For interior designer and mother of three, Aimee, and her husband Paul, finding a home that was practical, stylish and in a location with room to move was key to the long-term happiness of their family. Building Boutique’s Riviera 32 on their corner block of the Armstrong Estate has truly kicked that goal.
‘We had friends who had built through Boutique, so we went and had a look at some of their displays. We fell in love with the Riviera 32 and it had everything we wanted,’ says Aimee.
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‘There were large designated living areas and rooms for the kids, so they have their own space and can be loud and noisy without bothering us too much.’
‘We loved the community feel of the estate. There are lots of play areas and facilities for the children, including a gym and pool, which they love.’
After extensive research, Aimee and Paul knew they had found ‘The One.’
‘We asked a couple of industry contacts about Boutique, and they all said they were the builder they had the best relationship with and that had the best build quality,’ says Paul.
‘We decided on the Riviera 32 for the flow of the display. We walked in and thought ‘yes, this feels like home.’
What to expect from the build journey
Beyond the fixed upfront pricing and the incredible service of their Site Manager, Aimee says the ease of customising the floorplan to meet the needs of their family was exceptional.
It was more cost-effective for the pair to create their ‘forever home’ from the beginning – 52 customisations later, and they had their perfect nest.
‘If we wanted to change something – be it remove a wall, create a larger mud room for the kids, or put in an extra linen cupboard – it was really affordable with Boutique. We could personalise the house to our lives and the way we wanted to live, without it costing an arm and a leg,’ says Aimee.
‘Dale was fantastic – he sat down with us to come up with a plan that worked with our budget.’
Creating a unique interior design
Having created the dream interiors for so many clients, the pressure to design her own bespoke style was considerable for Aimee. Boutique’s colour appointment, she says, was a gift.
‘Being an interior designer, sometimes it’s actually a lot harder to choose things for yourself and for your own home. Taking the day to make selections together – without the children – and to be guided through the entire process was terrific,’ says Aimee.
Click here to be inspired by the journey of other Boutique customers who have found ‘The One.’
‘I was very organised – I had paint and carpet colours picked out, and matched those with furnishings we already had. It changed along the way, but we were so happy with how it turned out.’
‘Everything was laid out on a mood board and photos taken on the day so we could look it over once we got home.’
While their style has evolved over time, the pair decided on a mid-century modern feel, created mostly through the furniture. Permanent surfaces were kept neutral to ensure longevity and that future owners could stamp their own interior style.
‘My favourite room would have to be our own bedroom. It’s a very large room – probably the biggest we’ve ever had – and I’ve just painted the feature wall behind the bed. Once the sheer curtains went up it just felt like home,’ says Aimee.
‘I love watching the sunrise over the open space of the estate every morning.’
Top advice for new home builders
- Visit as many displays as possible: ‘It’s hard to make a decision in your colour appointment without seeing the final product. If you are going to do it, do it right,’ suggests Paul.
- Look for fixed pricing: From fire levy charges to site costs, Paul praises Boutique’s transparency and comprehensive base price. ‘Boutique’s fixed pricing was amazing. You knew what you were paying and what you were paying for, with no surprises along the way,’ he says. ‘It gave us much more confidence making financial decisions and budgeting for what we were trying to achieve as a family.’
- Take advantage of the Boutique community: Aimee began her Instagram page @our.abode when the couple first purchased their block, with the intention of documenting the process of their build and her interior designs. But for Aimee, her followers have given as much as they have taken. ‘Lots of our ideas have come from other Instagram accounts in the Boutique and wider build community,’ she says. ‘They’re very supportive and open to offering advice. It has helped evolve our thinking and it really feels like a family.’
Ready to start your journey to find ‘The One?’ See more of the Riviera home design or talk to one of our friendly New Homes Consultants. See more of Aimee & Paul’s beautiful home on Instagram @our.abode
Have you found ‘The One’?
Share your home journey and connect with the Boutique Instagram community by using #ourboutiquehome