How two city-slickers fell for a 1910 Tudor home in the leafy outer suburbs
They went for the exam and immediately fell in love. Bryce couldn’t deny her charm and gorgeous features, which eased his fear of moving away from the city.
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“Once I saw the house, it wasn’t like any other house I’d ever been in,” he says. “It’s not a perfect or ostentatious mansion, it’s more like a cozy slipper; a cozy house. There’s something interesting and beautiful about it.”
But the duo hadn’t given much thought to putting their existing apartment up for sale or applied for pre-approval, so they had no idea whether the property was attainable.
“People also loved telling us ‘no’—family, friends, building inspectors and everyone in between would ask us why we were buying an old house on a block largely covered in rainforest,” says Bryce. “Everyone had their own idea of what could go wrong.”
Fortunately, they managed to sell their apartment and secure financing relatively quickly. The move took place shortly after.
The couple couldn’t be happier with their purchase and plan to preserve the heritage of the property, having recently repainted it in its original Tudor colours. However, they added a contemporary inclusion.
“We have a barrel sauna with a beautiful view of the forest,” says Sainty. Credit: Greg Briggs
“We have a barrel sauna with a beautiful view of the forest. It’s down a little path, in the garden, and completely private,” says Sainty. “You can run out there naked, sit in 80-degree heat on a cool two-degree morning and enjoy the surroundings.”
Although the classic Tudor design appeared seamless from floor to ceiling, it was actually pieces assembled over decades.
The upper part of the property is believed to have been shipped from England as a flatpack house in 1910; this was a relatively common practice at the time due to the lack of materials and skilled tradesmen in Australia. Downstairs spaces were later added by subsequent owners.
“We love the experience of moving between different zones, from the subterranean room below, up the whimsical staircase to the landing, to the dark and moody living-dining room, to the sun-drenched library overlooking the forest,” says Bryce.
“For us, this house is completely flawed.” Credit: Greg Briggs
“It makes the house feel big, adventurous and cozy at the same time.”
Given the age of the property, it naturally comes with a few quirks. It is connected to only one septic tank, and its enclosed design and location on the hillside means natural light may be inadequate.
But trade-offs make living here worthwhile.
“The safe option isn’t always the best option. I remember telling a building inspector that if I wanted a brand new house on a flat block, I’d go out and buy one,” says Bryce.
“For us, this house is completely imperfect and we love its uniqueness.”
This article was first published by. domain.com.au. Reproduced with permission.
