REFRESH*DESIGN Studio for Architecture | West End, Brisbane

It is over half a year since I started living at Amos Lane in Brisbane’s trendy Fortitude Valley. The location is paramount with James Street Shopping and the Howard Smith Wharf precinct only a short distance walk and New Farm Park and Ferries close by.As an architecturally designed home, many special features stand out to my family each day. Amongst them, we enjoy the sense of openness that has been created in an upstairs/downstairs layout with an abundance of natural light captured on both levels. The accentuated vertical stairway, as well as the inclusion of skylights in two of the bedrooms, maximises the light factor featured throughout. A combination of timber and steel creates a myriad of living domains flowing from a dining space through to the kitchen and lounge rooms.With generous sliding doors strategically placed on two sides, the outdoor balcony becomes one with the indoor living and entertainment spaces. This compact and very functional design makes it so livable and relaxing alongside the warm and monochrome colour palette. The bedrooms and bathrooms and choice of flooring and cabinetry are stylish and refreshing. It is a joy for us all to live here.

Monika and her team at Refresh*Design bring a European influence to their design. We worked with them over several months to come up with a master plan to refurbish several areas of our home and help connect the inside with the outside and increase our living areas. We found they introduced several ideas to enhance our home and make better use of large unused spaces. Their ideas were very uplifting, fresh, modern and have really added value to our home, without having to add additional rooms, so overall a great result.

We recently completed the SAIOR project with Refresh design & it was a great collaboration. As builders we follow the architects plans but this project particularly required shared input due to the complex concrete works and challenging site.The architect/builder relationship is a very important component of a successful project.Looking forward to the next one!

We recently had the opportunity to work with Refresh Design on a cottage renovation in Paddington. We were immediately impressed by their vision for the home and how uniquely tailored it was to the needs of the family that engaged them. The building journey that followed was nothing short of exceptional. They actively sought to draw on our experience to ensure the most efficient building methods were used and not a single opportunity was missed to brainstorm ways to deliver a structure that was remarkable in every way. It was a truly collaborative process that was enjoyed by all involved and most importantly left the clients deeply satisfied.Sebastian & Kristy ToscanoToscano Constructions

Monika and Erhard’s design for our South Golden Beach house has been a joy for us. While aesthetics is the most obvious attraction, it comes as a result of form following function. The simplicity of design belies the sophisticated and clever hidden engineering details that produce a building that sits lightly on the ground. The house has been orientated to cater for all seasonal changes. In summer exposure to the western sun is minimized and in winter advantage is taken of the northern course of the sun to gain extra warmth. Internally there is an optimal use of space. Extending wardrobes and cupboards to ceiling height create abundant storage and it appears more spacious than the actual dimensions would have us believe. Refresh has ticked all our boxes and we love our house.

As a joint holiday home of three families with different requirements obviously the task to design Baker Boys Beach House was quite challenging. However, having worked with Erhard and the REFRESH* team on several projects before we knew that they enjoy taking on challenging projects. They listened carefully to each of us and delivered a design responsive to all of our needs - a clever and unique solution surpassing our expectations.Being builders ourselves, naturally we wanted to be involved in the delivery method early on in the project to ensure a balance of outcome and efficiency, given the project is located on an island. R* was embracing our involvement and in close collaboration with NGS engineers a pre-manufactured structural steel skeleton was developed which we could easily bolt together onsite without any welding.The result is nothing short of stunning. We love the simplicity of the house, subtle materials and the beautiful spaces which allow us to enjoy the bush and be close the beach. The house is an amazing place to come together and enjoy cooking, eating, laughing, playing games, reading books, bathing outdoors, contemplating and as well to enjoy solitude.The place has been laid out very cleverly to avoid looking at other houses, but to look over treetops straight out to the ocean and horizon while enjoying the bush setting. It’s such an uplifting experience, breathtaking and quietening at the same time.Baker Boys Beach House feels like we have a permanent camp on Stradbroke Island, and when we’re there, we can forget about our busy city lives. It’s the ideal holiday escape - Thanks to the Erhard and the R* Team.

Refresh* Design from Brisbane is an outstanding Architecture & Design Studio.I was lucky to have had the chance to work on a project for an apartment building with 5 units in a Swiss mountain village in Ticino. The project was designed perfectly, respecting the traditional values and forms of local Architecture but putting it into a modern context. The fusion was succesfull.Not only do I appreciate the professional standard and design expertise of Refresh* but also the personal and social interaction with Erhard, Monika and the team. They have tact and flair personally and know how to work with a client, yet being firm about maintaining the design concept and a clear strategy, which supports an ongoing collaboration. I was happy with the outcome and the process was smooth and enjoyable.I look forward to working on another project with them.Best,Daniel

Excellent service from beginning to end. Every now and then I have to pinch myself that my dream is now reality and I can spend my days in such a beautifully designed place. Thanks R*

My wife and I contracted Refresh Design for our proposed home that we called the ‘Cliff House’. Unfortunately it was priced by builders at least two million dollars greater than our stated and contracted budget. $2mill was the lowest builders price and more than twice our budget. I’m sure Refresh uses a QS earlier nowadays but the first suggestion to us to use this service was immediately before going to tender. Illogical!To help us get within our budget Erhard offered to only do basic drawings and nothing like the plans needed for such a project. We attempted to reach an amicable solution through mediation however Erhard then exercised his contract option and cancelled our contract. We were left with nothing. We did not even get the drawings that we had paid for. It was a very disappointing experience working with Refresh, unfortunately we could not build our dream home after spending $160k in the design stage.

From the moment we met Erhard & Monika of Refresh Design, we knew we were in capable hands. They were warm, welcoming and intent on understanding our brief. They are meticulous in all facets of the design, including making sure the design/build brief would meet a realistic budget, whilst still featuring bespoke architectural features.We have engaged Refresh for three projects now. Whilst all projects are varied in their needs, we give our complete trust to Refresh, as they deliver every single time. We highly recommend you consider Refresh for your next project.