Design Yard 32 Blog

Medical Tatiana Volodomanova Medical Tatiana Volodomanova

Dental Surgery Design: Planning a Fitout That Works for Dentists and Patients

A dental surgery is one of the most infrastructure-intensive fitouts in commercial design - equipment dictates the room before a designer draws a line, and compliance shapes every space. This post covers what actually drives the layout decisions, from services infrastructure and radiation shielding to zone logic and room-by-room requirements.

Read More
Beauty Salons Tatiana Volodomanova Beauty Salons Tatiana Volodomanova

Beauty Salon Fitout Cost Melbourne: What to Budget

Beauty salon fitout costs vary significantly depending on salon type, size, finish level, and whether you are fitting out a new tenancy or renovating an existing space. This guide covers what drives the budget for hair salons, nail salons, beauty clinics, barber shops, and day spas - and how to plan a realistic budget before you talk to builders.

Read More
Residential Tatiana Volodomanova Residential Tatiana Volodomanova

Knockdown Rebuild Melbourne: When to Demolish and Start Fresh

Deciding whether to demolish and build new or work with what you have is one of the bigger calls a homeowner can make. This guide covers the decision framework, demolition process, Victoria's 2025 planning changes, costs, and what makes Mornington Peninsula knockdown rebuild projects different from a standard Melbourne suburban project.

Read More
Residential Tatiana Volodomanova Residential Tatiana Volodomanova

Second Storey Addition Melbourne: Planning, Cost and What to Expect

Adding a second storey is one of the most effective ways to gain space when your block won't support a ground floor extension. This guide covers structural feasibility, Victoria's September 2025 planning changes - including the bedroom overlooking exemption - permit requirements, the design process, and what to budget for a second storey addition in Melbourne.

Read More
Retail Design Tatiana Volodomanova Retail Design Tatiana Volodomanova

Shop Fitout Cost Melbourne: What to Budget and Why the Range Is So Wide

A Melbourne shop fitout can range from $1,500 to well over $3,000 per square metre - and both figures can be accurate at the same time. What you actually pay depends on shell condition, fitout level, joinery specification, and what the 2026 construction market is doing. This guide covers street retail vs shopping centre fitouts, the Mornington Peninsula premium, and every cost driver worth understanding before you sign a lease.

Read More
Hospitality Tatiana Volodomanova Hospitality Tatiana Volodomanova

Restaurant Interior Design: What Makes a Great Dining Space

Restaurant interior design is about more than aesthetics - the floor plan determines your cover count, the lighting scheme makes a lunch-to-dinner shift possible, and acoustics can make or break a guest's experience. This guide covers the decisions that matter most, from seating mix and open kitchens to the outdoor dining and NCC 2025 changes affecting Victorian fitouts now.

Read More
Beauty & Salon Tatiana Volodomanova Beauty & Salon Tatiana Volodomanova

How to Choose a Salon Interior Designer (and Why It's Not Like Hiring Any Designer)

Choosing an interior designer for your salon is not the same as choosing one for any other commercial space. Salons have technical demands - ventilation, plumbing, electrical load, acoustic separation - that most generalists have not had to resolve before. This guide explains what a specialist actually produces, what the briefing process should look like, and what to watch for before you sign anything.

Read More
Hospitality Tatiana Volodomanova Hospitality Tatiana Volodomanova

Cafe Floor Plan: What Needs to Be Resolved Before a Designer Can Draw One

Most cafe owners expect a floor plan at the first design meeting. In practice, it's the output of a process - not the start of one. This post covers what site constraints, service model decisions, and kitchen scope questions need to be resolved before a meaningful floor plan can be drawn, with particular focus on small cafes under 80 square metres.

Read More
Hospitality Tatiana Volodomanova Hospitality Tatiana Volodomanova

Cafe Ideas: What the Best Melbourne Cafes Get Right (and What Most Get Wrong)

The best cafe fitouts feel effortless - but that quality is the result of specific design decisions made before construction starts. This guide covers the ideas that matter most: counter placement, seating that fills evenly, lighting strategy, material durability, and how regional cafes in Victoria require a different design approach from inner-city Melbourne venues.

Read More
Hospitality Tatiana Volodomanova Hospitality Tatiana Volodomanova

Cafe Fitout Melbourne: Design, Compliance & Cost Guide

A cafe fitout in Melbourne or on the Mornington Peninsula involves four separate approval streams, food safety standards that shape every kitchen design decision, and cost ranges that vary significantly depending on tenancy type and heritage constraints. This guide covers what operators need to understand before engaging a builder - from planning and building permits through to grease trap requirements, liquor licensing implications, and realistic timelines.

Read More