Meet Bianca from Port Kennedy WA. Along with her husband Rich and their four kids, she recently built a bright coastal-inspired home with La Vida Homes. Her story shows what can happen when you plan well, stick to a budget and design a house around the way you want to live.
Choosing the Builder
Bianca wanted a builder with strong reviews and quick build times.
“We built our family home with La Vida Homes in WA. We wanted to go with a builder that had great reviews and fantastic build times.”
The choice paid off. Their land titled in June, the slab was poured in August and by March they had keys in hand.
“We were the lucky ones with no delays or surprises. I think putting in extra time and research when selecting a builder helped make this such a smooth build.”
Creating a Coastal Home
Living near the beach inspired Bianca’s vision.
“The goal was to have a coastal-inspired home, white and bright with a touch of blue. We're right by the beach so this style felt right.”
From planning the layout to choosing bathroom tiles, she loved bringing her ideas to life. This was her second build and she already hopes to do another one day.
Budget and Extra Costs
Sticking to budget was the hardest part.
“As much as I wish we could have splurged, being realistic and not overcapitalising is always a priority. We always keep resale in mind as it’s our home but also our biggest investment.”
There were some extra costs along the way. Extending the driveway paving after the developer removed a planned footpath. Rendering the back of the house at the developer’s request. These things added up but Bianca was prepared.
“My number one tip is to have a buffer set aside for anything that pops up. A few thousand at least.”
Living in the Finished Home
Now that the family has moved in, Bianca loves the rear living space most of all. It looks out onto the golf course and floods the home with natural light.
“I am so happy we based our home design around maximising the views. We placed the living areas at the back and bedrooms at the front. I also love our window placements and how much light we get.”
If she could change anything, she would add a glass front door, redo the laundry layout and add waterfall ends on the kitchen bench. Small changes that can be added in time.
Staying Organised
Bianca stayed in control with her Build and Renovation Planner.
“I kept all my plans, samples and costings in one place. It made everything more organised and easy to manage.”
Bianca’s Advice
☑️ Start with the basics. Know your budget and non-negotiables like bedrooms, bathrooms and storage.
☑️ Do your research. A good builder makes all the difference.
☑️ Keep a buffer for unexpected costs.
☑️ Stay organised. Keep everything in one place so you can track progress easily.
Most of all, enjoy it.
“Research, research, research. Stay organised and plan ahead. Try to enjoy the process. Things will go wrong but building a home is a milestone worth celebrating.”
📱 Follow Bianca’s journey: @buildingourcoastalhome_