The Art of Home – Why Custom House Portraits Make the Perfect Keepsake

9 April 2025

There’s something incredibly special about the home. It’s where our stories unfold—first steps, family gatherings, garden blooms, and quiet coffee mornings on the verandah. Every home has a soul worth celebrating. That’s where custom house portraits come in.

What Is a Custom House Portrait?

A custom house portrait is a hand-illustrated artwork of your home (or a loved one's). It’s a timeless way to honour a place filled with memories. Whether it’s a traditional heritage home, a modern townhouse, or the family home you grew up in, capturing it through illustration turns it into a cherished piece of art.

Why Commission a House Portrait?

• Sentimental Value: A portrait of your first home, your grandparents' house, or the family home can evoke powerful emotions. These artworks tell a story that's deeply personal.

• Unique Gift Idea: Custom house portraits make unique gifts for weddings, anniversaries or housewarmings. They're thoughtful, one-of-a-kind, and meaningful.

• Celebration of Milestones: Buying a home is a big deal! Mark the occasion with a bespoke illustration to remember the start of your new chapter.

• Preserving Family History: As homes change or are sold, a portrait can preserve a moment in time, keeping those memories alive for generations.

The Process at Quokkas Corner

Every portrait starts with love and attention to detail. You send us a photo (or a few), or simply provide the address so we can stalk on google maps, and we bring it to life with ink and traditional watercolour on a quality cotton paper. From the textures of brick to the tiny flowers and hedges in the garden—each element is carefully illustrated to capture the unique character of your home.

You can choose your preferred style, size, and even add special touches like pets on the porch or the written address.

How to Get Started

1. Head over to our Custom House Portraits page.

2. Choose your style and upload reference images.

3. Add personal details or requests in the notes section.

4. Sit back while we illustrate your little slice of home!

More Than Just a Picture

At Quokkas Corner, we believe art should connect us to what matters most—our stories, our people, and the places that shape us. A custom house portrait isn’t just a picture of a building. It’s a memory you can hang on the wall.

Got questions or a unique idea? We’re always up for a creative challenge. Reach out so we can start your story.

Top Five Real Estate Settlement Gifts

28 February 2025

As a real estate agent, you work hard to make your clients’ dreams a reality. A thoughtful settlement gift is a great way to show appreciation for your client’s trust and ensure a continued partnership. However, finding the perfect gift can be tricky – here are five real estate settlement gift ideas that will leave a lasting impression on your clients, whether they’re purchasing their dream home or selling the family home they've held for years.

1. Custom House Portraits: A Unique Gift to Celebrate Their New Home

One of the most meaningful and personal gifts you can give to your purchasers is a custom house portrait. A hand-painted watercolor portrait of their new home is the perfect way to commemorate this new milestone. A custom house portrait is lasting reminder of the home they’ve worked so hard to secure and a great way to continue the relationship with your client for future sales and purchases.

Custom portraits are also an excellent gift for your vendors. After they’ve sold their property, a custom house portrait that depicts their home before they moved on can evoke fond memories. It's a personal, unique gift that shows your appreciation to your vendor for the trust they have placed in you for the sale.

To order a custom house portrait, visit Quokkas Corner

2. Personalized Welcome Home Gifts for Purchasers

Moving into a new home is an exciting yet stressful time, and a personalised welcome home pack can make the transition a little easier and more special. Consider creating a custom welcome basket filled with essentials like local treats, a bottle of wine, candles, and homewares such as wooden cheese boards. You could also include personalized items, like a doormat with their last name or a set of monogrammed towels. These thoughtful touches help your clients feel immediately welcome and valued in their new space.

To purchase ready made hampers, visit Ellar Boutique

3. Home Improvement or Decor Vouchers

For many purchasers, a new home means new opportunities to style and personalise their new space. Offering a gift voucher to Bunnings for home improvements or homewares stores such as Adairs can be an useful and appreciated gift. This way, your clients can pick out exactly what they need to make their new house feel like a home. If you're working with vendors who are preparing for a new property or relocation, a gift card to a home goods store or furniture shop could be a helpful gesture as they look ahead to their next chapter.

4. Champagne to Celebrate Their New Beginning

There’s no better way to celebrate your client’s purchase of a new home than with a bottle of champagne. Whether you’re gifting it to your purchasers to toast the closing of their new home or to your vendors to commemorate the successful sale of their property, champagne is a classic and celebratory gift. You can even include a personalised champagne flute or two to make the experience extra special.

5. Local Experience Vouchers: A Gift That Lets Them Explore

For both purchasers and vendors, a great way to show appreciation is by giving the gift of an experience. A voucher for a local restaurant or spa is a thoughtful way to help clients, particular those who are moving from interstate, explore and settle into their new surroundings. Purchasers will appreciate the chance to immerse themselves in their new neighborhood, while vendors can enjoy a little relaxation after the sale of their home.

For a range of local experience vouchers, visit Red Balloon.

Conclusion

As a real estate agent, your relationship with your clients doesn’t end at settlement. A thoughtful, personalised gift is a wonderful way to show your appreciation for their trust and support, fostering the relationship for future opportunities. Whether you’re giving a custom house portrait to commemorate a purchase, offering a home improvement voucher, these gifts will help you build long-term, meaningful relationships with your clients.