‘Funky and Modern’

Sunday Times, Home Magazine, June 28

It’s not every day that you find the front end of a car in the backyard of a display home, but when the paintwork is gleaming and there’s a barbecue under the hood, it’s hard to complain.

Add in the games room bar with feature metal mesh, “go faster” wallpaper and a funky chocolate-orange colour scheme and rev-head families are in their element.

Dale Alcock’s design team has certainly had lots of fun presenting the Mondo in Wellard, but underneath it all is a sensible floor plan that will work hard for a growing family.

“When designing the Mondo, our key focal point was to create a home that was not only affordable but also able to provide effective entertaining zones and a high level of accommodation for a growing family”, says Dale Alcock, managing director of Dale Alcock Homes.

Deliberately styled to suit younger couples entertaining at home, the Mondo offers functionality as the family grows.

“This can be seen in the games room, which has been displayed with a built-in bar but can easily be adapted to create a children’s activity space or an alfresco area under the main roof line,” Dale says.

The ‘Mondo Rock’ back yard, with its pergola, freestanding bar and Holden barbecue, further extends the home’s entertaining capabilities.

“We wanted to give this area a fun, memorable look but leave it open enough for the area to be functional to entertain a group of friends,” Dale says.

“The inclusion of the HZ Holden Ute BBQ adds a very Aussie element to the back yard and has proved to be a big hit with men and women alike.”

A vital component of the indoor-outdoor entertaining theme, the kitchen looks across the dining and games room to the back of the garden. It features a 30mm CaesarStone benchtop, which has been edged in part in a contrasting laminate to create a multi-level two-tone design. There is an underslung sink, soft-close cupboard doors, Blanco appliances and five pot drawers.

Leading off the everyday living areas is the children’s wing, with bathroom, laundry and three good-sized double bedrooms.

Each bedroom has built-in wardrobes that have been recessed so that they do not encroach on the space in the room.

The parents sleeping quarters are at the front of the home and feature an open-style ensuite with a large shower and a corner bath separating two vanity units.

The wall separating the bedroom from the walk-in wardrobe stops short of the ceiling to help maintain a spacious, open look. Built into the wardrobe design is a tall, mirrored cabinet.

Looking out to the welcoming verandah at the front of the home, the media room doubles as a comfortable daytime lounge. There is also a home office area.

From the street, the Mondo clearly displays its credentials as a funky, modern home. The ‘picture frame’ wall is a striking burnt orange, contrasting with the pale render, dark roof and planter box.