Brisbane family ready to sell dream home built around rooftop pool

In 2019, the couple were enjoying breakfast at the nearby Paddington Social with their two young children when Mr Butina casually browsed property listings on his phone.

One image of 33 Plunkett Street, Paddington stopped him mid-scroll: a stunning swimming pool perched atop a garage, just two streets away from where they sat.

"We finished our coffee and walked straight over," Mrs Butina said.

“We arrived in the last five minutes of the property inspection, and the second we got up there and saw that pool - so high up, so private, with those beautiful views - we fell in love with it."

The original home had been destroyed by fire, leaving behind a rare opportunity in the tightly-held suburb.

But for the Butinas, it was the elevated pool that captured their imagination and shaped their entire building vision.

“We built the whole house around that pool," Mrs Butina said.

“We loved its position so much we didn't want to change a thing about it. We even added a heater so we could use it year-round.”

Their five-bedroom investment paid off immediately, she said.

Their daughter Petra (5) and son Oliver (3) have spent countless hours in the water.

“Even before we installed the heater, they were in there all day, every day,” Mrs Butina said.

“Petra learned to swim completely on her own by the time she was four. We don't spend much on holidays away as everything is here!”

Mrs Butina said the construction process of the house was no small feat.

“With the pool already in place, everything from building materials to furniture had to be craned in around it,” she said.

“The crane was there for at least five months.”