House Snoop on the Harbour at McMahon's Point...

If only my maiden name had the title deeds to this fabulous Sydney Lower North Shore Harbour spot - McMahon's Point. Take a look at this charming, stylish cottage I fell in love with - not to mention the friends you would quickly acquire for New Year's Eve & Australia Day with a view to the Harbour Bridge like that! Wow - can't get more Palatial Sydney than that! Enjoy,

Lifestyle - Perched on the high side of the street amongst a row of terraces in one of Lavender Bay's finest eastside pockets, this mostly freestanding c1895 Victorian home has been exquisitely revived over two floors matched by spectacular Opera House and Harbour Bridge views. Generous formal and informal living spaces open onto a private courtyard garden, two balconies and deluxe upper entertaining terrace. Boasting rear laneway access and off street parking, it offers a village lifestyle, just footsteps from Blues Point Rd cafes and a short stroll to ferries.

Accommodation - At the front of the home is a gracious formal lounge with bay windows and a working fireplace, and an adjoining formal dining area. Nestled to the back is the luxuriously spacious living and informal dining area with a working Jetmaster fireplace and gourmet CaesarStone kitchen with Smeg appliances. Upstairs are two king size bedrooms with built-ins and Juliet balconies, a full CaesarStone bathroom and study nook. Downstairs is a huge bedroom with verandah access, substantial fourth bedroom and classic bathroom with a clawfoot bath.

Features - Behind a picket fence is the delightful facade and sun drenched verandah with a Harbour Bridge glimpse. French doors lead to a private courtyard garden, while the deluxe upper terrace has spectacular views across Lavender Bay to the Opera House and Harbour Bridge - perfect for entertaining. In addition, it features a European laundry, a back-to-base alarm, split system air conditioning, ducted heating and cooling, polished floorboards throughout, soaring ceilings, plantation shutters, vast roof storage, gas to the courtyard, retractable sun shades and a single carport with an automatic door accessed via Wellington Lane.

View our Market Insights video report for the latest property market news

www.belleproperty.com/marketinsights

Belle Property Neutral Bay specialises in Lavender Bay real estate

images & subtext via Belle Property & Domain.com.au

Palatial House Snoop...Contemporary Cottage on the Beaches

Nestled in one of my favourite Northern Beaches suburbs of Avalon, you will find this gorgeous Palatial Contemporary Sandstone & Weatherboard Cottage. I loved it for it's successful combination of keeping original integrity and it's newly renovated spaces in keeping with a French Riviera-meets-Hampton's style with an Australian coastal lifestyle flavour.

I am always a 'sucker' for sandstone features particularly when teamed with a fireplace, as well as the comfortable freshness of the undercover verandah sitting & dining area - much like a Queenslander, quintessentially Australian. The simplicity of the neutral, soft colour scheme lends itself to bringing the outdoors in with considered use of stone, natural timber, and loved leather.

Take a look, have a snoop & see what you think.....

Agent's Blurb - Raine & Horne, Palm Beach

18 Dress Cricle Rd Avalon - Classic Avalon Beach Cottage

 

This charming beach house has undergone an immaculate renovation to stylishly capture the tranquillity and sophistication that comes with living in its exclusive enclave. The 784 sqm property has been superbly re-designed maintaining its character and charm with an emphasis on indoor/outdoor entertaining, ambient natural light, neutral hues and a fluid layout while being situated within approx. 200 metres to Avalon village.

 

 The cleverly positioned designer kitchen/dining space is an inviting haven that flows to the distinctly charming lounge with fireplace, formal dining and alfresco covered entertaining area. These rooms are framed by rustic hardwood timber floors, large bi-folding windows and ornate period features decorated in fresh white hues. The lush and private garden vistas from all entertaining areas complete the incredibly peaceful and inviting ambiance of this wonderful family home.

•  Four Bedrooms and 2 Bathrooms
•  4th Bedroom/ Study with designer cabinetry
•  Media room and separate rumpus area
•  Double Carport and huge storage/tool shed
•  Landscaped gardens and level lawn at rear.
•  Solid Sandstone and weatherboard construction.

The home has an approved DA for further improvement for an additional level creating a parents retreat and a pool in the back yard. Immaculately appointed throughout, this inviting home is situated just moments to shops, public transport, schools and equidistant to Avalon and Bilgola beaches.

 

Features

• Close to Schools
• Close to Shops
• Close to Transport
• Garden

Property ID: 2008804925

images via domain.com.au - via Raine & Horne Palm Beach

Garden Cottages for Play or Work...

Owners of this old shed saw huge potential and converted it into a master external bath house - a retreat to bathe and relax in.

With some TLC an old garden shed becomes a cottage haven for potting plants, reading & relaxing. A cosy home office in a revamped garden tool shed.

A converted pigeon house is now a bright, friendly undercover play space.

'My next house.. .' Backyard Cabin.

Many of us have this thought - 'In my next house I will have...'

Here are some wonderful examples of a garden cottage or shed that has another purpose than housing just the tools and the lawn mower! From an external bath house, to a home office & studio, to a converted pigeon house into a children's play room ! So many uses and options that you could change the space to your growing family & professional needs.

And I would have to say I am no exception, being involved in helping my client's interior & exterior colour & style ides come to fruition isn't only normal that many of my ideas continue to ripen before I can harvest them!! And one of them is - 'In my next house...' I would love to have a yard space large enough to house a little off site home office w/ en suite - complete with a small verandah (very in keeping) where I can dream, design, paint & sew, as well as invite clients to chat with them about their ideas and how we can bring them to life... Hmmm, I particular love the 'Backyard Cabin' [last image] by an Australian company 'Back yard Cabins' who are located in Sydney's northern beaches, Avalon. I think this design would be just perfect for so many reasons... So hope you are reading my post today Darling [husband]!

Images from Backyard Cabins & Sunset Backyard Living

Long Island Cottage Country Living...

When it came to transforming a tiny cottage into a true family home, Donna Francis, owner decided to keep it simple by sticking to a scheme of black and white.

Spruce up old metal chairs with replating...For a deep but subtle glint the once-dull metal school chairs to a refinishing shop to be nickel-plated (hygradeplating.com). In the kitchen, shiny chairs sidle up to a rustic cherry farm table.

Put your finds on-show... Glassware and pewter chargers gleaned from yard sales and antiques shows fill a hutch in the kitchen.

The family room boasts an 11-foot-wide aerial photograph of Long Island and a comfy yet stoic looking chair covered in black-and-white ticking.
In the living room, a Shabby Chic love seat sporting a squiggled slipcover energises the otherwise neutral scene and also provides a prtin alternative to another stripe.

In the house's new addition — designed to look old the owner had splurged on an ebonized four-poster for the master bedroom. They found oil painting at a local antiques store, and a sturdy bench makes a more practical choice than a just-for-show ottoman at the foot of the bed.

Images & Article from Country Living

Leading Me Up The Garden Path...

Above - Blue metal gravel path is tonal and soften with healthy lavender bushes.

Above - A sleek path with over sized rectangle format blocks spaced apart for dwarf mondo grass over a water feature makes for a clean modern look.
Above - Metal borders help to create a sweeping path filled with large format square pavers swimming in shale off cuts, the structured path is softened by the flowering grass plantings - the style echoes elegant refined Zen-like calmness with refinement of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Above: Natural sandstone in 'crazy paving' laid into the grass helps to create an urban woodland atmosphere.

I'm a very keen gardener {thanks to my Mum & Grandma} and I often find elements in other gardens that I would like to incorporate into mine, or my client's... Here I found several different styles of garden paths using different materials that would suit any garden from the organic cottage, to the sleek minimalist modernist & refined elegant Zen, to the natural urban woodland...

What type of garden path would you like to be led up?

Images from Sunset Living magazine

Pistachio... Cottage Charm

Today I am in love with this 'cottage'....

I love the combination of greens from the soft pistachio to the glass bottle green, to the blue green and ripened celery green - all teamed with white, off white, grey glass, and metal finishes alongside the birch, thatched wicker baskets & dining chairs and dotted with highlights of camellia pink, and surprise pops of turquoise blue. What a beautiful fresh palette to make for an inviting, comfortable space.

Just a cup of tea and a good mag - feet up... I'm already there!

Glass Bottles make for beautiful vessel displays - taking in and refracting the light of the hues surrounding them.

A trestle table is a contemporary smart way to

have space for a home office or writing space.

The blue green shutters frame the

pin board - a great space for reminders

or inspirational finds.

Images from Country Living