Down At The Club

The Age

Saturday September 1, 2007

Lou Sweeney

Six Degrees of style give an Elsternwick property the edge, writes Lou Sweeney.

ELSTERNWICK

13 Edward Street

$900,000-plus

Auction Noon, September 8

Agent Biggin & Scott, 9523 9444

Melway 67 J3

AMONG the many great houses of Elsternwick, there are two that stand out. Ripponlea is, of course, one and this beauty in Edward Street - cue raised eyebrows - is the other.

It's a classic Edwardian from the outside - double-fronted, handsome, nice garden - pretty standard you might think and first glances would say you were right. It's only on entering and taking a stroll around at least two or three times that you uncover the home's singular qualities.

Architects Six Degrees went to town here eight years ago and their cutting-edge bar/club style has only become better with age. It's rare to find a house so utterly functional, unusually beautiful and retreat-like serene in the inner suburbs. This place, it has to be said, is a treat.

The owners aren't afraid of colour, so if you are, run for your life.

The broad expanse of the north/south living room boasts a 1970s paint-chart blue but the use of recycled timbers, a fine brick and concrete hearth and big, beautiful dark timber windows give the room weight and substance.

The dining area lies behind, separated from the kitchen beyond by a tall, open timber column linked with sea-green glass.

On the left roofline above the dining table is a lightbox made out of what looks to be a glossy recycled packing crate.

The deep fuchsia tones of the kitchen benches are offset by dark cabinets underneath and the pale green wall of the sitting area, where a bench seat looks out through lofty old windows (recycled from Melbourne Grammar) to the backyard.

Back at the entry, two large bedrooms come off the central hallway. Both share the fine dimensions of the era, with the second opening out to a lovely side courtyard. More colourful walls in here, too, but the light and size of the rooms gives them a subtle, rather than a brassy, overbearing feel.

A bathroom and laundry sit centrally along the hallway, the bathroom boasting a view of the backyard as you bob about in the suds but the place to be is the main bedroom.

Beyond the study, at the end of the hall and up a step or two, this is a bedroom/retreat good enough to make you cancel the holiday reservations. Brilliant, airy, light and peaceful, this is a gorgeous room.

It's hard to put your finger on just what it is that makes it so but the combination of cool green walls, more large, dark timber windows and the views to the pool out back could be it.

Heaven on a stick, in Elsternwick.

© 2007 The Age

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