BOOK A DESIGN CONSULTATION A home full of possibilities? We bring clarity to help you begin.
Spend two focused hours with a registered, experienced architect, exploring what your home could become, what matters most and how to move forward.
Then You can see the potential in your site or home.
Whether you have a folder of inspiration, floor plans to test, an existing layout that isn’t working, or a big idea ready to develop.
let’s turn those ideas into a clear direction toward approval and construction.
Spend two focused hours with a registered, experienced architect, exploring what your home could become, what matters most and how to move forward.
$900 inc. GST
Let’s bring your ideas to life.
A focused, personal session to explore your site and your home’s possibilities, clarify your priorities and map out your next steps, followed by a written summary, preliminary concept ideas and clear recommendations.
Fill out the form
STEP 1
Tell us about your home, goals, budget and key questions, and upload any plans, photos or inspiration you have.
Choose your time and secure your booking
STEP 2
Select an available time via the calendar and complete the $900 payment to confirm.
Meet with our team
STEP 3
Work through your brief, site opportunities, design ideas and early feasibility to shape your project.
Receive your summary and next steps
STEP 4
Receive a written summary, key recommendations and clear next steps to move forward.
First, tell us about your home
Submit your project details using the form below, then follow the calendar and payment link directly beneath it. Submitting the form alone does not reserve an appointment.
You don’t need everything worked out. Your goals, an approximate budget and a few thoughts about what you’d love to change are enough to begin.
STEP 1: Your project details
Use “Submit enquiry” to send your consultation details, then continue to booking below.
STEP 2: Choose your time and confirm
· Choose an available two-hour consultation time.
· Enter your details to secure the appointment.
· Complete the $900 payment to confirm your booking.
Your appointment is confirmed once the booking and payment are complete. You’ll receive the meeting details by email.
Consultation cost
· The two-hour online design consultation is $900 including GST.
· An on-site consultation in the Lake Macquarie area is an additional $100.
· For an on-site consultation in Sydney, the total additional fee is $200. For locations outside Lake Macquarie, travel is quoted separately based on your project location.
· Select your preferred meeting option in the form and we’ll confirm any applicable travel fee before your appointment.
STEP 3 & 4: Meet, explore and move forward
During your two-hour consultation, we’ll work through your brief, priorities and the possibilities for your home. The conversation is collaborative and shaped around the questions that matter most to your project.
During the meeting
- Review your site, existing plans, photos and inspiration.
- Explore layout ideas, opportunities and constraints.
- Discuss priorities, budget considerations and early feasibility.
- Identify the decisions and next steps that will help your project move forward.
After the meeting
- We’ll send you a concise written summary of the discussion, including key ideas, preliminary concept direction, recommendations and agreed next steps giving you a clear reference for what comes next.
A good first step if…
You’re planning a new home, renovation or addition, comparing options for a challenging site, or looking for an architect’s perspective on plans you already have.
Make the early decisions with more confidence.
A layout, extension or site decision can shape your whole project. This session gives you space to question assumptions and explore the opportunities before committing to detailed design.
See what’s possible
Explore how a better layout, more natural light and a stronger connection to the garden could transform the way your home feels and works.
Clarify your ideas and direction
Define your priorities, understand the key budget drivers and focus your investment where thoughtful design can make the biggest difference.
Move forward with confidence
Leave with a clearer brief, practical recommendations and a written summary to guide the next stage of your project.
Have a question before booking?
Email hi@residentialstudio.com.au and tell us what you’re planning.
What $900 includes
Before
Bring your project into focus.
A short project questionnaire and the opportunity to share plans, a survey, photos and inspiration ahead of your session.
Together
Two hours dedicated to your home.
A personal consultation with our team to explore your ideas, discuss opportunities and constraints, and identify your priorities.
Afterwards
A useful reference to keep.
A summary of the discussion, visual clarity and key recommendations and agreed next steps.
Come with ideas and then leave with direction and confidence.
You’ll leave with greater clarity and certainty in the next steps for your home.
Meet Barb
Barbara Busina is the Founder and Principal Architect of Residential Studio, a NSW Registered Architect with more than 18 years’ experience.
Her approach brings together thoughtful planning, healthy and sustainable design, and the everyday realities of family life. Residential Studio brings a warm, collaborative approach with room for both the exciting possibilities and practical questions.
Residential Studio works across NSW with projects in Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, the Hunter, Central Coast, Port Stephens, Nelson Bay and Sydney, with virtual consultations available for further sites.
Frequently asked questions
What could we unlock in your home?
Every session is shaped around your project. We’ll focus on the questions that will help you move forward, such as:
- Could your existing home work better? Explore room layouts, circulation, storage and the relationship between shared and private spaces.
- How could it feel lighter, healthier and more connected? Consider daylight, ventilation, privacy, outlook and indoor–outdoor living.
- Where should you focus your investment? Discuss your must-haves, competing priorities and the decisions that influence cost.
- What needs to happen before you begin? Talk through your site, early design possibilities, potential approval pathways, consultant needs and project stages.
You don’t need finished plans or all the answers. That’s what we’re here to work through together.
Do I need existing plans or a survey?
No. Share whatever you have—this might include existing plans, a survey, real-estate drawings, photographs or simply a sketch of your ideas.
We can still have a productive conversation if your project is at a very early stage.
What should I prepare before the consultation?
Think about what is working, what is not and what you would most like to change.
A short list of priorities, an approximate budget, site or home photos and a few inspiration images will help us focus the session on the decisions that matter most.
Can you review plans or ideas I already have?
Yes. We can review existing architectural or builder plans, sketches and AI-generated concepts with you.
Identifying strengths, gaps, practical considerations and opportunities worth exploring further.
Is a consultation useful before buying a property?
Yes. A consultation can help you consider a property or site’s broad opportunities and constraints before you commit.
It provides early architectural guidance, but it does not replace formal due diligence, planning advice, surveys or specialist reports.
Can we meet on site?
Online bookings are held via Google Meet. On-site consultations may be arranged depending on your location and project needs.
What is the scope of the consultation?
This is a standalone paid consultation providing project-specific architectural advice.
Full design documentation, consultant coordination, approvals, detailed selections, visualisations and builder-ready drawings are separate services.
If you would like to continue afterwards, Residential Studio can prepare a tailored proposal for the next stage.
Your next step
- Tell us about your project. Open the consultation form below and share your goals, location, approximate budget and any material you already have.
- Choose your time. After submitting the form, follow the calendar link beneath it to select an available two-hour appointment.
- Pay and confirm. Complete the $900 payment through Stripe as part of the booking. Your online consultation includes a Google Meet link.
