We’re getting down to personal brass tacks with this one, as we saw it IRL over the weekend and within a few hours had the plans laid out in our minds to escort this wonderful, rambling, architect designed family home (in a locale renowned for such) into its next best life. We dare say quite a few of us MCM tragics do this on a regular basis huh? To wit – the bones and indeed the build is already there; those ceilings and windows soar, the brickwork was without a single crack, the wood (though needing a little sand and re-coat in the bedrooms) was resplendent and the kitchen is bigger than it looks. It has perfect northern orientation, central heating and indoor/outdoor living at its core. So, if budget permits and you are able to fend off the creep of developers who’d see this slice of pure suburban, regional history broken down into insipid townhouses here is the MA tip list:
– Utilise that ‘master bedroom’ as a second living/rumpus.
– Block off the laundry door into the living and knock through a connection into a bigger kitchen with direct access to the carport.
– Sympathetic reno of the kitchen with squared island bench to sit an look out the windows whilst sharing a vino with the cook.
– Crazy pave the entire area between the kitchen and bedroom wing – outdoor living at its best (strings of festoon lights go here)
– In-ground pool outside the new rumpus, with a single fence diving the yard north/south from the rumpus room line.
– Super sympathetic refurb/redo of the sleeping wing – retaining the timber and enhancing with lovely, era specific flourishes eg: terrazzo tile in the bathrooms (and kitchen)
– Leave most of the greenery (the aggies can go though – weeds that they are) to keep the stunning, secret garden feel alive, especially those towering trees which are at least 50 years old.
– Address the asbestos roof in time, it’s not a deal breaker.
Phew! That’s a start anyways. Good thing we’re not in the race for this though we cross our fingies that maybe one or two of you, our dear readers, are.
