Behind the Build with Natalie + Mark Pappalardo.

1. Tell us a little bit yourself and where you live.

We are Natalie (35) and Mark (37) and we reside in Strathmore with our 3 children Luca, Dominic and Ava.

1. What type of home did you build – describe the style/design.

1. 1. 1. 1. A modern home filled with natural light, clean lines and timeless finishes.

       

      1. 1. What made you want to build a home, rather than buy an established home?
   1. 1. Together we operate a small Building company (Mark on site and Natalie in the office). After years of helping clients into their dream homes we wanted to create our own.

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

      We used our own family business to build.

2. What did you look for when finding land – location, size etc?
3. It took 2 years for us to find the right parcel of land.  Location (close to schools and transport)  and the size, slope and orientation of the land (with respect to sunlight) were considerations.

1. Did you look through any display homes for inspiration?

1. Whilst drafting our initial plans we spent hours on Instagram/Houzz/Pinterest etc saving photos and designs of houses from all around the world and working out how we could incorporate those ideas into our own plans.

1. 1. Going into the build, where were you able to save money and which areas of the home did you want to splurge on?
   2. Mark is a carpenter by trade and very hands on. Whatever we could reasonably try to do ourselves to save money we did (landscaping is a big one). Mark even hand made our dining room table.

1. What were the ‘must-haves’ in your new home?

Drafting plans through lock down gave us a good understanding of  what our forever home would need to cater for our family. We wanted separate study/work areas, a swimming pool, theatre room, a large dining space and plenty of storage.

1. Have you added anything to your home post-build?
2. No.

1. 1. 1. What lesson(s) did you learn when building your own home?
      2. Have a clear vision – stick to it.

    

   1. 2. When did you contact us during the building process and what benefits did dc+b provide?
      3. We contacted dollar curtains + blinds at the framing stage.  We wanted to incorporate curtain boxes into the ceiling. Rosa the manager at Niddrie was able to help us pick a curtain fabric and roller. Together with Rosa we could then work out the measurements required for the concealed curtain boxes (that Mark as a carpenter had to create).

    

   2. Was it beneficial to visit dc+b in-store?
   3. Visiting the store was important. The Niddrie store has a large curtain display at the rear of the store (6m high) and we were able to get an understanding of what fabric at that length might look/feel like. Our objective through adding sheers was to create softness without compromising natural light. We brought in a tile, stone and cabinetry palette.  Rosa was then able to show us fabrics options.

1. 1. How did you find the design, measure + install service?
   2. We provided Rosa with a copy of the plans and she was able to provide an initial quotation. But prior to anything being fabricated 2 team members came to measure the windows and provide advice on what would work ie. which way the sheers should stack, the size of the stack against the windows etc. Install was quick and professional.

1. Did you originally know what you were after in terms of window coverings or were you seeking our advice?
2. We knew aesthetically what we were after but the extra information Rosa provided with respect to functionality ie stacks, folds, timber weight bearing requirements, electrical requirements etc. was very useful.  We see the value in approaching a company like dc+b with what you might have in mind before the plastering stage.

1. What’s your favourite room and why?

Natalie: The void dining area. Everything in this room (windows, sheers, furnishings and art) come together to make an uplifting space.

Mark:  The theatre room. It’s my oasis.

1. When it comes to designing a home, what does your design process look like?

In the start we would draw a lot.  We started planning in winter and we would take it in turns at night to draw what we might like the facade of the house to look like. This then moved on to Mark drawing up rough plans for the house. By the time the architect was retained we had a folder full of saved photos and drawings of our own.

2. What are your top 3 design/style tips for building a house?
3. *Consider energy rating and efficiency (eg Solar Panels and Hydronic Heating) and natural light;
4. *Take into account the orientation of the land when designing your house and work with this; and

*High Ceilings make even a small house feel large.

3. You’re given a limited renovation budget; how would you spend it wisely to transform a home?

To transform on a budget:  fresh paint, floor coverings (ie re stain floors/new carpet/steam clean), new window coverings and spend some time in the garden.