A kitchen renovation with Ivan Bodnar follows a plain order: talk first, look behind the cabinets, put the scope in writing, then do the work with Ivan directly involved. You deal with Ivan at every step, not with a call centre or a sales representative.
CONDITION REFERENCE
Benchtops and cabinets covered while work goes on around them. Protecting what stays is part of planning the job, and so is deciding what stays.
Start by telling Ivan how your kitchen needs to work and what isn’t working now: not enough storage or bench space, damaged surfaces, an awkward layout, fittings that are hard to clean or showing their age. It helps to know early whether you’d like to keep the existing layout or are open to changing it.
You can call Ivan on 0413 142 055 between 9:00 and 18:00, any day of the week, or send an enquiry through the quote request form. Ivan reviews each enquiry himself. Sending one doesn’t book a visit. It starts the conversation about whether an on-site assessment makes sense.
The assessment is free. Ivan looks at what your kitchen already has: the structure, the condition of the surfaces, any signs of moisture, whether the substrate will suit new finishes, and how the existing plumbing and electrical services can be reached. From there he explains practical options, including what can be kept, whether existing cabinets could be reused and what would need removing.
In a St Kilda apartment, the visit also covers access, noise, waste removal and any owners corporation conditions. More on that in Apartment & Heritage Considerations in St Kilda.
An inspection can’t reveal every concealed issue. Some conditions only show once cabinets or splashbacks come off. Read more about the On-Site Kitchen Assessment.
Reference: kitchen mid-renovation, unfinished floor and services visible.
Ivan prepares the written quotation after the assessment, not before, and it is free. It sets out the scope you discussed on site: layout, cabinetry, surface preparation, suitable materials and finishes, and any work that needs licensed trades.
Because the quotation is based on what was visible during the assessment, it also notes where hidden conditions could change the scope, such as moisture behind a splashback or damage under old flooring. You can then decide with a clear idea of what is included. See Written Quotation for detail.
Once work begins, Ivan stays directly involved. He carries out the work within his lawful scope and is responsible for the standard of his part of the job. Surface preparation comes before new finishes, so cabinetry, benchtops and splashbacks go onto a suitable base.
Where plumbing or electrical changes are needed, Ivan coordinates appropriately licensed specialists for that work. He keeps you informed as the job progresses, including when an opened wall or lifted floor shows something that needs discussing before work continues.
WHO DOES WHAT
Ivan Bodnar is an independent sole trader with approximately 15 years’ personal renovation experience. He does not claim trade licences or builder registration that haven’t been verified. Appropriately authorised specialists carry out licensed plumbing and electrical work.
Scope, permits, registration, insurance and licensed trade requirements differ from one project to the next. Contract, insurance and approvals wording is confirmed for each project rather than assumed. For more on how regulated work is handled, read Licensed Trades for Plumbing & Electrical or About Ivan Bodnar.
☐ What bothers you most: storage, bench space, surfaces or layout
☐ Whether you’d like to keep the existing layout
☐ Which cabinets or appliances you hope to reuse
☐ For apartments: any owners corporation conditions you already know about
☐ Signs of moisture, swelling or uneven floors you’ve noticed
Ready? Start with step 01.
