Illustrating that homes no longer have to look bland and conform to a certain set of ideals, this Queensland residence has a personalised design that is not only pleasing to behold, but also meets all the owner’s needs. Designed by Giraffe Draft and built by Tustin Constructions, the home was constructed on a small but unique block, with views that helped inspire aspects of the finished product. “I think it’s rare to get such an amazing site with these views — city views and a nature reserve at the back, and front views of Mt Coot-tha bush,” says owner and builder Marc Tustin of Tustin Constructions.
When walking through the entry gate you will find an inviting plunge pool to the left. Surrounded by the high perimeter, it is not only a private space, but also a pleasing water-embraced entrance to the home. As the house was built by the owner, there are plenty of unique aspects throughout this fourbedroom home that were designed to suit the owner’s lifestyle needs. “My favourite part would be the back verandah deck area with its indoor/outdoor space,” says Marc. “I have a passion for motorcycles, so the space also had to include a display area for my bikes. I like that I can look at my bikes from my office.” Another tailored aspect includes the extravagant walk-in robe in the master bedroom of which Marc says, “My girlfriend thinks I should have built a larger walk-in robe. I thought half the size of a standard bedroom was plenty, but apparently not!” No luxury home is complete without a theatre room and this one is no exception. The generously sized movie room features luxurious, oversized lounge chairs and custom-designed cabinetry to house all the state-of-the-art equipment.
The house itself features the latest integrated technology with the Smartwire Control 4 System. This allows the owners to set the appropriate ambience for relaxation or party settings at the touch of a button. Stunning Florence Broadhurst wallpaper adorns a number of walls around the home with Black Daisy in the master bedroom and silver patterned wallpaper at the staircase and behind the bar. The bar area leads out to a tranquil backyard entertaining area with a bushland setting. Porcelain floor tiles imported from Italy further add to the luxurious finishing of the interior. A stylish kitchen sits to one side of the living area and features CaesarStone benchtops and lime-washed veneer cabinetry. The appliances, which have been supplied by DeDietrich, have been custom-designed to fit into cabinets. This aspect, along with the addition of a scullery, allows the well-designed kitchen space to remain clear and clutter-free. An EcoSmart fireplace was installed in the same lime-washed veneer to give warmth to the living areas. Large overhangs and openings in the architecture allow for excellent cross ventilation while natural light is let in strategically through high-level windows and large banks of louvres. One of the challenging aspects of the design and construction process was fitting everything into a small-lot house without compromising on the design. Marc suggests that this was solved with clever design and the challenge of tight site access was overcome with Tustin Constructions’s experience in dealing with small blocks, as the bulk of the company’s work is conducted in Brisbane CBD. The home is certainly unique, with differing formations and combination of contrasting colours and varying materials. It serves as an example of the passion of Tustin Constructions to create finished homes that exceed expectations no matter who the client may be.
