56 Leah Street, Forestville. Supplied by Belle Unley
If its opening week is any indication, this Forestville home’s auction is set to be the hottest ticket in town.
Renowned winemaker Rose Kentish and her painter husband Sam Harrison bought their 56 Leah St, Forestville home eight years ago and have since renovated it throughout – its original dated interior now boasting a crisp white colour scheme throughout.
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It’s a renovation that has resonated with buyers, with selling agent John McRostie of Belle Property Unley reportedly inundated with inquiries.
“It hit the market on Thursday and we’ve already had 200 people go through it,” Mr McRostie says.
“It’s staggering – 200 and it’s not been up a week yet.”
Ms Kentish says the home has proved such a hit a nearby business is having to adjust its weekend rostering.
“The cafe down the road has put on extra staff apparently to cater for overflow of people going down and grabbing a coffee and enjoying that local vibe the street has,” she says.
“We’ve been really delighted with the response to the house – she’s a beautiful old villa with great bones and we’ve really honoured the structure of that.”
The home’s lounge room before renovation. Taken from CoreLogic
And now, in all its glory. Supplied by Belle Unley
Ms Kentish says the couple wanted to show their respect for the heritage and history of the home, and not simply transform it into a typical Adelaide renovation of a traditional facade and a modern rear – although it’s new owners have plenty of scope to do just that.
“We’ve done a really slow careful job of looking after what’s already there, in bringing the floorboards back to life and rewiring it all because it’s over 120 years old, and we did all that was required to really take care of it,” she says.
“We’ve done a renovation of the kitchen and created two new bathrooms – we let the old and new come together in a really nice way.
The home’s former kitchen. Taken from CoreLogic
The kitchen today. Supplied by Belle Unley
“It’s on a massive block of about 1000sqm and we ummed and ahhed about building a contemporary family room on the back in the classic Adelaide way, and we decided against it in the end.”
For the couple, what’s outside is just as exciting to them as what the home offers internally.
“We’ve absolutely loved it for the past eight years, and before us it was in a family for about 50 years, and it was a Greek family who did an extraordinary job in establishing about 20 fruit trees, from olives to oranges, mandarins, lemons, plums – it’s really a prolific fruiting garden and we’ve pressed our own oil and squeezed our own juice and put in a productive veggie garden,” she says.
“It’s got a lot going on in terms of making it someone’s substantial family home.”
And its location, she says, is incredible.
“Forestville’s tiny, but it’s such a nice little inner city hub and now someone else gets to enjoy it,” Ms Kentish says.
“We’re a bit sad about leaving, because we’ve really absolutely loved it.”
The light and bright home has three bedrooms – the master suite with an ensuite with a large shower, a toilet and a vanity unit. The two remaining bedrooms both have fireplaces, and one of these also has a built-in robe and an airconditioner.
A spacious lounge sits at the front of the home and has a stunning feature window with leadlighting.
One of the home’s original bedrooms. Taken from CoreLogic
That same bedroom today. Supplied by Belle Unley
The kitchen and dining room sits at the rear, adjacent the luxurious family bathroom with a feature bath, a shower and a toilet, while the kitchen features stainless steel appliances, ample cupboard and bench space and two walk-in pantries.
The home is surrounded by garden beds and green space and has both a carport and a garage, and a long concrete driveway for further off-street parking.
56 Leah Street, Forestville. Supplied by Belle Unley
Mr McRostie says the property, which has an auction price guide of $900,000, was a hit for a number of reasons.
“It’s because there’s not a lot of stock around, and it’s a good solid original villa in very good condition inside,” Mr McRostie says.
“It’s what everyone’s looking for in that it doesn’t have the extension on it so you can do it yourselves, but the bathrooms are great in that you could move in and live there right now.
“There’s still scope to change how the kitchen is, the cellar is and the family room too if you want.
The rear yard prior to Ms Kentish and Mr Harrison buying it. Taken from CoreLogic
The tidy blank canvas it presents now. Supplied by Belle Unley
Plus there’s a handy veggie area at the side. Supplied by Belle Unley
“There’s plenty of room for a pool, four car garaging, whatever you want – it’s 1000sqm.
“It’s minutes to the city, has a terrific little cafe a couple of doors down and you can easily walk down to the vibrant Goodwood Rd.”
Mr McRostie expects the auction to go gangbusters.
“There are offers, but we’re taking it to auction – there’ll be strong interest in it at auction.
“This weekend will be big again, no question, because there are parties interested, people having second looks and definitely people getting building inspections.
Agent: Belle Property Unley, John McRostie 0411 221 893, Brandon O’Connell 0433 102 455.
Land size: 1023sqm.
Auction: Saturday, August 29 at 2pm
The post Renovation perfection – 56 Leah St Forestville a massive hit with buyers appeared first on realestate.com.au.