Monday April 27 2009

All too often plans for a dream home come undone when faced with the reality of building costs. Such was the case for Gold Coast couple Tania and Stuart Webbern, who, having bought two hectares on the edge of a natural reserve in the Gold Coast hinterland, cleared one-third of the land in order to build a new house and garden. “An architect drew a fabulous design for us, but the quotes from builders were nearly double what we could afford,” says Tania.

Thinking strategically, the couple found a design by Cavalier Homes that ticked nearly all of their boxes. “We took our drawings and a detailed list of the key features we wanted to incorporate,” says Tania. “They customised the layout for us and we got the big, flash house we wanted – within our budget.”

The resulting design features an open-plan living zone, which includes a kitchen, dining and two sitting areas that are split by a central fireplace and a raised step. “We wanted to segregate the spaces, but an open feel was our number-one priority,” explains Tania. A boardwalk from the adjoining deck leads to a pavilion (with outdoor kitchen) that overlooks the pool. “We holiday in Thailand every year and were so inspired by the outdoor living concepts there that we decided to recreate a piece of it in our own backyard,” she says.

Branching off the entry hall to the left are two of the home’s four bedrooms, separated by a bathroom. To the right are the study and main bedroom suite – with direct access to the deck. Beyond the main living area is self-contained accommodation for Tania’s mum, including a bedroom with ensuite and living room.

To rein in the costs further, the couple did all the landscaping and sourced all the finishes themselves, combing interiors magazines for inspiration and trawling home shows in search of the right materials. “I’m really proud of the way it’s turned out,” says Tania.

The house has truly become a haven. “We rarely leave on weekends and can’t wait to get home during the week,” says Tania. “It’s totally changed our outlook.”

How they live
“In a way, our lifestyle has changed to suit the house,” says homeowner Tania Webbern. “The bush setting is so relaxing and the outdoor pavilion and pool area are perfect for entertaining. We have certainly become home bodies since moving in!”

Tania’s solutions

THE FURNITURE
“To save money, we mostly bought replicas of iconic furniture online,” says Tania. “But treating yourself to a couple of items – in my case, the Arne Jacobsen Egg chair and Dragonfly wallpaper in the bedroom – makes the home feel really special.”

THE BASICS
Due to its distance from town, the home is fully reliant on tank water. Four angled roofs direct rainwater into two 45,000L tanks, which the couple has found sufficient for their needs.