To build their client’s dream house, the directors of Starr Constructions, Jon Vithoulka and Nino Sanzari, needed more than luck on their side. The site wasn’t particularly easy to work with as it sat on a slope and there was a cottage already occupying the space. Extensive excavation was needed to create a workable environment and, of course, the cottage had to be removed. That done, the site was ready and construction could begin.

The client requested lots of living space as well as ample accommodation for family and guests, so plans for this twostorey home encompassed a large body of work. The grand footprint incorporates five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a theatre room, dining room, family room, large garage with extra storage, lounge patio/barbecue area, and an in-ground swimming pool that can be seen from the kitchen, dining and family room through banks of floor-to-ceiling glass.

Starr Constructions worked very closely with the client, investing a huge amount in the project. Jon and Nino wanted to make sure they created something special and personal for the homeowner, which was undoubtedly achieved. “T he entire house is my own piece of unique artwork,” says the client. “It is a home we intend to use for many years into the future.”

The inspiration and brief for this design were one and the same. Jon and Nino wanted the home to be “modern, sleek, stylish and comfortable”. Its large layout enables a high level of privacy and the home slots together beautifully from space to space. “Each room flows into the other,” says Nino. “I think the travertine tiles blend it all together perfectly.”

The dining room, kitchen and family room wrap around the pool area, creating multiple V-shaped sections, each for different requirements. For more formal occasions, the dining area offers an air of elegance, whereas the outdoor lounge space is perfect for casual relaxation come the weekend.

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On the upper levels, the sophistication doesn’t waver. A marble staircase is wrapped elegantly in a glass casing, forming the banisters leading from one level to the next. The bedrooms are beautifully adorned in the same colour scheme and luxurious manner, and hints of the marble used in the kitchen reappear in the bathrooms.

Very few problems arose during this construction. “We had great builders who we put all our faith in,” says the homeowner. “What I noticed right from the start, even when tendering the job to other builders, is that the team at Starr Constructions communicates. They tell you how it is without trying to hide things. I had regular meetings and was informed throughout the project. I’m glad there weren’t any hurdles.”

Ensuring each project runs smoothly is of prime importance to Starr Constructions and communication and understanding a client’s needs is key to this process. Jon and Nino understood that for this client, this home was “the one they plan to grow old in, so it’s a very special place for them”.