Bruce Condell Design

I engaged Bruce Condell Design to completely refurbish my 18 square metre studio unit. My aim was to modernise and create more space. Bruce Condell suggested that we entirely reconfigure the layout which, although challenging, was perfect because it opened the kitchen to the morning sun, minimised the bathroom area and provided a built-in wardrobe. We removed a thick brick wall and instead used hollow walls to grab every inch of space, plus we added a funky wall bed and a feature sliding door. I have no doubt that Bruce’s experience in yacht design gave him the skills to transform what was an enclosed 18m2 into what is now a sunny, spacious and slick inner-city bachelor pad.

Bruce Condell of Blue Sky Homes helped to redesign our home, which was purchased in the process of construction in 2003. This involved completely rethinking the floor plan, cladding and overall design. Bruce's ability to problem solve and find innovative ways around unexpected issues was very helpful. What we have as a finished home is something completely individual and accomodating to our needs as a family. It is incredibly warm in winter and cool in summer and we rely on minimal energy to heat it. It is a solar passive home that has a stand alone solar system and woodfired hydronic heating. It functions beautifully as both a modern piece of architecture and a practical living space. It is a credit to Bruce's experience in environmentally sound design principles and his ability to work with a client to ensure their vision is an integral part of the overall design process. I would highly recommend Bruce and appreciated his experience in dealing with council and his knowledge of the building process, as well as his genuine interest in our project. Judy Knowles "Watermark" Bendoura NSW

I would highly recommend Bruce to anyone. I have done a few renovations in the past working with architects. This is the first time I have used a Building designer and I won't be changing! Bruce will get my future jobs! Bruce has been by far the best and easiest to work with. Being a builder he has got on job experience and practical ideas.He is also a local and knows the area and other trades. Bruce had a look at our place come up with some good ideas then drew up our plans for council. As with any plans we had some changes and alterations and Bruce was fast and it was very easy. I also thought the price was very reasonable.

Excellent relationship with builder conducting renovations to a 1870s home. Excellent ongoing communications, open discussions with options when faced with the unexpected problem. Excellent quality of work. Completely satisfied and highly recommended.

I would highly recommend Blue Sky Homes.My house is modest but somewhat idiosyncratic in it's design and details, Bruce was undaunted by the challenge posed to his company, he was humorous and professional.I couldn't fault the workmanship. The project management of subbies saw deadlines reached and budgets maintained, although dealings with council required tact and patience, Braidwood has a harsh climate but the design and quality of the building has seen it surprise everyone at how comfortable it is to live in with very little energy consumption. Thanks Bruce.

Bruce Condell designed an extension for us at Bombay Road Braidwood. We wanted a new living space for our growing family with an open plan and lots of light. Bruce was really easy to work with and having a building background helped us achieve what we wanted and within budget. He was really great at dealing with council and very timely in delivering the whole design. I would highly recommend Bruce to anyone.

Bruce Condell designed an extension on my house in 2014. I really liked the style of his houses and the way he incorporated timber and corrugated iron, which I wanted to include in my house. I wanted the design to be as energy efficient as possible and to incorporate sustainable products. Bruce has been in the industry for many years and has a lot of experience dealing with council, as well as having developed good relationships with reliable tradespeople. Having a building background meant that Bruce’s ideas were not only interesting and innovative, they were also practical, and we were able to build within our specified budget. Most importantly, Bruce listened to, and implemented my ideas, even when I changed my mind halfway through the process. His approach is a collaborative one, he is easy to talk to and I would highly recommend his work.

Bruce has recently completed an entire home renovation and extension for us. From the beginning with drafting plans, liaising with council to the completion of the build Bruce has been fantastic to work with. This is the 3rd major renovation we have undertaken and from start to finish, Bruce has been a consummate professional to deal with. We turned our 2 bedroom 1 bathroom cabin into a four bedroom, 2 bathroom, 2 deck home with little interruption to our day-to-day life. Thanks to Bruce, this is the first renovation we have undertaken that has been stress free from start to finish. All trades Bruce engaged carried themselves with the same professionalism and dedication that we now know first hand is how Bruce operates. The journey was so good, we had Bruce around for Christmas lunch to celebrate in our new kitchen and home.

Majors Creek Renovation and Additions. Our home sits on 100 acres of predominantly grazing land, a working farm. The original house is 100 years old - an ad hoc coming together of two old local schoolrooms, with a couple of lean-tos added in the last 30 years or so. The house was freezing in winter, with a truly impractical floor plan, and although it had its rustic charm when viewed from the outside, was badly in need of an update. Our brief to Bruce was “something simple, warm in winter, practical as a farm house and attractive….somewhere we could entertain guests in comfort”. He was limited by the surroundings and our boundary line in that the only viable place for the proposed extension was to the south, but this did not daunt him. Bruce was very easy to work with, listening carefully to what we wanted, and offering the advice of many years’ experience. He soon came up with a stunningly ingenious yet simple plan…knock down the old and pointless lean-to which included the very distant bathroom and toilet and replace with a new open-plan living area, connected to the old house via a wide passageway, simultaneously creating two large paved courtyard areas to the east and west and increasing our outdoor living space dramatically. The old original cottage then became the bedrooms (3), bathrooms (ensuite and guest) and laundry area of the house, with the wide connecting passageway, doubling as a library, leading into what had been a useless dull room but now the cosy music room. New insulation was added in the walls, new flooring laid and the old cottage was transformed into comfortable sleeping quarters and a second indoor living area. The new open-plan living area is Bruce’s masterpiece. He used galvanised iron and local hardwood to produce a building which looks totally contemporary and yet fits seamlessly with its farm and garden surroundings. As we have three dogs, the polished concrete floor is both beautiful and ultra practical, whilst also functioning as a heat sink for the winter sun. The sun streams in the full length north-facing windows in winter, warming the living space and retaining heat overnight. On sunny days the log fire is not required at all, even in the depths of winter. With views to both courtyards and the orchard beyond, the outlook is superb. In summer, the sun is too high to reach into this room, keeping the temperature down, helped by the elegant pergolas over both courtyards which support deciduous vines. Both courtyards have under window plantings to help facilitate cool breezes in summer. Other little details e.g.: a wooden deck from the main bathroom, a pond beneath the guest bathroom window and a rear mud-room, just add those extra finishing touches and amenity which make the house very special. Bruce managed to design a beautiful, yet practical home for us, which did not cost the earth and which fully met our expectations. The old cottage retained its charm, blending seamlessly with the unique new addition. A local craftsman even managed to produce beautiful recycled furniture for our new living area, using timber from the old lean-to. We love it, and so do our family and friends.