Stephen and Deborah's DIY Custom KIT HOMES
We would like to congratulate our customer Stephen and Deborah for selecting the Custom Kit Homes design for his project near Blanchetown, SA.
Why Choose iBuild
Retirement Planning with Room for Family
A Custom Build for Three Generations
Blanchetown is a small town in South Australia’s Riverland region, approximately 130 kilometres northeast of Adelaide along the Murray River. Stephen McKendrick and Deborah Emmerson have spent 15 years developing and researching off-grid living on their 117-hectare property. Now they’re building a permanent home – not just for retirement, but to bring their mothers into the family fold.
A Custom Build for Three Generations
Blanchetown is a small town in South Australia’s Riverland region, approximately 130 kilometres northeast of Adelaide along the Murray River. Stephen McKendrick and Deborah Emmerson have spent 15 years developing and researching off-grid living on their 117-hectare property. Now they’re building a permanent home – not just for retirement, but to bring their mothers into the family fold.
“It’s a retirement house. Yes, I’m old. It’s retirement and it’s also our mothers are moving in with us. We need to make space, bigger space.”Â
Stephen and Deborah did their research, speaking with multiple suppliers before making their decision. What set iBuild apart wasn’t just competitive pricing or design options – it was the people.
We looked at every supplier and we spoke to everybody and Mark from iBuild team was the deciding factor – great communicator. He was very helpful and friendly and made us feel comfortable. For a lot of money we’re spending and it’s our real money – not bank’s money – it’s ours – so I had to be confident with the person I was dealing with.Â
When you’re investing your own funds into a major project on a remote rural property, feeling comfortable with your supplier isn’t optional – it’s essential. Mark’s responsive, friendly approach gave them the confidence to commit where others couldn’t.
Working with iBuild’s design team, Stephen and Deborah are developing a custom three-bedroom, three-bathroom home suited to multigenerational living and their off-grid lifestyle. With 10 kilowatts of solar power, a 55-kilowatt diesel generator, and no mains utilities, they know exactly what works.
The design incorporates hard-won knowledge from 15 years on the land, including north-south orientation for passive solar heating and cooling – lessons learned from living in an east-west oriented house in suburbia since 1997.
Working with iBuild’s design team, Stephen and Deborah are developing a custom three-bedroom, three-bathroom home suited to multigenerational living and their off-grid lifestyle. With 10 kilowatts of solar power, a 55-kilowatt diesel generator, and no mains utilities, they know exactly what works.
The design incorporates hard-won knowledge from 15 years on the land, including north-south orientation for passive solar heating and cooling – lessons learned from living in an east-west oriented house in suburbia since 1997.
“All the windows face north-south. We know exactly why we want to face north-south.”
With Stephen’s background in HVAC commercial estimating and working with engineering drawings, combined with their practical off-grid experience, they’re approaching the project with thorough planning. A builder is lined up, an electrician is on board, and building certifier consultations are already scheduled.
This custom home brings together 15 years of off-grid knowledge, careful planning, and the need for multigenerational space. With iBuild’s flexibility and responsive communication, Stephen and Deborah are building exactly what their family needs –Â stronger, smarter, faster, and more affordable.
This custom home brings together 15 years of off-grid knowledge, careful planning, and the need for multigenerational space. With iBuild’s flexibility and responsive communication, Stephen and Deborah are building exactly what their family needs –Â stronger, smarter, faster, and more affordable.
“ We looked at every supplier and we spoke to everybody and Mark from iBuild team was the deciding factor - great communicator. He was very helpful and friendly and made us feel comfortable. For a lot of money we're spending and it's our real money - not bank's money - it's ours - so I had to be confident with the person I was dealing with.