Sometimes everything you are looking for is right where you are. That was the case for IT professional Sriram Kumar and his wife, Shoba.
The couple had outgrown their older home on a generous block in Melbourne’s western suburb of Truganina and were considering a fresh start closer to the water, possibly at Sanctuary Lakes. But a casual conversation with a friend soon changed their plans.
“One of our friends works for Metricon and, around the dinner table, we were showing him brochures of the houses we were looking at buying,” Sriram says. “He was like, ‘You’re spending way too much on moving over there,’ and told us we could build a fabulous house via KnockDown ReBuild.”
With a strong circle of friends and a local school for their two young children, Rishi and Nyra, staying put suddenly made a lot of sense. Starting over on the same block would allow the family to build a home designed specifically for their needs, without sacrificing the lifestyle they already loved. Their friend shared a range of design options that aligned with their priorities and helped keep the build within budget.
Building with Metricon also gave Sriram and Shoba the opportunity to design their new home around the principles of Vastu Shastra. This ancient Indian philosophy of architecture focuses on balancing the five elements, Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space, to promote peace, positive energy and prosperity.
“We already had the basics, because our existing block faces east,” Sriram says. “So that was a good starting point.”
The couple chose the Sovereign 54 design with a Pavilion façade, flipping the floorplan and making several considered adjustments to better align with Vastu Shastra.
“It’s good Vastu to have the sun shining into the home from the north, to dine in the west and position the laundry to the south, cleansing the home’s energy,” Sriram says. “While there’s no scientific evidence, it’s something we’ve been taught since childhood, and a light-filled house definitely brings positive vibes.”
With multiple living zones and five spacious bedrooms, each with its own ensuite and walk-in wardrobe, the home was designed to give the family space to come together, retreat when needed and comfortably host guests.
“Indian families are like that,” Sriram chuckles. “When they come, they stay for longer.”
The original Sovereign 54 design included a void at the entry and another over the living area. Sriram and Shoba chose to remove the front void, relocating their master bedroom to the front of the home and expanding it significantly, while leaving a large bedroom at the rear for guests. A powder room was also incorporated into the plan.
When it came time to select fixtures and finishes at Studio M, the couple were happy to trust the experts.
“We’re not in the business of interior design, but when we walked into the Cranbourne display, we loved the aesthetic,” Sriram says. “So we copied over 90 per cent of it.”
Saying goodbye to their original home was emotional.
“We’d lived in it for so many years, so seeing it being demolished was overwhelming.”
But, that feeling didn’t last long once their new home began to take shape.
“We used to come and visit, and the kids were so excited, asking, ‘When are we moving in?’” Sriram says.
“When we came for the inspection, they didn’t want to leave because it was just so beautiful compared to the rental we had while it was being built.”
The excitement continued once they moved in.
“The kids loved the bright colours in the new home and the smell of the fresh paint,” Sriram says. “They couldn’t wait to get back from school.”
Starting fresh extended beyond the walls themselves.
“We wanted to start fresh with new furniture, so we got rid of everything on Facebook Marketplace, and, at the start, we were all sleeping in the master bedroom on a mattress on the floor, which was quite exciting for the kids.”
Sriram’s favourite place to relax is beneath the living room void.
“I’m absolutely in love with it,” he says. “Sometimes I just sit there and silently admire how beautiful it is, and I love the bifold windows which we open up onto the alfresco dining area on a warm day.”
The family has been so happy with their Metricon build and their new home that several friends have since followed their lead. Sriram particularly values Metricon’s willingness to respect and incorporate cultural beliefs into the design process.
“It’s about accommodating whatever makes people happy, whether that’s Feng Shui for Chinese customers or factoring in the beliefs of Muslim or Jewish families,” he says. “It’s about building with cultural purpose, which hopefully will bring good luck.”
If you’re considering rebuilding or starting fresh on your existing block, discover how Metricon can help you create a home that feels right for the way you live, now and into the future. Enquire today.
