OUTSIDEINSIDE Building Elements

Patricia’s detailed design generally met our expectations and in some cases exceeded them. Her suggestions about the size and placement of windows have transformed our living area and lounge room. Her suggested layout for the kitchen and the use of granite bench tops has created a space that is both functional and welcoming. Her suggestions for the floorboards from the front door to the back have added to the warm and intimate spaces she created in the kitchen and living area. Of the two bathrooms, the ensuite in particular has been transformed into a peaceful retreat while the tiles in the old bathroom have been imaginatively matched to reflect the 1920s style of the older part of the house. Perhaps we should have checked the unnecessary expense of some items such as the towel rails more closely. Patricia led us to materials and suppliers that we would not have found by ourselves – the bathroom tiles, floorboards and granite benches in particular – and her care with understanding what we wanted meant that her design generally delivered according to how we imagined the renovation.

Excellent design plans, fulfilled our brief perfectly . Had the latest ideas in design and maximised use of small spaces especially kitchen. Great working partnership with builder. Readily available on phone and visited worksite when needed. Good contacts with suppliers and expedited and guided us with choices . Our project was an extremely pleasant and hassle free experience.

We had a few ideas but it was the 'unknown unknowns" and the brilliant way it was all put together by Patricia that really made our journey to a renovated kitchen and bathroom much,much easier and successful. Patricia was always very professional,accessible and reliable. Her costs were a really sound high yielding investment.

Words don’t exist to describe how happy we are with the look of our kitchen and bathrooms, all thanks to Outsideinside. From start to finish, Outsideinside were consistently professional and highly skilled. We were dreading the thought of choosing fittings and fixtures for our renovation, however Outsideinside made the process fun and the results speak for themselves. We feel Outsideinside managed to capture who we are as a family, and we now have a home that we love spending time in together.

Patricia was recommended to us by a friend who had used her services as part of a renovation and was described as a fabulous person!We spent many hours with Patricia who guided us through the process of designing many elements for our new home including kitchen, bathrooms and other feature cabinet and robes within the home. Her expertise and methods for helping us see the vision before it was constructed were something we found invaluable. Patricia's contacts and relationships with suppliers are also a key the success as were her referrals to specialist services to assist with additional elements such as lighting. Patricia listened carefully to our extensive requirements and went above and beyond in helping us achieve our ideal home, despite the many changes we made along the way. She was also one of the few people who I could rely on 'getting back to me' when she said she would! It was a fun yet very professional experience and I'd not hesitate in recommending Patricia to others needing an Interior Designer.

Patricia was recommended by several locals as an excellent designer. We agree wholeheartedly. She listens to your needs and provides an excellent solution, going the extra mile. Unlike many, she will listen to what you want and change things accordingly. My first statement to her was, "I don't want any grand statements". Then I ended up suggesting the use of granite for the splashback in the kitchen and made one myself - see the photos... Patricia is very good at working out the use of small, awkward spaces and her solution for our bathroom and laundry was brilliant and inventive. Our new kitchen works very well and the workflow is excellent. The surfaces are brilliant and the cupboard design is fantastic with ingenious and efficient use of space. The large pantry drawers behind the full height double doors next to the fridge make storage and finding things easy and the three kick panel drawers are great for flat objects. Patricia also included many delightful design touches such as the open shelving flowing from the kitchen into the laundry and bathroom, all matched to the oak flooring. It works very well, looks great and brings the whole design together. The bathroom gets lots of "Wows" from visitors. The beautiful tiling, smooth vanity sink, stand alone bath and large, walk in shower look and work sensationally well. As well as designing the new kitchen/bathroom/laundry space she provided a colour scheme for the entire house - outside and inside - as well as flooring throughout the house, a combination of oak boards and carpet. Patricia worked closely with the builder to make sure we were happy with the outcome and that all work was up to her exacting standards. We are extremely happy with the outcome and have no reservations recommending Patricia. She is a warm and thoroughly exuberant professional.

While the finished product will look great (we’re almost there!), we are disappointed that, in spite of a number of discussions during the planning phase, there were a number of errors made and form has seemingly been prioritized over function. This feedback has been provided to Patricia.

Patricia is nothing short of fabulous. I absolutely love everything about our kitchen and bathroom. She listened closely to our requirements, observed how we live and designed spaces that perfectly suit us; from the colours, textures and finishes, through to how the space is organised. I would say her key strength is being able to read her clients personality and lifestyle to perfectly design something that suits them. She's also a colour specialist. The whole process was so enjoyable. She was warm, friendly, relaxed and always very professional. We'd 100% engage her again on any future renovations. Oh; and did I mention she's a multi-award kitchen and bathroom design winner?!

Patricia offers something that no other designer I have come across has done. Above and beyond her creativity, professionalism, expertise, and forward looking, enduring and gorgeous designs, what sets Patricia and Outsideinside apart from the others is Patricia's understanding and empathy for people. Patricia knows exactly what people need in order to be in love with and feel at home in their homes. Patricia intervened when our renovation was going off the tracks. She made the overwhelming straight forward, and 'meh' to magnificent! Renovating your home is an incredibly personal and intimate process. I highly recommend Patricia who made me feel completely at ease and courageous in the process. We are now 3 years post renovation and not a day goes by when i don't admire what we achieved together (our bathrooms, my kitchen)! If we ever move again I'm calling Patricia! Thank you!

We approached Patricia following a personal recommendation from a friend. Patricia provided us with a contemporary and stylish design and was on hand to give suggestions and to make any modifications from the start of our kitchen renovation until its completion. She liaised closely with the builder and the work was completed in a timely manner and to a very high standard. There was clear communication between ourselves, Patricia,and the builder throughout the process and we are extremely happy with the final results

After research on several interior designers, we are so glad we chose Patricia La Torre, Outside Inside Building Elements. Our initial contact was friendly, professional and her willingness to listen to what would suit our lifestyle and budget made a wonderful first impression. Patricia's many years of experience and contacts was certainly evident right through our project consisting of kitchen, living area, bedroom, en-suite and powder room. Her guidance in helping us choose tiles, flooring, bathroom/kitchen accessories, colours etc. made the process fun and a lot easier. The documentation of the project presented to us covered every detail. Patricia, with our builder, Estate Building and Renovating, make a dynamic pair to solve any unforeseen problems. During the process, Patricia was constantly monitoring progress by phone and site visits. We would certainly recommend her services to anyone looking for an interior designer. We are absolutely delighted with the finished product, it has changed our lifestyle for the better.

OutsideInside are an excellent, well regarded company that is located in the North Fitzroy Village near my home. I loved working with Patricia La Torre and her team. She was unfailingly punctual , good humoured, well prepared and enthusiastic. She has a direct and inclusive style of communication which I valued and which allowed me to contribute fully during the design and delivery phases. The kitchen is beautiful and easy to operate and be creative in. Patricia's professionalism and communication with the team of builders, installers and others necessary to achieve such a beautiful result ensured everything ran smoothly from planning through to completion. She was highly respected by them. I cannot recommend her and her company highly enough.