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Custom Home Builders: Melbourne Inner-City Experts

Building bespoke custom homes, designed for you.

Our expert team of custom home builders in Melbourne is well known for the construction quality, innovation and design flair of our bespoke custom homes. We design and build for clients who are looking for a straightforward, stress-free building experience and responsive customer service with premium results. Our passion is building homes our customers love.

With over 50 years of experience, Spacemaker Home Extensions is one of Melbourne’s most awarded and reputable custom builders. We have a long-standing and consistent track record for delivering award-winning designs and high-quality custom new home and extension projects across Melbourne’s inner-city suburbs. Amongst the many awards and accolades we have received, our custom-built home in Port Melbourne went on to win the Master Builders Victoria (MBAV) Best Custom Home between $1-2 million. 

We have also built bespoke custom homes in many other prominent Melbourne suburbs, including Olinda, East Malvern, Ivanhoe, Glen Iris and Ashburton.

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For a place that's distinctively yours, consider a custom home builder

While extending and renovating your existing dwelling is generally easier and better value for money, building a custom new home can sometimes be the most sensible solution. If you are trying to decide whether to construct a new home or embark on a custom house renovation and extension, our experienced design team will guide you.

Custom new homes can be invigorating. You are in the driver’s seat and can select the materials, quality, design and the energy efficiency rating you’ve always wanted—in a location of your choice.

As well as letting you take charge of the decision-making process, your custom new home will be a unique creation that suits your family’s preferences and lifestyle needs. Adding personalised touches to a space you have designed from scratch will make it truly your home.

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What are the benefits of custom-built new homes?

From personalising the overall design, integrating innovative ideas and smart appliances to maximising on the resale value of your property, building a custom new home has a long list of advantages. These include:

1. Adapt the design to suit you

Imagine being in charge of every detail of your future home, from the layout and lighting to custom appliances and architectural flourishes! With a custom new home, you can have your say on fixtures, flooring, custom cabinetry, the amount of natural light you prefer and many other design choices. 

The range of customisation options gives you the personal satisfaction you may not get from higher-volume builders who focus on pre-designed homes built off the plan. With a custom built new home, the opportunities to integrate bespoke elements suited to your tastes are almost limitless.

2. Build a home unique to your lifestyle

Custom home building with a reputable builder gives you the flexibility to tailor your home to suit your unique lifestyle, rather than changing your life to adapt to your home. Our clever design and construction techniques ensure your new home meets the specific needs of you and your family. This helps to improve your quality of life now and in the future by creating more space for you to thrive, exactly where you need it. 

3. Maximise resale value

Although many of our clients build bespoke custom homes with the intention of living there for the longer term, our custom built new homes are also a great investment. A quality home with unique character and charm often appeals more to buyers than a lower-budget project home. If you plan to sell your custom new home in the future, we can help you make the right home design choices that will contribute to higher resale value. 

4. Honour your signature style

After achieving regulatory compliance, a fully customised home does not compromise aesthetics or style, as everything is designed to your taste. Remember, you’re in creative control and there’s no right or wrong, no matter how conventional or innovative. Take the opportunity to start with a blank canvas while you work with luxury custom home builders to create the home of your dreams. 

5. Save money in the long term

When engaging Spacemaker as your design and build professionals, we guide you in the most cost-effective ways to achieve your desired home. In some instances, renovating or extending simply isn’t the way to proceed for the best financial outcome, and we’ll let you know if this is the case. If we recommend a custom new home, or it is your preferred option, the initial upfront cost might be more, but the long-term benefits may make the outlay worth.

6. Energy efficiency at the core of the build

As Australians become increasingly conscious of their carbon footprint, many of our customers are building more sustainable and energy-efficient homes. A custom built home can help maximise energy efficiency and reduce emissions through well-thought-out passive design.
Using free energy from the sun and wind allows you to minimise, or sometimes even eliminate, the need for mechanical heating or cooling. Clever passive design can also be achieved through orientation of the home, positioning of windows, wise choice of building materials, water-saving devices, solar panels, smart technology, quality insulation and a range of energy-saving mod cons. These inclusions can have massive benefits financially, as well as for the planet and our children’s future. 

Why is a custom built home right for you?

Port Melbourne Esplanade new build - kitchen area

1. You want to build your dream home

For many people, building a custom home is a once-in-a-lifetime experience—and the only way to achieve the dream home they’ve always wanted. Whether you build a custom new home or extension or decide on a renovation, being involved as a family to create the home you want is an exciting and memorable experience, creating a special bond. If you are tired of compromising on your family’s needs and ready for the home you have always dreamed of, a custom built new home may be right for you. Talk to us about the options that best suit your property.
Port Melbourne Esplanade new build - lounge

2. You want to influence the design

Building your home from the ground up and having 360-degree involvement allows you to be deeply invested in this important project from day one. You’ll work with Spacemaker’s design team as your custom home builder of choice throughout every stage of the building process. This means you have the freedom to influence the home design to reflect your wishes from the inside out before construction even begins. Whether it’s an outstanding kitchen and living area, an alfresco entertaining space, a special kind of flooring or even a swimming pool or on-site gym, those special extras will enable us to bring your dream house to life.
Bathroom

3. You love the location

You’ve found that perfect parcel of land in an area you love, and now it’s finally time to build your dream abode and make it your forever home. Consult with Spacemaker Home Extensions to ensure the land is suitable for the home you have in mind. You may wish to enjoy certain vistas, share the block with others in a community-type setting, or have so much privacy that your home becomes a sanctuary away from the world. Contact our design team early to take advantage of the many years of experience we have in custom home design and construction. That way, you’ll head in the right direction from the beginning.

How to find a good custom home builder

Choosing a qualified and experienced builder for your custom new home is essential. When researching options, seek out recommendations and referrals from existing customers. Start by looking at the company’s online reviews and any testimonials published on their website. Google reviews are an independent way to check customer feedback and to identify common themes such as reliability, good communication and the quality of previous builds. A credible and trustworthy builder will also encourage you to speak with their previous customers to confirm their experience and compare what they say with the reviews. If you get an opportunity to speak with another client, consider asking questions like these:

  • What three things were you most impressed with? What three things could be improved?
  • Were you happy with the frequency and quality of communication throughout the project? 
  • Did the project commence and end on time? If not, what were the reasons given for this? 
  • Was the project completed within the expected budget? If not, were all budget changes discussed in detail and agreed to before changes were made to the build?
  • Would you recommend the builder to a family member or friend? A ‘yes’ answer is an excellent indication of customer satisfaction that can help you differentiate between builders. 

Our custom design and build services

Our speciality is custom home design and construction solutions for Melbourne homeowners. When you engage Spacemaker, all your communication is with an in-house team that is fully aware of your dream and goals for your spectacular new custom abode. Our core services include: 

Port Melbourne Esplanade new build - outside barbeque area and grass lawn

In-house custom home design and construction

A full-service home design and building company employs a team of trusted professionals under one roof. The Spacemaker Home Extensions team works closely with you through every stage of your home building journey, from in-house design, drafting services and close liaison with your local council’s planning department to bring your vision to life. Before we give you a cost estimate, we carry out thorough site investigations with our home design consultants, experienced building team and engineer. Once the project details are agreed upon, our project manager and in-house team provide professional site supervision throughout the entire construction phase.
Port Melbourne Esplanade new build - lounge and kitchen area

Architects and interior designers

When you choose to work with Spacemaker Home Extensions, you don’t need to hire an independent architect or interior designer. Our in-house team is highly experienced and has expertise in all aspects of modern and heritage home design without calling in external consultants. The team also possesses the architectural engineering skills needed to comply with Melbourne’s complex planning obligations and heritage building permits. We specialise in custom designed homes in Melbourne’s inner-city suburbs, and our business has been in operation for over five decades. Make Spacemaker your full-service design and construction builder for your custom new home in Melbourne.

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What is Spacemaker’s process as a quality custom home builder?

Throughout our simple six-step process, we consult and work extensively with our clients from the initial concept stage to final execution. 

Our experienced designers and construction team are experts at handling briefs for custom new homes of all shapes and sizes. The common denominator at all times is a focus on great results.

Our six-step process involves:

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Step 1 – A home visit:

We come to your home to discuss your family’s needs and the key motivations for your custom home build and give you some creative inspiration. We also speak with you about how we can help you achieve your goals, explain the process, and provide you with an indicative budget for the type of build you have in mind.

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Step 2 – Concept:

We visit the site for your new home and prepare 3D drawings and a concept plan for you to consider. We also prepare a formal estimate and discuss what would be involved in delivering the project.

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Step 3 – Detailing:

When you are happy with the designs, a draftsperson, engineer, and estimator will visit you to discuss them further and prepare the detailed project specifications and plan.

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Step 4 – Budget:

We provide you with the final fixed-price quote based on our thorough site investigation and in-depth discussions with you about your needs and goals for the project from the very beginning.

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Step 5 – Permits:

We communicate with your local council and handle the building and town planning processes and permits when they are required. At this point, we draw up your contract which both parties sign before we commence your custom home build.

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Step 6 – Experience:

Once on site, our experienced tradespeople and project managers work diligently to deliver a low-stress home build experience, keeping your overall satisfaction with the project in mind at all times.

Our clients consistently tell us that when working with Spacemaker as their luxury custom home builders who manage the entire project from concept to completion of construction, they have better control, communication and flow while their new home is being built. The trust our clients have in us is evident from the many referrals we receive from them, along with the high number of clients who have returned to Spacemaker to renovate, extend or build second and third homes with us. We’d be delighted to have you join the Spacemaker family and let us help bring your vision to life.

Explore examples of our bespoke custom homes

Browse through our project gallery and be inspired by the custom new homes we have delivered for our clients across Melbourne.

Custom designed bed and breakfast in Olinda

Nestled in Victoria’s Dandenong ranges, this custom-built bed and breakfast is the ultimate sanctuary amidst nature, with Olinda’s attractions in close proximity. Combining tailored design solutions with accessibility requirements, Spacemaker Home Extensions worked alongside the homeowners to deliver two sizeable apartments that would provide ample space for an entire family, as well as being suitable to rent independently. Complete with tasteful, luxurious finishing touches and a spacious yet elegant and practical layout, this two-storey holiday accommodation suits people of all mobilities. The owners are thrilled with the final result, which exceeds all their expectations. 

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Port Melbourne custom home

This 450 sqm custom built family home in Port Melbourne boasts five bedrooms and three levels on a double block. With a minimalistic and contemporary industrial style throughout, smart engineering and innovative design were essential to this build. This home won gold at the MBA Awards in the MBA 2016 Best Custom Home $1-2 million category and was runner-up at the HIA Awards in the HIA 2016 Custom Built Home $1-2 million category. These awards confirm the high quality of our work and our team’s broad experience in custom home construction. 

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Renovation project in Port Melbourne, Melbourne

“The best testimonial for Spacemaker that we can give is the fact we are already looking for potential properties to renovate so we can repeat the fantastic experience we had with Tim and his team!”

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Frequently asked questions about custom built homes

What is the price per square metre for a custom home?

The price per square metre for a custom home build varies based on several factors including site conditions, overall design requirements, the fixtures, fittings and materials selected, town planning permits that may be required for your property, seasonality and availability of products from suppliers. At Spacemaker Home Extensions, the cost per square metre for a custom home build starts at $3,500.
A custom house extension is often more affordable than building a new custom home from the ground up. In many cases, a custom home extension leverages the home’s existing foundations, which form the basis of the project. Many variables influence the overall investment required for an extension project, including the home’s location, design, the materials used, the size of the extension project, seasonality and availability of materials from suppliers. We specialise in custom extensions and renovations ranging between $200,000 and $3 million. Talk to our custom home design consultants in Melbourne about your ideas, and we can formulate an estimate for you based on your unique circumstances and your vision for your home.
Generally speaking, building a custom designed home is more expensive than building a house off the plan. Homes built off the plan are usually designed and constructed using cheaper alternatives, such as waffle pods instead of raft slabs. Similarly, using products, fixtures and fittings from specific providers is also common practice. These products are sometimes selected on cost rather than quality, and are often ordered in bulk at a significantly reduced price that results in lower overall costs for homeowners. Although there are some advantages to building a new home off the plan, there are just as many drawbacks and limitations when it comes to customisation and flexibility. If quality rather than cost is your preference and you are looking for a distinctive home design and functionality unique to you and your family, a custom built new home may be the best option.

Spacemaker Home Extensions doesn’t have display homes available to visit in person, however, our portfolio of completed projects can be found on our website. Our projects provide insight into the goals our clients had for their build and the results we helped them achieve through close collaboration, custom design solutions and innovation. Learn more about our custom new homes and the tailored home extension and renovation projects we have completed for our clients across Melbourne.

Once I've decided to build a custom new home, what next?

The next step is to sit down with Spacemaker’s custom home design team. Take the time to speak with our designers, who will begin the exciting process of designing your home. We’ll show you our portfolio of projects, and together we can start creating your ideal luxury custom home that meets your brief and your budget.

Speak with Melbourne’s experts in custom designed homes

With more than 50 years of experience designing and building custom homes in Melbourne, Spacemaker Home Extensions has the industry knowledge and in-house specialist team to deliver an outstanding result for your new build, customised for your plot and to suit your family’s needs. We are happy to work from plans that have been created by an architect provided copyright has been released, or we can take care of everything internally so that you have one point of contact throughout the project. 

Find out how we can support you with bringing your customised new home to life. Talk to a custom home design consultant by calling us on 03 8873 7800 or contact us through our website today.

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