From tiny two-bedroom to best rural home
AFTER years of living in a tiny two-bedroom house, builder Johnnie Torrisi is loving his spacious new home in Stanthorpe.
Mr Torrisi built the four-bedroom, three-bathroom house himself, working weekends to get ahead, and said it turned out “just how he imagined”.
His prized abode recently won Best Rural and Remote Home at the Queensland Master Builders Housing and Construction Awards 2019 Downs and Western.
The announcement was a surprise to Mr Torrisi, who started his business J Torrisi Building in 2012, but he said he was thrilled to have his family home recognised.
Mr Torrisi, his wife Tori and their four-month-old daughter Amelia, have been enjoying their new dwelling which doubles as a display home for his business.
Mr Torrisi said he wanted people to know they could also own a large luxury property in Stanthorpe, similar to styles normally associated with the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.
“We picked up a five-acre block in town and we couldn’t build a small house so we chose to build a big house,” he said.
The property was designed to stand out as a large, modern and higher end home.
Its key features include box-shaped parapets which characterise the exterior and contribute to a square and modular look.
High ceilings evoke spaciousness while open-plan living creates a flowing effect from room to room and from indoors to the outside entertainment area.
Other favourite features include the mezzanine floor and bridge entrance while some luxury additions such as a large double shower, theatre room and gym round out the prestige touches.
Mr Torrisi said he quickly got used to living in a large house which dwarfed the old renovated property that had been his previous residence.
“When I got about half way through building I thought ‘What are we doing’ because of how big it was,” he said.
“The heights at the front just kept getting higher and higher.”