Be Shaw Drafting handles the design and documentation for all types of alterations and additions across Newcastle, the Hunter Region, Central Coast and Port Stephens.
Thinking about adding to your home or reconfiguring what you’ve already got? Be Shaw Drafting handles the design and documentation for all types of alterations and additions across Newcastle, the Hunter Region, Central Coast and Port Stephens. We measure up the existing dwelling, work through the design with you, and produce detailed plans ready for council or certifier approval.
A lot of the families we work with have reached the same point. The kids are getting older, they’re spending more time at home, and the house that worked a few years ago isn’t quite cutting it anymore.
Two kids sharing a bedroom is fine when they’re young. Less so when one of them needs quiet to study and the other has friends over. And one bathroom between the whole family starts to feel very small very fast when everyone’s trying to get out the door on a school morning.
For most families the decision isn’t whether to do something about it – it’s what to do. Stay and extend or move on. Many choose to stay. The home is close to school, close to work, close to everything that matters. It just needs more space.
Every project starts with a measure-up of the existing dwelling and a conversation about what you’re trying to achieve. From there we develop a design that works with the existing structure and suits the way you live.
Not every addition goes through the same approval process. Some smaller works qualify as complying development and can be approved quickly through a private certifier. Others require a DA through council. We confirm the right pathway for your project at the concept stage so there are no surprises down the track.
Good design isn’t just about adding space. It’s about making the entire home function better. A few things we consider on every project:
Living spaces are positioned to make the most of northerly sunlight where possible, with window placement, sizing, and shading considered together rather than as an afterthought.
An addition should look like it belongs. We design to suit the existing construction, materials, and roof form so the result feels like part of the original home, not bolted on.
Locating windows opposite one another creates natural airflow through the home, reducing reliance on air conditioning and improving comfort year-round.
At the end of the process, the home should simply be a more comfortable place to live. That’s the measure of a good addition.
Not sure what’s possible on your property or where to start? Get in touch for an initial consultation. We’ll look at your site, talk through your ideas, and give you an honest picture of what’s achievable and what the process looks like.
Servicing Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Cessnock, and the broader Hunter Region.