Tien & Ian
Finding a lucky-number block close to family in St Albans was the final piece that saw Tien and Ian choose Carlisle to build their dream multi-generational home.
With carefully considered upgrades, generous spaces and a style that feels straight from the pages of a design magazine they found their ideal home in the Rothbury Grand Theatre Atrium 52.
HOUSE TYPE
Rothbury Grand Theatre Atrium 52 with customisations
(5 bedroom, 4 bathrooms and 2 garage)
FACADE
Manhattan Hebel Façade
SIZE
House: 52sq
Min Block Size: 14 x 30m
SUBURB
St Albans
Client needs:
For Tien and Ian, creating a home that could comfortably support a multi-generational household was essential. With young children, extended family visiting often, and Tien’s brother living with them, they needed a floorplan that could grow and adapt with their lifestyle. The Rothbury Grand Theatre Atrium offered exactly that – multiple spaces that allow everyone to come together when they choose and unwind when they need.
A ground-floor master suite was an early priority, ensuring Tien’s parents have a comfortable long-term retreat for the future. Multiple living areas - including a theatre room, an upstairs rumpus and an expansive open-plan family zone - mean there is always room for the boys to play, for adults to relax and for everyone to live side by side without feeling crowded.
The kitchen and butler’s pantry were equally important. As a chef and restaurant owner, Ian needed a high-performance cooking space that supported daily family life as well as entertaining. Outdoors, they wanted a backyard that encouraged activity and fun - a place where the children could enjoy the freedom to play while the adults entertained beneath their custom deck and louvre pergola.
Who lives here?
Tien, Ian and their two sons - Nolan (3) and Noah (5) - share the home with Tien’s younger brother Andrew (22), and in time, Tien’s parents who already stay frequently, will move in permanently in the coming years, turning the home into a true three-generation household.
Buyer Type: Multi-Generational Family
In the beginning...
Before building, Tien and Ian spent months searching the established market from their home in Derrimut. But every inspection ended the same way.
“We looked everywhere but nothing felt right,” Tien says. “Some houses looked nice, but the layout wouldn’t have worked for our family. Or the space is good, but I didn’t like the style inside. We couldn’t agree on anything.”
Ian remembers it the same way. “I’d be looking at the size of the block, and Tien was looking at the design,” he laughs. “Every time, one of us wasn’t happy, so we kept walking away.”
Everything changed the day they found a block of land in St Albans - just two minutes from Ian’s parents’ home. And then they noticed the street number.
“It was number 8,” Tien says. “In our culture, 8 is a very lucky number. We both run businesses, so we felt like it was a sign that we should buy it.”
Suddenly the idea of building made perfect sense. Instead of trying to compromise on an existing home, they could create something that truly worked for their family.
“When we realised we could build close to family, everything just made sense,” Ian says. “We thought, if we’re going to move, let’s create something that fits our life.”
They returned to display homes, and the moment they stepped back into the Rothbury Grand Theatre Atrium 52 - the design they had loved for years — the decision was immediate.
“When we walked in, it felt right straight away,” Tien says. “The space and design - it was exactly what we had pictured all this time. I remember wishing that one day we would have the exact same home,” Tien recalls. “And look - that dream came true.”
Browse Patrick and Des's Home
Style of home
From the street, the home makes a strong statement. Clean lines, a bold black garage door and front entry, and a crisp mix of white and charcoal Hebel create a contemporary façade that still feels welcoming.
Inside, the look is warm modern. Pale stone-look floor tiles, soft sheers, curved boucle sofas and a mix of rich timber cabinetry and vertical panelling installed post-handover. Carefully chosen furniture and styling make the main living zone feel like a designer display home – without losing its sense of comfort or practicality.
“People always ask if Carlisle styled it for us, and I love saying, ‘No - I did this.’ It feels like a designer home but is still really practical for us and the kids.”
Beyond the aesthetic appeal, the home’s layout has transformed daily living for their busy household.
Outdoors, the backyard has become a favourite space for everyone. A custom deck and louvre pergola give the adults an all-weather area to relax, while the boys have their own playground complete with a cubby house, slide, swings and a seesaw.
“We wanted a yard where the kids could play and we could sit outside together,” Ian says. “It is already a great family space.”
With Christmas approaching, the home feels even more special. Garland winds along the staircase, the tree sparkles in the living room and the open-plan layout creates the perfect backdrop for family gatherings.
“This Christmas is extra special because it’s our first in the house,” says Tien. “Mum will be here from overseas, the boys are so excited and the whole downstairs just works perfectly for having everyone over to celebrate.”
Process & Timeline
Thanks to Carlisle’s knockdown rebuild zoning, Tien and Ian were able to build in their preferred inner-north location. Construction began in February and, despite the size of the home, reached completion by the end of September.
“When we first started the process of building, it was quite stressful because we didn’t know what to expect,” Ian says. “There were a lot of things we needed to do before they could start. But Carlisle showed us each step, which really helped.”
“You hear so many stories about building. But once the building started, we felt more comfortable,” Ian adds. “Our site supervisor kept us updated every week.”
Like many excited homeowners-to-be, they visited the site often. “We used to drive past almost every day,” Tien says. “The day the frame went up, I was like, oh my god - it’s happening.”
For Tien, it was the flooring stage that made the biggest difference. “Once the flooring went in, it really felt like a home,” she says. “Before that it was just a structure - but after that, we could really imagine living in it.”
They moved in October — a milestone Tien remembers vividly. “The first night we spent here, I couldn’t sleep because I was too excited,” she laughs. “I was just lying in bed looking out the big windows thinking, I can’t believe this is our house.”
Tien and Ian chose the Rothbury Grand Theatre Atrium 52 – perfectly suited to their multi-generational family.
Why Carlisle?
Tien and Ian’s connection to the Rothbury floorplan began long before they were ready to build.
““Five years ago, before we even had kids, we used to go to display homes just for fun,” laughs Tien. “I used to save photos of the display homes so when we finally had the chance to build, the decision was easy.”
Even with that emotional connection, Tien still did her homework.
“I spent a lot of nights scrolling through Facebook groups and online reviews,” she admits. “I wanted to be sure we were choosing the right builder. I saw so many positive reviews about Carlisle, especially from families, and it made me feel much happier that we’d made the right decision.”
Ian was equally confident once they sat down with their Sales Consultant.
“We talked about the changes we needed - like converting the downstairs lounge into a master suite and Carlisle understood straight away what we were trying to achieve for our family.”
At Carlisle, many families choose to personalise their homes in this way. Carlisle offers a suite of pre-designed, fully supported floorplan customisations - ensuring popular modifications like theirs are structurally sound, beautifully integrated and tailored for modern family living.
Top upgrades
The couple focused their upgrades on the spaces they use every day. For Ian, the kitchen was important.
“I’m a chef, so the kitchen is really important to me,” he says. “The stone benchtops, the big island and the appliances make cooking so much easier.”
Upstairs, the rumpus room has quickly become the boys’ favourite place to play. “It keeps the downstairs tidy,” Tien laughs. “They can spread out with their toys, and we still feel like the house is organised. We love sitting up there as a family at night. It’s the room we use the most.”
The upgrades Tien and Ian made to their home included:
- Master option downstairs: Converting the front lounge into a full master suite, giving Tien’s parents a comfortable ground-floor retreat now and into the future.
- Powder room reconfiguration: Adjusting the layout to work better for guests and the extended family.
- Stone benchtops and waterfall island: Upgraded stone throughout, including a 40mm waterfall edge to the kitchen island for a more luxurious, durable finish.
- Custom kitchen cabinetry: Tweaks to cabinetry layout and higher-category finishes in the kitchen and butler’s pantry to support serious cooking and entertaining.
- Flooring upgrades: Hard-wearing, easy-to-clean flooring throughout the main living zones to handle busy family life.
- Appliance package: Enhanced appliances included as part of a promotion – ideal for Ian’s love of cooking.
Alongside their Carlisle selections, Tien and Ian also invested in several post-handover enhancements to complete the look and functionality of their home. They installed
