2nd February 2014: 20 Robinson Road, Hawthorn

A Feast for the Senses

This charming 3 bedroom Victorian home presents a beautifully maintained period facade with its polychromatic brickwork, bay window and deep verandah and once inside reveals a warm and inviting residence that appeals on so many levels. The original features of high decorative ceilings, OFPs, Baltic pine flooring and an elegant hallway arch preserve the heritage feel. An inspired renovation has transformed the rear of the home incorporating an impressive family living area with parquetry flooring, towering ceiling, central fan, French doors, clerestory windows and capacious built-in shelving.

A formal sitting room has pride of place at the front of the home enjoying a verdant outlook to the lush front garden with its laden lemon tree. Across the hall, the main bedroom provides a spacious dressing room and opens to a semi-ensuite bathroom with a generous second robed bedroom and a study/3rd bedroom sharing the use of an excellent family bathroom.

Contrary to the glitz, glamour and whizz bang technology that television would lead us to expect of a professional's kitchen, the warm and friendly environment of this one with its open shelving displaying treasured pieces is a delight to experience. Expertly designed to owner Stephanie Alexander's specifications with every need within reach it features a superb butler's pantry, wonderfully accessible storage, Carrara marble benchtops, St George double oven, mobile island bench (with an often used cutting board that could tell a million culinary stories) and access to the exemplary kitchen garden.

This is not a home where the vegetable bed is banished to a corner of the rear garden and a handful of herbs huddle next to the back door, but a celebration of all foods fresh, natural and home grown flowing from the front gate to the back garden. Fruit, nuts, citrus and olive trees, an extensive range of vegetables and herbs and superbly selected decorative plantings add to the street appeal at the front of the home and provide a private and peaceful setting at the rear, where the living room opens out to facilitate superb alfresco living and entertaining complete with outdoor kitchen, vine covered pergola and solar heated pool.

Further features include a fitted laundry, remote garage entry from Montague Street, water tanks with a total 15,000 litre storage, ducted heating and split system reverse cycle air-conditioners. Within walking distance of tram and local shops with easy access to parks and sporting reserves, Melbourne Uni Hawthorn Campus, Scotch College, Auburn South Primary School, Gardiner's Creek Trail and Citylink.

Click for more information about 20 Robinson Road, Hawthorn

Alternatively, contact Belinda Anderson on 0413 811 991 or George Bushby on 0407 311 205.