Karina & Tom: A little more us
Meet Karina and Tom, our awesome clients who recently moved into their brand new Celebration Home. We’ve been cheering them on throughout their entire journey and couldn’t wait to visit their beautiful new space to hear all about their experience firsthand.
Like many people, Karina and Tom found themselves growing tired of rising rental prices and the endless back-and-forth with real estate agents. Owning a home had always been part of the plan, and when the timing felt right, they put the wheels in motion excited to finally make it happen.
Their first step? Hitting the road to visit display homes, getting a feel for what felt right and what didn’t. It wasn’t long before they found themselves chatting with one of our New Homes Consultants, who really took the time to get to know them, how they live, what they love, and what they weren’t willing to compromise on. That’s when things really started to click and it wasn’t long before they found a home design that ticked all the boxes.
“I like to do lots of research and overwhelmingly, there were so many positive reviews and people who had had a good experience. We were like OK, we can trust these people, and people who had gone back again and again and again with Celebration Homes, so that’s always a good indicator.”
With the design sorted, it was time to find the perfect location. Enter: Byford. Karina and Tom loved the semi-rural charm mixed with easy access to shops, amenities, and most importantly, their new go-to brunch spot, Fig and Ivy. Before a single brick was laid, they’d make weekly trips to their block, “It was a really great way to connect with what we were doing”, says Karina.
As they moved through Pre-Construction, things started to get even more exciting. Karina reflects fondly on their experience in Home Collective, where the service, layout and cleanliness felt “so considered.”
“It’s like walking in to your dream… everything. It’s like being brought in to a big hug.”
They made the most out of Home Collective, attending as many events as they could. Hearing from experts left them feeling inspired for their own space. What gave them real peace of mind, though, was the flexibility of the space itself. Whether they were locking in big decisions or just dropping by to double-check a detail, they always felt welcome.
To prep for their Selections Consult, Karina and Tom took advantage of their Design Brief to compare finishes and fittings ahead of time. Armed with confidence and a clear vision in mind, they worked alongside their Selections Consultant to fine-tune the details, like wider kitchen drawers (because no one ever regretted more storage) and a pull-out bin.
Once construction was underway, the site became a regular stop on their weekly routine. They’d often run into their Site Manager, who kept them up to speed with progress. When the slab was poured, they brought fold-out chairs and had their first coffees together ‘at home’.
A core memory was reaching roof cover. Perth had a lot of rain over that time, and they were crossing their fingers for a clear day so the roof could go on. Luckily, the clouds cleared, and Karina still remembers driving down their street and seeing it for the first time, “I think I cried,” she says. “It was just the most amazing time, that we knew it was all going to come together.”
They soaked up every part of construction, big and small. For Tom, the real highlight was simply seeing things happen; slab down, cabinetry in, appliances arriving at the door. “It was seeing the process of actually, this is the stage we’re at, then seeing the next stage happen. It was all pretty sequential and seamless.”
They never turned up to site without their trusty tape measure. Whether it was double-checking wall widths or imagining where furniture might go, it helped bring their vision to life. “When everything actually starts coming together, that’s pretty magic”, Says Karina.
When they got the keys to their Celebration Home, they popped a bottle of champagne and shared a big hug of excitement. The hard work had paid off, and they finally had a home to call their own.
“To actually say to Karina, this is your house, our home. To think about the work we’ve put in to actually get it here, the hard work, then to actually have it in a reality that you can see, feel touch, and let’s be honest, just live in without any problems.”
They laughed when reminiscing over that day and recall there being a few happy dances and tears. The family enjoyed a chicken and leek pie for their first meal in their big and brand new oven.
When asked about their favourite rooms, Tom loves the quiet refuge that is their home library, filled with his favourite things: books, qualifications and computers. Karina, on the other hand, can’t get enough of their kitchen. Overlooking the open-plan living space, it has everything she needs to make cooking and baking a dream.
Now that they’ve settled in, the routines have started to take shape without them even realising. Their weekends involve a trip to the beach with their dog, Shifu, followed by a big breakfast at home. Household chores are ticked off the list to prepare for the week ahead, and plant babies are attended to. The weekend is wrapped up with a roast dinner, and the two love the unintentional routine they’ve slipped into. “It’s homely, it’s familiar, it’s comforting, it’s just relaxing. It’s home and we don’t have to stress”, says Tom.
Looking back, both Karina and Tom said they genuinely enjoyed the entire journey. “I’d be really happy to build again, anytime,” Tom said, though something tells us, they’re pretty happy in their new home for now.
Are you feeling inspired to take the next step in your home building journey?
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14 weeks since we entered the construction phase and we have roof framing! And a garage and alfresco! It’s so amazing to see it all coming together...
@build4bourne
Hanks bestie the_tail_of_nanook is building the house next door! So we just had to check out the block and the park for some zoomies...
@hanks_henleybrook_home
20 JULY 2024 More window peeking! We have cabinets! Tiles have also been delivered and booked in for tiling meeting at the house on Wednesday....
@ourpearson220
🧱 Oh hot dayum 🧱 We have bricks & a shed 🥳 Absolutely smashing it on the progress 💪 2 weeks exactly since our slab was poured 🙏 1 week...
@cosmo_on_cardinal