The Design Files: This apartment proves that off the plan homes don't have to be boring

Who: Writer/screenwriter Lisa Marie Corso

Where: Essendon

What: Off-the-plan apartment

Buying an apartment off the plan is a daunting prospect for many. Three years ago, for solo first-home buyer Lisa Marie Corso, it presented a cost-effective and efficient solution to entering the housing market.

With a disciplined approach to saving throughout her 20s, Corso did more than her fair share of research before settling on this two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in a mid-sized development in Essendon.

Larger than most off-the-plan offerings, the apartment offered Corso a home she knew would be ready to move into upon completion. “I bought the apartment based on the functional interior design,” she says. “I knew I had a limited budget and wouldn’t be able to spend anything further on renovations, so it was important to find a place that was ready to go, and needed no immediate touch-ups.”

The 18-month wait between signing on the dotted line and moving in also ensured time for Corso to accrue a considered collection of furniture and homewares, to ensure her first apartment would feel like home.

“I have a rule that I will never buy or keep anything that doesn’t have a story, which is why when people come to my house for a one-hour visit it turns into an eight-hour sojourn through my life,” Corso says. “Don’t worry, I keep my guests hydrated and well fed.”

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Living within a small footprint has also emphasised for Corso the value of owning less, but prioritising quality purchases where possible.

“As I live in a small apartment, having minimal but good-quality furniture was important to me, as I knew these pieces would become the main decorative feature of the living space,” she says.

A passion for cooking meant investing in a quality dining table that could comfortably host guests – Corso went for a solid timber, circular design from local furniture company Grazia & Co, paired with quirky Jasper Morrison “Trattoria” chairs in primary colours.

Beyond furniture, some of Corso’s most treasured possessions are art and handcrafted objects by local makers and creative friends, including Alice Oehr, Jeffrey Phillips, Evi O and Esther Stewart.

Perfectly styled with bright colour and personal details, this cheerful home demonstrates that buying off the plan need not result in a home lacking in personality.

The Design Files guide to buying new

Buying an apartment off a plan is like buying your biggest, most-expensive investment without having seen the finished product. Consider the following advice before signing on the dotted line:

• Do your research and choose a respected developer with a track record for quality over quantity.
• Where possible, choose a developer with built projects you can view.
• Be mildly sceptical about suggested furniture layouts on marketing material. Ensure you measure all furniture to scale.
• Happy off-the-plan buyer Lisa Marie Corso suggests finding somewhere you can measure out the apartment floor plan with masking tape to get a real sense of scale and layout.