Hailing from South Korea, married couple, Sean and Clara, wanted their first home to be the quintessential Australian abode that had them dreaming of a sandy coastline. Together with their dog, Osman, they found ‘The One’ in our Marseille 25 floorplan with Viva façade.
‘We’ve always lived in a city apartment because we never thought we could afford a home. We were looking to buy an established property but realised it would be impossible to find a home that had the floorplan and interior design we dreamed of while staying within our budget. To renovate a home and include everything we wanted, we were looking at costs of over $150,000!’ says Sean.
‘Luckily, Boutique Homes premium standard inclusions meant that we could get the majority of the features we were looking for, without adding or upgrading too much more.’
The pair fell in love with the four bedroom, two bathroom Marseille floorplan while visiting a Boutique Homes display in Clyde North. Not only did the home design provide the convenience of a rumpus room for future children and a spacious outdoor entertainment area, but the styling offered the perfect springboard for the bright and airy interior design they envisioned.
‘I’ll never forget Clara’s happy face when we visited the warm and welcoming house for the first time. I knew then that we’d found ‘The One’,’ says Sean.
‘From the moment we saw the Viva façade, we loved the big open window and envisioned how it would look with plantation shutters.’
What to expect from the build process
‘I started Googling home builders based on customers’ reviews and found Boutique Homes to be very reliable. There were a lot of positive customer testimonials online, especially regarding their warranty periods,’ explains Sean.
‘It gave us a strong impression of Boutique Homes’ quality and pride in their work.’
Safe to say, they were not disappointed. Despite the usual stressors of building a brand-new home, Sean praised the work of their designated Site Supervisor. Thanks to Boutique Homes’ industry-leading 12-month service warranty, along with their 25-year structural guarantee, any issues raised by the couple were rectified quickly and effectively.
‘Overall, the communication by Boutique Homes’ staff was exceptional and really helped to put our mind at ease,’ says Sean.
‘After our first private inspection and after moving in, we noticed a few minor structural issues that needed maintenance. We contacted Boutique Homes’ head office and they were extremely helpful – not only in getting the issues fixed promptly but also with explaining any technical building matters we weren’t familiar with.’
Creating our unique interior design
Sean and Clara were determined to design a light, bright and airy interior, while keeping the design ‘in the now’ and contemporary. Crisp white walls work perfectly with sandy timber-look floorboards, an expansive decked alfresco, and floor-to-ceiling tiles to the bathrooms to create a relaxed and homely aesthetic. They completed the look through considered styling, including natural textured rugs, simple pendants and plenty of greenery.
The secret to Sean and Clara’s beautiful interiors? Plenty of research. The couple took advantage of our numerous display homes and active social media community (#ourboutiquehome) for inspiration, closely matching the style of the original Marseille display home they fell in love with.
‘Going into our Interior Design Consultation, we were able to tell our Interior Designer exactly what we liked in terms of more permanent items such as tiles and paint colours, by using display homes as an example,’ says Sean.
‘For smaller items such as cabinetry handles, our Interior Designer was very helpful in suggesting a few different options that matched our design vision, so we could choose easily from samples.’
Sean and Clara’s advice for first home builders
- Invest in high ceilings: While a lot of structural changes can be made after you receive your keys, you’re stuck with your ceiling height. High ceilings make your home feel abundantly more spacious, light and airy, and add significant value at resell. So, it pays to upgrade them from the beginning.
- Design your alfresco area well – Our alfresco is the centre of our home and a place that connects the interiors to nature. We love spending time out there!
- Create a separate dining area– Having a dining room that’s separate from your living spaces is so convenient, especially when entertaining friends and family. It makes the space feel like a high-end and intimate restaurant for your guests.
Take a peek inside Sara and Clara’s new abode via their designated Instagram page @marseille_25.
Are you ready to build the one? Be inspired by our customer stories and testimonials on the Boutique Life blog.
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Have you found ‘The One’?
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