and construction costs. They created a small garage on a flat piece of land nearer to the street and designed floating concrete steps going from the garage to the main home. “It’s a process that has to consider the elements of the block,” says Jerome. “What direction should the house face? What obstacles are there to overcome?” With this home, the big obstacle to overcome was the slope, Jerome says. The angle of the block also dictated how wide the house could be and where it would sit on the block. The owners wanted something that was not too large so they could maintain it easily in the future. They wanted low maintenance materials for the exterior, so Jerome went for color bond steel cladding and timber and natural stone as highlights. The result was a 260-square-metre home with a big porch at the rear that the clients can retire in, with a final cost around $700,000. “I believe that outcome would not have happened if I hadn’t gone to the site and personally walked the client through the process,” says Jerome. “I’ve had a few clients who have switched to us from another builder because the original builder wasn’t willing to work outside the box,” says Jerome. “Construction’s only limitation should be the client’s budget and the client’s vision. If the client is willing to pay for it, there shouldn’t be a limiting factor.” Jerome has found that a lot of subcontractors are willing to take on these custom projects because it gives them the opportunity to express themselves through their trade. “They are doing something MARCH 2025
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