You Wish

31 Mathoura Road, Toorak
$3.75 million-plus

There are outstanding apartments aplenty but new turnkey houses are few and far between for the top-end buyer who seeks to downsize but not downgrade.

At 31 Mathoura Road, between Hawksburn and Toorak villages, this property is designed for private, secure living; for entertaining, between a 13-metre-long living area and a bluestone-paved courtyard and pool; and to be locked-and-left, for those who travel.

Understated modern sophistication starts at the facade, which pairs a brassy anodised cassette-panel garage door with ridged formed-concrete panels. Inside, geometric black steel in the window frames and sculptural staircase is balanced by the femininity of Carrara marble and pale European oak, which has a natural oil finish on floors and white-oil stain in the Miele kitchen’s joinery.

The upper floor has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a study area. A downstairs lounge/retreat next to a lightwell, planted as a pebbled garden, could be a guests’ bedroom.

Taking charge of the sale, a high-noon March 4 auction, is RT Edgar’s Oliver Booth.