1. Tell us about the planning process about choosing your builder and how you went about it?

My husband Mark is a farmer. We purchased the orchard over 2 years ago with the intention of creating a beautiful family home and moving from the city so he could farm the land full time.

1. What did you look for when finding land – location, size etc?

1. It all started with the perfect floor plan design and an image of a minimalist home in Portugal. We had designed the floor plan and the exterior of the home very early on in the process. With my design background we were able to draw our scaled plans and produce 3d renders of the home. From there we engaged a local draftsman to finalise the drawings for council approval. Once we received sign off we started our hunt for the perfect builder. Now choosing the right builder is stressful and probably the most important decision you’ll make. It shouldn’t always come down to who is cheaper. You should do your research, meet with them, view their completed projects. Depending on the size of the project this person could potentially be in your life for a minimum 6months. It should be someone you are comfortable with and find easy to talk too. Ideally someone with vision and ‘think outside the box’ attitude.

1. 1. Did you look through any display homes for inspiration?
   1. We looked for over 3 years for the ‘perfect’ piece of land. We started in Woodend and ended up in Harcourt. Location, size and price were our requirements.

1. Going into the build, where were you able to save money and which areas of the home did you want to splurge on?

1. The Kitchen and Bathrooms were the areas of the home we wanted to splurge on. With every build there is always problem solving and compromise. Where you are lucky enough to save in some areas you may go over budget in others. So keep a close eye on your budget, be flexible and adjust where necessary.

1. What were the ‘must-haves’ in your new home?
2. Mud Room, Taj Mahal stone from CDK and the Valley Sofa from Jardan. There would be no compromise lol.

1. Have you added anything to your home post-build?
2. We are in the early stages of designing an outside entertaining area.

1. 1. What lesson(s) did you learn when building your own home?

1. Don’t over think the small stuff, not everyone thinks like you so be clear, take a breath and enjoy the process.

1. When did you contact us during the building process and what benefits did dc+b provide?

1. I believe half way through the build we reached out to dc+b.

1. Was it beneficial to visit dc+b in-store?

Yes most definitely. Viewing the full range in store was invaluable and speaking with a consultant face to face really helped us to achieve the look we were after.

1. How did you find the design, measure + install service?

1. Easy, friendly and professional.

1. Did you originally know what you were after in terms of window coverings or were you seeking our advice?

1. I knew exactly want I wanted in terms of look and feel and the team were able to source the perfect fabric selections to my brief.