House of the week

150 Wattle Valley Road, Camberwell
$2.6-$2.8 million
5 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms, 2 car spaces

Auction noon Saturday, November 14
Inspect  11.30am-noon, Saturday
Agent Michael Hingston, Jellis Craig – 0412 922 488

We all know there are some pretty hefty piles in Camberwell but this serene suburb does mid-size luxe very well too and this lovely house at the quieter end of Wattle Valley Road is an excellent case in point. It’s a classic mid-20th century beauty this one – all gorgeous big corner windows and elegant straight lines.

The entry is tucked away in a recess on the north edge and a small foyer presents first leading away to the right and the formal living room. This is the kind of space we love in these houses, plenty of light bouncing around the generous footprint, those fine windows over the garden and a relaxed feel.

This section is large enough to accommodate the dining area too and then winds back and down to the swish  Carrara marble kitchen. Here, it’s splendidly crisp and clean, with benchtops and splashbacks featuring that soberly chic stone to anchor the glossy white cabinetry.  A butler’s pantry and top-notch appliances add to the amenity.

Projecting out into the rear garden is a sunny meals area framed by an arc of floor-to-ceiling glass and a set of french doors out onto the elevated terrace. A hallway leads off the kitchen and back towards the entry, passing the quaintly positioned laundry and downstairs powder room. Beyond here there’s a gorgeous little sitting room with a marble fireplace plus a bedroom with garden views.  

Out on the back terrace, steps take you down to a lower paved entertaining area and further afield there’s a terrific grassy stretch with a gazebo. Tall hedging provides excellent privacy. Set to the north edge of the garden and connecting to the garage is a natty little studio that could be put to a multitude of uses.

Back inside and upstairs the house spreads out to accommodate four bedrooms.  The two suites on the southern side of the house are perfectly lovely rooms serviced by a chic-looking travertine-trim bathroom. The bedroom in the northern corner provides yet more private space with an en suite and a sliding door to section it off from the rest of the level. The main bedroom sitting at the north-west front is a brilliant space.  

More of those fabulous large corner windows provide leafy views and there’s a generous walk-in robe and eye-popping en suite with floor-to-ceiling travertine and space to burn. This is a fine house with an appealing feel and room, both inside and out, to grow and settle into comfortable, lovely, Camberwell.

Need to know: Last traded for $1,715,000 in April 2014. Highest recorded house price for Camberwell (last 12 months)  $7,700,000 for 29 Kintore Street in September 2015.
Recent sales: $2,500,000 for 47 Bellett Street in October 2015, $2,350,000 4 Thomas Street in September 2015, $2,000,000 for 1276 Toorak Road in September 2015

Room for improvement: The laundry should probably move from its prime spot to somewhere a little less conspicuous.