are engaging a different builder, you should check with them to see if the above applies to their schedules and procedures.

And remember, with renovations there are always many outside factors that can impact the schedule that are out of the builder’s control. Supply chain issues (e.g. global pandemic), delayed deliveries (due to car accidents, bushfires etc) and product defects are just some of things that can throw a curve-ball to your renovation. Please be patient, these things happen and we’ll do our best to keep your renovation on schedule or as close to it as possible.

Once you are sitting in your new tub with a glass of bubbles in your hand looking around your new bathroom, you won’t regret it!

For more information on how our bathroom renovation schedules run, click here.

For some bathroom trends inspiration, click here.

And if you would like to get in touch with us about an upcoming renovation, click here.

We’re moving!

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 04:45:00 GMT

We're moving!

This year has been a bit of a rollercoaster year with COVID playing havoc with our calendars and schedules, but despite all the restrictions we have outgrown our home office and are soon moving into a brand new space in the Caloundra Industrial area.

We’re very excited about this new space, which will have a dedicated area for us to discuss plans and quotes with our clients – any excuse for a tea or coffee while we have a chat (or as us Swedes like to call it ‘ Fika ’)!

But before we move in, there are some works to be done – we are renovators after all! The team is already hard at work building us the perfect space for our office team as well as plenty of storage for all your sinks, tapware and fans waiting to be installed (Kenth and Susanne are very excited about getting their spare bedroom back, which has been acting as a safe storage room lately!).

And that’s not all, we’ll even have some extra office space to rent. So if you’re looking for a small office for yourself or a small team, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Below are some images of our team celebrating the settlement in our new space. We look forward to seeing you there soon! In the meantime, we’ll be keeping you updated on its progress through Facebook and Instagram .

We’re very much looking forward to sharing our new space with you in coming weeks!

Remaining COVID Safe on our worksites

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 00:57:00 GMT

Remaining COVID Safe on our worksites

With COVID-19 back in Queensland and on the forefront of our minds, we thought we’d give you all an update on our efforts to remain COVID safe and to continue our renovations as best we can. We continue to take directions from Master Builders Queensland on how to best protect our clients and our workers.

As such, we have implemented the following measures:

Practicing social distancing by limiting access to the site to only essential workers in activity on the given day where possible.
Minimising the number of people on site by scheduling trades for necessary tasks only, and scheduling trades that will not need to work in close proximity as well as staggering start and finish times for trades and workers (where possible).
Providing hygiene facilities such as adequate cleaning products and hand sanitiser on all sites as well as cleaning all shared tools before and after each use, providing PPE necessary for work activity and increasing ventilation for building sites where internal work is being undertaken.
Keeping our workers up-to-date by sending them updates or changes as they are given to us, including providing signage about good hygiene and social distancing and advising our team of any potential risk of virus i.e. Someone has been diagnosed or has been in contact with the virus.
Following isolation rules by not allowing persons who have been unwell, diagnosed or in contact with the virus on site until they have been cleared by a doctor and delivered a negative test, enforcing the 14 day self-isolation policy for any persons returning from overseas or interstate as well as enforcing self-isolation for any persons who have been in close contact with the virus.
Protecting our customers by requesting confirmation that no one at the premises is unwell, been overseas recently, in quarantine or in self-isolation and not making physical contact with the customer (i.e. no shaking hands).
All contract documents will no longer be signed in person at our premises. Instead we are offering electronic contracts and an appointment via phone or Zoom/Skype to go through the contract details.

All our work sites are fitted with COVID-19 warning signs to notify any visitors and contractors that we are working to COVID Safe standards and anyone entering work site is expected to follow the measures outlined above.

We can all hope that we do not see a second wave and lock down, but 2020 has proved to be a year of uncertainty. So, let’s work together to make our work sites and our interactions between ourselves as safe as possible; Wash/sanitise hands, social distance and most importantly, let our office team know if you are displaying symptoms so that we can arrange our workers to continue your renovations at a later (and safer) date.

Please contact us if you have any questions in regards to our COVID Safe measures or if you are interested in a free renovation quote.

Don’t forget the Laundry!

Fri, 03 Jul 2020 03:33:00 GMT

Don't forget the laundry!

We’ve spent A LOT of time at home lately, and we’ve come to realise that if there’s one thing that hasn’t changed since lock-down and working from home-arrangements began, it’s the amount of time you spend in the laundry. Even if you’ve been rocking trackies under the desk with that button-up shirt for the Zoom meetings, those washing piles keep adding up just the same!

For most people, the word laundry will conjure up feelings of stress and never-ending obligations. Rarely do we think of it as an enjoyable room, which is perhaps why it’s usually the last room to be renovated – and that’s if you even have a dedicated laundry in the first place! For many of us, the reality is that the laundry is a shared space with the main bathroom.

So let’s change that. We’re not saying that doing washing is ever going to be fun. It’s not. But let’s work on giving you that specific space that looks so beautiful that you can’t help smiling just a little bit when you see it – and it’s going to be so functional that you’re actually going to be able to see it because it won’t be hiding behind all those piles of washing!

First, let’s think about the must-have items in your laundry; washing machine, dryer, sink, bench space and of course, storage for detergents, washing baskets and hampers, as well as a collapsible drying rack and the ironing board. While you want all these things easily accessible, you also want them out of sight to create that functional, yet beautiful extension of the rest of the house. Other things you may want to add in, if you have the space, are things like a rail for hanging shirts or dresses, multiple pull-out hampers to sort the washing into its various colour loads.

Another thing to consider are the finishes of your laundry area. The laundry can get a bit wet and steamy from hand-washing in the sink or running the dryer etc. As such, you want materials that aren’t going to suffer in these conditions. Tile splashbacks and stone bench tops are some great choices to consider.

We’ve created some great laundry/bathroom combos lately. We’re a big fan of stacking the washing machine and dryer on top of another to give our clients that extra bench-space that’s often needed in a laundry/bathroom area. This allows for more cupboards under the bench to store the hampers, washing baskets and all the other bits and pieces.

If you do have a dedicated laundry room, placing the washing machine and dryer next to each other will allow you to add in overhead cabinets to give you more storage while still leaving you with enough room for pull-out hampers (depending on the size of your laundry of course!).

So have we got you a little bit excited about your laundry? Contact us to organise a free quote and a chat about your laundry space and how we can make that boring wash and fold cycle a little bit more bearable!

Washing machine and dryer combo in family bathroom. The large farmer's sink large enough for hand-washing whilst not looking out of place in the bathroom.

Simple but functional stacked washing machine and dryer combo with storage drawer underneath washing machine

HomeBuilder – Do you qualify?

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 02:45:00 GMT

HomeBuilder - Do you qualify?

Last week the Government announced its HomeBuilder program that would see renovators and first home buyers receive $25,000 towards their renovations or building their first home.

So the big question is, do you qualify? The Treasury has outlined eligibility criteria as follows:

You are a natural person (not a company or trust);
You are aged 18 years or older;
You are an Australian citizen;
You are an owner-occupier
You meet one of the following two income caps: $125,000 per
annum for an individual applicant based on your 2018-19 tax return or later; or
$200,000 per annum for a couple based on both 2018-19 tax returns or later;
You enter into a building contract between 4 June 2020 and
31 December 2020 to either:
build a new home as a principal place of residence, where the property value does not exceed $750,000; or
substantially renovate your existing home as a principal place of residence, where the renovation contract is between $150,000 and $750,000, and where the value of your existing property does not exceed $1.5 million;
Construction must commence within three months of the
contract date.

If you would like more information on the HomeBuilder program, we recommend you take a look at the following resources:

HomeBuilder– Frequently Asked Questions

HomeBuilder– Fact Sheet

If you qualify for the HomeBuilder grant, why not give us a call to start discussing your renovation plans? Let’s give that beloved old home the makeover it deserves!

It’s time to remodel your bathroom once and for all!

Thu, 28 May 2020 04:09:00 GMT

It's time to remodel your bathroom once and for all!

Thanks to COVID-19, we’ve all spent a lot more time at home the past few months! No doubt some of those jobs we keep meaning to get to, but are always too busy to get to, have become much more noticeable. And one of those rooms seems to be the bathroom.

We have seen an increase in quote requests for bathroom and ensuite renovations of late and thought this would be a good time to discuss trends and things to consider when deciding on bathroom remodels.

The very first thing to consider is the space and the use of the space. Is it a single-family bathroom that needs to include some shower-privacy while the kids get ready for school? Do you need more than one sink to keep the kids’ separate from the adults or even to stop all that bickering in the morning? Or are you dreaming of an ensuite that instantly gives you a sense of peace and tranquillity when you walk in? It’s a good idea to have a think about these things before you meet with a builder. Once you know how you want your bathroom to function on a day-to-day basis, you can discuss layout and options with the builder during the quoting process.

In terms of layout and design we’re seeing an increase in wet areas that feature a beautiful soaking tub and shower with multiple shower heads, all behind a glass shower screen.

Feature tiles continue to be popular to evoke a sense of drama or peace to the space – depending on your preference! Terrazzo, subway tiles and herringbone patterns are just some of the many popular trends when it comes to tiling. And with so many options of textures, colours and patterns, your choices are endless!

And when it comes to colours, neutrals and pastels matched with black or gold accessories is dominating the Instagram and Pinterest feeds lately. This teamed with a beautiful stone bench top and oak cabinets make for an absolutely stunning bathroom design, and don’t forget to add a creative flair to your mirror to match; arch mirrors are becoming an increasingly popular choice!

But remember, no matter what the trends are dictating, think about your space – are you remodelling your forever home? Do what you want! You are the one that is going to use that bathroom every day – make sure you love it! Are you remodelling an investment property? Perhaps tone it back a bit to reduce the risk of polarising your buyers or tenants.

So stop sighing every time you take a bathroom break from your make-shift home office (which is probably in need of a remodel too!). Get some ideas together of what you want to achieve and give us a call. After all, you’ve been talking about this remodel for a looooooooooong time ��

Give us a call on 0412 679 990 or email admin@nyblad.com.au to schedule a free quote.

Is your holiday rental standing empty?

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 03:40:00 GMT

Is your holiday rental unit standing empty?

With interstate borders closed and people only allowed essential travel, or as of Saturday, not travel further than 50km from their homes, many of Sunshine Coast’s holiday units and Airbnb’s are standing empty and are not bringing in any income. This is of course not a great position to be in, but it does provide owners with an opportunity to increase the worth of their investments.

The fact is that now is the perfect opportunity to renovate those units! There are no guests to schedule works around, which means you do not have to restrict your works to small maintenance jobs or quick fixes. This is your opportunity to improve those areas that attract higher rents, such as the kitchen and bathrooms, floor coverings, fresh paint throughout, window dressings and air conditioning.

Natural light is one aspect that people value a lot. And if you can combine that with a beautiful view, you are bound to get a lot of interest in your property. Unfortunately, we have found that a lot of the older units along our beautiful Sunshine Coast beaches and esplanades have separate kitchens to the living area and, a lot of the time, that beautiful view is blocked by a wall! And removing a wall in-between tenants or tourists checking in and out is not exactly ideal. Usually it means loss of income while you temporarily make your property unavailable. Which is why NOW is the exactly the time you should schedule these types of renovations.

Once we see COVID-19 restrictions lift, we are likely to see more domestic travel rather than international travel. And we are lucky in that the Sunshine Coast is popular all year round due to our wonderful climate. We should take advantage of this dead period to bring life into those units again.

Unit renovations is one of our specialties. We have worked with a number of body corporates and unit owners on the Sunshine Coast. We know what to look for and we’re always working towards improving that view and remodelling your unit to meet the expectations of your future guests.

Last year we undertook a renovation along the Caloundra esplanade. Great location and amazing view. Trouble was, most of the view was blocked by a wall in the kitchen with a little window for the breakfast bench. What a waste! Checkout the before and after photos below for the improved view and layout. Alternatively, visit our image gallery , Facebook page or Instagram to see some of our renovations on the Sunshine Coast.

So are you ready to make the most of an unfortunate situation? Give us a call on 0412 679 990 or email admin@nyblad.com.au to schedule a free quote.

BEFORE: Note the wall to the left - this was blocking the view completely!

AFTER - notice the reduction of the wall to a pillar, allowing more light to enter and a clear view of the ocean!

AFTER: More benchspace and an airier kitchen with uninterrupted view of the ocean!

Coronavirus and keeping our work sites safe

Thu, 26 Mar 2020 02:38:00 GMT

Coronavirus and keeping work sites safe

At the time of writing this we’ve just seen restaurants, clubs, pubs, gyms etc close its doors due to the Coronavirus. And so far we’re lucky enough that we can continue to renovate your homes and to keep our small family-business going. But uncertainty remains, and we are well aware that before long we may face complete shutdowns. But we’ll try to remain positive and continue our high standard of work to ensure your kitchen, bathroom, unit or home renovation is finished to the high standard expected of us.

We’re following Master Builders Queensland’s advice closely and are taking necessary precautions to try to limit the potential spread of the virus. These precautions include:

Supplying all work sites with soap and disposable towels or hand sanitiser (whatever we can get our hand on at the shops!) and are asking all trades and their teams to use these frequently throughout the day.
Limiting the sharing of tools where possible. Where this is not possible, we encourage team members to wash/sanitise hands and to give the tools a wipe-down.
Weather-permitting we’re keeping windows and doors open to provide better ventilation.
Where possible, we’re scheduling and re-scheduling trades to try and minimise the number of trades on site at the same time.
Sick team members are encouraged to stay home. Any workers that turn up with cold and flu symptoms will be sent home.

Not only are we facing potential shutdowns in the near future, but our industry is also being affected by supply delays and we ask that you remain patient as we try to source materials for your renovations. The good news is that a lot of building and construction materials are produced here in Australia. However, our suppliers do also import a lot of materials such as taps, valves, glass, nails, screws, nuts, bolts, iron and steel. That’s not to say we won’t be able to procure the supplies needed to finish your renovations. We will continue to work with our current suppliers and where this is not possible, we will look for alternative sources.

These are uncertain times but one thing that is for certain is that we will continue to deliver our services to the high standards you’ve come to expect until the government says we can no longer do so.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. Stay safe everyone and let’s get through this!

Choosing the right builder

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:45:00 GMT

Choosing the right builder

When it comes to choosing a builder to renovate your home there are some important factors to take into consideration before deciding who should be trusted to remodel your home. After all, it’s not just a renovation; it’s thousands of your dollars invested to making your home more functional more beautiful, as well as increasing your overall property value.

Paying cash

We’ve had a few clients tell us lately that other builders have offered to give the client a better price should they choose to pay cash or even say that they don’t need a contract for the works to be undertaken. If you hear either of these statements, proceed with caution.

If a builder offers to do the work for cash, you need to keep in mind that none of the works are going to be covered by warranty. But not only that, if there are any complications, the work is substandard or the builder doesn’t complete the works, you’re probably going to end up paying more in the long run to have any issues rectified – or even redone completely.

Contracts

Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) requires all builders to complete Domestic Building Contracts for works over $3,300 inc GST. So, if a builder responds to your query of a contract with “Nah, she’ll be right”, politely thank them for the quote, tell them you will look it over and get back to them – which, of course you won’t! Instead, have a look at any other quotes you’ve acquired and hope that they are from a more reputable builder.

A domestic building contract will ensure your builder takes responsibility of the works – not only by providing a warranty on all building works completed, but also by giving you a clear schedule of works and payments as well as a clear outline of expectations of the works to be completed for both parties. Yes it may seem tedious, but we’ve found that going over the works in detail when discussing the scope of works and the contract means that we (the builder) and our clients have a much better understanding on how works will proceed and how to manage any changes or complications. It promotes a much better client/builder relationship.

Comparing quotes

But not all builders are out to make a quick buck by offering GST-free jobs or avoiding contracts. For the most part, you will probably find yourself comparing quotes between builders who follow QBCC standards. So, let’s say you have three quotes from three different builders. How do you compare them? QBCC has outlined a few things to consider on their website , which include taking note of whether the builders provided the quotes on time, included references or previous work examples and your customer service experience while obtaining the quote.

To add to that, we would recommend looking at the level of detail the quote has included – less detail leaves room for more interpretation of the works, which could lead to misunderstandings in the future should works proceed. And misunderstandings tend to cost money…

And then there’s the obvious one most people look at first, price. Well this can be a tricky one. Cheapest quote does not always mean the best quote. This goes back to the previous point about level of detail. We were fortunate enough to receive a competitor quote from a client after he questioned our higher priced quote compared to our competitor. We sat down together and went through it and instantly found the source of the big discrepancy. Contracts often include Prime Cost (PC) prices for items such as tiles, tapware, baths and toilets for instance (items you, as the owner would like to have a hand in choosing). In our case, our PC amounts are based on our experience with previous jobs and a mid-range standard of goods (unless the client has already outlined otherwise). Our competitor, however, had included minimum standard goods that can be obtained at a much lower cost. Had the client not been aware of this and then chosen more expensive items, he would have received quite a surprise when the bill came in! After comparing the two quotes, he chose to go with us because, although it was a more expensive quote, it was much more realistic.

We encourage you to have a look at tapware, plumbing items and tiles before signing a contract to ensure that the allowances included in your quote are realistic for you and your budget.

We hope that these tips will help you on your way for your next renovation project. Yes, of course we would prefer if you chose us as your next builder, but we also genuinely want you to have a good experience with your remodel.

Even if we’re one of three, give us a call for a free, detailed quote on 0412 679 990 or email admin@nyblad.com.au to schedule an appointment.

For more information about how we work, see our 7-step process on our website.

QBCC’s website also has a lot of information on the renovating process and what you need to consider.

2020 Colour Predictions

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 05:29:00 GMT

2020 Colour Predictions

As we settle into the new year, we thought we’d take a look at some of the colour trends predicted by interior designers and even some from our own suppliers.

Overall natural tones and textures continue to gain popularity with calming greys, greens and blues featuring strongly. Highlight colours such as burgundy and rusty oranges are also popular and help bring a sense of depth to a room, whether through paint, accessories or textiles.

Dulux’s 2020 colour forecast takes you through its four different colour palette predictions, Cultivate (Calm and green shades), Comeback (tonal blues, warm burgundy, rust and mustard), Grounded (biscuit and caramel shades of neutrals and muted lavender and terracotta) and Indulge (burgundy, eggplant, browns, terracotta and coral). You can download Dulux Colour Forecast here.

Similarly, Laminex has produced its own four colour pallet predictions. It’s first palette called Calm, features faded colours with grey undertones in blues, pinks and greens. In the Shallows, features greens, browns and woodgrains inspired by the natural world, while Deep Below shows off deep blues, dark greys and shades of black. Finally, See the Light brings fresher and brighter tones mixed with neutrals. You can download the Laminex Beneath the Surface Forecast 2020 here.

When it comes to flooring, cool tones such as greys and whites are predicted as well as more natural tones. And it’s not just walls and floors that are going back to nature. Bathroom accessories such as stone basins and coloured basins are becoming increasingly popular.

So what does 2020 have in stall for you? A moody but calming space in tonal blues? Or a light and bright pastel-paradise with calming neutral touches? All we know is that we’re excited to see whatever dream you have in mind become reality. So let’s make it happen. Simply give us a call on 0412 679 990 to discuss your next renovation project.

Renovating your forever home vs. renovating for profit.

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 04:19:00 GMT

When it comes to renovating there are two different approaches you can take depending on if you are renovating for profit or if you’re renovating your forever home.

If you are planning on staying in your home for a long time, the money you spend on your renovation is more about creating spaces you love. Whether it be an oversized bedroom suite or a fantastic entertaining area, the spaces you create in your forever home are for you and those you love.

This is where you can have fun with paint colours, finishes and tile choices. You choose what is going to be best both functionally and aesthetically for your home. And if someone else doesn’t like it? Who cares?! It’s your home and as long as you are happy with your choices that’s all that matters.

On the other hand, if you’re renovating for profit, before you even start planning your renovation, you need to do some research. Who lives in the suburb? Families, empty nesters, retirees? This is a big factor in determining what your renovation project needs. Families will be looking for things like more bathrooms, more bedrooms, kitchen with a view of the backyard and properties that are fully fenced. Empty nesters on the other hand will be looking for properties with higher-end fittings, 2-3 bedrooms, perhaps a home office space and a more low-maintenance yard.

Then your next step will be determining your budget. When renovating for profit, you should usually aim to get double of what you spend on your property investment. And think about where you should spend your money. Spending a bit of money on the façade of the house, even just to repaint the exterior, will make a house look more maintained, implying to buyers that the rest of the property is also well maintained.

Updating the bathroom and kitchen is also worthwhile. This doesn’t mean you have to spend thousands of dollars to strip out a whole kitchen or bathroom and start from scratch. Simple fixes include new paint, new bathroom and kitchen fixtures, new light fittings and door handles. In bedrooms and living areas, usually a new coat of paint and new light fittings may be all you need to breath some new life into the property.

When it comes to your forever home, your budget is up to you. Spending a few extra dollars on the kitchen splashback or on some eclectic tiles for the bathroom will be worth the money if they spark some joy (as Marie Kondo would say!). Remember, your forever home is forever so spending a bit more to get it just right will be worth it. If you don’t have all the money upfront, consider what rooms you will be using the most and do each room or area up in stages as you can afford it.

And finally, we recommend investing in a competent building team – this goes for both your investment and your forever home. Yes, we may be biased, but ensuring you have a professional team in place means you don’t have to do things such as organising and scheduling multiple trades and ensuring that they all turn up when and where they should. It also means you have a team that have done all these things many times before – they will get the job done quick and at a high standard. Not to mention that they will be aware of obstacles or problems that you may not even have considered yet and will probably have multiple solutions up their sleeve to ensure your vision is achieved.

So before you pick up that sledge hammer to remove what could possibly be a load-bearing wall, give us a call – We’ll gladly help you create your forever home or make you a little bit richer!

Ready to get started? Give us a call on 0412 679 990 or email admin@nyblad.com.au .

Are you ready for demo day?

Fri, 04 Oct 2019 04:32:00 GMT

Got a bathroom that’s looking a bit sad? Or a kitchen that looks like your nanna’s? Perhaps your whole house is in dire need of a makeover? Well if that’s the case I’m sure you’ve done your research; you’ve probably watched endless reruns of The Block, House Hunters, House Flippers, Fixer Upper and then flipped through every home magazine you can find or perhaps you’ve even started some mood boards on Pinterest. Excellent! You’re off to a great start.

The best start to the renovation is having a clear idea of what you like and what you don’t like. And it’s even better if you’re clearly able to identify a specific style that you like, for example, Hamptons, Scandi, Beach, Modern, Farmhouse etc.

Next, think about the things you HAVE to have in your new space. Perhaps you really want a soaking tub or a walk-in-robe rather than built-ins? Or a large kitchen island with seating space? Once you know what’s really important to you, your builder can work with you to design a functional space around those things. Then you can discuss other things you would like included and see how those fit within the space.

So now you have a style and ideas ready; it’s time to find a builder. While we would obviously prefer you to come straight to us, generally speaking, you should probably get a few quotes (that way you’ll see that our quotes are a lot more detailed and include Scope of Works (SOW) as well as being competitive on price ).

Once you’ve decided to go with a builder (ahem… us…) you will be given a contract based on the agreed quote and works will commence as per contract. This is where it’s important that you have all your selections of plumbing fixtures, tiles and any accessories ready so that we can either source these for you or, if you are arranging yourself, that they arrive to the property in time for installation.

Depending on the scale of your renovation, your home will be now be overtaken by trades. While we (and probably most builders) try to make the renovation process as smooth as possible, it will be noisy and probably a bit messy at times. We recommend heading to the shops and by new furniture or accessories to go into your new space!

So, are you ready for demo day? Call us on 0412 679 990 or email us at admin@nyblad.com.au to schedule a free discussion and quote with our builder Kenth Nyblad.

Winning bathroom layouts

Tue, 03 Sep 2019 04:42:00 GMT

If you’ve been following this year’s season of The Block, you already know that last week’s family bathroom battle was won by Tess and Luke , whose functional and modern bathroom wowed the judges.

Three of the five couples had the same space but they way they chose to use that space was different in every room. While all the couples were, as usual, judged on their overall design and styling, the judges were very impressed by Tess and Luke’s layout with Shayna saying that she felt they had done the floor plan justice.

If you’re thinking about renovating your bathroom, before you start choosing all the fun stuff like tiles, bathtubs and tap-ware, you need to consider the space available and how you can change the current layout to give you a better floorplan. This might mean moving your shower to the other side of the room or knocking down the wall between your toilet and bathroom.

Sometimes the best solution is one you haven’t even considered. And that’s where we come in. Over the years, Kenth has renovated countless of bathrooms and has considerable experience when it comes to measuring the space and coming up with clever solutions to get the most out of your space without compromising on style. From there we will be able to give you a detailed quote on the cost of your makeover.

Once you have a clear idea of the space it’s time to think about your overall look and feel of your bathroom. A good idea is to collect images of bathrooms that you like and highlighting any elements that you particularly like. You can then take this with you to the tile and plumbing shops where the staff will be able to advise you on latest trends, the styles you’ve picked and costs involved.

We will of course help you out with any design questions to the best of our ability based on the latest trends and other projects we’ve worked on.

If you want some help with your bathroom renovation, feel free to give us a call on 0412 679 990 to make an appointment with Kenth for a free quote.

Cladding trends for 2019

Mon, 05 Aug 2019 04:45:00 GMT

When it comes to renovating your house, the interior is usually the first thought that springs to mind. The outside is often an afterthought and, here in Queensland, we often find ourselves turning to rendering to update an old brick home. But if you’re looking to create some interest or wish the outside of your home to reflect its interior, there are a number of materials and ways to do just that.

The trend of combining different colours and textures of 2018 will continue into 2019. By combining different cladding materials or by using the same cladding in different colours you have an opportunity to express your style and to create some interest.

In terms of materials, there is a a lot to choose from; consider weatherboard, bricks, glass and timber just to mention a few. For example, we recently combined matte black COLORBOND® steel with a warm grey weatherboard to soften the look of the steel while giving the house a modern look.

Which brings us to the topic of colour trends. Next year will see a continuation of neutrals; think greys, beige and off-white. Matte black is also on the rise to complement the neutrals.

Check out the before and after images below for how we used a combination of colours and materials to create a soft but modern look.

Renovating to add value to your home

Sat, 06 Jul 2019 04:49:00 GMT

Over the past few years, keeping up with the latest interior home trends has become more important to people than ever before. Shows like The Block and House Rules, not to mention Channel Nine’s dedicated 9Life channel, has inspired us all to live in houses with the latest kitchen and bathroom trends – and we want them now.

But if you love the area you live in, rather than spending hours and hours searching for your ‘perfect’ home, why not consider your current home and the many ways you can make it exactly what you want while at the same time increasing your overall property value? While a complete house makeover can be expensive, it will save you money on stamp duty, removalists, conveyancing, legal fees, real estate agent fees as well as those pesky utility reconnection fees!

So where do you start? The kitchen. As we’ve mentioned before, the kitchen is the heart of the home and you’ve probably heard the phrase “kitchens sell homes”. Well it’s sort of true. A kitchen renovation can include ripping out the whole kitchen and basically starting from scratch. This will give you the option to potentially open up the kitchen into your living and dining areas to create an open-plan living space. However, if you’re happy with the layout but your kitchen is looking a bit drab, change the cupboard doors and handles and update the benchtop.

The second area you should look at is your bathroom. If there is any space to add an ensuite to your property, this is definitely an area that will add value to your property. A walk-in-robe is also very popular with buyers these days. As are 2-park garages and a butler’s pantry.

Updating your flooring, lighting and window coverings will also do wonders for your property and its overall value. Many buyers are also looking for granny-flats to house elderly parents or to rent out in order to ease mortgage repayments.

But for renovations to be successful, the workmanship and finishes need to be of high standard. A shoddy paint-job or a sloping floor is not going to do you any favours – no matter how much you paid for it. So if you’re eager to get on the tools, just ask yourself first, is this a job I can do, or is this a job for the professionals?

If you’ve decided you need some help adding value to your property, give us a call on 0412 679 990 or email admin@nyblad.com.au to organise a quote.

Do you really need to spend $75,000 on a bathroom renovation?

Sat, 01 Jun 2019 04:52:00 GMT

The simple answer is no. But that then raises the question, how much should one expect to pay for an ensuite or bathroom renovation? Well, it does vary depending on the size of your space, the tiles and plumbing fixtures you choose.

We have done a number of bathrooms and ensuites on the Sunshine Coast – from basic home renovations to more up-market unit renovations along the esplanade. Our experience tells us that a full bathroom renovation usually costs between $10,000 – $25,000. Yes, it is a lot of money but it doesn’t come close to the budgets spent on The Block this year. Does that mean that your bathroom will look cheap? No. Sometimes less is more. And the proof of that statement is evident in the schathing comments from the judges when Hayden and Sara spent $75,000 on their ensuite renovation in Week 4 of the show.

Before starting your bathroom renovation, take the time to sit down and compile a gallery or file of the things you like in a bathroom and think about how much money you have to spend. When it comes to talking to your builder, make sure you tell him/her your budget and show them the look you are after. The builder will be able to advise you on how to get certain design aspects without blowing your budget. For example, love the look of Hayden and Sara’s herringbone marble-tile floor but don’t like the pricetag quite as much? Take a leaf out of Kerrie and Spence’s ensuite and use the herringbone feature as a splashback instead. Using feature tiles in a clever way will achieve the outcome you are after without breaking the budget.

Generally speaking, for a standard bathroom renovation, you need to allow for about 50% of your budget to go to trades and labour. This is because the work involved need numerous tradesmen, including plumbers, electricians, tilers and waterproofers.

To give you an idea of how much a bathroom renovation will cost you, we’ve given you a short breakdown below. However, these prices will vary from bathroom to bathroom depending on your space, fixtures, materials etc.

Minimum bathroom (small) – $10,000

Standard bathroom (medium) – $15,000-$20,000

Above standard (large/lux) – $20,000+ (In this case, the price for labour does not change much from the standard bathroom – it takes into account high-end plumbing fixtures, tiles and choice of bathtub etc.)

So whether you have $75,000 or $10,000 to spend, give us a call! We’ll happily chat to you about your bathroom dream and how we can make it a reality for you.

Does the heart of your home need an update?

Sat, 12 May 2018 05:28:00 GMT

Are you sick of looking at those peeling laminate benchtops or the heavy dark cabinetry in your kitchen? Or perhaps the layout is all wrong. If you’re dreaming of a light-filled kitchen, dining and living area instead of your closed-in 70s-style kitchen, perhaps it’s time to consider doing something about it! We love renovating, and kitchens is one of our specialties.

But it can be hard to know where to start. How do you decide what to do? Firstly, decide on the look you want for your kitchen. Trends for this year has been heavily focused on a mixture of textures and colours, such as timber, greys and matte finishes.

Marble benchtops and splashbacks are also becoming increasingly popular, as seen in the kitchens on this season of The Block. Paying some attention to your hardware can also make a big difference to the overall look of your kitchen so make sure you have an idea of what look you are going for before choosing door handles etc.

While the look of a kitchen may change over time, one thing that is always going to be paramount to any kitchen is storage. You need lots of it. And when it comes to storage options, there are many to choose from; drawers, shelves, wall cabinets, base cabinets etc. A mixture of open and closed storage is on trend, allowing you to add some greenery in the form of herbs and edible flowers.

Ready to put some heart (and style!) back into your kitchen? Great! Give us a call and we’ll happily provide you with a quote to remove and dispose of your old kitchen. We’ll also give you some great recommendations for kitchen cabinet makers right here on the Sunshine Coast.