Domain Review Bayside & Port Phillip - July 03, 2024
FEATURE
Bringing the Happy
Jackie Fazekas has a colourful cult hit on her hands with Fazeek’s dopamine-inducing glass decor
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Cover credits: Jackie Fazekas shot by Natalie Jeffcott
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Fazeek’s colourful wavy glassware has become instantly recognisable in the past few years. Now fun shapes and hues carry through a wide range of dining and drinkware, coffee pots, candle holders, vases and carafes. For this week’s cover feature, we sit down with label founder Jackie Fazekas, who shares how close she came to packing it all in before finding her dopamine-decor niche.
European-inspired wine bar Wally’s, in a corner building on Cardigan Place, is the work of Baxter Pickard, founder of online wine store Grapeful. The first thing you’re likely to notice when you walk in is a wine bottle-lined banquette the length of the room. The rest of the space is dotted with brass tables and set beneath a mirrored ceiling.
The 25-seat venue features a book-sized wine list including hard-to-find French chateau drops made from grapes grown, fermented and bottled at a single vineyard. There’s also a strong Australian focus with both contemporary and back-vintage bottles from around the country.
The frequently changing menu is influenced by Europe and South America, and built around local produce. There are plates like smoked pork neck with kohlrabi and pepitas, and sirloin steak served with classic French bordelaise sauce. For something sweet, there are fruit-forward seasonal desserts like rhubarb and mandarin sorbet. — QM
Photo: Casey Horsfield
ADD TO CART
Deadly Ponies Mountaineer Blanket
To celebrate the opening of its new Queenstown store, luxe New Zealand leather goods label Deadly Ponies has created the Mountaineer blanket –a step up from your regular, everyday throw. Resembling a vintage Woolmark label, the cosy wrap was designed with London-based graphic designer Paul Berges, and is made from a blend of wool and cashmere to keep you extra snug. Pick between two stylish colourways: amethyst, featuring deep purple and brown, and shortbread, with pared-back beige and white. — GG
$499 / deadlyponies.com
IN THE DIARY
Pharaoh
The British Museum’s largest international exhibition in its 270-year history, Pharaoh, has arrived at the NGV. More than 500 objects chart a 3000-year period of ancient Egyptian history: from the earliest artefacts of the first pharaohs to the Greco-Roman era. The blockbuster show highlights the grandeur and artistry of ancient Egypt through large-scale statues, sculpture, architecture and jewellery that reflect historical figures, mythical gods and everyday Egyptians. — EJ
Until Oct 6 / NGV, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne / ngv.melbourne
Photo: Liana Hardy
THREE OF A KIND
Offbeat hot chocolates READ ME
Milk
First came Soil, a deep dive on dirt and how it has shaped history. Now Matthew Evans – the farmer and food activist best known for his transformational SBS series, Gourmet Farmer – is making a run at Milk. It turns out the original superfood has an unbelievable origin story, one laced with science, politics and the occasional myth. Evans unravels it all in this entertaining tome on the “miracle liquid”. — DC
$34 99 / murdochbooks.com
BAR CART
Acide pickled bread & butter zucchini
These zucchini pickles from Melbourne-based zero-waste canners Acide are capable of lasting a long time on the shelf, but in our experience are more likely to be eaten all in one go. Tangy, sweet and – yes – a little buttery, they’re perfect to serve on a grazing platter, add to meat or cheese sandwiches, or just snack on straight from the jar.
To quote Homer Simpson: “sacrilicious”. — JW
$14 / acide.au
Chilly weather calls for hot chocolate, and these Melbourne venues are getting experimental. Pidapipo has brought back its much-loved 72 per cent dark chocolate take served with fior di latte and marshmallow gelato. Pick up a babka-inspired version at Ruben’s Deli made with its signature mix, whipped cream, babka crumb and cinnamon. And Mork is serving a caramelised banana and lime variation. — EB
Banana Lime Hot Chocolate, Mork, CBD
Babka Hot Chocolate, Ruben’s Deli, Armadale
Caramelised
Fior Di Latte Hot Chocolate, Pidapipo, Fitzroy and Windsor Mork photo: Kristoffer Paulsen
HOME MAKER
Studio Mignone
Adelaide couple Aldo Mignone and Isabella Wood are the creative duo behind Studio Mignone’s playful, bold and sculptural designs. Its colourful Tavolo Morbido table – featuring chunky, blob-like resin stands and a sleek glass top – went viral during Covid, gathering much local and international love across social media. “We found it sometimes polarising when we first launched. People would say ‘I love it, but it’s too low’, but we love that really low profile,” Wood says. “It’s a real lifestyle choice,” Mignone adds. The pair’s latest creation: a chess set, complete with faux chewing gum pawn pieces. — GG
studiomignone.com
INSTITUTION
Jim’s Greek Tavern
32 Johnston Street, Collingwood
Since 1980, husband and wife Aphrodite and Leonidas Panagopoulos (along with their family) have focused on tradition and simplicity –a philosophy evident in Jim’s taverna-inspired white-washed walls and the comforting share plates. Waiters will guide you through options that start with a mezze of salty saganaki, or a plate of house-made dips like tarama, eggplant and tzatziki, topped with olives and flanked by pickled octopus and deep-fried zucchini. For mains there’s a smorgasbord of meats, and seafood such as charcoal-cooked King George whiting and blue eye, or crisp fried whitebait and calamari. To finish, Aphrodite insists you try her house-made desserts, including a syrupy galaktoboureko (a Greek custard pie), baklava, halva and Turkish delight.
Known for: Classic Greek dishes with panache. Make sure to: Try the lamb sliced straight from the gyro. Locals say: The signature seafood will have you elbowing fellow diners out of the way for more. Don’t forget: It’s BYO. — BS
Photo: Samantha Schultz
STREET STYLE SNACK BAR
Thelatestin
By Audrey Payne
Grill-driven Prahran restaurant Firebird is hosting a six-course, meatfilled, one-night-only dinner on Wednesday July 3. There’ll be roasted chicken garum pho, fire-roasted duck l’orange, clay-pot chicken fat rice and more. Tickets cost $79 each, and you can add on an optional drinks package for $56 per person, which includes paired wines for each course. 223 High Street, Prahran / firebirdmelbourne.com.au
Two Australian cookbook authors, Hetty Lui McKinnon and Josh Niland, recently took home prestigious James Beard Awards at a ceremony held in Chicago for their respective books Tenderheart and Fish Butchery
Chris Lucas – whose Lucas Restaurants group is behind Grill Americano, Society, Yakimono and Chin Chin – is opening two new venues in the CBD. A “new style” Chinese restaurant and a Mediterranean concept will be the twin centrepieces of a new $1 billion high-rise office tower on the corner of Bourke and Elizabeth streets. 435 Bourke Street, Melbourne / lucas.online
Broadsheet Access is hosting a pasta class and lunch at Adrian Richardson’s pop-up Pasta Bambino in Brunswick East on Saturday July 6. 159 Lygon Street, Brunswick East / access.broadsheet.com.au
Free to Feed is hosting four more family-style dinners as part of its Winter Feasts series. There’ll be Iraqi feasting at the Melbourne-based social enterprise’s HQ on Thursday July 11 and Friday July 12, and Persian dinners Wednesday July 17 and Friday July 19 205-211 Queens Parade, Fitzroy North / freetofeed.org.au
Toorak Road, Toorak
Name: Anita Di Michele Age: 47 Occupation: Nutritionist Tell us about your outfit today. My T-shirt and jacket are both from Louis Vuitton. My jeans are from Anine Bing. And my shoes and bag are from Chanel. How does your style fit into your lifestyle? I love things like what I’m wearing now – casual but you can dress it up or down. I’ve got a dinner tonight so I won’t get changed, I’ll just pop on a pair of heels. I like everything versatile. What do you gravitate towards when shopping? I’ll absolutely try and get into anything. I used to always wear black but now I can wear almost any colour.
AFFLUENCE ABOUNDS
The home of extravagant mansions and perfectly manicured gardens, Toorak needs little introduction. Find abundant contemporary eateries, plenty of designerlabel shopping, and all within an easy hop of the city.
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Source:
Photo: Parker Blain
Photo: Jason Edwards
Photo: Kaede James Takamoto
THE INTERVIEW
A Deep Dive With Atria’s Michael Greenlaw
Words by Daniela Frangos
Michael Greenlaw’s love of the ocean runs deep. Growing up, the Ritz-Carlton’s executive chef was always in water – swimming, snorkelling, fishing and free diving.
“I was always mucking around in swimming lessons, never really paying attention but always trying to hold my breath swimming as many laps as I could,” says Greenlaw, who leads the team at the swanky hotel’s sky-high fine diner Atria and adjoining cocktail bar Cameo. “I loved snorkelling and then I worked out I was a really good free diver. It sort of naturally led to spearfishing.”
These days he spends time free diving and spearfishing in Port Phillip Bay, out to which he’s gazing from Cameo’s 80th-floor windows when Broadsheet calls.
“We’re just working on a new abalone and sea urchin dish and I’m looking out at Altona and Williamstown,” says Greenlaw, who was previously at Melbourne’s Westin for five years.
“They hand-dive all the short-spined sea urchins there in Altona, and it’s a really nice treat that we can bring the guests around and show them where they dive for it.
“That sea urchin is a pest,” he continues. “It eats all the seaweed and kelp – I do a lot of diving in that area and it’s barren – so having that dish on the menu is not only helpful for Port Phillip Bay, but it’s a really delicious addition.”
Victoria’s fishing licence laws prevent Greenlaw from serving his own catch to diners (besides the scallop, abalone and oyster shells he’s collected, which have been turned into Atria crockery by Cone 11 Ceramics), but he works closely with fishers to get his hands on some of the lesser known species he spies out in the water.
“There’s something like 43 edible species in Port Phillip Bay and surrounds, and you’ll go to the market and see snapper and flathead and whiting. We’ve had lots of discussions with
fishermen and worked out that they do catch these items, but they either end up as bycatch or animal feed or fertiliser.”
That includes grass whiting and yellow-eye mullet, which have shown up in Atria’s Victorian Crudo, served with white soy, fresh wasabi, sea grapes and pickled shiso. The evolving entree – a simple, delicious show of Greenlaw’s intentions – might preface venison tartare with smoked bone marrow and blackberry; wood-roasted bay lobster served over squidink spaghetti; plump corn tortellini filled with baby corn and Long Paddock ironbark cheese; or dry-aged Macedon Ranges duck with daikon and shiso. “We take inspiration from the 360degree view. We can point to Mount Macedon where our ducks are currently from.”
His menu is seasonal, naturally, but not the quarterly seasons most of us are accustomed to. Instead, Atria follows the Kulin Nation’s sevenseason calendar. “There’s a lot of restrictions with restaurants sticking to those four European seasons that aren’t relevant in Melbourne,” Greenlaw says. “So now we change our menu once every week or two weeks. When we get the call from our suppliers saying, ‘Hey this is available and it’s at its peak’, we grab a lot of it, create a dish, and whatever’s left over we preserve. We’ll dehydrate it, pickle it, ferment it.”
Using the trim and reducing waste is essential to Greenlaw, whose chefs also make a sourdough miso from leftover crusts, which is then folded through the butter served with their bread. They’re also air-drying and lightly smoking fish frames for use in glazes and finishing sauces, and looking at distilling their own oyster shell gin later this year.
“Whether it’s land or sea or flora or fauna,” Greenlaw explains, “we assist our producers to use unique produce that takes pressure off commercial farming, harvesters and the local fisheries.”
HAPPY HOUSE
Words by Emma Do · Photos by Natalie Jeffcott
Fazeek’s signature wavy colour-pop glassware became an instant cult hit in the age of dopamine decor. But for label founder Jackie Fazekas, the path to success hasn’t always been crystal clear.
What does it take to survive the ups and downs and near misses of running an independent design business? Jackie Fazekas, founder of Melbournebased homewares brand Fazeek, will tell you it’s about trusting your gut and never taking “no” for an answer. Both have consistently proven true for Fazekas during tough times, along with a bit of reinvention, too.
When lockdown-weary consumers were newly interested in beautifying their living spaces with a dose of dopamineinducing interiors, Fazeek pioneered its now signature curvy and colourful glassware. The instantly recognisable wavy glasses and coupes – complete with flower-shaped rims –can be spotted across Instagram and at stylish dinner parties, growing a cult-like following.
But the Fazeek story began almost 10 years ago when Fazekas made her first products at her kitchen table: a small range of hand-printed table linens. She was working jobs in both fashion and hospitality back then, but had soured on the throwaway, seasonal nature of the former. The idea of “designing something that lasted a lifetime” appealed, and so she created linens, napkins and custom aprons for restaurants in her spare hours – always with the goal of eventually running her own business.
“It was a constant ‘Let’s see what works and resonates with people’,” Fazekas tells Broadsheet of the early days. Hand-painted, patterned belly baskets came next – a successful move that landed her stockists and press.
But things took a disheartening turn when Fazekas discovered her designs had been ripped off by other companies (including her own suppliers), a reality countless small designers encounter with few resources to combat. All she could do was trust her creativity and move onto the next thing: soap.
The idea marked a turning point for Fazeek. In 2017, the brand’s marbled and terrazzo soap bars – which Fazekas made in her parents’ kitchen and photographed in sleek, graphic set-ups – quickly garnered attention. Within a week of launching, she had wholesale orders for hundreds of units.
By 2019 she’d collaborated with Gorman – high praise for any small designer. “To tell you the truth, before the soaps, it was actually the end of Fazeek,” the creative says. “I was about to close down because it was just so hard. I’d design something then get ripped off, and I didn’t have the funds to put money into marketing. The soaps were the last hope – and that’s what went off.”
After gaining much-needed confidence, Fazekas reinvested new funds to develop candles and incense while
continuing to sell at markets and stock at boutiques. Yet while the brand was doing relatively well, behind the scenes, Fazekas was running herself into the ground, barely drawing a salary. “When Covid hit, I took a step back to reassess. I was making everything by myself and [was] exhausted.” The next iteration of Fazeek, she decided, would require outsourcing.
She tested the waters by producing a glass oil burner in 2020 (having already designed a broader glassware range in the pipeline) and was pleasantly surprised by the enthusiastic response from customers. “I love glassware because it’s timeless and beautiful. I was like, ‘I believe in it, so I’m gonna give it a go’,” she says. Her instinct for change proved right once again.
And so Fazeek’s much-loved colourful glass cups, vases and carafes debuted in 2021 to an eager audience. The Wave coupe was an instant hit, selling out within a matter of minutes. A nod to vintage design, they remain a top seller today.
“I always loved the Marie Antoinette coupe and just wanted to reimagine it as my own. The reaction wasn’t what I expected – they’ve really built a cult following. As a designer who’s worked my bum off for many years, it feels very special to have that.”
Fazekas has kept scented products in-house – candles and the like are still made at Fazeek’s combined shopfront and head office in Fitzroy North – while glassware is manufactured by a team in China. Each glass piece is made individually using hand-blowing techniques involving stretching and twisting glass rods at 1000 degrees Celsius that are then blown into shape with the help of a mould. Fazekas enjoys the quirks that can result from the process. “It has character,” she says. “To me, that is what sets handblown glassware apart.”
Within a few years of launching glassware, the brand picked up major stockists including David Jones, US-based stores Ssense and Revolve, and Middle Eastern luxury retailer Ounass. “I definitely feel like we are a much more established brand now,” Fazekas says. And while the growth is certainly validating, the designer notes, “you just never know where it’s going to go from one day to the next”.
Even though she’s ticked off long-held goals – running her own business, supporting a small team, onboarding dream stockists – Fazekas remains measured about the path forward. “We’re very lucky,” she reflects. “Obviously I’d love to get bigger, but it’s very much about doing it in a sustainable way. Success now is work-life balance and being able to do what I love with an amazing team around me.”
HOME OF THE WEEK
Reimagined from the ground up
Words by Joanne Brookfield
Property doesn’t change hands every day in this tightly held pocket of blue-chip Brighton.
In the case of Number 12 Grandview Road, “the vendors purchased the home nearly two decades ago”, reveals agent Alex Schiavo, which speaks to the desirability of the location.
Situated between the village hubs of Bay and Martin streets, this five-bedroom family home is close to North Brighton station. Several private schools are nearby, and the bay is only a short stroll away.
With the help of industry leader Jackson Clements Burrows, Schiavo says the vendors “transformed this home into a statement residence, adding the timber crown and reimagining the original property”.
From the street – and the home is ideally positioned on a 749-square-metre north-facing corner allotment – the facade retains some period detail. However, the rear cantilevered extension is in direct contrast –it’s unique, contemporary and eye-catching.
Architects have used a “timber skin” to wrap this upper level, where the windows are hidden behind shutters with dramatic
circular cutouts, adding visual interest to the sleek design. The rest of the extension is finished with Italian artisanal rendering, while the garden features lush landscaping by Renata Fairhall.
The cantilever covers the al fresco entertaining area, which is adjacent to the decked self-cleaning, solar-heated pool. Another decked area along the side of the home provides a second space, making the property ideal for those who love entertaining at home.
“The older property was smartly restored, flowing from an open living zone and palatial main bedroom suite to the large-scale lounge, dining and kitchen,” Schiavo says of the internal changes, such as floors finished in striking black japanned hardwood.
The gleaming white kitchen is spacious, with stone benchtops and Blum cabinetry. Luxe touches here include a servery window, filter tap, lengthy breakfast bar, and Liebherr, Miele and Highland appliances.
While all the expansive glass (including skylights on the first floor above the retreat space) bathes the interiors with natural light, there’s also plenty of wall space to display
impressive pieces of art. Other high-end considerations include surround sound, a dual-basin en suite in the main bedroom, a designer laundry with a drying cupboard, and abundant storage.
There’s also a video intercom and a security system, while the two-car garage is accessed via Enfield Road.
“This home became the ultimate family haven for our vendors, who are now ready to pass on the keys to another family to enjoy,” Schiavo says.
Brighton
12 Grandview Road
$4.3 million-$4.5 million
5 2 2
Auction: Noon, August 3
Agent: Kay & Burton, Alex Schiavo 0419 239 549
Hover your camera over the code to see Domain listings in Brighton
WHAT THE AGENT SAYS
“This iconic residence blends a picture-perfect period facade with a striking contemporary extension, showcasing sleek elegance and splendour with a level of detail seldom seen.”
NEED TO KNOW
This is a tightly held pocket, with the average owneroccupier living in Grandview Road for 13 years and seven months. The median price for a five-bedroom house in Brighton is $4.625 million
RECENT SALES
$5.1 million
Alex Schiavo Kay & Burton
LIKE A LOCAL
Malvern East
By Audrey Payne
The best Central Park in the world may be in Manhattan.
But Central Park in Malvern East is a close second.
The 19-acre park in the southside suburb has an oval, where teams can often be seen playing cricket and dogs are let off-leash to happily run around; a newly opened kids’ playground; one of the oldest conservatories in Victoria; and a fountain that rivals the one featured in the Friends title credits.
Another of Malvern East’s best features is the picturesque Hedgeley Dene Gardens, less than a 10-minute walk from Central Park. The verdant surrounds feel like they were lifted straight from the English countryside. It’s not uncommon to see people enjoying picnics, feeding ducks or painting watercolours of the ornamental lake whenever you stroll through.
The suburb is home to well-loved favourites like Riserva, an Italian restaurant that borders Central Park, and Loafers Bakery and Deli, known for old-school classics like custard tarts and meat pies. Reliable cafes include Mr Sister – with its large outdoor courtyard and brunch staples – and Mae, a familyrun spot with one of the south’s best steak sandwiches.
Try neighbourhood spots like Satsuki Japanese Cafe, where you’ll find changing specials on the handwritten menus, or Home To Roost, a chicken shop known for long lines out the door and selling out well before close. This past year has also seen the opening of new venues including toastie shop Toast It and wine bar Parkside Local from hospo pro Matt Vero (The Orrong, Mount Erica Hotel).
Mr Mama on Burke Road is a corner shop gem stocking Asian groceries and snack foods from countries like Mexico and the United States. Organic food store Green Onions is known for fresh produce and pantry staples.
If you’re looking to shop, stop by Norsu Interiors for homewares, furniture, jewellery and artworks. Or pay a visit to Little Miss Audrey, a boutique on Waverley Road that showcases clothing, accessories and gifts from Aussie and NZ labels, including Miss Frankie and Alfie & Evie. If you need anything else, Chadstone Shopping Centre is right there.
NEED TO KNOW
Malvern East offers heritage homes and sleek apartments. It’s popular with families and professionals, featuring Central Park, Chadstone Shopping Centre, top schools, vibrant cafes, and convenient public transport options.
Average Age 38
Median Weekly income $2,386
Clockwise from top: Loafers Bakery and Deli, Parkside Local pizza, the newly opened wine bar, Riserva, photos Liana Hardy
WHAT THE AGENT SAYS
“Malvern East is a soughtafter suburb favoured for its larger blocks, predominantly period homes and appealing streetscapes. The parks, low-key cafe lifestyle and proximity to some of Melbourne’s best schools attract buyers. It has a real sense of community and a village-like feel.”
Clockwise from top: Central Park’s Friends-like fountain, photo
Liana Hardy. Mae brunch plate, photo Marcie Raw. Mae interior and Toast It, photos Liana Hardy
Fiona Ansell-Jones Marshall White
LUXURY
Words by Richard Cornish & Maria Harris
Brighton 15 Huntingfield Road
$4 million-$4.3 million
4 2 2
Private sale
Agent: Buxton, Halli Moore 0403 777 661
This striking property’s bold street presence is balanced by a spacious, serene interior with secluded bedrooms and dynamic living spaces. Bifold doors connect the finely appointed kitchen and living areas to an al fresco haven with three automatic awnings and a heated swim-spa in exotic gardens. Natural stone, wood accents, an open fireplace, and a garden outlook complete this Brighton gem, tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac near Brighton’s vibrant centre.
Balwyn North 3 Dumblane Street
$3.5 million-$3.85 million
6 4 2
Auction: 11am, July 13
Agent: Vicprop Manningham, Brian Chen 0425 212 643
Toorak
2/4 Trawalla Avenue
$4.5 million-$4.85 million
2 2 3
Expressions of interest
Agent: Rodney Morley, Rodney Morley 0418 321 222
When a developer builds an apartment for themselves, you know no expense has been spared. The level of workmanship, from the oak herringbone floors to the custom joinery, is superb. Every room of this lavish ground-floor apartment looks onto the garden courtyard, creating a beautiful and serene sanctuary just a few minutes’ walk from the bars, cafes, and shops of Toorak village. Close to freeway access, it features a garage for three cars connected to the house by a lift.
Balwyn North’s reputation for opulence continues with this French provincial-style residence that offers grand accommodation, a swimming pool and outdoor entertaining in the prized Balwyn High School zone. The luxurious interiors feature engineered oak floorboards, Italian marble in the kitchen and bathrooms, an all-Miele kitchen and a butler’s pantry with cooking facilities. Upstairs, there is a private, lavish main suite, four more bedrooms, a theatre and a retreat. Brighton
$3.25 million 4 2 3
Private sale
Agent: Kay & Burton, Matthew Pillios 0408 145 982
Tucked away behind a secure wall on a quiet Brighton street awaits a stunning Californian bungalow seamlessly blended with a modern two-level extension. Enjoy a spacious open-plan living area, kitchen, tiled al fresco dining area, and a solar-heated swim-spa. Upstairs you’ll find a private main bedroom with en suite, a home office, and a large family room. It’s located minutes from the Middle Brighton train station and Church Street’s lively atmosphere.
OPEN FOR INSPECTION
Words by Shae Wiedermann, Kay Keighery & Maria Harris
Clearance Rate of 64%*
Source: Domain Group
OUR EXPERT SAYS LAST WEEKEND
Dr Nicola Powell Chief of research & economics
“Our new research shows that only 29 per cent of Australians are aware of their property’s risk of being impacted by a natural disaster. We urge home owners to understand the risks in their area and ensure their insurance covers potential damages.”
Source: Domain 2024 Perils Report
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Auction: Noon, July 6
Agent: Kay & Burton, Tim Blackett 0400 780 700
$3.725 million
Surrey Hills 5 Rose Avenue Sold by Jellis Craig*
*As reported on June 22, 2024
Designed by Wayne Gillespie, this townhouse sits within a gated community in a tree-lined cul-de-sac. A courtyard and an upstairs balcony provide space for outdoor entertaining, and inside, a casual dining area comes with banquette seating and a domed skylight (with motorised blind). The main bedroom has an en suite with heated floors, while the other bedrooms have built-in wardrobes.
Highett 22 Haynes Street
$1.65 million-$1.75 million
5 2 2
Auction: 2.30pm, July 6
Agent: O’Brien Real Estate, Oliver Muehlke 0422 187 121
With timber-clad walls, teak ceilings and exposed timber beams, this house has a retro feel in a prime Highett location. All five bedrooms have built-in wardrobes and block-out blinds, and the main has an en suite. Two living areas – one of which leads to a paved outdoor area with an automated Vergola roof system – cater to big families. There’s also a vegetable garden, breakfast bar and separate laundry, and Sandringham Beach is only a short drive away.
Private sale
Agent: Gary Peer, Daniel Micmacher 0419 376 521
Beneath its slate roof and pretty lacetrimmed verandah, this Victorian home has loads of period details, including high ceilings, ceiling roses, an arched hallway, open fireplaces and a bay window. It has a galleystyle kitchen, a stylish central bathroom and French doors opening from the living room to the deck and garden. It is centrally located between Chapel and Fitzroy streets.
Auction: 12.30pm, July 6
Agent: Marshall White, Stephen Gough 0439 844 855
Hamptons styling, a smart floor plan and a deck overlooking a lawn backyard tug at the heartstrings here. Spanking new and sporting highlights such as subway tiling, attractive joinery, a free-standing bath and a fireplace in a chunky rock chimney, it’s a personality pad ripe for immediate family enjoyment. The bedroom on the ground level has an en suite. Ditto the main upstairs.
Toorak
Sandringham
4/88 Bay Road
$800,000-$875,000
2 2 1
Private sale
Agent: Marshall White, Tas Bartels 0448 121 929
Set in the En Vue complex designed by Finnis Architects, this apartment delivers low-maintenance contemporary living within walking distance of Sandringham village and the beach. It has a relaxed feel and a neutral palette with stone finishes, engineered oak floorboards, and a Miele-equipped kitchen.
Hawthorn
3/496 Glenferrie Road
$2.8 million-$2.98 million
4 3 2
Private sale
Agent: Belle Property Balwyn, Robert Ding 0418 858 393
Lushly appointed and capped by a city-view roof terrace, this multilevel domain exudes signature elegance. Basement parking, a private lift and a sunny patio abet the exclusive Scotch Hill lifestyle. The ground level comprises a powder room and a kitchendining-living area adjoining the patio.
Toorak
1.1/9 Struan Street
$1 million-$1.1 million
3 2 1
Expressions of interest: Close 3pm, July 11
Agent: RT Edgar, Anthony Grimwade 0418 382 226
Stroll to Toorak village and the Yarra River from this recently updated apartment in the Balholmen complex. The low-maintenance dwelling looks ideal for downsizers and others who like their living fuss-free. Enter to a sun-blessed open-plan hub, where the kitchen gleams in stainless steel and white.
