“I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Acorn Construction. In fact, I already have.”
For Paul Bishop and his family, Bank House had always offered one thing in abundance: a beautiful, expansive garden. But inside, the house didn’t quite work for the way the family lived day to day. As their two boys grew older and family life became busier, the need for more practical, shared space downstairs became increasingly clear.
That’s when they turned to Acorn Construction to help reshape their home.
Creating Space for Family Life
The family’s original dining room simply wasn’t keeping up with their needs. The room felt cramped, the table had become more of a storage spot than a place to gather, and mealtimes were increasingly squeezed around the breakfast bar.
“We wanted somewhere we could all actually sit and eat together,” Paul explains. “The dining room was too small for the table, and it made it really hard to move around.”
But the goal wasn’t just about creating a bigger dining area. The Bishops wanted a flexible space where the family could spend time together during the day, while still giving everyone room to do their own thing.
“We wanted space for the family. Somewhere our eldest could do his homework and where all four of us could be downstairs together, without everyone disappearing into their bedrooms.”
Practical issues elsewhere in the house also needed to be addressed. With two active boys regularly coming home from sport, the existing hot water and shower setup wasn’t keeping up.
“We had two electric showers that couldn’t be used at the same time. With two boys playing more sports, that was becoming a real issue.”
Choosing the Right Builder
The project went through a formal tender process organised by the architect, but Acorn Construction quickly stood out.
“Acorn came back as the most competitive option,” says Paul. “They could start when we needed them to, they were recommended by the quantity surveyor, and they had answers for every question that was put to them.”
But beyond the numbers, Paul had another priority: finding a builder who respected the home and the family living in it.
“Our expectations were simple. We wanted someone who listened, delivered what they promised, and treated the rest of the house with respect.”
The Build: A Major Transformation
The scope of the project quickly evolved into a comprehensive transformation of the ground floor and key areas of the home.
Works included:
- Removing the kitchen wall and extending the rear of the property
- Installing a new kitchen and opening up the living space
- Extending the downstairs bathroom into the garage to add a shower
- Creating a new coat room using part of the garage
- Refitting the upstairs bathrooms
- Installing a new pressurised hot water system
- Implementing a new drainage system across the acre-sized garden
- Running water and electricity to an existing garden shed
Throughout the build, communication and planning proved crucial.
“Sam was only ever a text message away,” Paul says. “He would usually respond within a few hours at most, and extra costs were always estimated accurately.”
Most importantly, the project stayed on track.
“We moved back in on the exact day Sam promised at the very start of the build.”
Overcoming Challenges
As with many renovation projects, some unexpected issues surfaced along the way—particularly around drainage.
“The soakaway in the garden turned out to be poor,” Paul explains. “Sam flagged it early and gave us several possible solutions with clear costs. In the end we chose the most substantial and effective one.”
Other improvements emerged through proactive suggestions from the Acorn team. For example, when structural work risked disturbing the bathrooms above, Sam proposed tackling the refits at the same time.
“He remembered a conversation we’d had about possibly redoing them in the future and suggested it would be easier and cheaper while everything else was happening.”
Even design and supply problems from the kitchen supplier were handled behind the scenes.
“There were wrong pieces, missing units, and even parts of the design that physically wouldn’t work,” Paul says. “Sam and his team solved all of it without me having to get involved with the suppliers.”
One of the most impressive technical achievements involved the underfloor heating. The original plan required raising the floor level, creating an awkward step into the new kitchen space.
“Sam worked tirelessly to remove the need for that,” Paul explains. “Now we have no step at all, and the underfloor heating actually extends into parts of the existing house.”
The Result: Falling Back in Love With Home
Today, the difference in how the Bishops use their home is dramatic.
“The biggest improvement is simply space,” says Paul. “Space for the family. We can all be downstairs now, but doing our own thing.”
The project has fundamentally changed how they feel about the house.
“We’ve fallen in love with our home again. We always loved the garden, but we felt like we had to accept the house that came with it. Now the house finally matches the setting.”
A Builder Who Cares About the Outcome
For Paul, the experience working with Acorn Construction stands out not just for the quality of the work, but for the attitude behind it.
“Sam approaches everything with a sense of pride,” he says. “You always feel like he genuinely cares about the outcome and wants you to be happy with the work.”
Even neighbours took notice.
“Our neighbour is a retired builder and he commented that Acorn were the nicest, most polite and tidiest gang he’d seen in his 40 years in the business. He’s already recommended them to members of his family.”
Paul himself has also passed on the recommendation.
“I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Acorn Construction. In fact, I already have.”