During the early days of their journey, they visited countless displays and asked a lot of questions, which led them to comparing a list of builders in the area. Their big decision eventually came down to finding a home builder who could deliver the floor plan they were looking for, while still being within their budget, and this ultimately led them to Simonds.

With a spacious master bedroom at the rear and an open plan kitchen, living and dining leading out to the alfresco, it’s not hard to see why the Kakadu 22 is one of the most popular floor plans in sunny Queensland.

One of the most important considerations for Michelle and Ryan with their future home was having a decently sized backyard. This eventually meant choosing a corner block, which came with its own set of challenges.

They had to balance the bigger block with the covenant setbacks in place to find a suitably sized floor plan that met their needs, and the Kakadu 22 ended up being a winner. A few design upgrades later, like a double vanity to their master ensuite, and they were able to go from planning to seeing all of their big decisions come to life.

“We were a bit hesitant at first, but Robin told us it was a beautiful design…and once we stepped foot in the display home, we instantly fell in love!”

The Heart of the Home

After exploring hundreds of display homes in the area, Michelle and Ryan knew that a Hamptons inspired look was the right fit for their home.

They did their research, narrowed down what they were drawn to and what they didn’t like, which meant they could go into their Gallery appointment with a clear vision of what they wanted.

And if there’s any room in their home that embodies the relaxed yet polished Hamptons feel, it would be their open plan kitchen, which just so happens to be their favourite space in the home.

“(The kitchen is) the heart of the home and it’s where we’ll be making so many memories for years to come. Every single person who comes over always compliments the kitchen and how beautifully designed it is,” Michelle says.

Their fresh and contemporary take includes a Caesarstone Deluxe benchtop in Alpine Mist, and Laminex FormWrap Settler cabinetry in Polar White and Oyster Grey as a nod to the long-adored shaker style cabinetry found in traditional Hamptons homes.

“It’s Your Dream Home, You Can Make It Happen!”

As first home owners, Michelle and Ryan had a lot of questions about the building process, but say that the Simonds Team were always on hand to answer them all, even the ‘silly ones’, Michelle says.

Building during Covid-19 didn’t come without its challenges, namely hurdles with supplies or external suppliers, but Michelle says these were quickly resolved and their Site Supervisor “was always on top of everything.”

“There was always open communication throughout the whole journey with both our Customer Relationship Coordinator (CRC) and Site Supervisor. Our CRC would always reply as promptly as she could… and our Site Supervisor always answered his phone or would call back as soon as he could, “ Michelle says.

Since moving in, the next big step for Michelle and Ryan is to finish the landscaping and then host a big housewarming for friends and family to show off their beautiful home.

And at the end of the day, their parting words of wisdom for anyone looking to build their first home is; “you won’t regret it!...My biggest piece of advice is don’t settle for anything less than what you want. It’s your dream home, you can make it happen!”