| 103 T T Russell Fredric Renovation rewarding – and even personal A transformational feature of the interior renovation was altering the conventional ceiling into a vaulted ceiling lined with negative detailed European birch plywood, and adding a skylight, plus a cantilevered bay window. Blueskin Build BUILDING Working in an unrelated sector was the key that unexpectedly unlocked Ollie Borrie’s passion for building, leading him to starting his own business, Blueskin Build, in Dunedin. After gaining a degree in consumer and applied science, and working in furniture and environmental design, Ollie completed a building apprenticeship with an award-winning Christchurch builder “and didn’t look back,” he says. “I worked in design for three years, and I’ve always enjoyed hands-on work, and I didn’t like being stuck in front of a computer. Through uni I always had labouring or landscaping jobs.” Blueskin Builders employs three builders, and Ollie is not shy in conceding 2024 was a tough year due to the overall economy, but this year is looking much better. “We’ve just started a new build in Corstorphine near Tunnel Beach, and we’ve got a lot of small renovations, bathroom fit-outs, kitchens, and we’re just finishing an extension out at Doctor’s Point.” The new build, expected to take six to eight months, is a spacious 290sqm home with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The job came from a word-of-mouth referral, with Ollie being introduced to the client by a representative at Placemakers “and went from there”. “I’ve got a good relationship with Placemakers – they look after us,” he says. Renovation work is one of Ollie’s passions, and something he finds incredibly rewarding. One project Ollie is proud of, and potentially with some bias, is the major renovation of his own, formerly “old and cold” home, a four-bedroom 1960s’ house with a garage and basement, on an elevated site. “It was a wind box that we double-glazed and reinsulated. Because it’s very windy we put an extra precaution of putting ply over the framing, and then the building paper, which really helped with wind resistance. “It had a very small lounge, and living area with very low ceilings, and I had the idea to completely open that area up. It gets really good all-day sun, so the plan was to open it up.” The laundry was moved downstairs and a guest bedroom and bathroom added. A transformational feature of the interior renovation was altering the conventional ceiling into a vaulted ceiling lined with negative detailed European birch plywood, and adding a skylight, plus a cantilevered bay window. “It let in a lot more light, and having a big deck when you can use it, it’s just amazing. It looks down to St Clair and over South Dunedin and down to Taieri Mouth.” The ceiling reconfiguration involved eliminating the hips and valleys of the roof and re-pitching it to create gable ends at the rear of the house, while the original exterior of Summerhill stone and roughcast has mostly been replaced with dark-toned Linea Oblique, with one elevation painted in a grey tone for an aesthetically appealing contrast. “It’s turned it from a house to a home. The kids just love it. It’s warm, it’s dry, it’s really opened it up. It’s great for entertaining and now has great spaces for family living.” “There’s so many homes in Dunedin that do have a beautiful outlook, and because they’re so old they’ve just been designed not facing the right way. I think a lot of people are realising the potential of what they can do.” PLACEMAKERS DUNEDIN & MOSGIEL PLACEMAKERSDUNEDIN & MOSGIEL 50 BURNS ST & 34 CARNCROSS ST (03) 466 4617 PROUDLY SUPPORTING Dedicated to professional and reliable domestic electrical services around the Dunedin area. Give Devon a call on 0273101735 for a free quote today.
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