Testimonials | JohnLewisArchitects.com.au

We are far better architects than salespeople and therefore past client referrals are a very important part of our business. Please see below some comments from previous clients. More can be provided upon request:

Our project was to build our new home on a vacant block in Cottesloe and we had spoken to several architects. The thought of a project design and build contract even passed through our minds.

We were about to make a decision when by chance we were speaking with friends who had just built with John Lewis. They suggested we speak with him before going any further. We did and after an initial meeting with John we decided he was the architect for us.

He explained the benefits of using the services of an architect and not to be fooled by the apparent “extra” cost up front as at the end of the day the combination of an independent architect and builder appointed through a selective tender process would end up costing about the same (or possibly less) than an upper market ‘design and construct’ builder, but with a superior outcome in terms of design, practicality and use of space.

We decided to retain John and were soon reassured we had made the right decision as he was very attentive to our brief and details even down to any significant items of furniture we wanted to keep in order to accommodate them in the design.

Through ongoing consultation with us, he designed a delightfully modern, attractive and practical home and during the process:

Listened to and took on board our wishes;
Guided us (sometimes persuasively) where his architectural and building experience indicated we were not on the right track;
Completed very detailed construction drawings rather than relying on long specifications seldom read by builders and subbies;
Worked through the approval process with a difficult Council;
Ran the tender process and recommended qualified builders in addition to our choices;
Assisted with selection of finishes, best suited building products, colour schemes, lighting and so on;

And he always responded promptly to any of our queries or concerns as the building progressed; and did all of the above with good humour and in a deceptively relaxed manner.

Our whole design and building process went virtually without a hitch. The end result exceeded our expectations. We are now convinced that John's independent architect / builder combination was the right approach for us and we would not build a home any other way. Thanks for your efforts and guidance during 2016/2017 John, and for a great end result.

John and Jean Durack, homeowners

Deciding it was time for a change of home we were fortunate to secure a large elevated block in the hills with city and coastal views.

Having built 3 homes over the past 25 years using builders and drafting designers I felt it was important to capitalise and maximise the benefits of our unique site and explore the opportunity of perhaps engaging an architect.

Not being previously connected to any architects I happened across John Lewis Architects whilst searching the web. The home designs on John’s web site are impressive but more importantly, John’s design philosophy and practical building experience encouraged me to take the first step of meeting with him.
What evolved from our first site meeting and subsequent consultations/conversations discussing our design brief, personal living circumstances, likes and dislikes is quite simply spectacular.

John’s ability to design a unique home with an amazing mixture of building materials encompassing spectacular architectural design elements completely fulfilling our brief and individual living circumstances is a truly specialised skill which I have not had the privilege of experiencing in any of my previous homes.

It’s a testament to John’s ability to listen to our needs, creatively encompass the unique aspects of our site and then enhance them through clever architectural design that has really added value to the completed project and is something I will be forever grateful to him for. It has definitely been worth the investment in an experienced architect such as John.

Steve and Melanie Hall, homeowners

We initially commissioned a building company to prepare a design and build quotation. After almost committing, something didn’t feel quite right so we explored the idea of an architect designed project. We are greatly relieved that we did. The difference in the end quality and value of the project is profound.

After interviewing 3 architects we were attracted to John’s realistic approach, obvious design ability and practical experience. During the design process, we worked thru a few alternatives before settling on the final design. John effectively communicated the advantages and challenges of the options and we always felt well informed to make decisions. It was a very good collaboration.

After negotiating council planning approval, the technical working drawings were of an extremely high standard which made the building process so much easier as there was no margin for error.

John conducted a competitive open market tender for us which meant we obtained the best value in the current market conditions. This is as opposed to being stuck with a non-comparable single price if dealing with a design and construct builder. John then went on to assist ourselves and the builder through the construction phase very competently. With his experience he was often able to trouble shoot potential issues ahead of time.

We are very glad we proceeded with an architect and John in particular. This has added considerable value to our project and resulted in a house we will be able to live in happily for years to come.

Josh and Holly Zucal, homeowners

We have now moved in to our completed home and can honestly say that we wouldn’t change a thing. John’s design has maximised the benefits of our specific site. The design captures our views perfectly, shields us from the strong ocean winds and westerly sun. All this while providing an environment of abundant natural light and volume with-in a well considered and cohesive 3 dimensional building form. The different zones of the house works exactly as planned for our large family and internal and external living areas integrate extremely well.

After being recommended by a previous client, we enjoyed working with John and Simon through the design and documentation stages. John was very good at explaining the thinking behind bigger picture design ideas as well as more detailed areas of consideration. We feel he nailed our brief brilliantly and the project flowed on well from there.

John coordinated the planning approval process through council and then produced very detailed construction drawings which the builder really appreciated.

I would be very happy to recommend John Lewis Architects to prospective clients considering an architect designed residence.

Daryl Cook, Managing director – Dial a Glass, Glass Processing Australia

When we decided to build a house we had some very specific design ideas but having spoken with a few architects felt dejected about our chances of implementing them. John had just completed a house for friends and when we saw it we were very impressed. We subsequently met with John, engaged him very quickly and the dream started to become a reality.

Despite having concentrated on more contemporary designs in the past, John had no hesitation in embracing the design concepts that we had long admired on Long Island in the US. His passion for getting all the details exactly right along with his thoughtfulness, his patience and his good humour were pivotal not only to our working relationship but to the design outcome. John is an architect without ego or attitude and his desire to give you something that makes you happy is what drives him yet he manages to balance all that with making sure that all the elements are in sync with a sense of flow and practicality.

Throughout the building process John was quite literally our rock and mentor. The beauty and functionality of the house will make it a space that we can truly savour in the years to come. Our builder told us that they have had more inquiries about our house than about any other they have built which is indeed a testament to John's design skills. John is already designing a house for another of our friends. His talent and reputation speaks for itself.

Kerry and Matt Zilko, homeowners

John designed and then supervised the building of our first new house. From the vision of his initial plan to his eye for detail with the finishing touches, John demonstrated his architectural flair with a good dose of practicality that really resonated with us. As well as listening to our ideas he provided valuable input into what might work best.

He worked closely and collegially with the builder to troubleshoot any problems and ensure that his high standards were maintained. He played an important role in providing direction with regard to choices for the internal and external finishes. The whole process was fun and we would design and build again with him again if the opportunity arose.

Carolien Giele and Bastiaan DeBoer, homeowners

We met John after seeking a second opinion on plans for two side by side narrow lot houses, initially produced by a builders designer. The time and cost to start over again was a tough decision, but that was outweighed by the way John proposed to work with the sites. He produced a substantially better result with much more usable indoor and outdoor space, along with more natural light and volume than we thought possible. Although John’s cost was higher, he has delivered more value than the builders designer could ever hope to. This has definitely shown us the benefits of investing in an experienced architect vs a builders designer, as for the same build cost we have a much better result, that we know will also pay dividends when we come to sell in the future.

We are very pleased with the house, it looks terrific and is incredibly easy to live in. With the constraints of such a narrow block, John has got a lot into it and it all really works. Everyone is surprised by how big and bright it feels.

His guidance during the design phase delivered exactly what we wanted at the price we had in mind, and the advice & support during construction definitely made it easier than expected. We are really looking forward to the years to come in our new home.

So thanks again for all your help, we really appreciate it.

Dan & Bree, West Leederville

John did a great job creating a design to meet our needs and fit our block.

He asked lots of questions and listened to our answers, coming back with a concept drawing that we loved. Then it was just a matter of refining the details and keeping us regularly involved in the process.

John’s practical experience ensured that my builder had carefully detailed yet very workable plans leaving little to chance. The end result being a home we are really enjoying living in. Thanks John

Mike Rowney, Managing Director, AusTim

During the time we were thinking about building we happened to view one of John’s houses in our local area and the design features impressed us. Soon after, we became aware of several other houses John had designed nearby and realized that the essence of his style was in line with our taste.

On meeting John we found his friendly enthusiasm reassuring, and felt that he was someone we could work with. While planning our house he listened and met our brief accurately. John’s building experience was also invaluable for practical elements along the way.

It has been reassuring to have his eye for detail and knowledge of the elements that warrant attention. Having now lived in our house for 12 months we are proud to call it our home and it is constantly admired. His architectural elements are obvious and result in a sense of space and flow, natural light and complementary finishes, all executed with restraint using clean lines.

John provided us with the perfect background from which to add own character, and it is now a very pleasing blend.

Jennifer Bamber-Mayes & Tony Vigano, homeowners

We engaged John to design our new house after seeing what a great job he did designing a house on a tiny, difficult block near our previous home. We watched that house being built and were amazed that so much space and light could be achieved in such a small area. When we bought a small narrow block we turned to John without hesitation.

Well, our experience both with the design and the building of our house has been a real and ongoing pleasure. John's design is all we wanted it to be and the appeal of our house is commented upon almost daily by neighbours and people passing by, as well as the tradesmen on site. It sparks everyone's interest and we can't believe how often we are approached by people asking about the design and wanting to have a look around. It is so open, airy and lovely to look at both from the inside and the outside. Yet, at the same time, it is a practical family home with a huge amount of storage and no wasted space. In fact some of our friends have been so impressed that they have engaged John to design a new home for themselves as well.

On a personal level we have found John to be approachable, friendly and easy to deal with. He has paid attention to what we wanted and has welcomed our involvement in the design process. We have been consulted yet guided the entire time. He has maintained his interest in the project, and is always available for suggestions and advice. His aim has been to design for us a beautiful, practical home that will be a joy to live in.

We believe that this has been achieved to an outstanding degree. We are glad that we are the lucky ones who live in it.

Andrew and Anne Bochenek, homeowners

After meeting with some of Perth's leading Architects and Designers we commissioned John Lewis to design and oversee the construction of our dream home. After our very first meeting with John we felt he understood our vision and had the knowledge and experience to deliver a quality home to suit our lifestyle and withstand the test of time.

Having never built a home before, John was efficient and worked closely together with us to make the process as easy as possible. He made himself readily available to us at all times and his professional service was second to none, which was a refreshing change.

Not only did we benefit from his architectural knowledge and experience, but his creativity and attention to detail was outstanding and is now evident in the finished product.

We are now thrilled to be living in an amazing home and it is a testament to John's talent and expertise. We have no hesitation in recommending John Lewis for any architectural project and will confidently commission him again.

Chris & Melissa Tsokos , homeowners

After finding our dream block of land and endless weekends scouring new display homes & builders, it was recommended we contact John Lewis Architects to help with our home design.

From our first meeting & brief which was Contemporary/Modern, Open Plan living for a growing family with an emphasis on outdoor entertaining and room for the children. John was very understanding, easy to talk to and from the first concept drawings he exceeded our expectations. John was very helpful with selecting colour schemes and interior design.

We have a fantastic home & all credit to John for his design and creativity. We would definitely recommend John Lewis Architects to anyone contemplating building a new home.

Peta & Paul McVittie, Bicton

We are about to embark on our building process with John having recently completed the architectural drawings. From the outset John has made us feel at ease as he explained everything and literally held our hand through the entire process. His honesty and open demenour shone through from our first meeting. Above all he has expert ability in blending practicality with the obvious flare and passion that is evidenced by his outstanding work.

Shari & Meryn Sundelowitz , homeowners

I have been involved with John Lewis as a client twice and as the builder for 6 of his client's houses. Thus I have experienced working with John Lewis Architects from both sides of the construction process. John has an excellent knowledge of domestic construction gained from his many years experience as an architect and registered builder. He is also a master of maximising the potential of the site in terms of light,space planning and volume manipulation whilst still maintaining a strong architectural integrity to the 3 dimensional form. He achieves all this with-in the constraints of council/statutory restrictions and budget/client requirements.

John is not a 'prima donna' architect and is easy to deal with, as well as being a very good communicator who always keeps you informed during the process of getting a project designed and built. I would have no hesitation in recommending John Lewis Architects to future potential clients.

Tom Maras, T Maras Pty Ltd, Registered Builder