Posted August 8 in Regional Victoria

Customer home: Luke & Tilly’s Barcelona 28 in Gippsland

 

A large block, a brand new home, and access to regional grants and a country lifestyle are just a few reasons that recently engaged couple, Luke and Tilly, chose to build their first home in Gippsland.

‘We decided to look for properties in Warragul because we had lived in suburbs near there in the past, and we knew the block sizes were substantial and reasonably priced. When we had first started searching for land, we were looking for blocks in Pakenham and Clyde that were on the market for more than what we eventually paid for our entire build,’ explains Tilly, a Business Development Manager for Dulux Australia.

‘We decided to build because we had a very specific vision for our first home and wanted to create it from the ground up. The first home buyers grant for new builds in regional areas was also very attractive. Plus, by saving on our block price, we could invest that money into upgrades throughout our home,’ continues Tilly.

Buying a ‘build ready’ block in the Waterford Rise Estate, complete with retaining and fencing, was an easy choice for the pair. The country lifestyle, affordability and close proximity to amenities only sweetened the deal.

‘Purchasing off the plan and knowing titles wouldn’t come through for another 12 months suited us perfectly, as we wanted to save money while having our block price locked in,’ says Tilly.

‘We love that our block is surrounded by farmland but is only a five-minute drive to the town centre. The developers have done a great job with the estate design and guidelines, so the look of the homes and recreational spaces is lovely.’

Finding the perfect floorplan and builder

Of all things, the grandeur of the hallway in the Barcelona home design is what first convinced Luke and Tilly that this floorplan was ‘The One.’ The additional third living space, a secluded home office, theatre space, and open plan design were a few of the other great drawcards. Coupled with the beautiful cladding and front porch of the Gallerie façade, it made for a stunning first home.

‘The master bedroom being separate to the other bedrooms and the wealth of natural light throughout the home was exactly what we were looking for,’ adds Tilly.

‘We chose the Gallerie façade because it was simple enough to not date too quickly but had enough detail to enhance our curb appeal. We also loved the options this façade gave us in terms of adding different substrates, such as the brick to the ensuite and the different feature render colours.’

Tilly and Luke first discovered Boutique Homes when they visited display homes in the South East. Despite being set on another builder’s design at the time, the superior layouts and quality of craftmanship blew them away. The fact that Dulux is one of our most trusted suppliers was simply icing on the cake.

‘We signed on to our build two weeks after meeting our New Homes Consultant – she was everything we could have asked for in a sales consultant. We also loved the lack of a tender process, so we knew exactly what we were getting into financially and that our build costs wouldn’t blow out unexpectedly,’ says Tilly.

‘It’s important to put together a list of non-negotiables and nice-to-have items prior to deciding on a builder. Some of them will be able to accommodate your list, and some won’t, while others will only be able to accommodate them at a much higher price.’

Creating our ‘good vibes only’ interior design

While the base of Luke and Tilly’s colour selections is quite contemporary, their overall interior design is truly unique. For them, their home is based on ‘feel’ rather than sticking to strict interior design rules. As a result, they’ve created a home with a modern base of monochromatic blacks, greys and whites, coupled with country-style wood floors and pops of organic feature colours such as rust, green and blue.

‘We’ve walked away from some amazing pieces of furniture just because they didn’t feel right in the space. I think the warmth and comfort our home radiates is attributed to that fact. It feels like our home,’ says Tilly.

A fan of the interior design process, the pair visited display homes and gathered samples of colours, textures and surfaces from suppliers. With the additional help of Instagram and our hashtag #OurBoutiqueHome, they walked into their Interior Design Consultation knowing exactly what they wanted to create.

‘We went into the consultation with a folder of mood boards and samples to ensure we stuck to our original ideas and didn’t just follow the trends,’ says Tilly.

‘Thanks to our research and countless emails with our Interior Designer, we went into our final colour appointment with a clear plan. We were in and out in an hour and eleven minutes! I don’t know if that’s some kind of record, but we knew what we wanted and didn’t second guess our design intent.’

Our top tips for new home builders

  • Research, research, research: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. There’s a lot of detail involved when building, so make sure you are on the same page as your builder. For example, changing a window now is easier than changing a window after the frame is ordered.
  • Ensure your design is future-proof: Ensure the home you’re investing towards suits your life and goals, both now and into the future. Look past furniture and colour trends and make sure you make interior design decisions based on your preferences and not on social media. If you love the space you’ve created, it will look much more beautiful than if you select what you ‘should’ prefer.
  • Visit your chosen design more than once: Find a display home of your home design (or one very similar) and walk through it before your selection appointments with your builder. You’ll find elements you’ll want to adjust or little additions you need to make nearly every time you go.

You can find more customer stories and design ideas on the Boutique Life blog.

Check out Luke & Tilly’s beautiful home on Instagram.

 

Have you found ‘The One?’

Share your home journey and connect with the Boutique Instagram community by using #ourboutiquehome

Are you ready to build your dream home, just like Luke and Tilly? Contact our team to get an idea of what’s possible.

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