In a Press: SMH "Apartments You can't get Into"

Spotted in this weekend's Sydney Moring Herals - Australian Financial Review an article “Apartments you can’t buy into” featuring one of our past projects – the magnificent La Corniche on Milsons Point! It was our Project of the Month some time ago.

Sydney Morning Herald featured this property as top 5 apartment blocks in Australia as “Apartments you can’t buy into” - they are too good to be sold, no matter what the money are. According to SMH despite constant offers to the owners the last sale here was in 2002, and the gossip is that the mystery buyer who then bought 2 of 5 apartments in this block paying 15milions for each was John Travolta! How about that?!

We have not seen John Travolta there (not that I would tell anyone if we did see him!). But I would not be too surprised - it’s an absolutely unique property. It was a real privilege to do such project!

Project of a month - October

One more Strata Building make over. This one is in Dee Why.

Val, the lovely older lady who is managing the property and owns an apartment here since the building was built in 60’s – is a great story teller! Hard to believe, but this was a very first building of a brand new green field subdivision. The land was previously owned by the Salvation Army, and the condition of property sale was that residents are not allowed to consume an alcohol. How peculiar!

And apparently Paul Hagan was growing up in this block! Val was telling stories of former residents “…We had those Hogans living here. Their young sun Paul was very naughty. The mother was always telling him off and saying – you will not end up well…” And then he grew up to become everyone’s favorite Paul Hogan! How funny!

After



Confirming colours



Before

Project of the month - August 2

One more strata project completed – this one is a large art deco apartment block in Point Piper.

We had to collaborat with other traders here - all brickwork was repainted and front wall recalled and we did painting as a part of the same project. We had to schedule our works so we all can work of one scaffold, to minimise inconvenience and cost to the residents. So the work was done in stages over few months.

Project of the month - July 1

OL’ Painting just completed internal common areas painting of this Seaforth waterfront apartment block – walls, ceilings, unit, service and lift doors.

Painting unit doors always requires a good communications. We have to arrange each door to be open for few hours on 2 occasions – to put 2 coats of paint.

For resident’s convenience this is scheduled on weekends, few levels at the time. At the beginning of the project we send every resident a clear schedule with exact dates unit dors on their level will be painted. Then we simply stick to this schedule. If some people can’t be at home during scheduled days – they can contact us to arrange an individual appointment at time convenient to them.

Project of the Month - February 3

We are working again at 645 Harris St Ultimo – this time to do carpark line marking. The old marking was almost completely erased. We need a parking plan to confirm lots and unit numbers. It takes a bit of organisational work to make sure that cars are removed from the area we are working on. But all is done in a day. Hopefully there will be no more conflicts when someone parked on a wrong spot.

Project of the Month - January 1

I wrote about Domain Apartments refurbishment before. We just completed a second project here – all internal signage.

We were asked to paint all old gold metal signage in off-white and paint by hand a black frame, numbers and letters on all internal plates. This became quite a large job – 14 levels, each has up to 10 units, few service doors and a level number plate.

This is very pressie and slow work. You notice funny things when you keep painting the same word over and over again. Apparently there’s two “C”s in “Recycling”!

Project of the Month - December 3

If you think that “the complete make-over’s” are only for old houses or units – think again!

Few decades ago Domain Apartments went through a massive transformation – it was converted from an office building to an apartment block.

Now the time came for a new massive interior refurbishment for this block of units – a new paint, tile, carpet, new everything! The 80’s interior of pink and brass metal is gone. It is now replaced by an absolutely stylish colour scheme of olive green, dark red, and neutrals. What a difference!

Project of the Month - December 1

This month we did some interior painting at stunning La Corniche on Milsons Point. We do a lot of up-market projects, but this must be the most unique of all!!! It looks very subtle from outside, but this is called “privacy”!

Out of respect to owner’s privacy I have not made any interior photos. But the view is so great, I rather put outside photos anyway. It’s just across a cul-de-sac from the best Harbour view ever, 10 meters from the ferry! You could do fishing from the balcony!

On a design note – finally there is a building that has a beautiful garage!!! I always wonder – why they do build nice main entries and ugly concrete garages? Most of people only enter the building through the garage and into the lift. They rarely see their main foyer. Garage design should get much more attention!

...And update... 

Sydney Morning Herald had featured this property as top 5 apartment blocks in Australia as Apartments you can't buy into"! They are too good to be sold, no matter what the money are offered. According to SMH despite constant offers to the owners the last sale here was in 2002, and the gossip is that the mystery buyer who then bought 2 of 5 apartments in this block paying 15milions for each was John Travolta! How about that?!

Project of the Month - November 1

This waterfront apartment block on Bondi Beach is undergoing a major refurbishment inside/out. Most of outside work is finished and scaffolds are coming off in a next week.

Project of a Month - SEPTEMBER 1

Weekends are the busiest time at Ol’ Painting. It’s the most convenient time for many clients to meet to arrange a quote. We always have a couple of strata title projects and we usually paint unit doors on weekends. Also most of offices have to be painted over weekend, so they continue operate as usual during a week.

Last two weekends we were doing panting for “Beanbah” strata-titled office building at Macquarie St in Sydney CBD. It hosts many busy solicitor and doctors offices. It is only closed on Sunday. This is when we had to schedule our work. By Monday morning everything has to be cleaned, all our staff taken away, so building can operate as usual.

Project of a Month - MAY 1

OL' PAINTING has just finished one of the largest Strata Title painting projects of this year Palladium - a massive apartment complex in Pyrmont, just a walk to Sydney CBD. It spreads over 1,000m², has 11 levels, 4 foyers and 279 units. Palladium was a bit more than just a project of a month - it took many long nights of planning and 5 months to complete.

OL' PAINTING painted all interior common areas – foyers, corridors, lifts, unit doors (all 279 of them!), 176 service doors, pool areas. Just think of a challenge we had – to contact every single of 279 residents and make sure they keep their unit doors open so we can paint them. Once you’ve done with this – the rest is a peace of cake! :))) We have an experience in planning and management the projects of this size, And the job run easy and on schedule. We are happy to report that during the whole length of this job we have not received a single complain from any of the residents, Palladium Management or a strata manager- Bright & Duggan.

We used low LOC water based Dulux Aquaenamel for all woodwork. As I mentioned in this article, low VOC paints are great for large internal strata jobs with poorly ventilated enclosed corridors. Conventional paints will most certainly trigger allergies and strong reaction in some residents. As we used a water based enamel in our job and this issue never came up.

Project of a Month - APRIL 2

We just completed painting for “Benleight” – Chatswood high-rise apartment block. At this stage we painted all exterior surfaces of a lower levels podium.

Blocks of units without a setback are always a bit of a challenge. You have to manage a pedestrian traffic safely. We also try to avoid using boom whenever possible – a council permit and fees usually make project unfeasible (you would think they want buildings in their area to be well maintained…). Claiming up and down a ladder all day with paint and rollers is much harder and slower then an easy ride in a boom lifts. But it helps to avoid council fees and keep the project cost down.

Project of a Month - JANUARY 1

THEN - Sugar Mill, [built 1842] at Canterbury, ca 1895

(Photo from City of Canterbury Library) AND NOW Here’s a bit of history. Built in 1842 Sugar Mill is the oldest industrial building in NSW! This original sandstone mill on a Cook River was converted to apartments about a decade ago. We were asked to repaint it.

Getting access was the challenge! The rear yard is surrounded by retaining walls and stairs. To get here 8.8tones and 22m tall boom-lift we had to think creative. We booked a huge 9tones crane to carry boom lift over the fence and the retaining wall into the yard!

And then there was a lawn... We were told us not to worry about. Residents expected it to be ripped by a boom lift and planned to replant it after painting is done. But we built a board track under boom lift wheels to protect the lawn. It’s was harder then it looked. 8.8tone boom-lift was easily smashing even thickest boards. But we are very proud that glass and paving was left undamaged!