House of the week: Wonders lurk behind a St Kilda art and craft facade

34 Robe Street, St Kilda
$3 million-plus
4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 car spaces

Auction 1.30pm Saturday, November 28
Inspect on Saturday noon-12.30pm
Wilson Agents, Graeme Wilson 0418 315 645

St Kilda and our very Melbourne version of the inner city beach might make the northern neighbours scoff, but it’s why we love it so. There’s grit and gimcrack up close to glamour and the gorgeous, all set against waters only a windsurfer could love. It’s offered a home to everyone over the years; and there’s the charm. Robe Street is “old St Kilda”, boasting some of the best homes in the neighbourhood.

This gorgeous arts and crafts facade hides an array of wonders so impressive you might think you’ve slipped through a geographical vortex and ended up in someone’s expansive eastern suburbs garden. Inside it’s lovely. An enormous hallway rolls away to the open plan rear, with bursts of light from the garden filtering in and filling the footprint.

First to the left is the superb “study”. We’re really calling this a bedroom because a former incarnation had it so – it’s a little open to be perfectly honest – but a touch of modification would make it a beautiful place to rest your head. Box bay leadlight window, fretwork and a fire: heavenly. Further along to the right is another bedroom, a fine space with another fireplace and beautiful windows on either edge.

A central bathroom with stone accents, a sunken shower and more garden views sits next along the bright passage. The main bedroom is pretty much a wing to itself. Off the hallway you jag into the expansive en suite with travertine flooring, vanity and wall tiling. Another door takes you into the deep walk in robe.

The bedroom has glorious views of the central “lungs” of the home – a beautiful green courtyard that spreads its way across both sides of the house. Bedroom four sits opposite with more of those verdant vistas, but the real star of the house is its glassy centre. This magnificent heart opens onto all that lush greenery on both sides, courtesy of the passage turning standard to special with the introduction of floor-to-ceiling windows. The best bit though, the glass floor that takes you over the babbling brook that runs underneath. Fabulous.

Then you’re out to an expansive dining and living area with garden views and fine projected ceilings that house high opening windows which provide excellent cross ventilation. The kitchen brings up the rear, an easy space with Caesarstone benches and a massive walk-in pantry. A laundry with good storage and a powder room completes the house before direct access to the two-car garage boasting loft storage and right of way to a large lane at the back.

Need to know: Last traded for $710,000 in 1999. Highest recorded house price for St Kilda (last 12 months) $3.05 million for 48 Marine Parade in July. Recent sales: $1,555,000 for 18 Lambeth Place in October; $1,257,000 for 55 Waterloo Crescent in October; $1.610,000 for 10 Frampton Street in September.

Room for improvement: Some very minimal updating to the working rooms would bring things up to new millennium speed.