Bringing reno dreams to life

Bringing reno dreams to life

You imagine it, they make it happen.

That’s the mantra of Ultimate Kitchens and Bathrooms, whose end-to-end renovation service has for the last 14 years left a swathe of satisfied clients around Melbourne.

Director Jeff Richards and his team are passionate about ensuring renovation dreams – from ultra-modern kitchens to contemporary bathrooms – are realised.

Starting the business in 2006, Ultimate Kitchens and Bathrooms has grown from a humble operation with two full-time employees housed in a small showroom, to its current position with 13 staff and around 40 contractors.

Mr Richards, who has over 40 years of industry experience, said that despite the fact their showroom was in Hawthorn, his team were frequently employed to work in Docklands.

In fact, with three current jobs in the area and three to come, it’s become a happy hunting ground for the company. 

After completing a number of jobs in the area, he hopes to continue their work servicing Docklands’ apartment market.

The renovation process itself is daunting for many.

Things can appear complicated and some may feel they’re drowning in industry jargon and paperwork.

That’s why the process is conveyed simply throughout by the experienced team at Ultimate Kitchens and Bathrooms.

They know that communication – and as such, peace of mind – is key.

This involves an initial chat to discuss needs and requirements for the project, followed by an in-home consultation with one of their designers.

From there, they’ll start swapping ideas and present a full concept plan before showing the colours, fixtures and smart storage ideas to lift the renovation.

Once the technical documentation is sorted out they will assign an experienced project manager who oversees all stages of the work, ensuring it remains on time and on budget.

From here, the dream transformation starts to be realised through the work of registered builders and tradies.

At the end, it’s handover time, of both your new room and the warranties and certificates required by Australian law.

And having done this thousands of times, it’s the most satisfying part of the job for Jeff and his team.

Get in contact now - they’re ready to listen. 

Ultimate Kitchens and Bathrooms’ showroom is open Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturdays 10am to 4pm, at 1035 Burke Rd, Hawthorn East.

For more information visit ultimatekitchensandbathrooms.com.au or call 9882 4103.

 

A consistent and trusted business

By Asleen Mauthoor

Eyes on Docklands opened its doors at the end of 2014 and has since been providing “a continuity of care” to the Docklands community, says optometrist Sue Callahan.

The practice is now well-established as a trusted business providing a high level of service locally.

“We don’t have a constant turn over of staff members, so our customers can expect consistency,” Ms Callahan said.

“We are looking after people who are working and living in Docklands, so we have a good relationship with the community, as well as members of the chamber of commerce. Construction workers in the area also come to us for treatments, such as foreign body removal.”

With a strong focus on eye health, Eyes on Docklands offers comprehensive optometry services, using state-of-the-art optical and diagnostic equipment to treat eye diseases and disorders.

As well as conducting routine examinations, the practice specialises in red-eye treatment, and looks after patients suffering from diabetes, inflammatory disorders, macular degeneration and glaucoma.

“At Eyes on Docklands we have the ability to treat and diagnose glaucoma rather than referring clients on to a specialist, which is much easier for our patients,” Ms Callahan said.

The practice takes a holistic approach to eye health and, where required, works closely with ophthalmologists and doctors.

“Clients are referred to us from other practices. We can diagnose, treat and receive referrals for dry eye syndrome, which most practices don’t talk about, despite this problem being very common, especially in the 40-plus age bracket,” Ms Callahan said.

“Usually our clients are between the ages of 20 and 70, however we treat everyone from children to the elderly.”

Optometrists warn that many common eye diseases have no symptoms, and without a thorough regular eye examination these diseases can go undetected for years, leading to long term damage and serious visual consequences.

“Everyone needs to get an eye check-up on a regular basis,” Ms Callahan advised.

Located on Bourke St, the team at Eyes on Docklands comprises optometrists Sue Callahan and Kristina Iacovangelo, two opticians and manager/dispenser Gary Billings. Gary has considerable expertise in frames and lens technology, including safety eyewear and sunglasses.

Eyes on Docklands stocks and fits spectacles and sunglasses from high-end brands such as Prada, Tiffany and Co, Tom Ford and Dolce and Gabbana. The practice also supplies a variety of sportswear frames to support general health and fitness, and offers a full range of contact lenses.

Eyes on Docklands is located at Shop 5, 840 Bourke St.

For further information, visit: http://www.eyesondocklands.com.au

 

An African-fusion adventure

African-inspired CBD bar polépolé (meaning relax, slowdown and take it easy, in Swahili) presents a new two-level dining space wrapped in safari-style canvas: an exquisite full-service dining experience downstairs and a fun and energetic themed bar, Glamp, upstairs!

Behind the red door (located above Lorna Jane at 267 Little Collins St), is an inner-city African themed dining oasis decorated with beautiful African artworks throughout. Go up another floor and you’re met by the stunning Glamp cocktail and function space, featuring two indoor tents similar to what one might experience on a real African safari.

Through extensive travels in Eastern Africa, owners Dean and Jeanelle Mariani fell in love with the vibrant cuisine and rich culture of Tanzania and Kenya, where the adoration was poured out on both the décor and curated dishes.

“The ethos behind polépolé was to blend our love of African flavours with Melbourne’s stylish food and wine culture – the result has been something incredibly unique in Melbourne’s thriving restaurant scene,” Dean said.

Mixing modern Australian cuisine and traditional African recipes and ingredients, guests at polépolé (pronounced pol-eh pol-eh) are instantly drawn to the exquisite flavours of each thoughtfully-crafted dish on the menu – hand-crafted from spices sourced around Australia and throughout Africa.

Head chef Felipe Bley has led the venue’s new chapter, evolving from a bar serving delicious, African-inspired snacks to the double offering it is today – with two lively and cohesive venues in one – offering everything from after-work drinks to unique restaurant dining and events.

Chef Felipe will be busy smoking many of his meats in-house, including the wildly popular smoked goat curry. With each dish designed for sharing, polépolé provides the perfect opportunity to take yourself on a culinary safari through the plains of East Africa, across the Nullabor and back to Little Collins!

By bringing a fusion experience, the polépolé team has been able to get creative and be inspired by places and ingredients.

For the more adventurous diners, polépolé also offers a rotating special menu featuring African-inspired game dishes scarcely available outside of the Serengeti.

Each week an exciting star dish graces the specials board – featuring unique ingredients such as fresh crocodile, roasted ostrich and char-grilled wild boar, to name a few.

The attention to detail doesn’t stop at the delicious food. Dean and Jeanelle have sourced 12 of the best native African beers to match the the menu, along with the crafty cocktail list.

To finish off the night right, diners can wander up to the wonderland venue Glamp Bar upstairs. The oasis of the city is the perfect spot for a post dinner cocktail or as simple as an after-work drinks. The Glamp Bar truly is like nothing else in Melbourne and is an experience not to be missed.

polépolé is open Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm to late.

polepolebar.com.au

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