Success Story from Red & Viola.
LONG before the build was finished, the sparkle in this Hope Island house was apparent - even under the light layer of
building dust that lingered on large format porcelain floor tiles.
Weeks before the steel grey carpet was laid; long before furniture and finishing’s were installed, there was a sense of luxury,
with a generous three-metre wide corridor carrying through the house from the front pivoted timber and glass door to the
gleaming galley style kitchen and living area on the waterside.
Red and Viola are relatively new arrivals from South Africa where security was a daily concern. Here, among the peace and
beauty of Cova estate on Hope Island, they have found a sanctuary in this, their first newly built home.
They may have found the site, but the house found them.
“We had looked literally for months, in and out of so many display homes, and found nothing that matched the vision we
had,’’ says Viola.
“Then we drove by this Unique Homes display house and decided to pop in.
“As soon as I walked in, I knew, this was the one. I made up my mind this was it. We could stop looking.
“We called Jim Taylor at Unique Homes almost immediately.”
Despite this being the “perfect house” it was another month of going backwards and forward to Unique Homes
Architect Chris ??? before the vision was ready to become reality and for Jim’s trusted trades to bring it out of the ground.
“We needed to change some things we’d seen in the display home – it had to be smaller to suit the size of our block so we
removed the downstairs office and guest powder room.
“The windows at the rear were made bigger to showcase our view over the peaceful canal and there were a couple of other
major things on mine and Red’s wish list.
“Red was adamant he wanted an extra wide entry corridor and I wanted a high entry void with a sweeping staircase.
“Unique Homes were the only ones able to deliver the grand staircase I’d dreamed of.
“I had ideas in my head that I couldn’t quite figure out and Chris had a lot of input into the façade of our home.
“And during building I made many changes to the initial plans – cabinetry, tiles, granite tops, and bathroom basins and so on.
“But it all came together and we are so happy with everything.”
The raked surfeits and sharp layered rooflines add impact and street appeal in a precinct bursting with smart new homes.
The metal pillar detail on the entrance portico is mirrored in banisters on stairs and eventually, in the colour of the carpet, to
add a modern industrial finish and complement the warmth of timber in exterior details, the front door, and inside on stained
balustrades and canal front deck.
Four bedrooms upstairs include a private master retreat comprising a separate walk-in wardrobe, a luxuriously large bathroom
and the sleeping area on the waterfront.
Wall cut-outs, 8m ceilings in the void, 4m ceilings throughout; and niches for feature art pieces open up the home to maximise
the sense of space.
Walls of glass upstairs and down allow both airflow and natural light to stream in and bounce off polished floors, white walls,
granite and stainless finishes.
A butler’s kitchen keeps the culinary clutter concealed while, at the rear, the aspect of the house ensures that no matter how
high or hot the sun, a shaded patio and adjoining timber deck offer a cool place to entertain and take in the sparkling water
views.
For Viola and Red, it will be another new start in the New Year when they move into the house of their dreams.
“I always wanted a unique home - to stand out from the neighbouring houses,’’ says Viola.
“And Unique Homes have lived up to their name.”