The Challenge:
Brea and Daniel were excited at the prospect of building their very first home. They had explored display homes and looked into the first home buyers grant, but they felt a bit lost on what to do next.

The Solution:
They decided to invest in a Where Do I Begin consultation with me, and together, we navigated through some important decisions they hadn’t realised they needed to consider.

Finding the Right Block:
Our first task was to find the perfect block of land. Beyond the usual factors like cost and how close it was to shops and schools, we took the time to envision how their future home would sit on each block they were considering. During our conversations, Brea and Daniel shared their dream of having an open-plan living room filled with natural light. It became clear that the orientation of the home was crucial, so we focused on finding a block that would face north-west, ensuring that their home would be bathed in beautiful sunlight throughout the day.

Evaluating Home Plans:
Once they secured their block and started looking at potential building plans, Brea and Daniel reached out to me again for help in evaluating the designs. Brea had her heart set on a particular plan, but I wanted to make sure it would genuinely meet their needs without leading to any regrets down the track.

We had a good chat about their lifestyle—discussing their daily routines, priorities, and how each plan would fit into their lives. It became apparent that the plan Brea loved might not be the best fit after all. The second living area intended for the kids’ playroom was right in the middle of the house where we forecasted that it just wasn’t going to work for them. While it looked great, it didn’t offer a way to close it off, which could make controlling noise and clutter quite challenging.

We also looked at another option where the second living room was positioned right next to the front door. Trying to keep a playroom at the entrance of the home tidy for visitors would hinder the kids’ enjoyment of the space and cause unnecessary stress for Brea and Daniel.

Although it was a bit disheartening to rule out the designs they initially loved, Brea and Daniel recognised that they wouldn’t create the relaxed family atmosphere they were after. In the end, we created a floorplan that perfectly blended their vision—a light-filled open-plan living area, ideally oriented to maximise the block’s potential, along with a spacious playroom tucked away at the back. With the addition of a barn door, the playroom became easily accessible for the kids while allowing them to keep the toys out of sight when they needed to.

Enhancing Outdoor Living:
To further enhance the liveability of their home, I suggested a few tweaks to the plans. By repositioning the home on the block, we created just the right amount of space on one side for a clothesline and extra room on the other side for outdoor activities. We also incorporated the alfresco area into the original build rather than adding it later, giving it a sleek, integrated look. Brea and Daniel now had an outdoor entertainment space they were looking forward to sharing with friends and family.