With a keen interest in sustainable living, Pheony and Daryl Tan opted to build a new home over buying an established property because of the passive-solar design principles available with today’s new homes.

“The majority of established houses aren’t built with these design principles in mind,” Mr and Mrs Tan told New Homes. “Our previous home had many limitations, particularly in floor plan and layout, so we liked the idea of creating a living space and making choices that worked for our growing family.”

After making the decision to build with Arklen, Mr and Mrs Tan said they provided a fairly straightforward brief.

“Our initial brief to Mark and Owen at Arklen was that we wanted a simple, low-maintenance and durable home,” they said. “We also wanted a fuss-free building process and to be as hands-off as possible.”

Having built before with a different builder, Mr and Mrs Tan said they understood the building process could be a draining experience.

“We had built once before – an experience filled with many construction errors, delays and frustrations,” they said.

“Committing to build again was daunting, at a time when life was busier than ever. Together, we discussed and clearly outlined our reasons for building and decided it was worth a shot.”

Occupying a 233sqm lot off a laneway just minutes from the city centre, the completed home features four bedrooms and two bathrooms, and demonstrates a balance between luxury and environmental awareness.

“Aesthetically, the home’s clean lines, mix of textures and overall colour palette suit North Perth’s blend of character and modern homes,” Mr and Mrs Tan said. “As compact blocks result in close proximity to neighbours, the insulated walls and commercial windows and doors afford us some privacy and separation when necessary.”

Discussing the overall building process, Mr and Mrs Tan said Arklen delivered above and beyond on all fronts.

“If our first experience was difficult and stressful, this time around was a delight,” they said.

“We truly enjoyed working with them and would do it again in a heartbeat.”