Domain Review Bayside & Port Phillip - September 20, 2023

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Non-Alcoholic

Wine: Made in Cheltenham

Height of Ambient Luxury

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This publication is published by Domain Holdings Australia Limited and Broadsheet Media Pty. Ltd. and is printed by IVE, 25-33 Fourth Avenue, Sunshine VIC 3020

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Broadsheet Editor: Jo Walker Assistant editor: Gitika Garg Design lead: Ben Siero

Design: The Company You Keep, Erin Callaghan Sub editors: Michelle Goldsmith, Miriam Kauppi, Barnaby Smith, Adeline Teoh, Annie Toller Writers: Holly BodekerSmith, Daniela Frangos, Alice Jeffery, Jenny Valentish Photographers: Tim Allen, Parker Blain, Jasmine Blom, Lauren Drzewucki, Holly Engelhardt, Laura May Grogan, Amy Hemmings, Casey Horsfield, Kaede James Takamoto, Kate Pascoe, David Roemer, Alivia Rose, Peter Tarasiuk, Lillie Thompson, Elisa Watson, Eve Wilson

Cover credits: Non CEO Aaron Trotman shot by Peter Tarasiuk

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Too often in Australia, giving up alcohol – whether for a lifetime or just an afternoon – is seen as deprivation. A second-best alternative consumers settle for rather than embrace. That’s why we rate Aaron Trotman’s company, Non (featured in our cover story), for producing non-alcoholic wine that’s about the taste and complexity that’s there rather than what’s been taken away. Made in south-east Melbourne and exporting to the world? We’ll raise a glass to that.

Jo Walker Broadsheet Editor

Property Listings

Back Chat with Angourie Rice

“That’s the beauty of stone and having a marble coffee table or console. It’s a work of art in the pattern, texture and detail.”

Melbourne Maker with Adele Cotruzzola

Feature: The Alchemist

Neighbourhoods: Malvern

Melbourne Maker

SNACK BAR STREET STYLE

Thelatestin Melbourne foodnews

by Gitika Garg Clarendon Street, South Melbourne

Named for the legendary pasta sauce, Puttanesca is Guy Grossi’s new Italian restaurant in the Clifton Hotel at Kew. Feast on woodfired clam pizzas, bolognaise jaffles and an Italian-style riff on the pub burger in a room adorned with Sophia Loren posters. 99 High Street, Kew / @puttanescaclifton

At Armadale’s newest buzzy spot Ruben’s Deli you’ll find a bagel bar with wine and bottled cocktails to take home, ready-made roasts, sandwiches, dips and salads. It’s a nod to New York with an ex-Cutler & Co chef on board. Kings Arcade, 978 High Street, Armadale / @rubens_deli

Two Nobu alumni have opened Ilza, a 25-seat Japanese spot on Little Collins Street. Head in for a casual night of snacky bites like hibachi-grilled yakitori and kingfish crudo along with Yuzu Margaritas, Basque cheesecakes and matcha tiramisu. Shop 5, 353 Little Collins Street, Melbourne / ilza.com.au

After a $5.8 million revamp and 10-month transformation, Kew’s iconic Studley Park Boathouse returns with a new restaurant, cafe and bar. Plus there’s live music every weekend, a pizzeria and a gelato cart. You can also hire a boat – just in time for spring. 1 Boathouse Road, Kew / studleyparkboathousekew.com.au

Score $10 pints of Furphy all day at more than 40 pubs across Victoria this month (including Grand Final day) using The Pass app. Favourites like Imperial South Yarra, The Espy, Garden State Hotel, Auburn Hotel and Village Belle Hotel are among the mix. Download the app for free from the App Store or Google Play.

Lygon Street institution Cafe Notturno has closed its doors after 45 years of trade on Australia’s most famous food strip. Now that the Italian stalwart joins the list of bygone diners, it’s hard to shake some melancholy. We’re losing something here – the cultural memory that’s part of our heritage.

Read the full story for each dot point: broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/series/snack-bar

Name: Aliet Bior Age: 20 Occupation: Studying pre-law and business What are you wearing today? I got this skirt from Princess Polly – it’s one of my favourite stores. The top is from Glassons and the tote bag is from The Commons. I have my best friend coming from overseas and I got her these flowers because she deserves it. The boots I stole from my sister! How would you describe your style? My style in general is mostly flowy. I go with a breeze, which I think I got from my mum. She is more of a free-spirited woman – long dresses and lots of patterns are the things she wears, and those are the things I’ve been inspired to wear. Hence why I’m wearing this long skirt! I like to lean into my femininity

BUZZING SOUTH MELBOURNE

South Melbourne exudes historic allure with Victorian-era architecture. An eclectic mix of heritage homes, modern apartments and commercial spaces – plus lively markets, chic cafes and cultural vibrancy –makes it a hot spot for real estate investment and renters alike.

MEDIAN HOUSE PRICES

SOUTH MELBOURNE

1 bed unit, $428k 2 bed unit, $665k 2 bed house, $1.355m

Source: Data based on sales within the last 12 months

Photo: Kate Pascoe

Photo: Casey Horsfield

Photo: Amy Hemmings

Photo: Kaede James Takamoto

Photo: Elisa Watson

BACK CHAT Angourie Rice

Whether she’s on her way to the set or stage, Angourie Rice starts her mornings listening to a carefully curated playlist – made specifically for the day – through noise-cancelling headphones.

“If it’s Monday, I’ll listen to a song that has ‘Monday’ in the lyrics. Friday’s will include a song about Friday,” she tells Broadsheet It’s become a kind of morning ritual for the Australian actor, offering a moment of calm before jumping into script reads, rehearsals, film takes or whatever else the day has in store.

Rice has been acting since she was 11 years old. Her vocation first found expression in ads and film projects for uni students before she scored a lead role in the short film Transmission – landing her a Best Actor gong at the St Kilda Film Festival in 2012

Now 22, Rice already has a solid screen career. You might have seen her opposite Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe in The Nice Guys, alongside Jennifer Garner in The Last Thing He Told Me , playing Betty Brant in Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise or perhaps on HBO series Mare of Easttown

Having found her place in Hollywood, Rice is currently working closer to home – on stage rather than screen. “It’s making me step out of my comfort zone a little bit and pushing me in a different way creatively,” she says before going into rehearsal for Melbourne Theatre Company’s production of My Sister Jill.

“The last two years have been a lot of packing and unpacking and arriving somewhere and knowing that I only have a set amount of time there, so it’s really nice to just be [in Melbourne] and not have to worry about any of that.”

It’s been nine years since Rice was last on stage, and these days prep for theatre “feels like a workout for the brain”, she says. “It’s a lot more about sustainability and being able to sustain your performance, not just

throughout the whole show for 90 minutes, but night after night.”

Unlike the film sets she’s become used to – where there might only be 30 centimetres between her and a camera lens – on stage, Rice must perform over distance, projecting all the way to the back row.

My Sister Jill follows an Australian family from the 1950s to the ’70s, navigating their relationships with a traumatised father back from fighting World War II. Rice plays Christine, the youngest child of five, and the only one who idolises her father and his stories of wartime heroics.

“Something that really struck me when reading Christine as a character is that she’s so vibrant and full of life … always playing games and playing pretend.” Rice talks a lot about reconnecting to the childlike sensibility of her character – though their games of choice might have differed. Christine opts for mock battles and warfare, while Rice’s childhood was spent playing pretend as a dancer, singer and actor.

Outside of work there’s a lot that keeps the performer busy. Rice spent much of 2020’s lockdowns writing a chapter a day of her first book Stuck Up & Stupid – a contemporary adaptation of Pride and Prejudice co-written with mum Kate Rice, an award-winning playwright – out in November. “I wanted to read this book, and it didn’t exist so we wrote it together.”

Her latest pastime is baking. She gets an app prompt on her phone asking, “Do you want to open your recipe book?” at exactly 11pm on each Sunday. It’s her usual time for whipping up bread and other baked goods before heading into work again the following morning – head full of Monday songs and ready to tell stories.

MTC’s My Sister Jill runs from September 23 to October 28 at the Southbank Theatre.

Words by Gitika Garg

Photo by David Roemer

HOME OF THE WEEK

Making a bold design statement

Words by Anders Furze

Design studio Casa62 aims to create homes embodying the laid-back European lifestyle. That ethos infuses this three-level property, a proper showstopper that embraces indooroutdoor family living across multiple zones.

The curves of the facade boldly announce its presence to the crescent, while creating the height of ambient luxury inside.

Step inside and you’ll immediately notice the high ceilings – throughout the house, they range from 2.7 metres to three metres.

Keep wandering in, past the lift and powder room, and you’ll find the lounge, a bedroom with an en suite and a home office with a built-in desk.

The rest of the ground floor has been designed to bring people together.

The skylit kitchen includes a German Bora induction cooktop, Miele appliances and a discreet butler’s pantry with a second integrated fridge-freezer.

This area opens onto the rear al fresco area, which in turn overlooks the pool and spa. Because it has its own access separate from the house, this area is perfect for entertaining guests. You won’t have to go inside,

either – there’s an outdoor kitchen with a barbecue, and a poolside bathroom.

But the pool area is just half of this property’s al fresco story. Out the back, there’s a basketball court and adjoining fire pit, which is surrounded by curved seating.

There’s more room for entertainment and lifestyle underneath the house in the form of a soundproof media room with adjoining bar and kitchenette.

The home gym promotes an active lifestyle for everybody and there’s enough space for 660 wine bottles in the cellar and seven cars in the basement garage.

The main bedroom is upstairs. It comes equipped with three walk-in wardrobes and a spacious en suite (with dual vanity and double shower).

But the highlight is undoubtedly the bedroom’s north-east-facing balcony. Offering privacy from the street, you can glimpse the city skyline or simply open it all up to let the cool change come through in summer.

There are two other bedrooms upstairs, both with en suites, built-in wardrobes and built-in desks. Another bedroom is versatile

enough to be used as a home office or teenage retreat if required.

From the natural stone benchtops to ultrawide European oak boards and hand-crafted backlit feature wall, the sense of luxury is palpable. And that’s without mentioning the artisan lighting from Articolo Studios, fireplaces both inside and out and the oaktopped polished-render staircase.

It’s in the Brighton Beach Primary School zone, close to Middle Brighton station, Church Street, schools and the beach.

Brighton

57 Lynch Crescent

$12.8 million-$13.8 million

5 6 7

Private sale

Agent: Hodges, Julian Augustini 0418 558 408

WHAT THE AGENT SAYS

“Featuring a unique design aesthetic and impeccable build quality, this warm and inviting family home offers an extraordinary lifestyle.”

NEED TO KNOW

The property was last sold for $3.82 million in July 2021, and the highest recorded house price for Brighton (past 12 months) was $31.6 million for 39 Seacombe Grove in November 2022.

RECENT SALES

$4.95 million

63 Bay Street, June $4.875 million

12 Drake Street, May $3.175 million

96 Asling Street, May

Julian Augustini Hodges

Six Planters That Give Indoor Greenery a Home As Stylish as Yours

By Jo Walker

ASOBIMASU CLAY KAIKETSU PLANTER – $125$185 Designed and hand-thrown in Melbourne by maker Kate Brouwer and her small team of potters, the Kaiketsu planter is simultaneously understated and playful. Featuring classic stoneware with a white matte, green velvet or textured crater glaze, its wavy design invites trailing stems to interact with clay curves. asobimasuclay.com

CAPRA DESIGNS ARCHIE POT – $69 Aussie homewares label Capra Designs has a track record of designing just as much for function as for form. The Archie pot features an arched base for its water tray – great for protecting household surfaces – and it’s made from colourful, terrazzo-effect, hand-poured resin. Available in eight colourways. capradesigns.com

LIGHTLY TONE PLANTER – $132-$230 Handmade in powder-coated spun metal, Aussie label Lightly’s Tone planters come in playful Two Tone finishes and striking monochromes, and are designed for indoor or outdoor use. Conceived to explore “kinship and ritual”, the planter’s form mixes organic shapes with mod sensibilities, providing a sense of harmony and balance. lightly.com.au

SPECIAL STUDIO LULU PLANTER – AROUND

AU$70 Shaped something like an artfully scrunched paper bag, the Lulu planter from Special Studio is 3D-printed in New Zealand from 98 per cent recycled waste plastic in a range of pastel colourways. The studio aims to recycle more plastic locally and build bigger products with the materials it diverts from landfill. achomestore.co.nz

CITTA RISE PLANTER – $189-$289 Family-owned NZ design company Citta champions ethical, minimalist decor with a sense of humour. The Rise planter’s simple form suits a range of living spaces and can be used indoors or out. Sustainably made from reinforced crushed limestone, it comes in medium, large and tall iterations – all with a pleasingly flared base. cittadesign.com/au

MR KITLY X DECOR PLANT POT – $9.50 TO $38

There’s a reason Richard Carlson’s 1987 self-watering plant pot design for Decor has been revamped by Melbourne institution Mr Kitly in various sizes and exclusive colours year after year. Moulded in BPA-free plastic, it’s light, functional, modern and charming – and it makes plant care easy and mess-free. mrkitly.com.au

Photo: Alivia Rose

Photo: Eve Wilson

THE ALCHEMIST

Words by Jenny Valentish · Photos by Peter Tarasiuk

For Aaron Trotman and the team at Non, conjuring favours on the fy is a necessary and rewarding part of pioneering the non-alcoholic beverage sector.

Aaron Trotman goes by “CEO” but only because his preferred title, “The Firefighter”, doesn’t really fly in hifalutin business circles.

It’s apt, though, because the heavenly aromas wafting through Cheltenham’s Non HQ – roasted pear and cherry, a cinnamon perfume, an invigorating orange-based stock – belie the hectically rapid learning curve behind them.

As Aaron tells Broadsheet, “The ‘non-alc’ category has been around for a while and may seem like it’s growing out of control, but it’s still only five past midnight.”

Aaron introduced his wine-alternative brand Non in 2019 with no experience whatsoever in the drinks industry. And yet his seven variations have been eagerly adopted by some of Melbourne’s most agenda-setting venues, including Hope St Radio, Old Palm Liquor, Supernormal, Cutler & Co, Ronnie’s at Rialto, Ritz-Carlton’s Atria Bar and Neptune in Windsor.

Non’s origin story begins a few years earlier when Aaron and his wife Miranda Trotman embarked on an exploration of the world of fine dining. Miranda is a non-drinker, so bartenders would create elaborate concoctions to complement the complex dishes –and something clicked for Aaron.

“I thought it was a real shame that these drinks live and die in these places because they’re not in a bottle. Someone needed to do that,” he says. “I didn’t have any market research or really know anything about the drinks category.”

But Aaron did have a background in the cosmetics industry, specifically creating hair products and shampoos – first alone in his kitchen, then scaling up under the guidance of his mentor, the late Richard Gonano, the cosmetic chemist behind brands including Aesop and Kevin Murphy.

“He was really instrumental for me in learning about blending essential oils and how to create scents and fragrances, and then how they reacted in the product,” Aaron says. “I learned about formulations and bringing a product to market, and how the ingredient percentages change drastically as you scale up.”

Following a near-identical path, Aaron started his foray into beverages in his kitchen. Instead of following the formula of alcohol-free wines – which strips out the alcohol, and with it, much of the flavour – he took more of a perfumery approach, cooking layers of flavours into the verjuice base sourced from chardonnay grapes from Barossa Valley. That’s the process his team of alchemists

(among them, chefs, bartenders, food scientists and winemakers) continues now, only on a much larger scale.

“I think if I had come from hospitality, Non probably wouldn’t exist because I just had so much blind faith,” he says. “I didn’t have the experience of taking something that’s in a pot and scaling it up into a 7500litre tank, and so I had no idea how hard it could be.”

Around the time that Aaron was launching his bold endeavour, there was a surge of “sober pride” on social media. Converts to an alcohol-free life gave themselves prefixes such as “AF” or “Sober”, and increasing

In the earliest development phase, Non aimed to come up with wine-like products that could fool people in a blind taste test. Then the team decided that creating a stand-in for those desperately missing it wasn’t the goal.

“We offer an alternative for an occasion, or for exploration and exciting your palate,” Aaron says. “It’s aspirational, but that’s the kind of place I want to sit in.”

To achieve this, he set about assembling a crack team from different backgrounds with the goal of creating a combined skill set that could explore new frontiers. In his previous endeavours, both as a DJ and producer, and

energy, being vegan-certified, gluten-free and halal, shipping carbon-neutrally and having 75 per cent less water wastage than conventional beverage manufacturing.

But expansion overseas created more curly conundrums. While Non’s current international focus is the US, the brand has also expanded into Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and New Zealand, and is making forays into Hong Kong, China and Korea. Each country has its own rules.

“Non is a food product because there’s no alcohol in it, but it’s not really in a category, so there’s also not a set category when customs consider what the regulations are,” Aaron explains. “In Japan there’s a limit on the sulphites you can have in a non-alcohol drink, which is different to Korea. In the UK, instead of saying ‘salt’ on the label, you’re meant to say ‘sodium’. Indonesia is probably the most intense – there are so many layers to it.”

Visitors to the Cheltenham Non HQ can experience the full range of seven flavours for themselves by booking a tour on the first Friday of every month in what’s billed as the world’s first cellar door for non-alcoholic beverages.

“You get a flavour workshop by the liquid team,” Aaron says of the tour. “It’s designed for you to understand how everything that we put in there is the sum of its parts. You see all these ingredients in a little container in the kitchen and then we explain that we now use 50 kilograms of that. In the tasting room, you’re going to see how the drinks change and pair with food. The idea is that everyone walks away with a newfound appreciation of the effort and detail that goes into this.”

Choosing his favourite, Aaron says, is like trying to choose a favourite child.

numbers of alcohol-free products hit the market. Aaron thinks the sobriety wave might have peaked now, with moderation being more commonly cited.

That’s not to say that interest in alcohol-free drinks is dropping. According to the International Wine and Spirits Record, noand low-alcohol beverages grew by more than seven per cent in 2022, surpassing US$11 billion. It’s small wonder that alcohol companies are cashing in, developing alcohol-free versions of their biggest hits.

“I think some of that super-sober stuff is slowing down because it’s a little bit out of reach for people,” Aaron says. “The conversations now are more: ‘This is what I would have when I don’t want a drink’, or ‘This is how I’m cutting back’.”

in cosmetics, Aaron had been a “lone wolf”, he says. “I’d never had staff before, so having business mentors has helped me learn on the job day by day as new problems come up.”

Non’s leadership arm includes the former head of marketing for non-alcoholic gin Seedlip; a national sales manager with a beer background (“really important for Non because beer is so aggressive – it’s fighting for shelf space all the time so you need that hustle and grind”); and an operations manager from Milwaukee Tool. “I saw the cultural fit of what these guys could bring into the business and that’s more important than them knowing about the drinks industry,” Aaron says.

The ability to problem-solve on the fly is key. First, there were all the boxes Aaron wanted to tick off: using 100 per cent green

“One of the reps described Non 7  as ‘Melbourne in a glass’. It’s got cherry, cold-brew coffee and garam masala, and Melbourne is such a great place for infusions and new ideas with food, so we flexed that in our creation of that product. And then Non 4, the beetroot and sansho, is polarising and a challenge to get your head around – and I like that!”

When we talk, Aaron is about to leave for New York to be the “hype man” for reps over there – another role that’s entirely new to him. If he’d known how much Non would ask of him, would he still have embarked on this mission?

“Yes, I love it,” he says in an instant. “I just jumped off a cliff and I built the plane on the way down – and I’m still building the plane!”

One of the reps described Non 7 as ‘Melbourne in a glass’. It’s got cherry, cold-brew coffee and garam masala, and Melbourne is such a great place for infusions and new ideas with food, so we flexed that in our creation of that product.

WINDOW SHOPPING

Malvern

By Audrey Payne

There’s no shortage of serenity in the leafy south-eastern suburb of Malvern. But there are enough restaurants, wine bars and bakeries on strips like Malvern Road and High Street to create a real neighbourhood buzz.

Start on Malvern Road and visit low-key cafes like Thread for roti wraps, or Neon Tiger for staples like French toast and chilli scramble. Or the slightly larger Clubhouse for brunch in a golf-inspired space. There are cosy stores including the Aura Home outlet, where covetable labels like Maison Balzac and Yamazaki can be found, while neighbouring florist Flos Florum is a great spot for fresh blooms and buds.

Glenferrie Road is home to restaurants like Spanish spot Remy Bar de Tapas y Vino and the underrated Sichuan Legacy, where the panda decor (which includes paintings and statues) is as cute as the food is spicy. Frozen yogurt shop Yo-Chi is a favourite student hangout, as is Melbourne’s first self-serve acai spot, Blitz Bar.

If you’re looking for something to pick up before heading to Malvern Public Gardens, visit Stocked Food Store for a solid takeaway salad or Little Sister for Middle Eastern-style pastries and hot coffee. Then pop into independent booksellers Jeffreys or Readings – or one of the good-old-fashioned newsagents nearby – which all have extensive magazine selections.

The Station Street block between Malvern Central and Malvern Station is home to Societe, a cocktail bar with a European touch, and Essie Wine, a slick wine bar and bottle shop.

For a Parisian feel, visit Millstone Patisserie (opposite the Doll Hospital) on the mostly residential street Claremont Avenue. There are as many chairs on the footpath as there are inside, and pastry chef Alice Wright produces classic fruit-forward bakes like passionfruit sponge cake, lemon tarts and strawberry-jam-filled brioche doughnuts.

Behind Millstone, and a block down from Essie and Societe, is Master of None – a hole-in-the-wall espresso shop and cafe with an industrial vibe. It’s the perfect place to stop by before hopping on the train or tram.

NEED TO KNOW

Malvern boasts charming Victorian homes on spacious lots – a rarity in Melbourne’s urban enclaves. Families flock to enjoy the excellent local schools and green spaces. House hunting is competitive due to limited rentals, demanding vigilant marketmonitoring for a slice of suburbia.

Average Age

40

Median Weekly income $2,101

Owner 69% Family 52%

Renter 31% Single 48%

Clockwise from top: Little Sister Malvern, photo Laura May Grogan; Clubhouse meal, photo Holly Engelhardt; Essie Wine, photo Tim Allen; Blitz Bar, photo Amy Hemmings

WHAT THE AGENT SAYS

“Malvern boasts tree-lined streets, historic architecture and a vibrant community. Its residents passionately advocate for heritage preservation and cherish the area’s unique character and sense of unity. Its parks, cafes and schools make it a desirable and family-friendly neighbourhood.”

MEDIAN HOUSE PRICES

Median price houses $2.850m

Median price units $710,000

Distance from CBD 7km

Clockwise from top: Clubhouse frontage, photo Holly Engelhardt; Master of None, photo Jasmine Blom; Malvern Gardens and Town Hall clocktower, photos Kate Pascoe

Abby Innes Marshall White

Hover your camera over the code to see Domain listings in Malvern

Adele Cotruzzola

Words by Holly Bodeker-Smith · Photos by Lillie Thompson

Adele Cotruzzola has always been drawn to marble. “From a young age, I was obsessed with the marble paper we used for crafts in primary school,” she tells Broadsheet. Family visits to Italy (she has Sicilian heritage) only strengthened that. “My love affair with marble really started with travelling to Italy and seeing the architecture – even the floors over there are often all natural stone.”

Cotruzzola has recreated some of this grandeur with her furniture label Just Adele, which sells Italian-inspired pieces made from natural stone sourced in Melbourne and Italy. She launched the label four years ago to bring a slice of Italy into Australian homes (and create a great excuse for regular trips to Europe). Cotruzzola personally sources blocks of onyx and marble, which are crafted into ready-made and custom pieces such as side, dining and coffee tables, plinths, consoles, vases and other bespoke numbers.

The unrepeated nature of marble and onyx means no two Just Adele pieces are the same. Cotruzzola loves that every piece has its own distinct patterns and colours – and often swaps around the marble wares in her own home to revamp her space. “Natural stone has a lot of texture throughout, and every slab and piece is so different and unique,” she says.

The aptly named Tiramisu coffee table, for example, is crafted from a creamy slab of onyx that has layers of brown, grey and black rippling through it, showing off distinct mineral layers that have formed over time. Meanwhile, the curved Sofia side table comes in a rich rosso (red) and shows intricate waves of crimsons, browns and oranges stacked in a symphony of colour.

Regardless of the colour or material used, each Just Adele piece is eye-catching enough to stand out in a space. For this reason, Cotruzzola says most items don’t need to be overly styled. “That’s the beauty of stone and having a marble coffee table or console,” she says. “It’s a work of art in the pattern, texture and detail.”

That’s especially true of her latest range of vases, Casa Collection, which is the first line to be exclusively sourced and made in Italy. “I worked with local makers and artisans to source each block individually for the vases,” Cotruzzola

says. “I spent days going to stone yards and sifting through every piece of stone until we found what I was after.” The limited-run collection is made using repurposed materials, from the minimalist Bianco Carrara marble with shades of white and grey, to an onyx with vivid tones of rust, marmalade and white.

Those, along with other ready-made and custom pieces, can be viewed at Just Adele’s gallery space in Richmond, which it shares with Melbourne artist Christopher Vine. Customers can also enquire about ready-made, made-to-order and custom pieces via the website. The pieces are made both locally and in Italy and prices range from $2500 to $20,000, depending on the design.

Demand for well-made marble furniture is high in both home and commercial settings, Cotruzzola says. So she’s busy designing new items, as well as working with suppliers and manufacturers, to keep up. She and her team of three manage most of the business from Richmond.

And increasingly she’s spending her time in clients’ homes to plan bespoke pieces. “I love being able to flesh something out in the space,” she says. This service makes it easier for clients to choose a piece that’s designed for their home, rather than retroactively fitting a must-have item into it. “We’re there to make the process a little easier and guide [clients] through what would work best.”

Cotruzzola says decorators want statement pieces to complement minimalistic or natural vibes throughout their home, and marble furniture offers a practical and sturdy option to spruce up a space. “Marble has a lot of natural resistance, which assists in keeping furniture clean, and we seal every piece so that it’s suitable for daily use.” It’s a fitting material, then, for timeless pieces that are designed to stand the test of time. “We want these pieces to last a lifetime, rather than be a trend item that goes out of fashion within a year.”

Just Adele pieces are sold ready-made and made-toorder through justadele.com.au. View by appointment seven days a week at Unit 3, 1-7 Amsterdam Street, Richmond. Additional reporting by Celeste Centofanti.

Just under four hours’ drive from Sydney (there’s also a regional airport), Orange is a great spot to indulge in rural romanticism.

The region is flush with award-winning cool-climate wineries thanks to its high altitude and rich volcanic soil from nearby Mount Canobolas. Find crisp whites and lighter-bodied reds, as well as zesty local sparkling varieties. Philip Shaw, Swinging Bridge and See Saw are worth stopping by for a sample. Another favourite, Printhie Wines, opened its cellar door and restaurant in 2022. Headed by chef Jack Brown (formerly of Berowra Waters Inn), Printhie spotlights native flavours and local produce with its five-course degustation lunch.

Orange, NSW

by Alice Jeffery

A scenic helicopter flight is one way to take in the sights (and can be booked as part of cellar door experiences). Adrenalin-inclined travellers might choose to explore mountain biking trails at Lake Canobolas. Fly fishing is also popular on the reservoir, which is safe for swimming, although it can be icy.

Back in town, the Orange Heritage Trail is a 90 -minute walk that navigates the city’s historic buildings. Once you’ve worked up an appetite strolling tree-lined streets, stop by cafe and nursery Anything Grows, or quench your thirst at Charred but Not Charred, the wine bar from local fine diner Charred Kitchen & Bar. On the

second Saturday of each month, Northcourt plays host to local farmers markets and brings attention to seasonal produce.

Bed down at the Oriana – a revived retro motel – or tuck yourself in at one of Basalt’s three architectural studios built into a hillside overlooking 12,000 cherry trees on the outskirts of town.

Sundown is a particularly special time in this corner of the world. There’s the way the light hits as you pass through the Blue Mountains and roll on towards the Western Plains. And the star-filled skies that swallow the city at night are a refreshing reminder to go beyond your urban limits a little more often.

LUXURY

Words by Kay Keighery

Brighton

4/202 Esplanade

$4.3 million-$4.6 million

3 2 3

Expressions of interest: Close noon, September 25

Agent: Marshall White, Rosslyn Mastrangelo 0417 056 174

Get up close to the Brighton foreshore while surrounded by luxury in this boutique one-of-four dwelling. Designed by architect Edgard Pirrotta, staged over one long level and crowned by a large roof terrace, it is easily sizeable enough for family living. The sitting room and linked study open to the bay-view entertainment terrace. Central to the floor plan, the hub claims its own balcony, as does the marvellous main suite secluded at the rear. It has basement parking and a lift.

Brighton

3/174 Esplanade

$5.8 million-$6.1 million

3 4 2

Expressions of interest

Agent: Kay & Burton, Alex Schiavo 0419 239 549

A dress-circle position for bayside sunsets, a theatre room for rainy days, lifted ceilings and liberal use of glass for maximum light are just some of the joys awaiting in this penthouse. The kitchen, dining and living area (with fireplace and full array of Miele appliances) unites with a scenic entertainment terrace. All bedrooms have en suites, while the main adds a walk-in wardrobe. Step up to the roof terrace for sunbathing, stargazing and cavorting in the plunge pool.

St Kilda

607a/14-16 The Esplanade

$3.695 million-$4.06 million

3 2 2

Contact agent

Agent: Marshall White, Matthew Pillios 0408 145 982

The fun within metres of the St Moritz development (think Luna Park and the beach) makes life here feel like a holiday. Boasting private lift entry, sea and sunset views and a stunning interior by David Hicks, this is one of the more prestigious pads in the contemporary landmark complex. The kitchen, dining and living hub opens to a panoramic, triangular terrace. The main bedroom (with dressing room and knockout en suite) adjoins a balcony flowing to the terrace.

Brighton

2/4 Were Street

$3.95 million

2 2 2

Contact agent

Agent: Buxton, Brian Devlin 0419 395 241

Flaunting Parisian flair, this beautifully curated apartment in the Versailles development affords refined living oh so close to the beach. An entertainment terrace, courtyard area and manicured gardens reachable through all three social spaces lend considerable indoor-outdoor clout. Along with enhancing internal illumination, a light well provides the perfect spot for sculptural art. Secure, stylish and spacious, it makes ideal digs for cultivated downsizers.

OPEN FOR INSPECTION

Words by Richard Cornish & Iain Gillespie

LAST WEEKEND

Clearance Rate of 65%*

Source: Domain Group

WHAT OUR NATIONAL EDITOR SAYS

Natalie Mortimer

national magazine editor

“Rising confidence in a peak in interest rates, along with lingering FOMO and robust population growth, are signalling continued price increases.”

Cheltenham

9 Jack Road

$1.5 million-$1.6 million

5 2 2

Auction: 10.30am, September 23

HIGHEST VALUE

$5.07 million Surrey Hills

6 Payne Street

Sold by Shelter*

*As reported on September 9, 2023

Agent: Buxton, Eileen Bell 0430 372 602

The exterior of this weatherboard home masks a surprisingly modern and roomy interior perfect for a large or growing family. The porch entrance leads to a lounge room, then past bedrooms to a spacious open-plan family, dining and stone-topped kitchen hub where tall glass doors overlook a covered entertainment deck and rear garden. Add a home office and backyard cubbyhouse, slide and chook pen, and there’s plenty on offer.

Port Melbourne

135 Spring Street West

$1.95 million-$2.1 million

3 1 1

Auction: 10.30am, September 23

Agent: Jellis Craig, Warwick Gardiner 0438 308 555

This Victorian-era, double-fronted Hawthorn brick home offers grandeur and space without the grandiose price tag. Its battleaxe block accesses the rear lane, giving a car space and shaded courtyard and helping to flood the modern kitchen, dining area and home office with light. With polished timber floors and period open fireplaces in the bedrooms, this home has a warm ambience. The 109 tram is close, great pubs are nearby and shops and the beach are a stroll away.

Elsternwick

14 Elster Avenue

$2.4 million-$2.6 million

5 2 2

Contact agent

Agent: Belle Property, John Manning 0416 101 201

Down a quiet cul-de-sac sits this lovingly renovated five-bedroom family home with established garden, expanses of lawn and sunny backyard with heated pool. The attention to historic detail in the timber fretwork, leadlights and ornate ceiling roses is matched by the amenity of the kitchen with its stone benches and modern appliances. The home is a few blocks from Gardenvale station.

Albert Park

54 Greig Street

$1.9 million-$2 million

2 1

Auction: 1.30pm, September 23

Agent: Marshall White, Oliver Bruce 0409 856 599

This renovated two-bedroom home, on one of Albert Park’s best streets, is seconds from the green expanse of Gasworks Park and minutes from the beach and Albert Park village. The high, vaulted ceiling and full-length windows flood the modern kitchen and living area with natural light, giving a generous sense of space while connecting the home with the courtyard.

Domain

Middle Park

56 Hambleton Street

$1.7 million-$1.8 million

2 1

Auction: 12.30pm, September 23

Agent: Marshall White, Oliver Bruce 0409 856 599

Carefully restored to retain all its charming Victorian features, this terrace sits within an easy walk from the beach and Albert Park Lake. The arched hallway leads to a living room and kitchen-dining area. Tall glass doors lead to a decked courtyard with a separate study and access to a rear laneway.

Albert Park

134 Victoria Avenue

$1.4 million-$1.5 million

2 1

Auction: 10.30am, September 23

Agent: Jellis Craig, Max Mercuri 0431 043 723

This brick home preserves its Edwardian charm while offering possibilities with approved plans for a three-bedroom extension. It has high pressed-metal ceilings, leadlight windows and fireplaces. A brickpaved courtyard has rear lane access. Port Melbourne beach is a three-minute walk away.

Black Rock

3/7 Karrakatta Street

$1.56 million-$1.635 million

3 2 2

Private sale

Agent: Chisholm & Gamon, Torsten Kasper 0428 454 181

Wrapped in gardens, hidden from the street and flooded with light, this single-level home is minutes from the beach, golf courses and public transport, and seconds to the shops. The winged facade offers a grand sense of arrival, followed by the generous proportions of the twin living spaces.

Now Selling –The first

13 Park Street, Brighton

5 A 5 B 6 C

Magnificently positioned, mere metres to Middle Brighton Beach and steps to Church Street, this palatial family estate epitomises refined resort-style living and grand-scale entertaining complemented by a plethora of five-star amenities. Privately set behind high walls and secure automated gates, on more than half an acre (2,079sqm approx.).

marshallwhite.com.au

Expressions of Interest

Close Tuesday 17th October at 3pm

Viewing

By Appointment

Contact Matthew Pillios 0408 145 982

Melissa Grinter 0409 805 035

Scott Xue 0433 493 837

76 Bonanza Road, Beaumaris

Expressions of Interest

Close Tuesday 3rd October at 6pm

Contact Robin Parker 0409 336 282 Kate Fowler 0418 418 385 marshallwhite.com.au

Expressions of Interest

Close Monday 25th September at 12noon

Contact Rosslyn Mastrangelo 0417 056 174 Ben Vieth 0404 084 793 marshallwhite.com.au

Viewing Thursday 1.30-2pm & Saturday 1-1.30pm 3 A 2 B 3 C September 20, 2023 me L b OU r N e 21

ST KILDA 34-36 Chaucer Street

EDWARDIAN ELEGANCE INFUSED WITH MODERN MAGIC

Prepare to fall in love with this family friendly Edwardian residence on a generous allotment of 663sqm approx in the heart of St Kilda! Overflowing with charm, the picture-perfect home offers three spacious bedrooms, a focusenhancing study, two generous living zones, and an open plan kitchen. Unwind on the expansive wraparound decking or cool off in your private in-ground pool. Perfectly positioned opposite tranquil Peanut Farm Reserve, it's merely a stone's throw from vibrant Acland Street's bustling bars, boutique shops, and tantalising eateries. With the beach, light rail, Luna Park, and the Palais Theatre all within arm's reach, your entertainment options are limitless. belleproperty.com/222P431383

AUCTION

Saturday Oct 7 at 1:30pm

VIEW

See website for details

G01/74 Well Street, Brighton

Ground Floor North Facing Oasis with Enormous Terrace Gardens

Elevating Bayside contemporary luxe to unrivalled heights, this exquisitely appointed three-bedroom north-facing, ground-floor residence is exclusively designed by award winning architect BayleyWard to create an instinctive, wellness-oriented living experience inspired by nature's most harmonious elements, in the heart of Brighton's celebrated lifestyle precinct, just steps to Church Street.

View By Appointment

Contact Michael Paproth 0488 300 800

Darren Blair 0404 928 420

17 Sunset Crescent, Mount Eliza