Kyal and Kara's Shelly Beach lift, from the garage up.
Kyal and Kara are putting a Swift lift into their Shelly Beach renovation, running from the garage through the ground floor to the first floor. They found the shaft by moving the staircase forward, which is the question most renovations get stuck on.
Project Overview
Finding a lift shaft in a renovation
Shelly Beach, New South Wales
Most people assume a lift means losing a room. In this renovation it did not: by bringing the new staircase forward, Kyal and Kara opened up a shaft alongside it that runs from the garage to the first floor. Nothing was added to the footprint of the house.
In their own words on the project: "By moving the stairs forward we've been able to gain a lift shaft, from the garage > to ground floor > to 1st floor. Lift is happening." They shopped around before choosing Aussie Lifts, and the lift going in is a Swift. Installation starts shortly.
Kyal and Kara are documenting the whole renovation as it happens. If you want to follow the progress, including the lift going in, their Instagram is the place to watch. @kyalandkara on Instagram.
Why the garage matters
Starting the lift at garage level is the part worth copying. It means the shopping, the pram or the suitcases come out of the car and go straight up, rather than being carried through the house. For a family home that is the difference the lift makes on an ordinary Tuesday, not just in twenty years.
Three levels, no extra footprint
Garage, ground floor, first floor. The shaft sits where the staircase used to run, so the lift is not competing with a bedroom or a cupboard for space. Getting that decision made while the stairs were still on paper is what made it cheap.
- Garage to ground floor to first floor
- Shaft gained by moving the new staircase forward
- Swift lift, supplied and installed by Aussie Lifts
- Certified to AS1735.15, on 230v single phase power
Where this one is up to
The shaft is built and installation starts shortly. We will add the finished lift, the specification and photographs to this page once it is in.
