When Andrew and Celia decided to build their dream home on Edith Street in Alderley, they knew they wanted something bold. A lightweight suspended slab. Exposed concrete. Floor to ceiling glass. The kind of architect designed home that turns heads.
There was just one catch: they’d be building it in a street lined with traditional Queenslanders.
The Collaborative Approach
This is where McVeigh Homes’ approach made all the difference. Rather than receiving finished plans and simply executing them, the team worked alongside Andrew and Celia’s architect from the earliest stages.
“McVeigh Homes was involved from the beginning of the build process,” Andrew explains. “They worked closely with our architect and us early on which helped greatly with optimising constructability and limiting costs. They put practical knowledge into the design.”
This meant the stunning architectural features, the suspended concrete slab, the cantilevered upper level, the material palette of timber cladding, black metal, and white render, could all be engineered properly from the start. No surprises. No expensive redesigns halfway through.
A Stress Free Build
“Throughout the build process communication between Nick and us was great,” Andrew and Celia share. “There were no surprises and no questions (we had lots) from us that weren’t answered and explained, which gave us great peace of mind.”
Regular site meetings meant they could walk through exactly what was happening, giving them real ownership of their build choices. The team was considerate of neighbours and kept disruptions minimal, crucial in an established suburb.
“Nick, Michael and the whole team did a fantastic job and made the whole process as stress free as possible and most importantly, fun.”
The Result
The home delivers on every promise. Polished concrete floors flow throughout, warmed by timber accents. The custom staircase features timber treads with black metal risers and perforated screening. The kitchen sits at the centre with its stunning green marble waterfall island, while floor to ceiling glass blurs the line between inside and out.
Upstairs, timber privacy screens on the balconies provide seclusion without sacrificing leafy outlooks. The suspended slab creates covered entertainment space below while the gravel filled upper terrace adds sophisticated texture.
Far from being the house that doesn’t fit, this home has become a quiet landmark on Edith Street. The timber cladding creates dialogue with nearby Queenslanders. The black metal adds contemporary edge without aggression. The thoughtful material palette and careful site planning prove modern architecture in traditional neighbourhoods works when done right.
“We couldn’t be any more happier with the end result and the journey we took with them to our new home,” Andrew and Celia conclude.
This Alderley home proves you don’t have to choose between architectural ambition and neighbourhood harmony. You just need a builder who understands how to deliver both.