In 2014, married couple Tom and Dana were on a mission to create a Bali-inspired oasis in the middle of Melbourne’s suburbia – somewhere for them to relax after a hard day at work and a place for their family to enjoy as they grew up. When they stumbled upon Boutique’s St Tropez 28 floorplan, it was an easy choice for Tom & Dana to build with Boutique Homes.
A wide variety of bespoke design upgrades and quality advice from the building team meant the couple was able to create an open, relaxed holiday vibe in their own backyard.
‘Pillarless bi-folds meant we could integrate the indoor and outdoor areas, and we also installed a heater. So rain, hail or shine, we can pull up the café blinds and create an additional living space to use year-round,’ says Tom.
‘Our home is incredibly relaxing. We turn the pool on, play music and have a drink after a busy day at work – it feels like a resort, I love coming home,’ adds Dana.
Having lived in the property for over four years now, the quality of the build speaks for itself, says the couple, who have referred five of their friends and family to Boutique.
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‘We have heard so many stories from friends and acquaintances who went with different builders, who were having issues just two weeks after moving in,’ says Dana.
‘Our build with Boutique has been amazing and we’ve never really had any issues, even to this day. And if any problems do come up, we are confident Boutique will be there to resolve it.’
What to expect from the build journey
Standard inclusions and an accommodating team for any bespoke upgrades were the highlights of the build journey for Tom and Dana and resulted in the couple’s self-proclaimed ‘forever home’.
While they loved the standard inclusions of the floorplan and didn’t need to make many changes, their keen eye for detail meant select upgrades were chosen to create their dream home.
‘Every inclusion we asked for, Boutique was more than happy to oblige,’ says Tom.
‘I love watching the boys grow into the areas – they love being in the pool and backyard. There’s nothing better than finishing a hard day at work and coming home to your beautiful house and family.’
Creating a Balinese interior design
Despite the clear Bali theme, the couple says that interior design should be a work in progress. They spent time sorting through their collection of different furniture, extended the entryway travertine to the dining room and around the pool to create consistency, re-rendered their powder room, and added skylights to the darker areas of the home for a light and bright feel.
‘It takes a number of years to get the house the way you want it. When we first moved in, we weren’t really sure what our style was – we knew we liked the Balinese style, but we were crossing it with other aesthetics,’ explains Dana.
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‘Now, we have added some beautiful furniture, it flows, and it has become very homely and exactly what we want.’
Dana’s top two tips for new home builders
- Look for a quality warranty: Most builders only give you a three-month warranty period, but Boutique offers twelve, giving the build and land time to settle. With weather changes, things do naturally move and you want to make sure your home has time to experience all four seasons. For example, we noticed that the floor had begun to squeak due to the changes in temperature, so we contacted the Boutique Assist team. They responded pretty much straight away and were great to deal with.
- Invest in a company with a community: Having the support of the Boutique community online and in-person has been fantastic. Their social media has grown and grown since we built four years ago and their team holds regular breakfasts and meet and greets at their display homes in Melbourne and Geelong. It’s a great way to meet other people and discuss your build and interior style ideas. It’s nice to feel like a family, rather than just a number.
Ready to start your journey to find ‘The One?’ See more of the St Tropez home design or talk to one of our friendly New Homes Consultants.
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