In today's housing market, many builders are asked to construct homes on narrow blocks. Fewer are approached by people who have the opposite - a block wider than it is long - yet they can be just as difficult to design for and build on. However, such a block need be no hindrance to creating a beautiful house, as shown by this luxurious Bicton custom built home. Built by Bellagio Homes on a 430sqm block, the home has 302sqm of floor space and a light and open feel throughout. Bellagio Homes managing director Reg Boston said the block proved a design challenge. "The shape of the block was cause for concern as it's wider than it is in depth," he said. "The client's brief was quite specific so, with that in mind and knowing the council planning requirements, we completed the design with little to no changes and never moved away from the final design. "The process from design stage to construction was quite streamlined, with minimal time wasting from all parties, including the council."

Mr Boston said the clients requested a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home with a study, plenty of storage space and a design that felt light and open. "As with the trends of today's homes, (they requested) open living areas with a functional alfresco area overlooking the below-ground pool, a study away from the rest of the rooms where the owner could set up his drum kit and guitars, and the upper floor purely for the main suite, with a balcony overlooking the driveway and pool," he said. "The home was, like many of our homes, a one-off design to suit the block but also what the client envisaged for their lifestyle today and in the coming years." The entry was designed to create a lasting first impression, with a cedar-lined ceiling Roman Classic unfilled travertine to the wall and a Corinthian pivot entry doorframe. Inside, 28-course-high frames to the internal doors enhance the sense of space, as does the open-tread staircase to the upper floor. Upstairs was designed to be a true parents' retreat and is a spacious zone with twin walk-in robes, a spacious ensuite, loft, sitting area and bedroom and a private balcony with cedar-lined ceiling. Mr Boston said the home had been finished with up-market finishes throughout and said it had a very functional floor plan. "The stand out feature is the open-plan design from the kitchen through to the alfresco area which overlooks the below ground pool," he said.

The heart of the home is the open-plan kitchen, living and dining area. Shadow lines to the ceilings enhance the modern look, while a fireplace also using Roman Classic unfilled travertine was designed to be a focal point and adds warmth and texture to the room. White vinyl-wrap cabinetry to the kitchen accentuates the clean, minimalist look of the kitchen, which has stone benchtops, a glass splashback and stainless-steel Miele appliances. A lowered ceiling to the kitchen defines the zone visually. The living area opens on to a paved, covered alfresco area with a cedar-lined ceiling that overlooks the pool. The ground floor encompasses a bedroom wing with two bedrooms trhat share a family bathroom and a toilet. There is also a study and a storeroom close to the double garage.