Dr. Sira Dong and her CEO husband, William, don’t have a lot of time to waste. And after a less than ideal experience with a private builder constructing their first home, they weren’t about to make the same mistake twice.
When it came time to select a Melbourne builder for their second property – ready to house the couple, Sira’s mother and their fur baby, Leo – they did their research, visiting a range of display homes in Melbourne before finding ‘The One’ at Boutique’s Montauk 49.
‘We built one house previously with a private builder and it was chaos. As William spends most of his time overseas with work, a reliable builder was a must. In the end, that was Boutique,’ explains Sira.
‘The moment we walked into Boutique’s Point Cook display, it was love at first sight. We loved everything about it – from the external and interior design, home decor, furniture, and colour theme, to the façade and landscaping.’
What to expect from the build journey
While no builder is perfect, Sira says the customer service, communication and support offered by Boutique throughout their build was second-to-none.
‘Compared to our previous experience with a private builder, Boutique has done excellent work,’ she says.
‘Our site manager, Gavin, was amazing. He always tried his best to accommodate us, for all requests – big or small.’
The couple were involved in the entirety of the speedy eight-month construction process, from the day the slab was laid to the day they were handed the keys. Sira’s favourite moments included the first time she set eyes on her new kitchen bench and fireplace.
‘This was a very special and exciting time for us, and we know how rare it is to have access to your home throughout the process – many of our friends who went with other Melbourne builders weren’t so lucky,’ says Sira.
‘The end result was stunning. We had a professional inspector review every stage of the building and there was not one major issue. He actually told us that we had a very good builder!’
Finding the perfect aesthetics
For this couple, the interior design and landscaping of their new abode was both enjoyable, while also a bone of contention. They needed to find a way to mesh Sira’s minimalist preferences with William’s large collection of antique furniture, prints and maps.
In the end, the pair chose to mirror the interiors they admired within the Montauk 49, travelling back to the display home multiple times during the construction process to ensure they were on track.
‘We loved the interior style of the Montauk 49 so much that we ended up opting for a Hamptons style home. William added his personal touch into certain areas of the home, but in a way that didn’t look out of place to the rest of the interior design choices,’ says Sira.
‘We always get compliments about our dream home – even from strangers who are just walking by – and we love that Boutique’s beautiful designs stand the test of time. Many on social media through our Instagram account @siradong also ask about our builder, and interior design and landscaper details.’
Sira’s favourite room of the house, though? Any woman’s dream.
‘I’m a handbag lover, so I’ve got one room to myself, purely to display my collection. I also use this space as studio for my YouTube and Instagram filming,’ she says.
Top advice for new home builders
For Sira, choosing a builder was a bit like choosing a partner – you’ll know when you find ‘The One’. Here are her top five tips for hurrying that process along:
- Audit what’s important to you: For us, high quality and beautiful design were key.
- Research the experiences of others: Pay attention to online reviews and ask for advice from friends and family who have built their own homes.
- Understand expensive isn’t always best: We actually got recommended to build with a well-known, more expensive builder, but opted for Boutique based on their reputation, designs and quality. And we are glad we did.
- Do your research: Visit display homes before making a decision – there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to building your dream home.
- Attend your colour appointment: We never did, and it’s one of the few things we regret. Personal preference is important, but if you’re not very good at colour-matching (like me), get advice from the Boutique Interior Designers, they are very helpful.
Ready to start your journey to find ‘The One?’ See more of the Montauk home design or talk to one of our friendly New Homes Consultants. See more of Sira & William’s beautiful home on Instagram @siradong.
Have you found ‘The One’?
Share your home journey and connect with the Boutique Instagram community by using #ourboutiquehome