The Main Event

This one's been sitting on my desktop for a few weeks - 397 Main Road Montmorency recently sold. I think it probably looks more old fashioned in its current state that it did when it was built! Plenty of scope to make 'Modern' here - removing the lace curtains and Rinnai wall furnace would be a strong start...

New window coverings and a gas log fire would make a huge improvement.

Love the original kitchen splashback tiles! Existing Modern streamlined layout. Anyone else remember those 'still life' photos from the 70/80's?

Front elevation looks great - All images courtesy Nelson Alexander RE Ivanhoe

Panorama Baby!

Front facade - clad in Shingles (?)

I'm more than a little intrigued by this property at 9 The Panorama Eaglemont. Not much info online but it looks like its got some great 70's joinery in it!

Louvered internal doors and groovy open shelving divider

Timber paneling on kitchen wall - and LOVE the aluminium lights

Bathroom pic looks like it was taken in the 70's! All images courtesy Century 21 Real Estate

Plenty River Potential

Hmmm, its always concerning yet intriguing when a property is described by agents as needing "a little bit of TLC and spring clean". Coupled with the lack of internal photos, I must say 45 Plenty River Drive, Greensborough has me curious!

Image courtesy Ray White Plenty

Whole Lotta Keswick

The house on Keswick Glen

I think 8 Keswick Glen, Greensborough is the biggest 70's house I have ever seen...!
The window proportions are interesting, the bathrooms are generous in size and there is heaps of potential to update this home without loosing the 'texture' of the existing materials that make it so warm and familiar.

Timber lined ceilings - you know how I love 'em! Balustrade could do with some help..

Pretty awesome built in bed?

Huge bathroom! - All images courtesy Darren Jones Greensborough

You Cant Stop Progress...

Recently sold was this 70's gem at 117 Progress Road Eltham North.  Split level living, exposed beams and brickwork (and how great is the wall hanging!?)

Love the beams, brickwork and wall hanging!

All images courtesy Barry Plant Eltham

What a Looker!

Here's another small home for those just starting out (or scaling down) at 5/58b Looker Road, Montmorency. Similar in influence to the Merchant Builder homes in Rosanna, the exposed beams & raked timber lined ceilings give the rooms a greater sense of space. Replace the vertical blinds with contemporary roller blinds and give the kitchen and ceiling a lick of paint and you've got yourself of Modernist abode thats bang up to date!

Merchant Builder influence

Timber lined raked ceilings and lovely big windows and doors

Kitchen could be lifted with a new paint job - All images courtesy Darren Jones Real Estate.

Lord of Buckingham Drive

If you can't quite afford the impressive Banyule Homestead at 60-74 Buckingham Drive, Heidelberg....
 

Banyule Homestead - Image courtesy Jellis Craig

you might want to check out this other less expensive, slightly less impressive, but no less original home 60's/70's abode at 55 Buckingham Drive, Heidelberg. I've been watching this property and it has been on the market a while now - just waiting for the right person with the right 'vision' perhaps?

Street Appeal

Original Living Room!

Love the original timber paneling - Would even look great painted white! All images courtesy Miles Real Estate

Fin - Land

Last year MR and I looked through this potential packed property at 37 Finlayson Street, Rosanna. I love the Golflinks/Elliston Estate and while this home is probably not one of the original Merchant Builder homes, I thought it had a lot going for it. Unfortunately I couldn't get MR over the line, despite my rough and ready rendering of how I would renovate the living spaces (it did need a lot of work). And so our search for the perfect Mid-Century home continues....

Soaring Roof Lines

Timber lined cathedral ceilings inside

'Before' RBID hypothetical 'make-over'

My rough photoshop rendering - AFTER RBID hypothetical 'make-over' (New floor tiles, replace joinery doors in kitchen, new paint colour scheme throughout and new mid-century style pendant light fittings)

All images courtesy Miles Real Estate

Yall - ow

A double entry today as here is another home I am a bit slow getting this one on the blog (it was auctioned on Saturday 12th April) - It's 338 Yallambie Road, Yallambie - and I love it! Yallambie is a great tucked away little suburb nestled between bushy parklands and bushy army lands.

Love the non-fence!

I suspect the current owners/residents have a great appreciation for Mid-Century style already!

yes, yes, yes...

I am slightly obsessed by swimming pools since our hot, hot summer! All images courtesy Nelson Alexander RE

Need A Von Nida

Recently sold in the Rosanna Elliston or Golflinks Estate is this great home at 14 Von Nida Crescent, Rosanna. I got talking to one of the neighbours at an inspection and I believe the home was built for a staff member at Merchant Builders around 1972. The architects may have been McGlashan Everist.

Von Nida Crescent Elevation

Amazing hardwood timber ceilings throughout

Lovely North facing Deck - All Images courtesy Fletchers Real Estate

Avocado Kitchen

I am a green girl. I like green. Green makes me happy.
So you can imagine my joy at seeing this kitchen at 11 Myrtle Street, Heidelberg Heights.

I think they probably called it 'Avocado' back in the day.

Image Courtesy Barry Plant Ivanhoe

The Name is Bonds...

I could handle that for a view!

Lower Plenty seems to have the most incredible properties! This little beauty at 141 Bonds Road, Lower Plenty is set on an acre and includes a tennis court and fabulous swimming pool and if the photographs are to be believed - one heck of a view of the city skyline!

A few retro pool lounges and colourful beach umbrellas would not look out of place here!

Cosy Lounge for Winter - Love the bluestone fireplace & timber lined ceilings!

I'm a sucker for brick floors too!

All images courtesy Morrison Kleeman Real Estate

 

Pinnaroo Pool

Flat roofed front elevation

In need of a bit of love and 'vision', this house at 9 Pinnaroo Court, Greensborough has an interesting floor plan. The house curves around the central pool, much like the way Peter McIntyre's 'Coil House' curves around two magnificent gum trees. 

Images & Floor plan courtesy Darren Jones Greensborough

Peter McIntyre's Coil House - 40 Keam Street, Ivanhoe

The house has a newly renovated kitchen which is pretty contemporary and the bathrooms have also been renovated. Price range is quoted at $450,000-500,000 - what a great entry level home with potential to renovate into something really retro & cool!

New Kitchen - Nice Profile Light

Pool needs a renovation but the courtyard has serious potential!

 

Devlin the Detail

MR went to check out another pocket sized home at 9 Devlin Court, Rosanna last week.
Located in the Golf Links Estate, it has the Merchant Builder stamp all over it.

Oh I do love a dark exterior paint colour to contrast with brickwork!

Timber Ceiling - tick.  Fireplace - tick.

Images courtesy Miles Real Estate

 

Mini Finlayson

A couple of weeks back, MR and I checked out 17 Finlayson Street, Rosanna. Awesome location - in the Elliston Estate right near the Golf Links/doggie park. We were super keen as a potential house for ourselves but when we inspected the house, as we feared, the South facing backyard meant that even on a sunny day the interior is shaded and cold. Coupled with teeny tiny secondary bedrooms, compact living areas and Finlayson being a semi-busy road we decided to stay put for now. But it certainly does have stacks of potential and I think if MR and I had an opportunity on this place for our first home, we would have tried to buy it at all costs!

Unassuming entrance off Ferrier Court. Gorgeous bricks but just two slot windows to Northern side - baffling!

Teeny tiny meals area and generous kitchen.

Master bedroom & living spaces...

South facing courtyard garden - All images courtesy Miles Real Estate.