For Regional Education Director Greg and his wife Carol, the learning process of building their first home has reached its exciting conclusion, with the couple picking up the keys to their Hampton’s inspired four-bedroom residence this week.
The Start
The couple bought the property 17 years ago initially as an investment and at the time did not consider a knock-down re-build could be a potential outcome. Like most good things, it was a matter of the right place at the right time, with their tenants looking to move out almost exactly when Greg and Carol began toying with the idea of building.
The Family Home Sells
“We had been looking for established homes around Kallaroo and it was so expensive to buy something built in the 1970’s, considering they would need to put work into it. We could have bought something newer too but they were even more expensive.” Greg said. “We have saved at least $400,000 doing it this way and we got to personalise it from the start, rather than try and put our stamp on it at an extra cost, again.”
With the family home in neighbouring Padbury selling within twenty minutes during the first home open, the writing was on the wall and they plunged into the process with Plunkett Homes.
Choosing The Design
“We looked at hundreds of display homes, and become very discerning by the end of it. We knew there were certain things that we wanted, like an entry that was just an entry, so if we walked into a display with a garage door coming off it, I’d say ‘Right, Carol, let’s get out of here!’”
“We met David at the Colorado display. We told him that this wasn’t the kind of home we wanted to build, he then suggested that we check out the Long Island display in Jindalee. From the first minute we walked in there we knew we had found the one.” Greg remembers.
The Finer Details
“We loved the big open living area at the back, as well as the kitchen. We’re lucky with the size of our block that we were able to tweak the home to make the main living area even bigger. The alfresco is a really good size too. We didn’t want too much garden to look after, but still wanted lots of room for entertaining. Having more bench space on either side of ovens was important to us, especially for when everyone is in the kitchen getting things ready at Christmas time. We thought we might not get the chance to build another home again, so let’s just try and get everything right.”
Carol adds “We put a lot of thought into the scullery as well, it’s basically a second kitchen. We paid extra attention to the bathroom. We fell in love with the ensuite in the Copenhagen display for the practicality of it as well as the space-saving aspect. Having the bath at the far end so you aren’t constantly walking around it.”
Hamptons Inspired
They were drawn to the Hampton’s styling complimented with stark colour contrasts, something they have tried to carry throughout the house. By choosing a dark feature wall tile in the ensuite, this makes the white cabinetry and freestanding back-to-wall bath pop. In keeping with the Hampton’s theme, they have acquired a house full of mostly new furniture, including an off-white Chesterfield sofa similar to the one on display in the Long Island.
Multi-Generational Living
When it came to finalising the design, Greg and Carol always had intergenerational design in the back of their minds. They are currently looking to accommodate their adult son, and possibly Carol’s 90-year-old mother further down the track.
“We made all the doorways and hallways big enough for wheelchairs, and hobless showers in the bathrooms. So even if mum doesn’t end up living with us, we are confident we have addressed any potential mobility issues. We want to be able to live here as long as we can.”
The Right Builder For You
“David was very patient with us during the early stages. We were a bit apprehensive and there were a lot of moving parts such as selling our home. It took some time for us to really get comfortable with the idea of just biting the bullet and deciding to build. A few people we spoke to were very keen to get us to sign on the dotted line and work out the specifics later, which made us uncomfortable. We found that wasn’t Plunkett’s style. They were more concerned with listening to us and our ideas, rather than telling us how we could fit into the box they wanted to put us in. They made us feel comfortable with the design and the whole process, after being a bit scared off by the people we dealt with initially.”
The Build Begins
From the sale of their home in November 2018, it was all systems go. Demolition of the existing home commenced in July 2019 and the slab was laid later that month. In February 2020, Greg and Carol picked up the keys to their beautiful new home.
“What surprised us about the build was that we had heard horror stories from family and friends; about them having to fight for things with their builder. But we did not find it to be like that at all. During the build, we were renting a home around the corner and visited the site most days. We were delighted there was always something new to see, even on weekends. It seemed like there was always someone there doing something, the project management was excellent. No one seemed to be letting the team down and holding things up.”
As expected, Greg and Carol are eager to move in and get settled. Remarking “We’ve been through it quite a few times now, and we’re just delighted every time we walk through. We can’t wait to live there.”