Influencer Bec Judd and AFL great Chris Judd list renovated Arthurs Seat property for $2.85m-$3m
- Who: Bec and Chris Judd
- Type of property: Renovated 1970s pad in Arthurs Seat, Victoria
- Price: $2.85 million-$3 million
- Expressions of interest: Close noon, April 7
It was a busy year for Rebecca Judd in 2016. The ex-TV presenter and wife of Carlton footballing great Chris Judd had become pregnant with twins unexpectedly. Then they purchased a Mornington Peninsula fixer-upper with plans for a major renovation.
“My husband and I weren’t even sure if we wanted a third baby and then, before we knew it, we had another two on the way,” Judd recalls. “We thought, ‘Gosh, we’re having four kids. We’ll need somewhere for them to run around.’”
The couple fell in love with this Arthurs Seat property in the depths of Melbourne’s winter. The gently rolling three hectares, mist rising over spring-fed dams, the birdsong, kangaroos grazing and surrounding bushland – all spelled wholesome family retreat.
“[It had] this bush Australiana vibe,” Judd says. “We felt like we were hours away from the city but it was literally 59 minutes door-to-door.”
Plans to turn the 1970s three-bedroom brick house into a sprawling six-bedroom, four-bathroom “ranch” with a tennis court and large swimming pool were drawn up but by the time building permits came through, the twins, Tom and Darcy, were toddlers and overseeing such a large project in the midst of family “chaos” felt “a little bit daunting”, Judd says.
Instead, they listed the house on Airbnb and visited on weekends when they could, touring the local wineries and taking their kids – the couple also have 13-year-old Oscar and Billie, 11 – to the adventure park down the road for tree surfing and maze exploring.
In time, Mount Martha Design and Drafting scaled back the construction drawings. Judd, now a seasoned renovator and keen, self-taught interior designer, oversaw the lightning-speed transformation late last year. With the help of her go-to builder, Dale Cheesman of The Melbourne Builder, the place was gutted and rebuilt in under four months.
“I find that when I’m involved, things get done really quickly,” Judd shares. “I’m cracking the whip the whole time, but I would say I’m a good communicator and I work with a team who are good communicators. We kind of put out fires before they happen.”
Judd says she uses 3D design software SketchUp to outline her vision, then shares the images with her expert team.
“They’re amateur hour but they get the job done,” she shares. “I love having a tinker, and playing with different fittings and finishes.”
Often, her designs will be driven by a feature piece of stone found at Altona’s Signorino Stone Gallery; trawling the store’s vast collection has become a bit of a hobby.
At the Arthurs Seat house, a thick kitchen benchtop made from taupe and lilac Patagonia quartzite with gold veining has inspired the home’s palette. Paired with oak cabinetry and floors, Judd says the desired effect is country, but luxe.
“The marble really gives the property some sizzle,” she adds. “Everyone who comes in just goes, ‘That is the most insane stone!’”
The rest of the house follows suit, featuring luxury finishes and fittings throughout its open-plan living zone, three bedrooms and two chic bathrooms. Decorated in Judd’s signature style and furnished largely from Trit House, it is being sold as is and ready to move into.
Judd says it’s the surrounding gardens, however, that garner the most attention from visitors. Designed by award-winning landscape architect Nathan Burkett, who was given free rein, the property now features a stunning array of native plants, circular heated pool and entertaining zones that offer views of the surrounding hills.
“I think when you are working with a brilliant, creative mind, just let them do their thing,” she says. “He played on the curves of the rolling hills and from the top of the garden you can see three circles joined together: the pool, olive tree and fire pit … it is stunning.”
Despite its inviting facelift, Judd says the family has managed to stay just four nights at their holiday pad since the renovation wrapped up, due to her children’s weekend sporting commitments.
“They’re very active and sporting kids; they compete at a really high level,” Judd says. “Oscar played cricket all weekend, every weekend in January, and my daughter does little athletics. Literally every weekend is taken up by sport. We are definitely in our kids’ sporting era.”
It’s this reason, in part, why the couple is selling up. But also, Judd is keen to focus more on design projects closer to home, with a mind to making flipping houses her main career.
“I love renovating and I’m going to move into this space a lot more,” she says. “I would love to do one home a year. I feel like I’ve got really good experience now. I’ve got a good formula and a good team, and I just love having a vision and bringing it to life. It’s one of my favourite things. It gives me all the feels.”
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