An Urban Retreat, Without Compromise.
Neil & Sarah’s Story.
Project "ALFRED".
- Suburb: Alfred Cove
- Design: Into Place
- Elevation: Custom
- Build: Premium Developments
Neil & Sarah’s Story.
After a decade in their eastern suburbs home, Neil and Sarah set out to create their forever home - one that truly reflected their lifestyle, values, and vision. Unable to find an established property that met their needs, they purchased a rear block in Alfred Cove to be closer to family and began their building journey with Into Place and Premium Developments.
The brief.
When Sarah and Neil approached us to design their new home in Alfred Cove, their vision was clear - they wanted to maximise the potential of their block and create a place they could enjoy for years to come in this beautiful riverside suburb.
They said "After viewing multiple established houses for sale, it became apparent to us there were too many compromises with an established home that did not meet our brief. So, in early 2022 we decided to view blocks of land with the desire to build a home that ticked all our boxes with no comprises as this new build would be our forever home. In March 2022 we bought a rear block of land, closer to our family and parents and so the journey began."
The site came with its challenges, it was an unusual battleaxe block with some tight planning constraints, but Sarah and Neil’s open design brief gave us the freedom to explore bold materials and cohesive textures that now give the home its striking street appeal.
"Sarah and I built our first home 25 years ago with a mainstream builder with little design input and we always said one day we would like to build a home to suit our lifestyle and with our own design input and flair. We met with 8 mainstream builders all making promises of quick builds and each with a sales pitch that left us downhearted. We were introduced to Troy through a mutual friend and after the first meeting, we left energised and hopeful we finally found someone who could offer years of building experience and who listened to our ideas."
Non-negotiables.
One of the most important considerations for the home was how to make the most of the north-facing rear and maximise garden space around the pool.
We decided to tuck the alfresco seamlessly within the main footprint of the home so when the large doors slide open, it felt like a natural extension of the living area. Introducing large north-facing windows and a raked ceiling we were able to capture the northern sun and pool views and flood the open plan living space with natural light.
"Our favourite room is the kitchen area, with the alfresco doors open we can entertain and be a part of the conversations when family and friends visit. The kitchen area is definitely the heart of the home."
Advice
Building a home is an exciting and involved journey, naturally there can be minor challenges and a lot of learnings along the way.
When asked what advice they would give to people considering building, Neil and Sarah said "Have ideas of what you would like your home to look like and let the team at Into Place use their experience to guide you on the journey to designing your stunning home. Do your homework and research when exploring various products and materials and be brave with your decisions. Your head will tell you one thing and your heart another in the early design stages and Into Place will be there with you guiding you along to achieve the best outcome."
"The front elevation by far is the most stunning part of the home, any person who visits for the first time always comments how amazing the colours and textures are. Our neighbour has caught Neil a few times just staring up looking at the front of the house as if mesmerised by what he is seeing."
Premium Developments
Masterfully crafted by the team at Premium Developments who, over the last 4 decades have built a reputation for outstanding quality and service across the residential and commercial sector.
No matter the size or complexity, the Premium team and network of loyal trades take pride in all jobs and believe there are no shortcuts to building excellence.
Joe has also been a member of the HIA and MBA for 25 years and served as a HIA and MBA judge for over 12 years.
Ready to get started on your new place?
