Minimalist. Modern. Stylish. Those are the words that first come to mind when you step into Cindy and Dennis’ striking Oslo 29 with the Luxe façade.
Along with their two-year-old son, Nate, the self-proclaimed homebodies wanted to create a space that would be perfect for entertaining their wide network of family and friends.
The Oslo 29 floorplan fitted the brief perfectly, offering four bedrooms, two living areas and a spacious master with adjoining walk-in-robe. A hefty upgrade from the couple’s first home build, Cindy and Dennis took advantage of all the tech Boutique Homes had to offer, including refrigerated cooling, high ceilings, induction cooktops and double wall ovens.
‘We built our first home as a house and land package with a smaller builder to break into the property market. This was a great start for us, but the plan was always to buy or build a bigger home when we were ready,’ explains Cindy.
‘Our build with Boutique Homes was the first time we were able to include everything we knew we wanted in our family home. I love that the theatre room (which is currently a playroom) is adjacent to our kitchen, so I can keep an eye on Nate when I’m cooking. The open plan kitchen/living/dining is perfect for us, and we love the flow of the home.’
Finding our bespoke design style
For Cindy and Dennis, their home colour palette was inspired by the clean lines of the Luxe façade.
‘We really loved the understated elegance of the Luxe façade. It’s modern and minimalist, which ties in with our tastes perfectly, and it was reasonably priced as well,’ says Cindy.
The sophistication afforded by the exteriors is continued throughout the home with shades of cream, black and grey. High ceilings, wood-look floors and pops of colour in furnishings and prints keep the home feeling warm and welcoming.
On top of her broader research, Cindy says she found her interior inspiration by following the Boutique Homes’ hashtags #boutiquehomesvictoria, #ourboutiquehome and #wefoundtheone on Instagram.
‘I found it really helpful to see other people’s colour selections and ideas, especially for builds which were ahead of our own. It really helped to solidify what we wanted in our own home, and it was useful to see how others had customised aspects of their home to give us ideas we may not have otherwise thought of,’ says Cindy.
‘We now get new home builders asking us about our double ovens, the tiles we used and the coloured cabinetry we have. It feels nice to help others in their journey, just like we were helped in ours.’
To take a closer look at Cindy & Dennis’ journey, follow their Instagram @our.oslo.on.the.hill.
What to expect from the build journey
Cindy and Dennis were first drawn to Boutique Homes when visiting display homes at the beginning of their journey. Impressed by the ingenious floorplans and stunning facades, they knew they were on to a winner. However, it was the upfront pricing and premium standard inclusions that finally convinced Cindy and Dennis that Boutique Homes was their builder of choice. The pair loved that they received a fixed price – before they signed a contract.
‘None of the other major builders could give us a detailed quote for a comparable home without us first putting down a deposit,’ explains Cindy.
‘The fact Boutique Homes were able to tell us exactly how much our upgrades would cost – from increased ceiling height to an extended garage – before we handed over a dollar really increased our trust in them as a builder.’
‘We had an amazing experience working with our New Homes Consultant, in the initial stages.’
With the couple’s first home a pure investment, Cindy says it was fun to ‘live and breathe’ their Boutique Homes build. Together, they personalised their floorplan to suit their lifestyle and created an interior design scheme that would suit their family for the long haul.
‘I loved the process of colour selections and all the research that was involved to work out exactly what we liked. It was so exciting to then see all of our selections come to life. Watching an idea in your head turn into reality is so satisfying,’ says Cindy, who received weekly updates from their Site Supervisor.
‘From slab to frame to bricks, we had a great relationship with our Site Supervisor and he did a fantastic job building our home.’
Our advice for home builders
- Prepare for your Interior Design Consultation well in advance: This process can be really overwhelming if you haven’t researched beforehand. Follow the Boutique Homes suppliers, such as Caesarstone, Polytec, and ILVE, on Instagram, and order plenty of samples, so you can see what colours and finishes you are drawn to. And don’t forget to bring along photos of your favourite interiors to your appointment, so you can show your personal Interior Designer.
- Visit as many display homes as possible: Walkthrough each display home and envision your everyday life there, from morning to night and on weekends. You’ll quickly realise which floorplans do and don’t work.
- Must-haves need to come first: Get a clear idea of what you can afford before you start looking at selections, and then write a list of structural must-haves versus nice-to-haves. It’s all too easy to get swept up in the process, so it pays to know your priorities from the outset.
Ready to start your journey to find ‘The One?’
Learn more about the Oslo home design or talk to one of our friendly New Homes Consultants. See more of Cindy & Dennis’ beautiful home on Instagram @our.oslo.on.the.hill
Have you found ‘The One’?
Share your home journey and connect with the Boutique Instagram community by using #ourboutiquehome