A home where everyone has their own space
Facing semi retirement, Kim and Chris Holz escaped the chill of the south coast and built a Paal home on acreage in Hervey Bay, Queensland. “We wanted to be near our grandchildren as they grew up,” says Kim.
Kim had previously built a project home with another company, but the experience had been far from positive. “It was an unmitigated disaster,” she says. “They gave us another house, it was that bad.”
Then Kim discovered Paal. “I liked their simple and spacious designs and that you could change things around without extra cost like other project homes,” she says. “Paal was very accommodating.”
Paal also offered good value, although for Kim and Chris, it wasn’t about the money. “It was more bang for your buck,” says Kim. “We could have a bigger home and when we’re ready to downsize, we’ve got something that will sell for a good profit.”
As their daughter and 18 year-old granddaughter live with them, the couple decided on the Camden. “We knew that there were four of us,” says Kim. “We chose the Camden because it spreads us out, but has that central area where we can all come together.”
Chris, now retired, could have his own study while Kim, a Year 1 teacher who loves doing craft, blocked off the dining room from the lounge to create her own study/craft room. “It can all come out if we ever sold it and be turned back into a dining room,” she says.
The couple’s daughter and granddaughter have a generous room each. The couple even converted their granddaughter’s wardrobe into a walk-in-robe, which she uses as her music studio. “It works really well,” says Kim. “Everyone has a space in this house.”
The couple completed much of the work themselves, with the help of a neighbour, and also Paal who was always there whenever they ran into problems. “I’d FaceTime Liz so I could show her what I was doing,” says Kim. “We’d always end up solving it.”
Now it’s all done, the couple is delighted and happy to recommend Paal to others. “It was everything we hoped for,” says Kim. “If you’re going to build a kit home, Paal’s the one to go with, I really do feel like they nurture a relationship with you.”