THE DEAL
'Maristowe House' by Odyssey x Mancini Made.
A South Yarra original, reimagined. Behind the c.1880s façade, Mancini Made, Odyssey Architecture and Jessica Ellis Studio have delivered a considered revival, pairing the scale and detail of the Victorian era with a contemporary addition designed around light, proportion and everyday living.
Soaring ceilings, leadlight, arched hallways and original detailing define the front of the home. The primary suite retains its marble fireplace, joined by a custom walk-in robe, dressing vanity and skylit ensuite with underfloor heating. Two further bedrooms are accompanied by a central bathroom, powder room and dedicated laundry.
The rear marks a clear architectural shift. Kitchen, dining and living unfold beneath high ceilings, opening to the north through full-height steel-framed doors to the garden. Sheer curtains recess into the walls, a large skylight draws daylight through the centre of the home, and uninterrupted sightlines give the space its scale.
A curved 12-seat island anchors the kitchen, finished in stone and timber with custom joinery throughout. Integrated Miele and Fisher & Paykel appliances are complemented by a full-height butler's pantry and bar.
Materials are warm and restrained. Natural stone, timber, fluted glass, gunmetal tapware and traditional tiling sit alongside the home's period detailing, carrying a consistent palette from old to new. Hydronic heating and central heating and cooling provide year-round comfort, with every practical consideration as carefully resolved as the architecture itself.
The north-facing rear is made for long lunches and late afternoons, with generous outdoor space and off-street parking for two via the rear.
All of it in one of South Yarra's most connected pockets. Toorak Road, Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Chapel Street and Prahran Market are close by, with South Yarra Station, leading schools and transport within walking distance.
SEALS THE DEAL
A c.1880s Victorian, restored rather than reinvented. Heritage at the front, contemporary architecture at the rear, and a level of finish that ties the two together.