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.

Eton my heart out..

Unassuming exterior

Going straight out to buy a tatts ticket now that I've seen 4 Eton Court Heidelberg! Wow. Designed by Architect Charles Duncan and built in 1964, this home is a testament that good design - in terms of both layout and materials - will stand the test of time.

Not only is it in immaculate original condition thanks to the loving care provided by its one owner - it's also huge!! It's a similar design to a home I previously featured in Seymour Grove, Viewbank. Lots of pictures today as they are all so fabulous!

Beautifully detailed breakfast bar

The 50 year old kitchen is contemporary even by today's standards

Charles Duncan worked on quite a few influential homes in the Banyule area and was clearly influenced by the work of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. You can see FLW's influence in the selection of materials, strong emphasis on the horizontal plane and stepping of the building to follow the contours of the land. 

Unusual pyramid-esque timber lined ceiling

Built in furniture & pelmet lighting in Master Bedroom

Mosaic tiles to family bathroom

Light flooded walkway to kids bedroom 'wing'

Fabulous original bunk rooms - just like a holiday house! (All images courtesy Nelson Alexander Ivanhoe)

Big thanks to KS for the tip off on this house!

Pocket Sized

For those looking for a mid-century home on a budget: a couple of apartments are currently up for sale in these groovy apartment blocks...

5/176 Lower Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe East - you can see more of the great brickwork on this apartment here.
 

Image courtesy Miles Real Estate

1/103 Hawdon Street, Heidelberg  (seems this one may have already sold)

Image 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

Corrong Caught

During my hiatus I was also contacted by Paul who was researching Merchant Builders Homes in the area. He brought this fantastic original example at 7 Corrong Court, Eltham to my attention and suggested I include it on the blog. Although its from the later part of the 20th Century it certainly holds true to the principles and elements that were breaking ground in the 50's & 60's, where as a lot of homes in the 80's were more interested in being 'mock' period in style.

Classic Merchant Builders style

Merchant Signatures - Exposed beams & bricks, timber lined ceilings, fireplace and lots of windows

All images courtesy Fletchers Real Estate

Meyrick Masterpiece

I have finally returned from a year long hiatus on blogging and in that time there have been some real MCM gems come onto the market in the Banyule region. Late last year I was contacted by the proud and excited new owners of 18 Meyrick Crescent, Viewbank. Although I wasnt blogging last year, I was certainly keeping an eye on the local property market and I must admit, Meyrick was one of my favourite homes in the area so I was thrilled when AN contacted me saying that she loved the blog and would be happy to see her new house featured!

Love that butterfly roof and the highlight windows above...

Potential Plus in the family room with asymmetrical fireplace, exposed beams & highlight windows all around.

The house was architect designed in the late 1960's and has been extended and modified since then. I believe the new owners are looking to do a small renovation highlighting those fabulous Modernist bones which is exactly what we hope for here at Banyule Modern!

Quirky entrance detail to family room (hard to see in pics). All images courtesy Miles Real Estate

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

AV Jennings Retro

Doo do dooo! Sound trumpets please! I believe this is my first entry for Bundoora....

Built in the late 1960's by AV Jennings, this house at 12 Norfolk Crescent Bundoora could be a great foot in the door for those seeking their first Mid-Century pad!  It has a groovy original kitchen re-worked in a fresh green colour and a boom-boom bedroom with walls covered in fantastic leafy wallpaper. 

    

Love the aqua kitchen - Just need to rework those splashback tiles!

Jungle Style Bedroom - Grrrr!

No 60's house would be complete without the Hills Hoist! - All images courtesy Harcourts RE Epping

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!