Bringing a signature look to Toorak

3/6 Brookville Road, Toorak
$1.6 million-plus
2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 car space
Expressions of interest close at 5pm, on August 16
Inspect from noon-12.30pm, on SaturdayKay & Burton 9820 1111, Peter Kudelka 0418 319 439

Neometro has been building apartments in Melbourne for more than 30 years and there are small and large, cheaper and more expensive versions dotted all over the suburbs – especially the inner south.

Their apartments have a feel about them. And a signature look. They are universally light, full of storage and with good air flow. Natural materials are everywhere and there’s a restrained softness to the colour palette – albeit one occasionally blasted by a neon door or a dramatic screen.

Here in Toorak, a block of six apartments has been recently completed on the corner of Brookville and Fairbairn roads. The three-level block turns its back on Toorak Primary next door and is an imposing, almost-austere-looking building in an area made up of mostly small cottages.

Apartment three is on the first floor and occupies the enviable north-west corner. Entry is into a wide central hallway that has herringbone parquetry floors – not in the traditional highly polished look that now seems a bit yesterday but in the low-key natural matt tones that suit this apartment.

On the right as you enter is a large laundry with a trough, storage and plenty of room. Next door is a large family bathroom/powder room, which includes an over-sized shower.

Opposite is a delightful main bedroom. It has full-height sliding doors to a west-facing balcony and a large en suite with frosted glass doors on the shower and shielding the toilet. A wall of built-in wardrobes is simple and elegant with pale doors and timber hand pulls.

Heading north, the hallway arrives in the open-plan living area. The kitchen is set against the back wall and has marble benchtops, Miele appliances and muted brown cabinets, including a pantry and integrated fridge.

The sitting and dining area is large with a wall of north-facing windows and a gas log fire set in the eastern wall, which has a lot of low shelving and storage.

Concrete ceilings, the matt herringbone floors and a feature panelled wall behind the gas fire give a natural but contemporary look.

Hidden from view when entering the living area is the balcony: this good-sized space opens via sliding doors from the end of the sitting area and is slightly hidden by a protruding wall from the second bedroom.

The timber-floored balcony is partly enclosed and would be useable much of the year. It also adjoins the second bedroom, which has a wall of shelving and could be used as a study. It has the same beige carpet as in the main bedroom.

There is a lot of warmth and flexibility here in a well-serviced area.

Room for improvement: Some might prefer the second bedroom with built-in wardrobes, rather than shelves. 

Need to know: Highest priced Toorak apartment (past 12 months) was $5,525,000 for 1/20 Lascelles Road, in October 2015. Recent sales: $750,000 for 3/29A Wallace Avenue, in June 2016; $1.31 million for 61/546 Toorak Road, in May 2016, and $1,101,000 for 11/14 Lansell Road, in May 2016.