Outside Marnie and Matt Dean’s new Gisborne home. Picture: Kylie Else
THE number of family members may be two short of The Brady Bunch but when Marnie and Matt Dean married, they knew a large home was on their wish list.
With four children between them — Max, 13, Grace, 12, and Hugh and Asha, both 10 — the Deans’ house hunting proved difficult.
“We looked at established homes and couldn’t find what we wanted so we decided to build,” Mrs Dean said.
“We knew what kind of floorplan we wanted and while we saw a lot of houses we liked, it was hard to find the perfect design.”
Marnie and Matt Dean with their children Hugh 10, Max 13, Grace 12 and Asha 10 in their new Gisborne home. Picture: Kylie Else
Persistence paid off for the family and late last year, they moved into a five-bedroom Porter Davis home at Gisborne Village Estate.
SUBURB PROFILE: GISBORNE
Mrs Dean said they built a modified version of the Durham design, altered to fit their sloping 1100sq m block.
“It’s a split-level home with all of the living space on the lower level, the kids’ bedrooms at the front and our bedroom at the back of the house,” she said.
Inside Marnie and Matt Dean’s new Gisborne home. Picture: Kylie Else
Mrs Dean said must-haves included lots of living space and plenty of storage.
“We have a theatre room as well as kitchen, dining and living and a study on the upper level overlooking the living area below,” she said.
“I love our walk-in linen closet as well as the cloak room … and there are cupboards up to the ceiling in the kitchen.”
Mrs Dean added that the Gisborne Village Estate had also gained their attention as it was practical and slightly luxurious.
“The blocks are bigger and the views are beautiful because we are up a bit higher,” she said.
“It’s also so green here it’s almost rural … yet we are so close to town.”
