At Dwyer Quality Homes, we’ve always believed that a home is more than a floor plan. It’s the finishes, the colours, the small decisions that make a house feel like yours. Few people understand that better than Shelley Cashmore, our Project Administrator and Colour Consultant.

Shelley is one of those team members whose fingerprints are on almost every stage of the DQH client journey, from the moment a preliminary deposit is paid right through to the final colour selections that bring a home to life. We sat down with her to talk about her path into the industry, what her role really involves, and the projects that have stayed with her along the way.

From Picture Framing to Building Dream Homes

Shelley’s journey into design wasn’t a straight line, but it was always heading somewhere creative. She spent six years working as a picture framer at Caloundra Fine Art Gallery, eventually earning her trade certificate and starting her own business, Prime Picture Framing, at Valdora.

After selling the business, Shelley went back to study full-time, completing a Diploma in Interior Design, Residential and Commercial. From there, she spent two years working for a builder in Brisbane before making the move to Dwyer Quality Homes.

It’s a career built on a genuine love of design and architecture, and it shows in the way she talks about her work. As Shelley puts it, DQH doesn’t feel like a job. It’s the people she works alongside, people she now considers friends, and the clients she works with that make coming to work something she looks forward to every day.

A Role That Bridges Sales and Construction

Ask Shelley what her role involves, and you’ll quickly understand why she’s such a key part of the DQH team. She bridges several critical stages of the client journey, ensuring a smooth transition from sales through to construction.

Once a client has paid their preliminary deposit with our new home consultant, Shelley steps in to guide them through the pre-construction process. That means issuing milestone communications, ensuring compliance with 7-Star energy requirements, coordinating with the certifier, and reviewing land and design compatibility.

She then works closely with our draftsperson and estimator to compile contract documents, making sure every detail is captured before anything is signed. It’s meticulous, behind-the-scenes work that keeps the home build moving forward with confidence and clarity.

The Moment Where Dream Homes Take Shape

Once contracts are signed, Shelley’s role shifts into one of the most exciting parts of the build: leading clients through their colour selections.

This is a pivotal moment in the journey, where clients get to bring their dream home to life. Supported by a 3D visual of the home’s exterior, Shelley helps clients explore finishes and colours with confidence, before finalising the documentation, specifications and drawings that guide construction.

It’s a rare skill set, combining the precision of project administration with the creative eye of a colour consultant, and it means DQH clients get support at every step, not just a hand-off between departments.

A Project That Stands Out

When asked about a project that’s stayed with her, Shelley points to the Harmony Display Home. It was one of the first display homes she was involved with in a furnishing capacity, and watching it come together, especially once cabinetry went in, is something she still remembers fondly.

While every project brings its own reward, there’s something special about seeing a space transform from plans and colour palettes into a fully realised home.

Building Homes, and Relationships

Shelley’s story reflects something at the heart of Dwyer Quality Homes: the belief that great homes are built by people who genuinely care about the details and the clients they work with.

As DQH celebrates over 40 years of building across South East Queensland, team members like Shelley are a reminder that building quality homes has always been about more than construction. It’s about guiding people through one of the biggest decisions of their lives with care, expertise and a genuine eye for detail.

To learn more about our team or to start your own building journey, get in touch with DQH today.