The non-negotiable rules from Aussie husband and wife who built their dream home from scratch – and the glorious end result

Creating and inspiring dream homes is all in a day’s work for Australian couple Veronica and Mark King. 

So, when it came to building their own dream family home, the designer and builder duo poured in every bit of know-how and experience, along with the usual blood, sweat and tears, to bring their vision to life. The flawless end result is nothing short of breathtaking.

Mother-of-three Veronica, who is also the founder of interiors social media platform The Builder’s Wife, along with her husband Mark, founder of King Homes, told Daily Mail that they had been dreaming of their perfect house design for years – but patiently waited until just the right location to build it came along.

In 2023, they finally found it.

‘We stumbled across an acre block in the Camden area of Sydney, and we just wanted that larger space for the kids,’ Veronica tells Daily Mail.

‘It just seemed like the perfect place to raise a family. You’re far enough from the city but close enough to all the amenities, schools, and things like that.’

They purchased the empty acre lot for $1.6 million with a crystal-clear vision for their future home layout.

‘We knew we wanted to do a split-level design – and that could really be accommodated on this block of land,’ Veronica says. ‘We wanted to do a basement and work with levels. We instantly knew this type of block really suited the idea we had for our new home.’

Veronica notes that it’s a common rookie error for people to ‘buy the cheapest empty block, thinking they can make it work by saving there and putting those funds towards the build’.

‘It always ends up being costly, because the cheapest block is usually priced that way due to poor services, location, slope or fall,’ she explains. ‘So you end up spending more on design and building, just because you tried to save $30,000 to $50,000 on a block of land.’

With their clear-vision in mind, the couple commenced their build in mid-2024 with a budget of $2 million. And, unlike the usual trope you hear from people who take on a home build or renovation, Veronica confirms they stayed right on track financially.

The secret? Experience.

‘We know where we can save on money and materials,’ she explains. ‘And we’re not precious about everything being the “best” or using premium materials everywhere. We know there are just as good alternatives that are much more cost-effective.’

It’s this kind of industry know-how that meant Veronica and Mark could avoid another classic pitfall.

‘You don’t need to spend a lot of money to achieve the right look. You don’t need all-natural materials and high-end items. You just need to balance the budget and choose materials that work for you.’

‘For example, natural stone – we didn’t use it everywhere, and instead balanced it with a mineral surface in some areas to save money.’

‘Because we’ve built so many homes, we’re very careful about not overspending.’

But on the flipside, Veronica explains that there are absolutely areas of a home build that you shouldn’t skimp on.

‘Anything structural should always be prioritised – the size of your home, ceiling heights, room sizes, and the layout. All the things you can’t simply change a few years down the track.

‘You should also pay attention to kitchen dimensions – ideally with a generous island, because that’s where you’ll spend a lot of time.

‘And there are ways to make smart swaps. For example, you can get good quality, durable, slip-resistant porcelain tiles for a fraction of the price of natural stone. Similarly with benchtops – we kept natural stone in some feature areas, but went with mineral surfaces for places like the laundry workbench. 

‘Meanwhile, things like joinery or cabinets everywhere add up quickly, so prioritise the structural elements over these details. Cosmetic and aesthetic elements can be added over time.

‘Smart choices like these pay off in the long run for a busy family home.’

For Veronica and Mark, there were certain features that had to be present to bring their dream home to fruition.

‘For us, the basement was a key part of the design, which meant we would have a split-level home.

‘With three little kids, it was also really important for me to have the kitchen and main living areas on the same level as the backyard and pool – so we adjusted the split levels to accommodate that.’

‘We also wanted a really big pool that wraps around to create a luxury hotel-style feel. And a large kitchen with a butler’s pantry was also a must.’

‘For the kids, I wanted them to have their own playroom, with heaps of storage built-in to keep toys out of sight. This area will continue to be useful as they grow up and need their own space.

‘And just for me – I wanted a large walk-in wardrobe. I love everything organised and want to be able to see all my clothes, shoes, and bags – and not be shoving things into tight closets.’

Another worthwhile investment for Veronica was installing custom-fitting Luxaflex blinds throughout the house.

‘We got them in to measure and quote very early on in the process, so everything would be ready for when we moved in.’

Veronica says getting quotes in advance meant everything was allocated within budget – rather than being a missed afterthought.

For the front and main areas of the house, Veronica chose sheer curtains to create soft and beautiful lines. ‘They’re hung from the ceiling to just grazing the floor, and they look great.’

‘Then for the kids’ rooms, we chose soft Roman blinds that absorb heat. It gets quite hot here where we live so we wanted that, paired with a block-out blind to keep the room cool in summer and warm in winter.

‘Many of the other blinds around the house are purely functional, designed to be  opened and adjusted when the sun’s coming in.’

After an 18-month build with surprisingly few hiccups along the way, the couple’s dream home became a reality in August 2025 – with the family now happily moved in and settled.

‘Our kids got to see the whole building process – and one of the last things to go in was the carpet. Once they saw that, they really felt like it was a home.’

Experience meant Veronica and Mark avoided many of the traps that catch less experienced builders, but she has one strong piece of advice for anyone building with a partner – whether it’s your first build or your fifth.

‘Make sure you clearly outline your roles before you start, because a build can bring a lot of stress into a relationship. I’ve anecdotally heard some don’t survive it! But it’s all about understanding your roles – who’s the main contact with the builder, who’s the main contact for suppliers?’

Veronica adds it’s important couples have absolute clarity on things like ‘the hard budget’ for each aspect of the build, and on what the build priorities are.

‘Stresses will always arise when you build a home, whether it’s a renovation or a new build. Things will go wrong, whether it’s something small, big, or a delay – it’s natural in a process with so many hands and trades involved. It’s just about how you manage those moments.’

And as for whether Veronica and Mark plan to now stay put for good in their dream home, she laughs that, as builders, they never stop dreaming of their next big project.

‘We ticked all the boxes this time. But I don’t know what the future will bring – I’m sure we’ll always have new ideas.’