Professional

Engage architect for extension design. Brief: 6m forward extension full width, Georgian facade, new master suite above, expanded lounge + Bed 4 below. Arrive with concept pack.

Benchmark: double-storey addition in Sydney ~[price hidden]–5,000/sqm

Find a registered private certifier (PCA) for construction certificate and inspections. Must be accredited under NSW Building Professionals Act. Get fee quote. They will do: CC, critical stage inspections, occupation certificate.

Get RFQ out before architect engagement — validates budget before committing

Town planner to prepare: Statement of Environmental Effects, clause-by-clause DCP compliance table, shadow diagrams, privacy assessment, streetscape analysis. Coordinate with architect for drawing set.

Critical first step — flags heritage/character constraints before design spend

Engage town planner to advise on: front setback for 6m extension, secondary dwelling permissibility, staged DA option, and any heritage overlay.

Engage a registered surveyor for: (1) Boundary survey and identification survey, (2) Contour/levels survey (critical for garage due to 5m slope), (3) Detail survey of existing structures. Needed before architect can start design.

Double-storey extension likely requires full DA

Phase 1 DA for internal works: kitchen renovation, open-plan conversion, bathroom renovations, internal structural changes. Simpler DA — may qualify for CDC if no external changes. Lodge via NSW Planning Portal.

Rule of thumb: 10-15% of build cost for fees

Phase 2 DA for major works: 6m forward extension, double-storey addition, underground garage, new Georgian facade. Full DA required (not CDC). Town planner to manage submission. Ku-ring-gai processing 10-14 weeks.

Ku-ring-gai has strict LEP/DCP controls — engage early

Target local Upper North Shore firms with Georgian/heritage experience

Cover: total floor area target, bed/bath count, must-have rooms (study, mudroom, butler's pantry), Georgian language to preserve (symmetry, sash windows, render/brick, roof pitch, chimneys), modern interior elements (open plan, glazing, kitchen style), site constraints (north orientation, views, neighbour overlooking), budget envelope.

2-3 hour session with experienced residential interior designer. Review mood boards, validate material selections, get professional eye on spatial planning. Not ongoing engagement — just a reality check.

Architect presents initial massing studies and floor plan options. Evaluate: spatial quality, flow, light, cost implications, council risk. Workshop to select preferred direction.

Before lodging DA, get QS to cost the concept design. Identifies where you're over budget BEFORE you commit. Allows value engineering while design is still flexible.

Document what Georgian means for this project: proportions, symmetry, materiality, moulding profiles, window ratios. Define where modern interventions happen (kitchen, bathrooms, rear extension).

Present final concept package: floor plans, elevations, renders, material palette, colour scheme. Get explicit sign-off before proceeding to detailed design + DA. Both partners must agree.

Review QS cost plan line by line. Where can we use simpler construction? Standard sizes vs custom? Alternative materials? What can be deferred to a later phase?

Hand off final concept (brief + plans + renders) to a professional to translate into DA-compliant drawings. Don't lodge DA on AI-generated plans alone — buildability, structural, and compliance need real expertise.

Professional service. Critical before any design. Roseville ridge likely has sandstone at shallow depth. Geotech report needed for: bearing capacity, excavation feasibility, groundwater, slope stability. Report feeds into structural engineer design.

Professional service. If required: lodge via NSW Planning Portal. Include structural drawings, geotech report, site plan, Statement of Environmental Effects. CDC is faster (10 days) if compliant. DA is 8-12 weeks.

Priority 1. Engage a kitchen designer or architect for concept drawings before getting builder quotes. Scope: open plan kitchen + dining + living.

Final review of kitchen layout with designer before ordering. Check: work triangle efficiency, island dimensions, storage zones, appliance clearances, lighting positions, powerpoint locations. Sign off drawings.

Tile layout drawings, niche positions, screen type + size, vanity dimensions, mirror size, towel rail positions. Waterfall vs trickle shower. Freestanding vs built-in bath.

How does the house look from Archbold Road? Georgian proportions, entry statement, window pattern, roof form, materials expression. Critical for DA approval.