Genre bender: The Rozelle family home that mixes fairytale cottage with LA-style resort

This Rozelle gem is the kind of property that appeals to old-school and new-school buyers, without compromising on character.

Pull up to 36 Foucart Street and you’ll be greeted by the charming late-1800s storybook facade and traditional front room with original floorboards and white-washed, timber-panelled walls and ceiling.

Compact and simple, it’s a space for chatting with visitors or enjoying a cup of tea and a good book.

The adjoining modern kitchen speaks of another era entirely. With Corian benchtops, a gas cooktop, Bosch appliances and an integrated fridge/freezer, it’s all about modern family living. Laundry facilities are also tucked away behind the kitchen cabinetry.

The kitchen opens through double doors to a glass-framed, solar-heated pool and a north-west-facing terrace with palms rippling in the breeze.

Inspired by Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles, the owners wanted to create a resort vibe and Richard Unsworth, of Garden Life, delivered with a slice of urban paradise.

Beyond the kitchen, a dedicated dining zone leads to a flexible, self-contained wing that would be ideal as a media room or rumpus, and could also host guests or be utilised as a large home office with its own kitchenette, bathroom and storage.

Head up the timber and steel, single-stringer staircase to the bedrooms, each with built-in storage and the main with a skylit, free-standing bath.

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There’s also a large bright family room opening onto a balcony with glimpses of the city and Anzac Bridge.

It’s a home that preserves a piece of Rozelle’s history and segues neatly into contemporary architecture, celebrating Australia’s great weather and offering the new owners the perks of inner-city living.

Selling agent Cindy Kennedy of McGrath Balmain expects the adaptable floorplan to lure bidders to the property’s May 5 auction. 

“The home is very flexible, with a studio that is perfect for a business or as a rumpus,” she says. 

The property is expected to sell for around $2.35 million.