That collaborative model has become a defining feature of the business. It allows Gold Leaf to help clients shape their ideas early, manage expectations, protect budgets and guide designers toward solutions that are both beautiful and buildable. “We keep the designer on the leash a little,” Grabbe says with a smile.“We want them to be creative, but not to deliver a dream that’s double the budget and breaks everyone’s heart. Being involved early means we can shape a design that hits the vision and the numbers.” Today, the company primarily focuses on new builds in the AUD 2.5 to 3 million range and above, with a clear emphasis on detailed, one-off architectural homes rather than volume projects. Renovations still feature, particularly when they align with the brand’s high-end, highly detailed ethos, but the core of the business is complex residential new builds. SIGNATURE HOMES AND LASTING RELATIONSHIPS Among recent work, one standout project is an 1,100-square-metre residence in Minyama, complete with a full basement carpark that is larger than many homes. With completion expected in early 2026, it is already an example of the scale and complexity Gold Leaf is comfortable delivering. Another project that sits close to Grabbe heart is the James Street home at Dicky Beach.The property feels like a retreat nestled in rainforest, yet it is only a few hundred metres from the shoreline and fronting the creek. The block itself is unique; the house was designed to amplify that natural setting. “The clients were amazing,” he says. “We built a really strong relationship through the process. Now we catch up for a beer, and they’ve referred us to a number of other people. That word-of-mouth is huge for us.” Those sorts of relationships are not an accident. With a team of around 12 – heavily weighted toward on-site carpenters and site supervisors, backed by a construction manager, contracts admin, sales and admin – Gold Leaf keeps quality and communication tightly controlled.The sales function essentially acts 16 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 07, ISSUE 12
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