House of the Week: Contained simplicity in Middle Park

23 Nimmo street, Middle Park
$2.4 million-plus
3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 car space
Auction at 12.30pm, on Saturday, April 29
Inspect on Saturday from 11.30am-noonMarshall White, Oliver Bruce 0409 856 599

When a house comes up for sale in Middle Park, you have to take a look at it. It’s white-knuckle territory down here by the bay – and it’s not because there’s anything to be afraid of.

Quite the contrary, the white knuckles here are caused by the good denizens of Middle Park holding tightly to their real estate assets.

And why wouldn’t you? This is one of Melbourne’s most attractive bayside villages; a gem that boasts those wide central boulevards that run to the sea and side streets brimming with ruby-red brick beauties.

This corner conversion has the best of both of those worlds – fronting wide Nimmo Street and sharing the bend with Erskine Street.

Using the original facade as a false front is clever – the house proper set back from here, creating depth and admitting extra light and air while also providing some nifty storage.

First off the classic hallway is the front-facing bedroom with lovely access to that little slip of a front courtyard so you can get as much or as little street life as you desire. There’s a very handsome en suite here as well as plenty of storage.

Further along the hall the lovely stone flooring flows off to the easterly rear passing a powder room and laundry before you step into the easily composed spaces of the rear open plan.

The kitchen set at the back is a spruce little beauty. Stone benches, mirrored splashback, slick appliances and a healthy amount of storage speak to the thoughtful, but always stylish design here. There’s a nice, contained simplicity to this house and the kitchen is perhaps its best expression.

In front, there are dining and living areas, the latter boasting a cool gas pebble fire and then it’s out through the wall of glass to the decked rear courtyard with a tropical, palm fringed burst of green.

Bi-fold doors open onto a large garage so you have extra room for entertaining should the need arise.

Head back inside and take the gorgeous stair to the first level where you’ll find two delightful bedrooms with big windows full of sky and north light and a sliver of the city too. These are serviced by a fine marble bathroom.

The terrific village is but a few blocks to the east, and the beach a stroll to the south. No wonder they stay in Middle Park as long as they can.

Need to know: Built circa 1900, renovated in 2009. The house was last sold for $1.55 million in April 2009 and the highest recorded house price in Middle Park (past 12 months) was $6.5 million for 337 Danks Street in August 2016. Recent sales: $2,956,000 for 96 Hambleton Street, March 2017; $1.92 million for 33 Nimmo Street, February 2017, and $2.66 million for 277 Danks Street, December 2016.