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12 Harkness Street, Woollahra, is “red hot”, says the managing director of Sotheby’s International, Michael Pallier.

The character-filled Woollahra home of John Lysaght Australia’s former managing director, John Lysaght, is wowing eastern suburbs families because of its huge potential.

Lysaght, 91, who in the 1980s ran the now BHP subsidiary that makes Colorbond roofs and Zincalume steel, is downsizing from the five-bedroom home at 12 Harkness Street after 32 years.

And the Sotheby’s managing director, Michael Pallier, says the charming home on a 630sq m north facing double block is “red hot” ahead of its August 15 auction. It has a price guide of $4.5 million.

“People love it,” Pallier said.

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12 Harkness Street, Woollahra, features huge character-filled entertainment areas with high decorative ceilings.

John Lysaght has lived here for 39 years.

“It has that due north aspect, it’s on the park, elevated and a double block of land … there’s the potential to build on the second block like the neighbours have.”

Son Andrew Lysaght said his father and late mother, Janet, had loved living there.

“My father was a very keen woodworker turned sculptor and artist after he retired, and built a studio workshop on the second title of the place,” he said.

61 Village High Road, Vaucluse, has iconic views from the large open-plan living room …

… and also from the master bedroom.

Pallier describes the market as “very strong” because of the shortage of stock. He sold the Village High Rd, Vaucluse home that property records show was owned by the late Elva Sadler, who died last year at 96, on Saturday for $5,696,000 — $200,000 over reserve — at auction.

The result was the highest price achieved in Sydney on the weekend.

Many of the rooms and rooftop terrace have views of the Bridge, Opera House and city skyline.

The formal dining room also has a Harbour Bridge view …

… but the best view of all is from the rooftop terrace.

The buyer ended up being an eastern suburbs family, though the underbidder was an expat on the phone from Singapore looking for a home to return to.

And the third-highest bidder was a gentleman from the country who arrived in his Bentley, had never seen the property before, had a quick look around and registered, grabbed a paddle and started bidding.

He’d apparently wanted it as a home for his 18-year-old daughter.

Pallier is yet to see any impact on the market from the re-emergence of COVID-19 on our doorsteps.

“We’ve had a lot of sales in the last month — even in the last week we’ve had a lot of sales, with most selling beyond what we were thinking.

“We haven’t experienced any impact yet, but we’re just taking each day at a time and making hay while the sun shines.”

Double Bay royalty

Geoff Kyle , who used to run the high end tableware shop Studio Haus , is selling his unit in Gladswood Gardens, Double Bay. Picture: John Appleyard

A house-sized Art Deco apartment at 1&2/4 Gladswood Gardens, Double Bay owned by Geoff Kyle, who ran the popular Double Bay high-end tableware store Studio Haus, goes to auction on August 12 with a guide of $3 million via Daphne Sauvage and Michael Pallier of Sotheby’s. Offered for the first time in 39 years, it’s a rare find as it’s an amalgamation of two apartments.

Kyle, who mingled with Hollywood royalty such as Barbra Streisand and Woody Allen during a stint a few decades back operating Bennison Fabrics in Los Angeles and New York, is now planning to move on. “I’m gonna downsize — I don’t need three-bedrooms and four carparking spaces these days,” he said.

He’s had plenty of homegrown royalty nearby, with Banjo Bond — grandson of Alan and Eileen — selling next door for $2.95m last May. Big Red still owns the penthouse at No. 9 Gladswood Gardens. And former Little River Band frontman Glenn Shorrock sold his waterfront for $8.55 million in February.

My pick

44/200-218 Goulburn Street, Surry Hills, is in the popular designer block Alto, and comes with a huge 66sq m terrace.

This Surry Hills pet-friendly two-bedder with parking in ‘Alto’ comes with a huge 66sq m terrace.

All up, the apartment, at 44/200-218 Goulburn Street, has 145 sqm of living space. Both bedrooms open to the terrace and the main has an ensuite.

It’s owned by former food and beverage manager for Hoyts Matt Ezra, who is moving to Queensland.

Raine and Horne Double Bay’s Martin Maskin and Jean Michel Rudsdale have a $1,475,000 guide for an August 20 auction.

Dentist cleans up

20 Ray Ave, Vaucluse, originally had a price guide of $20m. It sold for $15.6m.

Dentist Vincent Phung and his BT financial consultant wife Susan have extracted a good deal on the $20m Vaucluse mansion of former Westpac boss Brian Hartzer, paying $15.6m.

The Michael Dysart-designed home at 20 Ray Avenue was first listed on February 27, ahead of Easter with the optimistic guide.

Updated property title records last Friday revealed the identity of the purchasers along with the sale price.

When contacted, listing agent Brad Pillinger of Pillinger refused to discuss anything to do with the sale, which occurred at the start of April.

Though under the circumstances of the time, he did well to sell it for what he did.

When the deal was done, the market was in a confused state, with open homes banned and both buyers and sellers wary.

It’s since improved considerably.

Just two months later, Pillinger locked in a $30m sale in Bellevue Hill, when Shay Lewis-Thorp, daughter of the late property developer Bernard Lewis, sold her five-bedroom mansion in an off-market deal to her neighbour Louise Christie.

The post Colorbond roof man John Lysaght’s Woollahra home on double block is ‘red hot’ appeared first on realestate.com.au.

2 Kinane Street, Brighton has sold.

A beachfront Brighton mansion has sold after hitting the market last month with a $16-$17.5m asking price.

Secrecy surrounds the landmark deal, with the selling agents required to sign confidentiality agreements restricting them from revealing the final price and details about the buyer.

But Marshall White Bayside agent Simone Howell could confirm the purchaser planned to keep the four-storey trophy house — which was built in the ‘80s by rich lister property developer Max Beck — as a residence.

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The property sprawls across 3200sq m of land right on Brighton’s beachfront.

The new residents will be able to enjoy the outdoor pool in the warmer months …

… and opt for the indoor pool when the weather’s cooler.

Both homebuyers and developers looking to transform the 3200sq m property at 2 Kinane Street into apartments were eyeing it when it was listed in June.

“(The buyers) fell in love with the property from the very beginning, they had always had their eye on it,” Ms Howell said.

“They had been looking for the last couple of years for the right property.”

She expected them to refresh and renovate the residence, featuring nine living and dining spaces, six bedrooms and eight bathrooms, plus two pools and a tennis court across two land titles.

One of the home’s nine living and dining spaces.

The palatial proportions were a major selling point.

The glass-walled lounge crowns the mansion.

The property’s “palatial” size, prime beachfront position, and views of the Dendy St beach boxes, the bay and city skyline were the major drawcards for buyers during the swift 46-day selling campaign.

“It’s a really good result, particularly during this (coronavirus-impacted) time,” Ms Howell — who had the listing in conjunction with Sutherland Farrelly — said.

“It shows there is still money out there, and confirms property is still selling well.”

A tennis court is also part of the special package.

The house captures views of the bay, city skyline and beach boxes.

The buyers had been eyeing the property for some time.

The agent previously told the Herald Sun the residence, in its early days, had become known as “the most prestigious house in Brighton” due to its grand proportions and parties.

CoreLogic records show in 2013, the former owner of collapsed milk broking firm National Dairy Products, Tony Esposito, paid $10.8m for the property. The following year, he expanded its footprint by securing a neighbouring block at 92 Esplanade for $3,843,800.

The entire 3200sq m estate hit the market asking $20m in late 2018, following NDP’s liquidation.

Gaggenau and Miele appliances feature in the kitchen.

A massive bedroom.

Realestate.com.au notes the property sold for an undisclosed price in February 2019, but 2 Kinane St’s title document still names AE Brightons Holding Pty Ltd — of which Mr Esposito’s partner Violetta is listed as director — as the owner, suggesting that deal wasn’t finalised.

The mansion’s multiple living spaces include a wood-panelled dining room, a sitting room with marble flooring, a basement cinema, and a glass-encased top-floor lounge.

Other highlights are a Gaggenau and Miele kitchen, a 1200-bottle cellar, a luxe main bedroom with a spa ensuite and a dressing room, a 25m indoor lap pool plus an outdoor pool and spa, a steam room, sauna, gym and two garages with space for nine cars.

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samantha.landy@news.com.au

The post Brighton beachfront mansion built by rich lister Max Beck sells appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Don Robertson at home in Botany with his favourite thing — his dog Daisy. Picture: Jonathan Ng

When most companies were forced to downsize due to the global pandemic, STAX had a surge of new business as people were working — and working out — from home. Hailing from WA, Don Robertson’s activewear brand has had exponential growth over this period. Don and his partner and STAX co-founder, Matilda Murray, made the move to Sydney recently as a stepping stone to making the brand international.

“We’ve been invited to present a collection for New York Fashion Week 2021 which is keeping us very busy,” Don says. “Matilda and I live and work together so we pretty much continued working all the way through. Activewear is becoming lifestyle clothing — more people are wearing this fashion on a day-to-day basis.”

The couple is working full tilt, but they also manage to sneak in some down time.

“We are so ‘go, go, go’, so being able to take a day off is a luxury — lying on the couch binge watching Netflix is where you’ll find me,” Don says.

“Being stuck at home forced us to get creative when it came to date night, like cooking a cafe-style breakfast at home. We also learned that puzzles absolutely are not for us.”

Favourite thing: Daisy is the epicentre of our family, she’s also the company pet and absorbs love everywhere she goes

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Shoe Dog book: The founder of Nike, Phil Knight, wrote a memoir, and had me in tears towards the end. It’s so inspiring to read the stories of other business founders.

An anniversary present. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Galaxy picture: This is one of the most sentimental items I own. Matilda gave it to me on our last anniversary. The picture is photo of the stars the night I proposed with the lyrics: “Can’t help falling in love” by Elvis.

iPad. Picture: Jonathan Ng

iPad/ Sketcher: The iPad goes everywhere with me. I use an app to sketch ideas and then build collections from it.

April 2019 edition of US Vogue magazine. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Kim and Kanye in Vogue: This is one of the most iconic and controversial covers of Vogue. I’m a huge admirer of Kanye and we love Kim’s fashion. So we: had to buy this off eBay as a collector’s piece.

Don Roberston and Matilda Murray in Paris. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Polaroids of Don and Matilda in Paris: These are my favourite pics of us. They were highly overcharged Polaroids but you can’t put a price on these pictures. We love Paris so much.

Sauvage cologne by Dior. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Dior Sauvage: This is my favourite cologne. It’s such a classic fragrance.

Sony A3 camera. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Sony A3 camera: I do all our own campaigns shoots. We couldn’t afford to hire photographers when we first started so I taught myself how to use a camera. Now I’ve even had work featured in Vogue.

Glenfiddich Scotch whisky. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Whisky: Matilda bought this for me for my 31st. Since spending time in Europe I’ve wanted to enjoy the art of whisky and appreciate what goes into it.

Yeezy shoes. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Yeezy and Dior shoes: I love my shoe collection. I connect to the brands and the stories they tell.

The post At home with Stax founder Don Robertson in Botany appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Brendan and Quynh Shakes with their son Oscar, 21 months, moved to North Brighton earlier this year. Picture: Matt Turner.

IT’S right next to the beach and boasts good schools and great shopping – that’s why North Brighton homeowners are clinging to their houses longer than those in any other South Australian suburb or town.

Latest realestate.com.au data shows property owners in the seaside suburb are turning over their houses every 16.3 years on average.

Gary J. Smith agent Brad Allan said the tightly held suburb’s location near the beach, good schools and Westfield Marion attracted people to the area – and made them want to stay.

He said its affordable price tag was another factor.

“It’s the convenience and location for families,” he said.

“It’s also affordable for where it is – you can still get more basic homes on a reasonable block for between $600,000 and $650,000.”

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LJ Hooker Brighton principal Peter Hurcombe said school zones played a big part.

“I’d say one of the key elements for people (living) there is schooling,” he said.

“They tend to go in there as their kids are getting to the end of primary school.

“Once they’ve established themselves as a family in that area, all their kids’ friends live in the same area.

“It creates a solid family position and then you throw in all the other facilities nearby.”

Brendan Shakes and his wife Quynh moved into their new house in the area earlier this year.

He said they chose North Brighton because of the lifestyle it offered.

“We wanted to find a family home that would be our forever home,” he said.

“My wife was adamant that we had to find a house around this area because of what it offered.

“Schooling was one part of it, and we can walk to the beach.”

Some people are holding onto their homes for more than a decade.

Second on the list of tightly held suburbs is Fulham, where houses are kept for 15.2 years on average.

Homeowners in Malvern, Sefton Park, Glenelg South, Highgate and Maslin Beach stay put for just over 14 years on average.

Ray White Henley Beach principal Anthony Fahey said Fulham’s lifestyle was also what made people want to buy and stay in the western suburb.

“It’s got Linear Park close by and you’re very close to Henley Square” he said.

“With Henley Beach, prices there are quite high so people see (Fulham) as a pretty good alternative.”

Mr Fahey said many older residents had lived in the area a long time but the demographic was slowly changing.

“In another 10 years, you’ll probably see a lot of young families in there,” he said.

LONGEST HELD SUBURBS

(Suburb, median house price, average hold period)

North Brighton – $695,000, 16.3 years

Fulham – $757,000, 15.2 years

Malvern – $1,173,500, 14.9 years

Sefton Park – $606,000, 14.7 years

Glenelg South – $1.05 million, 14.6 years

Highgate – $865,000, 14.2 years

Maslin Beach – $467,750, 14.1 years

Port Augusta – $142,500, 13.9 years

Unley Park – $1.316 million, 13.7 years

Glen Osmond – $972,500, 13.5 years

(Source: realestate.com.au)

The post The South Australian suburbs and towns where homeowners are holding onto their houses longest appeared first on realestate.com.au.

295 Kangaroo Ground-St Andrews Road, Panton Hill is on the market with a $3-$3.3m price guide and has notched healthy gains since it last sold for $1.08m in 2003.

The old adage ‘safe as houses’ has long been drummed into the heads of buyers. But is it possible to safeguard the value of your property?

The experts say yes, noting there are a few key inclusions that will help your home notch healthy gains over the years.

But they all agree: to futureproof the value of your property, a long-term plan must be in place.

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“It’s really important to play a long-term game as it’s so expensive to transact real estate,” Wakelin Property Advisory director Jarrod McCabe said.

The high cost of buying a home due to stamp duty — which can cost upwards of $45,000 for a house worth $845,000 — had led to more people renovating and extending their existing property rather than upgrading, he said.

Mr McCabe noted the government was considering dumping stamp duty in favour of a cheaper annual tax to be paid by homeowners, which would form part of Victoria’s post-coronavirus economic rebuild. But he said while the hefty fee was still in place, it was vital to ensure the house you were looking to buy would see you through a few stages of life.

“Don’t just look at what is important right now, but what you will need in the next five to 10 years,” he said. “You want scope to grow in the property and alter it as you need.”

Wakelin Property Advisory director Jarrod McCabe said a long-term mindset when buying property is important as it’s so expensive to transact real estate.

Advantage Property Consulting director Frank Valentic said to walk away with a tidy profit, having a 10-year plan at a minimum was key.

“Focus on not what it is worth today, but what it will be worth in the future,” he said. “Property goes up and down over a short period of time … but median house prices have nearly doubled (in the past 10 years).”

Advantage Property Consulting director and buyer’s advocate Frank Valentic.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

This golden rule was the best way to ensure your home not only held its value, but also put more money back in your pocket come sale time, Mr Valentic said.

“You can change a property but you can’t change its location,” he said.

“We always put our properties through walkscore.com, as it’s a really good way of working out how well the property sits to transport and amenities. If it has a poor walk score, we generally don’t look at it.”

Mr Valentic said existing infrastructure like parks and water instantly improved an area.

“Water is a very important piece of infrastructure – proximity to a river, lake or beach is going to add a lot of value to your home,” he said.

And plans for new infrastructure — in particular train stations, supermarkets, childcare centres and schools — would help boost the value of surrounding properties.

“I had a client with a house that (gained) nothing for six years,” he said. “Then a train station got developed nearby and the property value went up $100,000 overnight.”

Realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee said there was high demand for homes near good schools, shops and public transport.

Realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee echoed the sentiment and said there was high demand for property listings close to good schools, public transport and retailing.

“Over the long term, the areas that tend to see the strongest price growth have been those that have undergone significant urban renewal as a result of older people moving out and young people moving in,” she added.

“Recently, these have tended to be inner-suburban areas with period homes. The housing quality was good but once young people move in, they renovate and create additional demand for good retailing and schools.”

Ms Conisbee said suburbs that lacked demand and had stagnant price growth were those with prisons, major road developments and ones that had been over developed.

Mr McCabe warned against purchasing in neighbourhoods near the scrapped East West Link, in case plans were reignited. The same went for suburbs that could be impacted by the North East Link.

Level crossing removals could also have negative impacts on property values due to noise and sky rails.

“There’s a great benefit of removing level crossings, but be aware if you’re close to that sort of infrastructure,” Mr McCabe said.

Proximity to water is one way your home will hold value.

VALUE-ENHANCING INCLUSIONS AND ADDITIONS

When purchasing a property, there are a few boxes to tick to ensure it holds value.

Mr Valentic said a north-facing living room and backyard, plus good land content were key. “Property is all about long term, so it’s important to remember land appreciates and buildings depreciate,” he said.

When searching for a house, or considering a renovation or extension, Mr Valentic said to focus on “adding another icon to the ad”.

“For better resale value, increase the amount of bedrooms, bathrooms or car spots — it can add hundreds of thousands of dollars,” he said.

Realestate.com.au search data shows homes with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage on a large block were most popular.

Mr Valentic said the question of how much value a pool could add was a “controversial one”. Pools were a sound investment in warmer climates, but less so in Victoria, he said. But they could still be a great addition to a Melbourne home.

“It’s important you get to enjoy it,” he said. “Never put a pool in right at the end when you’re selling. Put a pool in at the start and enjoy it for 10 to 15 years to get value out of it.”

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The post How to future-proof the value of your home appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Natural light is an absolute must for a home office space, no matter the size. This nook designed by Alexandra Donohue of Decus Interiors, includes vertical storage. Picture: Anson Smart

If anyone had said at the start of the year that the home office would become the most important room of 2020, many would have been scratching their heads. But in recent months interior designers and architects have seen the focus shift from most of us being satisfied with a nook off the hallway or at the end of the kitchen joinery to a desire for a highly functional office environment.

This study designed by Stewart Horton can be closed off for acoustic privacy thanks to sliding glass doors. Picture: Maree Homer

Interior designer Stewart Horton from Horton & Co says COVID-19 has shifted priorities for many looking at redesigning their houses.

“I have one client whose renovation started just before lockdown and now they have added to the scope of their home office,” he says. “It was just going to be a basic study but now they are thinking about how to make it a really nice space and how it can be used by two people at once.”

He says we are also conscious that our colleagues may be seeing our home office space via Zoom meetings for the first time and we want to make a better impression.

The Bailey desk from GlobeWest can create an instant office environment in any part of the house.

“More of us are thinking that it’s worth spending a bit of money on our homes. I have had an influx of inquiries from people who want to freshen up their homes a bit,” Stewart says. “If you are not spending that much time at home, it can be difficult to justify the cost to yourself, but that’s not so much the case now.”

Given the number of hours we’re spending working from home, he says it’s important the space is functional — and safe.

“The traditional study is not designed for sitting in for hours on end,” he says. “If you don’t have an ergonomic chair, by the end of the day you can be experiencing quite a bit of pain.”

Accessories like Curve desktop stand from Twelve South can improve the ergonomics of your laptop.

Stylist and author Jessica Bellef agrees that functionality is the top priority now.

“Pre-COVID, you could have a pretty chair and a nice vignette on your desk but now, functionality is key,” she says.

Although not everyone has room for a separate space.

“If you are working at the dining table, make time to pack up so that you can switch off properly,” she says. “If you are sharing a space, a good set of headphones always helps.”

Don’t forget shelving in home office design, like this space renovated by architect Ricci Bloch. It will allow you to keep the desk clutter free.

Not everyone has the room for a separate office like this beautiful space designed by Greg Natale, but more of us are considering it. Picture: Anson Smart

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The post COVID-19 trends: Why your office is your home’s most important room appeared first on realestate.com.au.

MEET the Burleigh Heads mum who has built her dream home and turned it into the stunning backdrop for a successful photo shoot location business.

Interior designer Kelle Howard spent a year transforming her vision of an Ibiza-inspired beach pad into reality and is now being rewarded as big-name brands sign up to use ‘Bajo el Sol Beach House’ as the setting for high-end shoots.

Burleigh Heads mum Kelle Howard has built her dream home and turned it into the stunning backdrop for a successful photo shoot location business. Photo: Scott Powick.

Gold Coast house build Bajo El Sol.

City Beach, Michael Hill Jewellers, Sabo Skirt and an array of beauty, furniture and fashion brands have already hired the property, while Ms Howard has amassed more than 25,000 Instagram followers of her own as she takes people inside the incredible Burleigh Heads house.

The solo mother-of-two was able to create the four-bedroom, three-bathroom house after the team at Kingfisher Realty tipped her off about the sale of an older beach shack on a dry block in a popular Burleigh enclave.

Burleigh Heads mum Kelle Howard in her Ibiza-inspired beach pad ‘Bajo el Sol Beach House. Photo: Scott Powick.

Gold Coast house build Bajo El Sol.

Ms Howard said creating the perfect environment for photography had been at the forefront of her mind when designing Bajo el Sol, which means ‘under the sun’ in Spanish.

“I wanted every room to boast its own look and allow photographers to capture multiple shots and that decision has paid off,” Ms Howard said.

“Everywhere you turn there is a new angle or line to work with and I have also incorporated lots of windows and natural light.

Burleigh Heads mum Kelle Howard in her Bajo El Sol. Photo: Scott Powick.

Gold Coast house build Bajo El Sol.

“I even went as far as to pinpoint paint colours that would be great for photography.

“I’ve had so many different shoots at the house now and all the photographers say ‘wow, it’s perfectly designed for what we do’.”

Ms Howard bought the original Burleigh Heads house in January, 2019 through Kingfisher Realty before knocking it down a few months later to craft a showstopper house.

Burleigh Heads mum Kelle Howard beside the pool. Photo: Scott Powick.

The kitchen opens out to the pool.

The team at PJH Constructions brought Ms Howard’s dream to life over seven months.

“The brief was to design and family home with a resort feel with emphasis on raw locally sourced materials with texture and tone,” director Paul Harms said.

“Driving the aesthetics was the owner’s vision to blend architectural elements from the Greek Islands, Mexico, Spain and Palm Springs while sympathetic to fitting into the Australian coastal suburb of Burleigh Heads.”

Burleigh Heads mum Kelle Howard. Photo: Scott Powick.

Gold Coast house build Bajo El Sol.

Kingfisher Realty Sales Specialist Michael Witt said the agency was thrilled to have played a role in helping Ms Howard find the perfect location for her unique business.

“Kelle contacted me to see if we could help her find her dream home and she had a very clear idea of the property and aesthetic she was looking for,” he said.

“Initially she was looking to renovate an existing home but couldn’t find anything she liked. “When I realised the property she was looking for wasn’t out there, we changed our strategy to look for a knockdown where she could create her masterpiece.”

“Fortunately we had a strong relationship so when we saw this property, we knew it was exactly the location and style of block she was looking for.

“Kelle had a dream and it’s been amazing to watch her make it come true.”

Burleigh Heads mum Kelle Howard in her Ibiza-inspired beach pad Bajo el Sol. Photo: Scott Powick.

Gold Coast house build Bajo El Sol.

Ms Howard, who is also an interior designer and photo shoot stylist, added: “I really enjoy working with creative people so it’s been a blessing to build relationships with the various brands.

“As well as offering Bajo el Sol as a location for shoots, I photograph for brands that don’t want to source a whole crew.

“They simply send me the products and I photograph it for them in the house.

“My minimum shoot booking is four hours but I’ve had one that lasted 12 hours, while a Perth brand will be using the house as a location in coming weeks. I simply give the crews a tour, serve up some snacks and then head out for the day so they can let their creativity run free.”

Burleigh Heads mum Kelle Howard has built her dream home Bajo el Sol Beach House. Photo: Scott Powick.

Gold Coast house build Bajo El Sol.

Gold Coast house build Bajo El Sol.

Gold Coast house build Bajo El Sol.

The post Inside an Ibiza-inspired beach pad on the Gold Coast appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The right brick made all the difference in this house was designed by architect Mark Szczerbicki Picture: Tom Ferguson

There’s not a lot at first glance that makes this house stand out from its neighbours. That’s just how architect Mark Szczerbicki likes it.

When the owners of this house in Russell Lea realised their existing cottage did not have the structural integrity to carry a first floor addition, they were looking for a way to keep the best of the old house but create something new.

The house was approved under Complying Development legislation, which required the upper floor to be setback from the lower floor. Picture: Tom Ferguson

Mark says he wanted to design a house that would still look like it belonged in the neighbourhood.

“Often the brick cottages in this area get demolished and a massive facade goes up,” Mark says. “They look completely alien compared to the cottages on either side.”

With good parks and the Bay Run nearby, the owners were happy to lose much of their backyard to allow for the two-storey, three-bedroom floorplan.

A skylight along the side of the house draws light into the ground floor living space. Picture: Tom Ferguson

“The backyard is smaller than what we would usually do but it was about maximising the area for the alfresco area and the plunge pool as well as the balcony to the front with its views of the city,” Mark says.

The design was approved as a Complying Development, which meant the upper floor had to be set back from the ground level.

The floorplan works well for the family. Picture: Tom Ferguson

Mark used the boundary setback to install a long skylight in the living area to let light in. The back garden faces west, but Mark says the site had a lot going for it.

“We knew from the owners that the house had good breezes from the east so that they barely use the airconditioning,” he says. “The living spaces face north to the side and the windows are double glazed to the south.”

The owner wanted to enjoy his vintage car even when not driving it, so a viewing window was added in the garage. Picture: Tom Ferguson

Mark says the owners were keen to install solar panels for electricity but underfloor hydronic heating keeps the house warm through winter.

“Underfloor heating is so much more efficient because the heat rises gently. These guys walk around barefoot all year,” he says.

Hydronic heating on the ground floor keeps the house comfortable in winter. Picture: Tom Ferguson

To tie it into the street, the house has a similar setback to its neighbours. Mark also chose similar bricks to those used in the neighbouring houses and opted for a similar brick fence.

Landscaping by Melissa Wilson at the back, the front and inside the house beds it into the site.

Landscape architect Melissa Wilson specified planting inside as well as outside the house. Picture: Tom Ferguson

While the house is a ‘good neighbour’ in so many ways, Mark says the owner did have one unusual request. He wanted to be able to enjoy his vintage sports car, even when it was parked in the garage.

The design includes a viewing window into the garage, which reveals a stacked car system, allowing parking for four cars on a two-car footprint.

The layout is simple with clean lines but works well for the family of four. Picture: Tom Ferguson

THE PROJECT

Owners: A couple with two children

Architect: Mark Szczerbicki Design Studio, markszczerbicki.com

The brief: To replace an old cottage with a modern family home that still felt like it belonged in the neighbourhood

The site: A suburban block in Russell Lea with a west-facing backyard

Design solution: To build a two-storey home using similar materials to the rest of the street and maintaining similar setbacks to the neighbouring houses

How long did it take: 10 months

THE SOURCE

Builder Ferrocon, ferrocon.com.au; Landscape architect Melissa Wilson, melisssawilson.com.au; Kitchen joinery New Age Kitchens 0414 244 346; Face brickwork Austral Bricks ‘Bowral 76’ in Renovation Gertrudis Brown colour, australbricks.com.au

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8 Elizabeth St, Flying Fish Point is listed with RE/MAX agent Daniel Arnott

WITH endless and open beach views, this “hidden gem” encapsulates the popular Far Northern expression – where the rainforest meets the Reef.

Through the front door of 8 Elizabeth St, Flying Fish Point, is the edge of the rainforest and at the rear, the backyard turf shares grains of sand with the beach. The three-bedroom beach house is described as a “slice of paradise” by RE/MAX selling agent Daniel Arnott.

“I didn’t even know this place existed – it’s one of Far North Queensland’s best-kept secrets,” he said.

The backyard turf meets the beach at 8 Elizabeth St, Flying Fish Point.

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“It’s got basically its own private beach.

“If you wanted to, you’d be able to fish from your bed, that’s how close you are to the beach.

“From your kitchen it would take you about 10 seconds to have sand on your feet.”

He said the property’s location wasn’t all about the beach, with the short 10-minute drive to Innisfail making it a suitable home for a wide range of buyers.

8 Elizabeth St, Flying Fish Point is only 10 minutes from Innisfail.

“It’s complemented by the art-deco village of Innisfail, which has everything you need just 10 minutes away. But then when you’re back at this house it feels like you’re a million miles away from everything.

“It’s a quiet neighbourhood, the beach is pristine and I saw some dolphins the last morning I was there. It’s probably a location not many have considered and not many have heard of.”

Mr Arnott said when holiday-makers or visitors to the area did stumble across the property, they would begin making offers.

“People have knocked on the door and said would you let us rent it out for the holidays.

“It’s never been holiday let, but they’ve been offered $3000 a week.”

8 Elizabeth St, Flying Fish Point is listed with RE/MAX agent Daniel Arnott

And their reasoning for the generous offers could be due to any number of features this tidy, renovated property packs.

“It’s a well-kept beach home with original features,” Mr Arnott said.

“They’ve just put a large deck out the back, which has water views as far as the eye can see.

“There’s a large main living area which flows on to the deck. It’s also got a separate living area as well, at the front of the property if you wanted to breakaway and just entertain.”

He said the “very open” home enjoyed sea breezes as well as plenty of natural light to highlight the rare black bean timber floors.

The large deck at 8 Elizabeth St, Flying Fish Point has endless beach views.

However, he said, one of the true retreats in the home was the master bedroom.

“They’re all good-sized bedrooms with plenty of natural light but you just get really beautiful views from the master bedroom.”

Nearby is a school, a park and a licensed cafe all within walking distance, but a major drawcard is access to the reefs via the Flying Fish Point boat ramp, just one minute away.

“The property has onsite parking for your boat,” Mr Arnott said.

“It’s fully fenced and gated so if you did use it as a holiday home, you could keep all your toys secured onsite. We’ve fielded a lot of inquiry from Melbourne. People simply wanting a change and they’re wanting to move there. Others have wanted it as holiday house.

“No price on it yet, the owner is seeking expressions of interest for now.”

The post Strangers come knocking at the door when they finally see this hidden gem appeared first on realestate.com.au.