Welcome to the latest issue of Construction Source Australia, the magazine that highlights the best of the best in building and building products across the country. In this issue, the first of 2026, we are very happy to highlight PM Design Group, a multidisciplinary engineering consultancy based in Geelong, Victoria, and a company that has spent three decades proving that an engineering consultancy doesn’t need to be enormous to make an outsized impact. Since forming in 1995, they have grown to comprise four offices and a team of 45-to50 employees, but they have never lost the flexibility and close-knit culture that defined their early years. Antoni Gecsek, the firm’s general manager, has witnessed a lot of PM Design Group’s growth first-hand. We talked to him about what’s powered that growth and how they have stayed nimble, personal, and deeply accessible to clients throughout it. We also caught up with Jim Liversage, the firm’s business development manager, who explained the value of having a wide range of capabilities, and the role their expanded service offering has played in the firm’s recent success. Also featured in this issue is SBD Studio, a residential architecture and interior design practice that works primarily across the east coast of New South Wales. To tell their story, we spoke to founder and director Jake French, who walked us through some of the studio’s recent highend projects, including some works that have earned them national accolades from the Building Designers Association of Australia. For all those stories – and so many more like them, about industry giants and up-and-comers alike – just keep reading. All the best, The Editorial Team We will keep adding business units that enhance our offering and separate us from our competition. “ ” Editor From The Dear Reader,
The Construction Source Australia
JANUARY 2026
The Construction Source Australia With a readership exceeding 136,000 senior executives, The Construction Source Australia takes immense pride in providing an enticing platform to amplify your message to the most pivotal audience – your valued customers. Whether your aim is to promote an exciting new condo development, attract crucial financial investments for upcoming projects, or establish a commanding brand presence, we’re here to assist you every step of the way. To explore opportunities for featuring your company or showcasing your latest project in The Construction Source Australia, please reach out to our Group Publisher. Jermaine Poulsen e:info@theconstructionsource.com.au The Construction Source Australia Suite 11.01, Level 11, 175 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia info@theconstructionsource.com.au ABN: 42 976 059 923 Executive Publisher Jermaine Poulsen COO Alexandra Box Editor in Chief Zach Janes Director of Operations Jacqueline Van Belois Business Development Managers Cheryl Ezinicki Douglas Thomson Production Manager Brennan Midghall Digital Strategist Pranim Thapa
JANUARY 2026 Industry INNOVATIONS Product of the Month The Kights Scanner PM DESIGN GROUP Big Company Capability, Small-Company Agility SBD STUDIO Collaboration and Clarity ZAC HOMES ZAC Homes Offers Custom Designs across Sydney ABOUT SPACE LIGHTING Lighting trendsetters DALL DESIGNER HOMES Stunning homes on difficult blocks BLACK PEARL HOMES Black Pearl Homes Offers Luxury Living in Perth ALIYA HOMES Brings Custom Designs in Knock Down Rebuild to Melbourne IN THIS ISSUE JANUARY 2026 SBD STUDIO PM DESIGN GROUP
The Construction Source Australia A product designed by Cosentino® On Top Cindy Crawford on Silestone Eternal Calacatta Gold TOPS ON TOP Feel the new velvety texture Discover more at silestone.com | Follow Us F T VISIT OUR SHOWROOMS IN Adelaide | Auckland | Brisbane | Melbourne | Perth | Sydney
JANUARY 2026 Aluminum expected to accelerate worldwide adoption of electric and self-driving vehicles Material takes on an ever-widening role in tomorrow’s vehicles For more than a decade, concerns about fuel efficiency have been encouraging OEMS to replace steel with aluminum on vehicle bodies, doors, trunks, hoods, bumpers, crash boxes, brakes, cables and wheels. With the advent of electric and autonomous vehicles, OEMs worldwide are discovering new uses for aluminum. The need for battery casings and heat exchangers in electric vehicles, combined with autonomous vehicles’ demands for high visibility and structural integrity, is expected to exponentially increase the use of sheet aluminum in tomorrow’s cars, trucks and buses. Supporting the transition to battery-powered vehicles Four major design challenges confront OEMs in their transition to electric vehicles. Extending vehicle range Improving battery and passenger safety Increasing passenger comfort Optimizing cooling systems for lithium-ion batteries The substitution of sheet aluminum for steel helps resolve OEM concerns. Industry INNOVATIONS
The Construction Source Australia The lighter the vehicle, the longer its range. According to Ducker Worldwide, aluminum is expected to contribute more than half of the anticipated vehicle mass reduction demanded by electric vehicles (EVs) to extend range. Ducker reports that in North America alone, aluminum content in EVs will increase to nearly 565 pounds (256 kilgrams) per vehicle by 2028. The larger the vehicle, the heavier the battery and casing required to optimize the EV’s range. It is the larger EVs, i.e., sedans, SUVs, taxis, trucks and buses, that will realize the greatest benefits from a steel-to-aluminum conversion. In the U.S., a vehicle’s gross weight determines which class of commercial driver’s license (CDL) will be required. Without lightweighting, some EVs could demand a higher-class license or additional endorsements due to the added weight of the battery. In older European cities like Brussels or London, some bridges and tunnels only allow vehicles up to 3.5 tons in weight, a target that is very difficult to meet for larger EVs without lightweighting. For heavier material transport EVs such as trucks, weight reduction enables an increased payload, providing a significant monetary benefit. Generally, the larger the vehicle, the higher the payback. Particularly relevant for larger human transport EVs such as buses and taxis, the weight reduction made possible through aluminum provides the added benefit of reduced CO2 emissions and improved air quality, of value not only to vehicle operators, but to the communities they serve. The thermal and anti-corrosion properties of aluminum make it ideal for battery frames. Sea-water resistant, highly formable, highly surfaced aluminum alloys provide the strength necessary to pass side-impact crashworthiness testing, protecting passengers and the battery should impact occur. Casing floor plates made out of aluminum are not only strong, but also capable of resisting corrosion related to weather exposure. These characteristics enable aluminum battery casings to resist weather-related deterioration and impact from road debris, minimizing the risk of related fires and further securing passenger safety. Optimizing battery and human safety Extending range Dispersing heat The batteries used in EVs produce energy while charging and decharging, requiring the use of heat exchangers to dissipate heat. But the types of heat exchangers used in vehicle air conditioning systems are inadequate to meet this new challenge. Aluminum clad brazing (which connects multiple layers of aluminum together to disperse heat) requires heating in a controlled atmosphere (e.g., a vacuum) to achieve optimum joining. Aluminum heat exchangers designed specifically to meet the challenges presented by electric vehicles can use as many as five types of aluminum sandwiched together, with the layers providing gradient properties to optimize cooling. These specialized processes and materials address OEM concerns, ensuring adequate dissipation of the heat generated by battery-powered vehicles. An experienced aluminum processing partner can help OEMs specify the right process and alloys to meet specific vehicle temperature thresholds, ideally working side by side with OEM engineers early in the design process to maximize the performance of electric vehicles. IT IS THE LARGER EVS, I.E, SEDANS, SUVS, TAXIS, TRUCKS AND BUSES, THAT WILL REALIZE THE GREATEST BENEFITS FROM A STEEL -TO-ALUMINUM CONVERSION .
JANUARY 2026 The luxury sedan market will likely be the first to transition to self-driving electric vehicles. Passenger comfort and safety, and an expansive view of the surrounding environment, are expected to be top priorities for this market. The hefty B pillars used in conventional vehicles to meet structural requirements for crashworthiness are undesirable in a self-driving scenario. To enable large windows and an unobstructed view without sacrificing passenger safety, lightweight aluminum will be the strong material of choice. Supporting the eventual transition to autonomous vehicles In addition to the design challenges presented by EVs, society’s demand for sustainable solutions will likely continue to be a driver in the transition to aluminum-lightweighted vehicles. A Forschungsgesellschaft Kraftfahrwesen mbH Aachen (fka) study, using a Volkswagen Golf as its reference vehicle, determined that an electric aluminum-based vehicle could meet the same safety standards as its steelbased equivalent, while emitting 1.5 tons less greenhouse gases over its lifecycle, taking into consideration production, a total driving distance of more than 93,000 miles (150,000 kilometers) and eventual recycling. Ongoing environmental concerns Conclusion Aluminum alloys are ideally suited to the design challenges presented by electric and autonomous vehicles. By aligning with aluminum partners deeply experienced in developing processes and alloys to meet demanding performance requirements, transportation vehicle OEMs are accelerating the pace of EV and self-driving vehicle adoption throughout North America. .
The Construction Source Australia
JANUARY 2026 Business World Australia
The Construction Source Australia Business Worl d Australia
Big Company Capability, Small-Company Agility
JANUARY 2026
PM Design Group has spent three decades proving that an engineering consultancy doesn’t need to be enormous to make an outsized impact. Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Geelong, Victoria, the firm has grown steadily while retaining the flexibility and close-knit culture that defined its early years. These days, the company comprises of four offices and a team of around 45-to-50 employees, a size that allows it to take on substantial projects while staying nimble, personal, and deeply accessible to clients. When General Manager Antoni Gecsek joined in 2018, the company had about 25 staff. His arrival marked a deliberate shift in how the business would be led and grown. Antoni had previously spent 16 years with PM Design’s parent company, Kempe Engineering, before taking a three-year stint with Turner & Townsend in Melbourne. His early career as a structural drafter eventually evolved into project and construction management, often in demanding international environments. That experience shaped the perspective he brought with him when he returned to the group. As Antoni explains, the aim was to separate the business leadership role from day-to-day engineering delivery. The company wanted a general manager who would focus on running the business, strengthening its structure, and steering growth rather than stepping in to “plug holes” when technical workloads spiked. That move, combined with a period of sustained demand across multiple engineering disciplines, helped PM Design grow its team, diversify its project portfolio, and strengthen its presence across Australia. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA
JANUARY 2026
Jim Liversage joined in 2023 after a long tenure at TGM Group, which was later acquired by Cardno. Looking for a change, he reconnected with former colleagues who were already at PM Design, and the cultural fit was immediate. Today he works closely with Antoni on business development and internal leadership, helping guide the company’s expansion while ensuring its values stay intact. Although most of PM Design’s work is in Victoria, the team is active nationwide, with projects currently in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia. They have even supported work offshore. Their technical capabilities span civil, structural, and building services engineering—including mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and fire. Structural engineering remains the largest discipline within the company, with multidisciplinary projects becoming increasingly common as clients look for consolidated and coordinated delivery. Project values vary dramatically, which is one of the strengths of PM Design’s model. The company may design something as small as a lintel above a garage door one day and contribute to a $60 million homemaker centre the next. Fee ranges can run from a few thousand dollars to a few hundred thousand, and some projects are completed in a single day while others—especially in land development—span several years. That diversity gives the business stability. When one sector slows, another is usually thriving, keeping teams consistently engaged and allowing PM Design to adapt quickly to changing markets. The largest project the company has delivered to date remains the Spirit of Tasmania terminal THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA
relocation to Geelong. PM Design was engaged to design the land-based facilities required for TT-Line’s move from Port Melbourne to Geelong, a project of significant value with over $1 million in fees for the firm. They secured the work not because they were the biggest bidder, but because they were already trusted locally and had built a strong relationship with the Port of Geelong. For Antoni and Jim, that win reflects exactly what sets the company apart: strong relationships, technical competence, and a presence that is “bigger than small but smaller than big.” Relationship-building has long been core to how the company connects with customers. Repeat work is their strongest indicator of success, far more meaningful to them than industry awards. Clients tend to stay, return, and expand their partnerships as they realise how wide PM Design’s capabilities are. Jim notes that crossselling naturally occurs once conversations begin. A recent project that started with electrical engineering quickly grew into civil, structural, and full building services once the client learned the company could handle all aspects of the job. Within a few weeks, the fee grew to nearly $150,000, purely through open communication and relationship management. Face-to-face interaction is still the preferred method of staying connected. Coffee meetings, site visits, and informal catchups remain part of the team’s weekly rhythm. According to Antoni, the company’s approach is consistent, and involves showing up, listening, and keeping relationships moving in both directions. Jim echoes that sentiment, noting the importance of maintaining regular contact with clients even JANUARY 2026
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA
when there’s no active project—especially when proposals are missed, since those conversations often strengthen trust rather than weaken it. PM Design works the same way with subcontractors and suppliers. Respect, transparency, and support underpin those relationships just as much as they do on the client side. Subcontractors are treated as an extension of the PM Design team, not just external resources. Internally, the company’s culture remains one of its greatest strengths. With everyone working across multiple offices but still collaborating daily, there is no sense of hierarchy or siloing. No one is pigeonholed into a specific area, and knowledge flows freely across teams and disciplines. Jim and Antoni maintain open doors—literally and figuratively—ensuring communication is constant and accessible. PM Design also offers rostered days off, giving employees a monthly break to help maintain balance in an industry known for its intensity. While they don’t chase awards, the company is far from complacent. To Antoni, the repeat business is the award, and the future includes a clear objective: doubling revenue and effectively doubling the business within the next three to five years. That plan is supported by the diversification of revenue streams, continued organic growth, strong leadership alignment, and a reputation that they intend to not only protect but elevate. As Antoni describes it, the company sits in a rare, sweet spot: “bigger than small but smaller than big.” PM Design Group has the capability and experience to take on major projects, but it remains agile enough to adjust quickly, customise its approach, and give clients the direct access they appreciate. It is this blend of scalability and personal connection that has carried the company from its early days in 1995 to its position today and will continue to shape its next chapter. After all, in the engineering world, being wellresourced matters—but being truly accessible matters even more. JANUARY 2026
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA For more on PM Design Group, their values, their capabilities, and their past projects – and to get in touch with Antoni, Jim, and the rest of their expert team – visit their website at www.pmdesign.com.au/
Collaboration and Clarity
JANUARY 2026
Founded in 2017 and based in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, SBD Studio is a residential architecture and interior design practice working primarily across the east coast of New South Wales. Led by founder and director Jake French, the studio focuses on crafting long-term family homes, renovation projects and high-end duplex developments, operating across Sydney’s eastern suburbs, northern beaches, and into the Illawarra and Wollongong regions. Jake’s pathway into architecture began well before formal study. Growing up around building sites alongside his father and grandfather, both with strong ties to the building industry, he developed an early understanding of how buildings come together in practice. “Being around construction from such a young age shaped how I think about design,” he explains. “It grounded everything in what is actually buildable, not just what looks good on paper.” That foundation led him through drafting studies, a diploma at TAFE, and a Bachelor of Architecture at UNSW, alongside continuous employment within architectural practices from his first year of university in 2012. Over the course of nearly a decade, Jake worked across several Sydney-based firms, gaining experience in high-end residential projects as well as commercial developments, including hospitality, education, and healthcare facilities. While that breadth of experience proved valuable, residential architecture stood apart for him personally. “Working on homes is different,” he says. “You are designing spaces that people will live in every day, so success is measured in how the home functions, not just how it photographs.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA
JANUARY 2026
While working with those other firms, Jake started doing more and more private work on the side. As demand for his private work grew, he made the decision to strike out on his own seven years ago and form SBD Studio (previously Shire Building Design). Since then, the practice has expanded carefully rather than rapidly, growing into a team of seven full-time staff while maintaining a collaborative, hands-on structure. “We are very deliberate about our size,” Jake explains. “Keeping the studio manageable means every project benefits from shared input rather than being siloed.” That collaborative mindset shapes how SBD Studio operates day to day. Projects move through multiple internal review stages, with team members contributing ideas and technical insight before concepts are presented to clients. “Different perspectives always strengthen the outcome,” Jake notes. “It allows us to resolve issues early and present clients with designs that are already well considered.” SBD Studio currently works on renovation projects around the $1 million mark and upwards, with new builds ranging up to approximately $5 million in construction value. According to Jake, the studio is already seeing this range shift upward, with future projects increasingly falling within the $2 million to $8 million bracket. Even so, the team remains selective, choosing projects carefully and relying primarily on referrals from past clients, builders, and developers rather than high-volume marketing. “Referrals tell us we are doing something right,” he says. “They come from trust built over time.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA
The studio provides full architectural services, with all design, interior architecture, documentation, and 3D renderings produced in-house. This structure allows the team to maintain control over quality, coordination, and timelines. “Detailed documentation is critical,” Jake explains. “It gives builders clarity, helps clients understand what they are getting, and reduces surprises once construction starts.” Strong builder relationships are a direct result of that approach. Many of the builders SBD Studio works with have been long-term collaborators, some since the studio’s early days. Builders regularly refer clients directly to the practice, confident in the level of coordination and documentation provided. “Keeping builders involved throughout the design process keeps everyone aligned,” Jake notes. “It helps ensure design intent, cost, and construction reality stay connected.” SBD Studio’s internal company culture also plays a significant role in ensuring that connection. Jake explains that his experience in other practices heavily informed how he wanted SBD Studio to operate. That experience is why the studio places strong emphasis on communication, workload management, and team wellbeing. Weekly breakfasts create space for planning and open discussion before work begins, while regular site visits and shared lunches help maintain a strong connection between design and construction. “A healthy team produces better work,” Jake says. “It really is that simple.” JANUARY 2026
Completed earlier this year, Project Northcote is a clear example of SBD Studio’s design and coordination approach in practice. Designed from 2023, the project involved two homes on a single lot for a returning client. Rather than producing mirrored dwellings, the studio developed two distinct architectural responses, one expressed as a darker, contemporary residence and the other as a lighter, Mediterranean-inspired home. “The goal was to give each home its own identity,” Jake explains. “They share the same site, but they do not need to feel the same.” A southfacing backyard presented one of the project’s primary challenges, requiring careful consideration of how natural light would reach the main living areas. “Bringing light into the kitchen, living, and dining spaces became central to the design,” he says. Through the use of internal voids, side courtyards, and a carefully Always Improving THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA
arranged floor plan, light is drawn into spaces that would otherwise feel constrained. While the external forms establish a strong street presence, Jake explains that the success of the project lies in the internal experience. “How the spaces feel once people are living there is what really matters,” he notes. As a result of their work on projects of that caliber, SBD Studio has been able to earn growing recognition within the industry. Over the past two years, the practice has earned three national design awards through the Building Designers Association of Australia. In addition, several projects designed by the studio and constructed by partner builders have received awards or finalist recognition through organisations including HIA and MBA. “Awards are never the goal,” Jake explains. “But they are a nice acknowledgement of the work the whole team puts in.” Looking ahead, the studio’s focus remains on refinement rather than award-seeking or expansion. “We want to keep improving the quality of our work year after year,” Jake explains. While opportunities in rural or alpine locations remain of interest when the right project arises, SBD Studio is committed to operating at a scale that supports both its team and its clients. Through careful growth, strong partnerships, and a design process grounded in collaboration and clarity, SBD Studio continues to deliver residential architecture that balances technical rigour with considered, client-focused design. JANUARY 2026
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA For more on SBD Studio, and to contact Jake French and his team, visit their website at www.sbdstudio.au
ZAC Homes Offers Custom Designs across Sydney
JANUARY 2026
ZAC Homes is an award-winning bespoke home builder based in Penrith that offers custom and duplex homes across Sydney. With nearly 30 years of experience, the company produces an exciting range of residences from the granny flat to million-dollar homes. “We pride ourselves in having exceptional customer service and making the journey of building your new ZAC home as fun and exciting as possible,” states Peter Zaccazan, ZAC Homes Managing Director. “Our designs stand out from the crowd and are as unique on the inside as they are on the outside,” he says. “Our designs are unique, functional and compliment the needs of the first home buyers, modern families, and investors.” Peter brings a family tradition in the construction industry to ZAC Homes. “I started back in 1988 as an apprentice carpenter to my father. I did an apprenticeship with him then I became a qualified carpenter,” he explains. “We started just doing house frames and roofs and renovations then after a few years started right into it on my own and started to work with local architects in my local area in Penrith. We started doing renovations and extensions with them and then grew the business from there. Originally, it was just me, my mom, and an uncle of mine and then we grew it to what it is today.” Peter says his initial vision for the company has evolved through the years. “When I first started out, I was just doing oneoff type custom renovations, one-off homes and started to work for architects in town and that was very challenging and I enjoyed that, but it was very time consuming as well. You couldn’t actually do multiple projects because I was so in debt so then I decided that when my kids all went to school, that I’d grow the business and set up in my hometown and do more mainstream. It was still custom, but not as in-depth as it was so that I could do more THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA
volume. That’s the model that we have now, where we do a lot of volume.” “We concentrate on knock-down rebuilds and predominately all we do is duplexes,” he says. “Ninety percent of our work is duplex work.” In terms of size and cost, Peter says that ZAC Homes offers a “diverse” range of projects “We still do the odd granny flat,” he says, with a recent project coming in at $180,000. On the opposite end of the scale the company’s current jobs include work on a duplex that has a price tag of around $2.8 million. High standards and quality workmanship help set ZAC Homes apart from the competition. Peter explains how he brings quality control to the building process. “I instill in my supervisors that every house should be built the same. The only difference is the finish or the product, so the quality of the workmanship would be the same in every home. They should all be built as if I was the one moving in, so I have a high standard of quality when we hand them over.” Offering custom designs is another ZAC Homes difference. “A lot of the home builders are like a sausage factory, they just mass produce the same product,” Peter explains. “That’s a good model to have, but we do knock-down rebuilds…it’s not just a standard product because every brownfield and block of land is a different size, and the clients want to maximize the size of duplex they can get on so we custom design to suit either the counsel’s requirements or we sometimes go CDC trying to simplify…to speed it up.” Peter points out that the company’s end-to-end approach is also a big selling point with clients. JANUARY 2026
“They like that we can custom design but that we can also do everything from knocking the house down all the way through to getting the title and strata subdivision done at the end. We do the whole package for them so that they don’t have to do anything,” he says. Peter notes that when it comes to building lasting relationships with clients, “You’ve got to be honest and transparent.” “Nobody’s perfect. If you make a mistake, you put your hand up and say you’ve made a mistake and then you see the best way to fix that problem and overcome it together.” “As a company, our core values are trust, respect, integrity and pride which are not only shown throughout our offices but also extended to every client.” Peter says that he has repeat customers, longstanding clients among certain investors in Australia. “A lot of people now days they are called Mum and Daddy investors, developers. They either own a block or buy a block to do a duplex to make money out of. If they get a good experience upfront and their first one goes well, they keep coming back. We have some clients to do one every year with us. I’ve got one client who still does work with me from 20 years ago. He still lives in his home that I built for him 20 years ago.” As far as relationship with trades, the company has a longstanding relationship with some of the trades while others are newer to the operation. “I’ve got some subbies that I’ve had with me for 20 years and we have some subbies that are new. We have a good relationship with them,” Peter says. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA
JANUARY 2026
ZAC Homes’ high workmanship standards are expected from their subcontractors. “Me and my group operations manager, he’s pretty much out of the same mold as me, we’re both carpenters. We instill it in the trades from day one that this is what we expect, and we don’t take anything less,” Peter says. Their exceptional work has been spotlighted recently with two HIA Awards for the New South Wales Region: HIA Best Kitchen and Display Home, 2020 and HIA Best Kitchen under 15m, 2020. The homes are in Marsden Park. “These were two houses that we designed to compete with the other sausage factory type builders so to speak and they’ve done very well. We’ve got a single story and a double story up there. And we’ve tried to showcase how people live today with the open plan living, with the indoors and outdoors feeling like it’s all part of one and when we’ve used materials that are new to the market and really pop and have people asking questions.” “In Marsden Park, our California Design won Best Kitchen and Display Home,” Peter says. “The general theme for the California interior was taken directly from its mid-century inspired façade. Throughout the home you’ll find natural elements of stone and timber however the kitchen and alfresco areas are the standouts.” In all, the California was recognized by the HIA for its bold, edgy, modern, and totally livable design as well as the quality workmanship that can be seen throughout. Designed with young families and empty nesters in mind, the Sorento – winner of the Best Kitchen under 15m – has a kitchen with real wow factor as well as function. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA
When choosing the colour palette, designers used the 2018 Pantone Colour of the Year (Ultra Violet) and the 2019 Pantone Colour of the Year (Living Coral). For warmth, copper tones were introduced in the undermounted sink, mixer tap, upper cabinets, splashback tiles, island pendants and in a cut-out feature on the front of the island. “We love seeing the joy when construction begins on a customer’s new home and their excitement when we handover the keys. Nothing beats it. But there’s something that comes close and that’s being recognized for our excellence in design and craftsmanship,” Peter says. “It’s good branding for people to see that we’ve won awards. At the end of the day, a trophy so to speak on the shelf is always good and over the years we’ve won awards for best use of timber, or best kitchen or best bathroom. It’s good for us and my staff to know that they’re cutting-edge in what we do and that’s what we like to be.’ When looking to the future and possible growth, Peter says he is comfortable with the size of the company and where it is today. “For the type of builds that we do, we’re pretty much at 100 projects a year and the average build is probably $800,000 a build and that’s probably where we want to see it,” he says. JANUARY 2026
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA
About Space Lighting is a company that believes lighting does more than illuminate a room. According to Veronica Vasserman, General Manager, lighting is “the final touch to bring life to your space, elevating atmosphere, balancing design choices, and enhancing your style.” At About Space, their mission is to provide customers with decorative, architectural, and commercial lighting solutions that live up to their belief in lighting’s importance. Lighting trendsetters
JANUARY 2026
The origins of About Space date back to 1989, when founder and owner Mark Vasserman first started a company called Design Station, which created specialized furniture pieces for clients. In 2009, that company rebranded to focus on decorative lighting and changed their name to About Space – “Mark saw that lighting was something that Australia needed, and he had a real passion for it,” Veronica recalls. Since then, the company has evolved from a bespoke design business into one of Australia’s foremost lighting companies. Today, About Space has five showrooms across Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Tasmania, while also having an active online store. They work closely with retail customers as well as architects, interior designers, electrical wholesalers, contractors and developers. They source from Europe, Asia, and Australia in order to ensure their range offers the latest in functionality, design and sustainability. No matter who their client is, however, and no matter the scope of the project – whether it’s a single light to complete a room, or an entire home renovation – About Space’s approach is always the same. Their passionate and highlytrained team works closely with the client, whoever they are, to help deliver a contemporary and functional solution that THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA At the same time, About Space also holds a lot of stock in-house, so they can also help clients who are looking for more standard solutions. Even in those cases, however, Veronica says the company “still focuses on quality.”
JANUARY 2026 meets their needs. “We do a huge range of projects,” Veronica says. “We do both residential and commercial. We can provide a single wall light for a bathroom. We can do a custom decorative piece for a foyer space in a hotel lobby. We can do every light in that hotel. It’s a huge range, and we have dedicated people within our company who can facilitate all those services.” “We don’t do stadium lights,” she clarifies, “but basically everything else we can do.” “Our clients choose us for a combination of reasons,” she adds. “One of the main reasons is our unique product offering. Another reason is that we’re very solution based. If someone comes to us with a lighting problem, we can solve it. If someone comes to us with a lighting idea or concept, we can make it a reality. We have people who come to us with a scribble on a napkin, and we help them build it out into an actual product.” At the same time, About Space also holds a lot of stock inhouse, so they can also help clients who are looking for more standard solutions. Even in those cases, however, Veronica says the company “still focuses on quality.” “Quality is something we’re constantly working on and improving,” she says. “It can be difficult when you have more than 700 different products, but a big part of it just doing a lot of spot-checking and testing before we package a product and send it off. If there’s ever an issue, we’ll do what it takes to resolve it.” Then there’s their responsive
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA customer service – Veronica believes that’s another one of the main reasons their clients choose them, as well as a key part of why they have been so successful at earning repeat business and referrals. “We provide quick response times,” she explains, “and when there’s an issue, we work quickly to resolve it. If things go wrong, we’re there to support our customers. It doesn’t matter whether the issue stems from their side, from our side, or from the transport side – so many different things can happen, and it’s our responsibility to resolve those situations quickly.”
JANUARY 2026
Over the past 13 years, About Space Lighting has not only built lasting relationships with clients, but with their other stakeholders as well. Many of the company’s direct employees, for example, have been with the company for years – which is important, because they perform a lot of their assembly and repairs inhouse. Then when it comes to the subcontractors they do use – electricians, mainly – they have also built some strong and lasting ties. “We have a number of companies that we’ve dealt with many times, and we’ve found that their service has been really positive,” Veronica says. “We’ve found them to be very honest and knowledgeable. Those are really key characteristics for us and our team, and they have to have a good understanding of what they are doing.” Honest and knowledgeable THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA
JANUARY 2026 Moving forward, as the company grows, Veronica says they want to maintain those strong relationships with those favoured partners, but they also want to add more to the roster. She says they’re always on the lookout for electricians who share their values and they can trust to deliver quality. Speaking of growth, Veronica also says that “we’re definitely not shrinking, that’s for sure – we’re growing quite significantly each year.” That’s in terms of the size of their team as well as the scope of their offering. They now do everything from lighting design to lighting advice to producing custom lighting solutions – “that didn’t all happen on the first day we opened the door,” Veronica says. “A big part of our growth has been adding more capabilities,” she explains. “We expect that to continue.” About Space also expects to open up more physical locations over the coming years, with Canberra opening in June 2023. They further expect to enhance their public profile and reputation within the industry. Long-term, they want to be known as “one of the trendsetters in lighting in Australia.” “We want to be the preferred brand for Australians,” Veronica says. “When they are looking for custom lighting and unique designs, we want Australians to think of us first.”
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA
As an example of the kind of custom lighting solution About Space can provide, Veronica cites their recent work via Nickaz on Medicins Legale’s office in Sydney. There, they designed and produced a series of large custom LED rings and ovals, which were made of aluminium profile. They did the whole office, so they provided other products within that project, but that was the big custom showpiece. As another example, Veronica points to their work on a Scape student accommodation project in Melbourne. She describes that project as “super colourful” and “very fun” – in fact, those were basically the words in the brief. There, About Space custom made a number of different track lights in specific colours tailored to Scape’s look – “so there were oranges and blues and pinks,” Veronica says. “It’s not very common to get track lighting in various colours apart from your blacks and your whites, so that was very fun.” Custom solutions JANUARY 2026
For more on About Space Lighting, their designs, products, and past projects – and to get in touch with their team today – visit https://aboutspace.net.au/ THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA
Stunning homes on difficult blocks
Dall Designer Homes is a family-owned, multi-award-winning homebuilding company based in the Sunshine Coast. Their specialty is building unique custom homes that reflect their client’s personal taste, lifestyle, and block of land. Their highly-experienced team – led by owners and directors Steve Tuttle and Brett Dall – work closely with clients through every step of the building process, from concept to completion. At every stage, they strive to provide a professional, friendly, and detail-oriented service, with the end-goal of delivering clients both a quality home and a quality experience along the way.
JANUARY 2026
Steve first founded Dall Designer Homes in 2005 with his brother-in-law, Brett Dall. Prior to that, they both worked for Brett’s father at a longstanding company called Bob Dall Homes & Real Estate, where they designed and built a lot of homes on challenging blocks – as those blocks tended to be cheaper to purchase, and their niche was providing no-deposit homes to women who had experienced intimate partner violence. When Bob retired, Steve and Brett decided to strike out on their own and start their own building company. Since they were experienced with sloping blocks and challenging terrains, they decided to focus on building on those blocks as their specialty. “We pride ourselves on our ability to turn these difficult blocks into stunning homes that maximize the natural features of the land,” Steve says. In addition to building new homes, Dall Designer Homes also offers extension services for existing properties. Geographically, they work throughout the Sunshine Coast, with occasional ventures into Gympie for repeat clients. In terms of size, their homes can vary greatly – they’ll do everything from granny flats to luxury estates – though most projects tend to fall between $700,000 and $900,000 in value. According to Steve, no matter the size or scope of their work, what sets Dall Designer Homes apart is the quality of the relationships they build with clients. The strength of those relationships is reflected by their history of repeat business and referrals, which Steve says is how they generate almost all their work. He credits that loyalty, firstly, to the company’s openness and transparency regarding pricing: “We’re an open book when it comes to price,” he explains. “We have nothing to hide. Clients come to us and we show them our quote and we show them our costings. They know what we’re paying, and they know what we’re charging. Everything is disclosed.” “Honesty and integrity are THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA
“Honesty and integrity are paramount,” he adds. “I’m very honest in general. I’ll tell clients exactly what I think. I’ll talk clients out of buying blocks if I don’t think it’s the right one for them. I won’t push a client into something just to make some money. I know that’s not going to pay off down the track.” Steve further credits their customer loyalty to the “highly personal service” they offer: “We don’t have salesmen,” he says. “Clients deal directly with the builder. Whatever they need, they talk to me. I sign the contract at the beginning, and I hand the keys over at the end. And if at any point I say we can do something, we get it done. “ Dall Designer Homes also offers an individual in-house design service, typically at no extra cost to clients. As part of that service, they discuss with clients their needs, budget, land, and dreams, and then have an onsite inspection to ascertain aspect, slope, access, views, and planning constraints. Later in the process, the company uses 3D and virtual technology to help clients visualize their designs before signing off on them. From a construction perspective, Dall Designer Homes is just as diligent. They take pride in delivering to a high standard, and when there are issues, they take pride in responding and resolving them quickly. According to Steve, the company’s quality of work is a credit to the talent and dedication of their team. Inhouse, that team includes seven direct family members, as well as many more close friends, some of whom have been with the company for more than 15 years. The company’s subcontractors and suppliers tend to be just as longstanding. Steve describes his relationships with many of those partners as “almost like family – because we’ve known them just as long as family.” “We’ve always tried to look after our subbies,” he explains. “We pay them promptly. They put their bill in on Monday they get paid on Friday. In return, they look after us. If they make a mistake, they want to make it right. They want to keep the client happy, just like we do. We get a lot of praise from clients about our guys and how they handle themselves.” JANUARY 2026
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA
In recent years, Dall Designer Homes has been consistently industry-recognized for both the quality of their service and the quality of their work. For example, they have received ‘Best of Houzz Design’ awards every year since 2018, and in 2023 they also won a ‘Best of Houzz Service’ award. Furthermore, at the 2022 HIA Sunshine Coast / Wide Bay Housing and Kitchen & Bathroom Awards, they also won the category for ‘Kitchen of the Year up to $30,000.’ That award-winning kitchen was a collaboration between Dall Designer Homes and QEBS Design & Build. The client, Janelle, was also heavily involved, and Steve credits her for “driving the design.” Moving forward, Steve says the company’s goal is to continue delivering award-worthy projects and continue satisfying clients like Janelle. To maintain that quality and customer service, they will continue to limit the amount of work they take on per year. Historically, they have averaged around The next generation JANUARY 2026
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA
20 projects per year and Steve believes that’s a good number. “We don’t have dreams of being a big builder,” he says. “Our dreams are about having a comfortable lifestyle and taking care of our families.” Eventually, Steve and Brett hope that their families will take over the business, much like they took over from Bob in 2005. Both have four children, and Brett’s eldest recently finished his Bachelor of Architecture with Honors and is working for the company, while continuing his studies. “Between our eight kids, I imagine the next generation of Dall Designer Homes is well and truly taken care of,” Steve says. “They are the future.” JANUARY 2026
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA For more on Dall Designer Homes, their process, their past projects, and to hear from past clients – and to get in touch with Steve and his team – visit https://dalldesignerhomes.com.au/
Offers Luxury Living in Perth
JANUARY 2026
Black Pearl Homes is a boutique design and construction business serving the Perth metro area. The company has built some of the most iconic luxury and high-end custom homes in Western Australia. “Most of our clients are second or third home builders looking to do a higher end build, their forever homes,” states Heather Fisher, Administrator at Black Pearl Homes. The Black Pearl Team consists of four individuals inhouse along with trades, contractors, and suppliers. Kevin Garousi and Ryan Hagh are the directors of the company. They are both engineers by trade with a strong background in civil construction and residential building. They bring more than 25 years of experience to their leadership roles with the business. “They had the clients approaching them more and more, so these two builders came together about two years ago and formed Black Pearl Homes. And we’ve just gone up and away,” Heather says “We do mostly custom-built homes. Either clients bring us their own plans from an architect, or we have an inhouse architect that we refer people to. When we use our inhouse architect, we work alongside to make sure that everything comes up to budget and design and works construction wise,” Heather explains. “This works really well to have the builder involved right from the beginning.” “If you want to use our architect, we have you pay the architect fee, and we assist during this time, but you don’t have to sign a contract with us just yet. If you want to then proceed and build with us, we’ll actually cover that architect cost as part of the full building cost.” Along with building single family homes, Black Pearl Homes is also involved in constructing investment properties. “We have a strong investor base and we do quite a few investment properties which usually consists of between THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA
JANUARY 2026
three to eight townhouses or villas at a time,” Heather explains. She says that with the directors’ engineering background, the company is able to tackle certain challenging projects that other builders might avoid. “We have quite a few come to us directly that are challenging blocks, challenging slopes, and having that engineering background, we’re able to execute that a lot more confidently than some of the other standard builders.” Another hallmark of the company is the direct line that clients have to the directors throughout their projects. This connection is valuable in building strong relationships with their clients. “Because we are a boutique builder, we have a real personal, customized service where you speak directly to one of the directors right from the beginning. We can help you right from the design and getting your approvals and do all the estimating, and keep it all inhouse so you are really confident about what you’re getting,” Heather says. “Myself, I’m a designer as well and help build the interior design and selections which, also because I work with the builder, keeps it all within budget as well. “Most of our clients are referrals from past jobs, so they get a lot of confidence coming in. Most people really like that they can call the directors any time on their mobiles directly, or myself, or the site supervisor and have a direct communication. You don’t get the same runaround that you might get with a bigger THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA
company. Along with offering a luxury product and excellent customer service, the quick turnaround time that Black Pearl Homes provides on their projects helps elevate them within the industry. “One of our big selling points as well is our inhouse communication and logistics. We’re able to put houses through in quite a timely manner without cutting any of the quality. We tell all of our clients for a standard double story home 18 months from the time the slab goes down to completion and the last couple that we’ve put through have gone through in less than that probably about 15 months even with all of the delays that we’ve seen in the building industry,” Heather says. “That’s been a really good selling point for our clients whereas other builders are struggling to actually get the work done, we are building it and doing it just as fast or faster than other building types.” This can be attributed, Heather explains, to the leadership of the company and the teamwork inhouse and their relationship with suppliers and trades. “It comes down from the directors and the leadership to be organized and to be able to make sure in putting quotes and call ups with our suppliers well in advance and having good communication with our tradesmen and to make sure everything is on schedule, just being quite organized about how we go about our building methods. JANUARY 2026
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTYzNTg=