Getting Comfy In Camberwell

The Age

Wednesday July 26, 2006

Katherine Townsend

Katherine Townsend has found a classic Camberwell Edwardian, ripe for customisation.

THERE may never be revolution in Camberwell but this stylish Edwardian home shows how evolution creates plenty of change in this quiet suburb's housing stock.

"Lochranoch", as this large home at the Toorak Road end of Wattle Valley Road is known, began life almost 100 years ago on about twice the land but with significantly less internal space. Over recent decades, a side block has been sold off, a double garage added on the other side, and the internal spaces re-organised and added to.

It is a fine example of the flexibility of Edwardian homes that appeal so much to Melbourne buyers. The large rooms and flexible layout means they evolve easily to suit the needs of each owner, while retaining their classic elegance.

Lochranoch now sits on almost 1000 square metres, with a rambling front path winding beneath two giant palm trees that were probably planted when the house was built.

Inside, the house is interesting and quirky, with room for more changes and improvements as new owners mould its next evolution. The wide timber entry hall reveals dark timber stairs leading to an upstairs area, a massive main bedroom to the left and a smaller bedroom to the right.

The main bedroom has a wide bay window overlooking the front garden and a small timber fireplace with cute floral tiles. It may once have been a formal living room but another room further down the hallway now fills that role.

The formal living room is a cosy, wintry room with timber fretwork above the bay window, an exposed brick fireplace and the timber stairs positioned on the hall side of the room. It is at the centre of the house and opens to a formal dining room and also leads to the rear informal living room and kitchen, which were added in a renovation that was completed about 10 years ago.

The rear family, meals and kitchen area has a modern kitchen with stone benchtops, a bay window overlooking the backyard and walls of exposed brick. It doesn't have the modern neutrality that today's designers have imprinted everywhere but is warm and comfortable.

Upstairs there are two cute, Mary Poppins-style attic bedrooms with a bathroom in between. Teenagers could have a bedroom, bath and study area all to themselves.

This is a large house with plenty of accommodation options and room for new owners to leave their mark.

214 Wattle Valley Road, Camberwell

Agent's quote: $1,050,000-plus

Auction: 1pm, Saturday, July 29 through Noel Jones, Camberwell, 9809 2000

Inspect: as advertised

Melway: 60 D5

© 2006 The Age

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