IF 10-year-old Ben Clayton grows up to become a residential building supervisor, it will be no surprise to his family.
The switched-on youngster couldn’t wait to ask questions about building processes and products when luxury homebuilder RiverStone moved on site to start work on his family’s new home in Floreat.
Ben, far right, with family
The fact that the family were building next door to their old house meant Ben had a great vantage point from which to watch the activity on site.
He knew the building plans back to front and quickly became pals with the site supervisor and many of RiverStone’s tradesmen.
“Ben spoke to the guys first thing each morning, wanting to know what they were going to be doing that day,” says Ben’s mum Jodi.
The budding apprentice took a keen interest in what was happening on site and the RiverStone team was more than happy to answer his questions about everything from bricklaying and driving a bobcat, to electrics and plumbing.
“Ben learnt so much from the experience; from just watching and asking questions,” Jodi says.
Jodi and her husband Andy loved their leafy street but with four young boys they’d outgrown their old house and moving or renovating just hadn’t seemed the right solution.
They’d missed out on a block that came up for sale on the opposite side of the street and had even drawn up plans with RiverStone to demolish and re-build their old house, although that didn’t feel quite right either.
“We didn’t like the thought of knocking down our beautiful old Floreat home just because it wasn’t big enough,” Jodi says.
Things finally fell into place when it became apparent that the block next door might be coming onto the market. Jodi quickly contacted the owners and a deal was done.
Luckily the sloping block was much the same size and shape as the Claytons’ old block so the plans RiverStone had already drawn up transferred across easily with just a few minor tweaks.
Downstairs there is a fabulous open-plan kitchen and living area overlooking the pool. Bi-folding doors lead out to a sheltered alfresco with a cedar-lined ceiling and built-in kitchen.
Master ensuite
The master suite is at the front of the house, along with a cosy music room that serves as a second sitting room for Jodi and Andy.
Upstairs there is a bedroom each for Ben and his brothers Daniel (8), Tom (6) and Jack (4), plus a guest suite and a large lounge for the boys to hang out in.
It’s a six-bedroom, three-bathroom, custom-built, family-friendly house with lots of space and oodles of storage that will suit the family just as well tomorrow as it does today.
“We have people over all the time and are very much an ‘open door’ sort of family, where people are very welcome to drop in,” Jodi says. “We wanted that feel in the house; for it to feel very welcoming.”
The homework room off the kitchen has also been a big hit. Hidden from view but still very much part of the living area, it’s kitted out with desk space for several computers, plus individual storage cubes for school bags.
“We’re not a family that needed a big formal study but the homework room is exactly what we did need,” Jodi says.
Kitchen, dining and homework room
Jodi and Andy have chosen enduring, quality materials that will last a lifetime, including travertine tiles and NSW Blackbutt timber flooring.
The décor is soft and neutral and the all-white kitchen features a vast island bench, Miele appliances, sleek handle-free cupboards and drawers, a walk-in pantry and even an ‘office in a cupboard’ where Jodi can pin reminders to the cork board and have household bills handy.
As a busy mum of four, Jodi really appreciated working with RiverStone’s in-house interior designer Emily Marshall.
Emily streamlined the selections process by breaking it down into a series of six Tuesday morning meetings with Jodi, covering everything from taps to tiles.
Living room
“I’d go in each week and Emily would have samples of things she knew I’d like. For me not to have to trek around looking for things was invaluable,” Jodi says.
“Everything came in on budget and because the quality is so good, we didn’t have to upgrade. I had complete confidence in everything RiverStone had chosen.”
