Mediterranean Calm

CLIENT

Richard & Vanessa

PROJECT

Custom home

Knock down rebuild

SERVICE

To create a coastal Mediterranean home designed for natural light, flow, and seamless garden connection.

COMPLETION

2025 - September

OVERVIEW

Located in an established coastal suburb of South Sunshine Coast, this project began with a clear vision - to replace a dated, compact home with a timeless new design that embraced open living, sunlight, and outdoor connection.

Richard and Vanessa loved their block and neighbourhood, surrounded by mature trees and close to schools, shops, and the beach. Rather than move, they chose a knock down rebuild with AUSMAR, allowing them to stay in the location they loved while creating a bespoke home that reflected their lifestyle and design preferences.

The result is a custom coastal Mediterranean home that feels relaxed yet refined, combining practical family spaces with thoughtful architectural detailing. Every element - from the open-plan living and generous glazing to the curated finishes - was carefully considered to create a light, airy, and truly personal sanctuary.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Starting the Build Journey
When Richard and Vanessa decided it was time for a change, they knew one thing for certain - they didn’t want to leave their beloved beachside street.

“We loved the location and size of the plot in an established neighbourhood with lots of privacy, but the house itself was very small and old.”

Surrounded by mature trees and close to schools, shops, and the beach, the couple couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Rather than buying new or renovating, a knock down rebuild offered the best of both worlds - staying in a location they loved, while creating a new home designed specifically for their lifestyle.

After exploring local builders, AUSMAR stood out for its custom design flexibility and strong reputation for communication and quality.

“We hadn’t worked with AUSMAR before, but we liked the display homes and the option to build a custom design was very appealing.”

Design Vision
From the outset, Richard and Vanessa knew a standard floor plan wouldn’t capture what they envisioned.

“Early on in the process we realised that what we wanted was only possible with a custom build.”

Their wishlist included:
• A large open-plan living area
• Abundant natural light
• Four bedrooms for family and guests
• Optimal solar orientation for passive heating and cooling
• Seamless connection to the surrounding garden

The result is a coastal Mediterranean-inspired home that balances openness and intimacy. Every square metre was carefully considered to keep the floor plan efficient while still feeling spacious.

“The challenge was to make the floor plan as small as possible to maximise the garden - without losing the sense of space. AUSMAR gave us the freedom to design our house the way we wanted.”

Among their most meaningful inclusions was a special place for an antique lamp that belonged to Vanessa’s grandmother, and display space for souvenirs from their travels, making the home deeply personal.

The Build Experience
Richard and Vanessa remained hands-on throughout the process - and appreciated that AUSMAR welcomed their involvement at every stage.

“AUSMAR never told us we couldn’t build something. They gave us good alternatives if ideas were too expensive or not possible.”

Highlights:
• Open communication and collaborative decision-making
• Helpful, solution-focused trades and site supervisor
• Clear updates through the AUSMAR Builders App
• A stress-free, transparent process from start to finish

Selecting colours and finishes was another highlight.

“It was a very fun day and really made the house feel real. It helped that we’d already looked at tiles and fittings beforehand - otherwise it might have been overwhelming.”

While no large project is without its hiccups, AUSMAR’s open communication and problem-solving approach made any challenges easy to navigate.

“We had a few issues along the way, but our supervisor was great at listening and finding solutions.”

The couple also appreciated the transparency and convenience of the AUSMAR Builders App, which kept all documents and weekly progress updates in one place.

The Finished Home
Now settled in, Richard and Vanessa describe their new home as “spacious, light and wonderful.”

The kitchen - their favourite feature - exceeded expectations, becoming the heart of the home and a space they use and admire daily.

“We knew we’d love the kitchen, but it’s even more amazing than we thought.”

From the colourful tiles and generous windows to the striking façade, every detail reflects their vision. And when asked if they’d change anything?

“Not really. We thought about everything, and every change would compromise the design choices.”

Reflection & Advice
For anyone considering a knock down rebuild, their advice is simple:

"Don’t be afraid to speak up if you have doubts. Issues can occur in any large project, but keep open communication - and invest in quality rather than size.”

And would they recommend AUSMAR?

“We already have! The build was stress-free and everybody in the team was a joy to work with.”

OVERVIEW

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Case Studies

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