How Marty and Charlotte Fox unlocked the potential of their once 'run-down' Victorian abode
A note of timeless elegance pervades the Toorak home of property power-couple Marty and Charlotte Fox.
With its ornate heritage details, evocative materials palette and inviting furnishings, the reimagined Victorian abode embodies the pair’s relaxed but sophisticated style mantra.
Yet to Marty, founder and chief executive of WHITEFOX Real Estate and the new judge on TV juggernaut The Block, it’s the fact that the c1890s home is enveloped by a magical garden that truly makes it a sanctuary.
It’s this lushly layered and ever-fragrant setting, renewed by Nathan Burkett Landscape Architecture, that delivers endless joy to the couple and their children, Freddy, 6, Olive, 4, and Bonnie, 1.
“The garden is stunning,” Marty says. “Nathan Burkett absolutely nailed the brief, and we now have beautiful silver birches, gardenias, amazing natural ivy, lavenders and hydrangeas, as well as a huge jacaranda tree and a feature red coral tree.
“I’m a massive green thumb, so I just love being in the garden. We also have a pool and gym, as well as a playground for the kids – it’s definitely a family house.”
Set within an expansive 1400-square-metre parcel of land, the five-bedroom, single-level house is indeed anything but an austere showpiece for Fox and his former high-school sweetheart wife.
“Home for me is where I can switch off,” Marty reflects. “I’m on 24/7 when I’m out the front door, but I transform into someone who just wants to relax and be with my family when I’m at home. And this is a home people feel very comfortable visiting.”
That’s not to say that the house always presented in such an alluring light. When the couple, who are self-described serial property flippers, bought it in January 2022, it required a considerable leap of faith.
“It was really run-down,” Marty says. “It had received no love for some time, and there were squatters living here when we settled.
“But we absolutely love Victorian homes with the big rooms, the beautiful detailing and the incredible craftsmanship.
“This home is so solid. It’s elevated and built on bluestone foundations. It’s a very unique home.”
From the outset, the couple were confident they could unlock the property’s immense potential.
“We both love the creative side of flipping homes,” Charlotte says. “I do all of the interior side of things, while Marty does the project managing.
“And we’ve been doing this for over 15 years,” Marty adds. “We’ve done 12 properties together that we’ve actually owned, selecting all of the different elements from the kitchens to the bathrooms and the lighting.
“Charlotte imports beautiful vintage Murano lights from Europe, and people have commented on them so much that she’s actually going to be starting her own lighting business [LUCI AMATE] towards the end of this year.”
Engaging the talents of Castley McCrimmon Architects and Dome Building, the couple put forth their vision to restore the home’s original beauty while imbuing it with a new level of style and family functionality.
Keeping within the footprint, the team of experts did exactly that, producing a wondrous result in just 12 weeks.
“We had a timeline and we had to finish before Charlotte gave birth to Bonnie,” Marty says, revealing: “We ended up moving into the house just one day before Bonnie was born, which we probably wouldn’t recommend!
“But the renovation was absolutely textbook and we’re the quickest decision-makers. Charlotte did all of the material selection, and Create Expectations – Leah and Kim from Create are very good friends of ours – helped us with the styling of the furniture.”
Complemented by treasured works of art, vintage chandeliers and other eye-catching collectibles, beguiling shifts of colour and organic texture unfold throughout the home.
There are the Venetian plaster walls in the hallway, the gloriously green-veined, calacatta-clad kitchen and bathrooms that are swathed almost entirely in swirling Italian rosso and grigio marble.
Could the avid renovators have put down permanent roots at last in the tranquil garden house?
“This would be a very hard home to leave,” Marty admits, before adding: “But never say never.”
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