When it came to building their first home, the experience of living in apartments for the first few years of their married life underlined one important criterion for home owners Mark and Emma - storage space was a high priority. So Mark added a third garage just for storage and Emma added two huge internal utility rooms along with larger-than-normal main suite wardrobe, linen cupboard and pantry. "When I became pregnant and we decided it was time to build a house it was one thing we instantly focused on after all those years living in apartments with minimal storage," she said. "So I have a massive utility room - too big to call it a laundry - with loads of overhead and underbench cupboards and opposite that another equally large internal storage room for vacuum cleaners and other housework appliances."

She pointed out more storage - this time a butler's pantry off the kitchen, which she described as an "appliance area" with its inbuilt microwave, food preparation bench and abundant appliances, even a separate appliance cupboard with roll-down door. Off this is more storage - the main walk-in pantry. She admitted she had gone overboard in this 350sqm home becausemost of the storage space was only half-filled, but a bigger family was planned. In her main suite she has a spacious walk-in robe/dressing room but she figured they would need more and added a double-size wardrobe with sliding mirror doors providing extra storage for clothes and a mirror wall. Even the ensuite is mega-size with twin shower, twin vanities and separate toilet.

The heart of the home, however, is the large family living area with a vast island kitchen bench where family and friends gather. It not only acts as a divider in the kitchen but also as a servery to the living area which has raked ceilings that flow from indoors through to the outdoor alfresco area. To the left of this is an adult rest area with large wall-mounted flat screen tv and comfy couches and on the other side is the kids' playroom. And if this isn't enough there is a large home theatre room. It goes without saying the kitchen to service all this is also spacious, despite having its butler's pantry annexe sporting plenty of storage, stone benchtops and European stainless-steel appliances. A family/guest wing with a gym and two bedrooms completes this modern and extremely spacious new home created by Bellagio Homes.