House of the week: Sublime feel

16 Vincent Street, Glen Iris
$3 million-plus
4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 car spaces
Auction at 1pm, on Saturday, May 7

Gowan Stubbings, Kay & Burton 0412 269 999

There are houses that, despite their obvious beauty, can leave you completely unmoved. There are others where the simple, elegant confluence of light, space and air strikes a deep, elemental chord.

Welcome to one of the ‘others’. This house is supreme, not just in looks or volume or floor plan, although they are all decidedly excellent, but also in the sublime feel of the place.

A deep, white-pebbled drive splits two fine, grassy terraces and projected sections, essentially ‘wings’, create a fabulous facade. The drive turns into a walkway and, at its end, two towering palm trees are your guide to the entry.

When we swing open the lovely wide door, the entry foyer is broad and easily stylish, offering a nice line of sight to the rear section of the home and the terrific spaces of the rear yard. Connection between inside and out is superb.

A passage left takes you to one of the front projections – a lovely study or fifth bedroom with garden views and, of course, that wonderful light. Head east from here and you’ll find the very chic en suite with twin-glass shower and natty long bluestone vanity. Beyond here and looking over the rear garden the main bedroom feels like a serene retreat. A walk-in robe sits just away in the passage.

Back to the entry foyer and the southern side where a small, intimate dining area flows through to the fine parents’ lounge. Fireplace, sliding glass to the grass and a versatile space fit for either relaxing or revelry.

The large linear rear section is a sparkling gem too. The kitchen looks out through banks of glass to the north-east-facing garden throwing light on the sleek surfaces here.

Boasting a generous Carrara marble island bench with brilliant storage, the kitchen also features an excellent delineating bulkhead with clerestory windows to provide extra illumination. Glossy white subway tiles make a handsome splashback and a large walk-in pantry completes a space that is at once breezy and urbane.

Sliding doors on each end of the kitchen/meals area section off the space, so the teenagers’ retreat that sits behind, along with three good-sized bedrooms and a smooth bathroom, forms its own wing – much like the parents’ suite on the other side.

A lovely flat deck sits off the mid-section of the house and leads to wide grassy spaces outside. The rejuvenated saltwater pool is a revelation and glossy perimeter planting provides a pretty green frame. Glen Iris, you gorgeous thing, one of our favourites for the year so far.

Room for Improvement: There’s room enough for a cruisy little pool cabana in the south-east corner.

Need to know: Last traded for $2.02 million in June 2012. Highest recorded house price for Glen Iris (last 12 months) was $5.38 million for 6 Valleyview Road in June 2015. Recent sales: $3,125,000 for 22 Ranfurlie Crescent in March 2016; $1.9 million for 2 Macdonald Street in March 2016, and $1.45 million for 62 Martin Road in March 2016.