Mid Century Mount Eagle

I'm a bit slow getting this property on the blog. 30 Mount Eagle Road, Eaglemont actually went to auction on the weekend so sorry to any readers who rely on this blog when looking for their next home (as if!). I guess I haven't been as enthused about this one as you might think.  Although Frederick Romberg was a key architect of the Melbourne scene in the 50's & 60's, I think this home pre-dates a lot of the great design work he did (the home is c1941).  Nevertheless, the windows are gorgeous, as are the stone work chimneys and the current residents have it looking uber stylish with their mix of classic & mid-century furniture and impressive collection of artworks.

1940's pre-Modernist exterior

Window wall of envy

Devine stone fireplace in bedroom

More stone & furniture goodness

Lovely pendant light in background - possibly Mark Douglass?

Very Deco influenced balustrade to stairs

All images courtesy Miles Real Estate

 

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

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

 

I want this house....

I want this house at 51 Seymour Road, Viewbank.... I want it bad!

Designed by Darlinghurst based Interior Designer Don McQualter - Retail designer for Scanlon & Theodore, Zimmerman & Mambo - it oozes a style and sophistication that belies its Viewbank address. Although I must admit I do love this pocket of the suburb having only discovered it late last year when I inspected the 'Seymour Spectacular'.

It's not exactly 'mid-century' but its design certainly employs the principles initiated by Modernism in the 50's & 60's. Alas, it is probably too grown up for me anyway. It is certainly too grown up for my bank balance ;)

Perfect kitchen!

Love the lowline fireplace, dark windows and orange rug!

Holiday feeling...

N  E  1  4  10  S?  All images courtesy Jellis Craig Ivanhoe

Laurel & Hardy

Okay so this is a brand new house but... it looks amazing and has certainly taken some cue's from Modernist ideals - particularly the front facade & materials. Great bathrooms & kitchen too. Not to mention the view over the Ivanhoe Golf Course!!
 
16 Hardy Terrace, Ivanhoe East is for sale through Jellis Craig Ivanhoe and brought to you today by Jealous Renae.

Yes, that is a little bridge to get from the pedestrian path to the front door!

Carrara marble & timber kitchen - Nice & simple

Living areas with that view!

Beautiful elegant simple bathroom

All images courtesy Jellis Craig Ivanhoe

Marvellous Margaret

Approach from Margaret Street

Big thanks to Siri for drawing my attention to this fantastic house at 26 Margaret Avenue Montmorency. I always love listening to RRR's radio subscriber-thon and it seems like a lot of their listener base is out at Monty these days. It had been years since I had been there so on Saturday MR(who is afterall, a Monty High alumni) and I decided it was time for a re-visit to Were Street including the Secondhand Shop and this rather exciting house.

Dining area

Open breakfast bar to kitchen - One of my favourite parts of the house!

Designed by one of the founding architects of Clarke Hopkins Clark and built in 1965 the house is in excitingly original condition. The only addition is a large family/rumpus area that is built on to the Western side of the house in a sympathetic style. There are so many design elements to love in this house. The timber lined ceilings are just beautiful. Then there is the open plan kitchen in pure white laminate, the original light fittings, the amazing purple-red bricks, the huge North facing windows, the bedrooms with original cork boards and desk and the original bathrooms. I also noticed this great detail where the extra tall interior doors are painted a dark colour, as is the fixed panel above - making the doors seem as though they are full height. There is also the very spacious garden afforded to a home on a 2921sqm block.

The 'Good Room' - Formal lounge room complete with built in bar and open fireplace.

High room doors with fixed panel above - Original cork board, lighting & timber lined ceilings.

Master bedroom with original (?) silver wallpaper. All images courtesy Morrison Kleeman

 You could have knocked me over with a feather when the agent said she was expecting the price to be somewhere in the $800,000's! I guess that's about right for a small-ish original house in the suburbs but it sounds pretty darn good value to me!

Steel Yourself

On the market for just a brief period of time, this cracking house at 292 Lower heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe East recently sold (for over $1,000,000!!). The architecture is credited to John Timlock c.1961. Not familiar with his work and Google is not giving me any leads on him. Pretty conservative externally I guess - not exactly ground breaking for the 60's but it certainly has charm and mid-century character.

 Regrettably, I didn't get a chance to check it out while it was open for inspection. I would have loved to have seen the original 'American Steel' kitchen and that sleek brick fireplace.

Love a kitchen up on legs and a sink with an angled fascia. They don't make 'em like this anymore!

Paneling - You guys know how I'm a sucker for timber paneling!  All images courtesy Barry Plant Ivanhoe

Anley Sibbel

Another Sibbel home has come up for sale at 5 Anley Mews Montmorency. With a simple plan on an unusual sized block, it makes the best of orientation and materials within its compact form. And a perfect fireplace for the upcoming winter!

All images courtesy Morrison Kleeman RE

 

1960's Elder

I found a little 60's gem in Watsonia today at 1/59 Elder Street Watsonia. Perfect for first home buyers or empty nesters. It has some great features not often found in such a compact unit - It even has a garage and generous sized yard.

The window lined living room with great little fireplace with crazy stone surround and grooved lining boards!

Kitchen with open back to living room - Heaps of bench & storage space for a unit!

Sweet little bathroom in powder blue.

as Lily Allen sings "I believe that is called Alfresco"

Windows!! - All images courtesy Barry Plant Bundoora

One for Miss Rosanna

This must be one of Greensborough's more interesting homes - 89 Hailes Street, Greensborough is for the Deco lovers out there. I know there are a few of them including Miss Rosanna! (p.s. If you live in the Banyule area you really should check out her fantastic Blog). 

(All images Hocking Stuart Greensborough)

Yep - you know I like a good fireplace! This one looks like varnished bricks - good rich colour - and a mesh curtain to control sparks.

The bigger picture - Fantastic sized room and lovely light pouring in through those curved windows!

Light and Airy - Great access to rear deck.

 This house could look even more fabulous with a slightly more dramatic colour scheme and what I call 'Hollywood Style' landscaping (think green leafy Strelizias, Monsterias and Agave's). 

I worked on a similar style home in Beaumaris a couple of years ago whilst at Austin Design Associates and it transformed the house from a peachy nothing to a house with real 'wow' factor.