Designed to appeal to a broad audience this home has an impressive entry flowing into a curved gallery and wrought iron stair that set the mood for the formal rooms in the home, opening off this impressive area is the large lounge / dining room with picture windows and the huge study. Towards the rear of the home is the family and meals area with large curved window and French doors opening out onto the pool. Opposite the meals space is a huge kitchen with pantry and laundry behind.

Upstairs there are two 4.5m x 4.5m kids bedrooms with walk in robes and a shared bathroom, facing the front. There is a third large kids bedroom that has its own ensuite and built in robes on this level as well as a multi purpose room, lots of linen space and a store room. The master suite occupies the entire rear of the home and with its small private balcony commands a view of the pool and fountain. With a massive walk in robe and stunning ensuite with a free standing bath, you will think you are in a luxury hotel.

The block was on the high side of the road and sloped up away from the street so caused us a few problems beyond the usual ResCode height restrictions and boundary setbacks.

The front more formal part of the ground floor comprises of a living & dining room a large double door entry, spacious study with built in robes, plus a feng shui approved feature stair. Moving past the stairs there is a small passage leading to the large laundry and powder room complete with a shower. The informal part of the home is separated by large double doors allowing you separate the large open family room and kitchen / meals area from the rest of the house. This section features a small utility bench off to one side for mobile phone chargers and netball fixtures, as well as a built in TV cabinet.

The kitchen is well appointed with Blue Pearl granite bench tops, Emporite cabinetry and Miele appliances. The second kitchen has wok burners and super charged range hood (ducted to outside) as well as a sink and plenty of space for food storage. It also provide direct access back through to the dining room, a great feature when entertaining.

Upstairs you will find 3 good sized bedrooms with built in robes and a large shared bathroom. The master suite is generously proportioned with a large walk in robe and luxurious ensuite including a corner spa. There is also a small MPR at the front of the house facing east that opens out onto a small balcony.

We used 50mm Daniel Robertson bricks (Hawthorn Black) with white mortar to the bulk of the front facade to provide a deep textured canvas then applied some feature render bands over the plinth and corbelled brickwork and used some carefully selected mouldings to provide just the right amount of flair without being pretentious.

For the Toorak townhouses we included basements that provided off-street parking, storage and additional living space.  The basements allow for larger homes while still having courtyard space.  A basement car park also removes the need for a garage door at ground level that would dominate the narrow front elevations.

On ground level are lounge and dining rooms to the front at either side of the central entry.  The stairs and lifts work both practically and as features in the townhouses.  The townhouses feature timber entry doors opening to show parquetry throughout the ground floors.  The family rooms and kitchens face north and overlook the rear courtyards (one with a small pool).

The upper floors comprise of three bedrooms each, the two small bedrooms have built-in robes and shared a bathroom. The master bedrooms have ensuites, both built-in and walk-in robes and front balconies.

One townhouse has a three-metre ceiling and the other a 3.2-metre ceiling.  Both have large feature cornices and skirtings, which set the tone of luxury.  They also feature fireplaces, stairs with solid wrought iron balustrade, solid-timber cabinets and classical stone bench tops to complete the luxurious feel.

Ravida delivered a multi split-level design to accommodate Mt Martha's town planning guidelines and work with the slope of the site.

Careful attention to detail was needed with the large two-car garage, workshop and store/wine cellar on the ground level to ensure the driveway would work. 

Different materials were used externally to accentuate the different planes of the elevation.  A strong central column jutting forward clad in stone is the main focus, glass balustrade to the balconies, large windows and two tones of render provide the contrast while the curved roof adds the modern coastal touch. 

The middle level has the living areas and the master bedroom.  Our designers ensured the formal rooms and the master bedroom has the pick of the views.  However some clever positioning and use of curved glass enables the rooms at the rear to have bay views as well as enjoy the rear pool aspect. 

Two splits levels on this floor were required to ensure we were within our maximum height at the front of the building and enable the rear of the home to be at the same level as the pool.  Balconies at the front with glass balustrade provide great access to the view and assist with the modern feel of the elevation.  A deck wraps around the rear and side of the building to again capture both bay and pool aspects and work with the flow of the internal rooms.

The upper level has three bedrooms, one of which is a second master bedroom that has magnificent views both from the room and its private balcony.  There is also an additional living area on this level, which was designed for many uses including as a study, media room or as a sleep out for guests.  By again using curved glass, the room captures the bay view. 

As with most post-war Melbourne homes the master bedroom of the Strathmore home is located to the front on one side, complete with its large walk in robes, an ensuite with a large shower and built-in dressing table.  The two-car garage is on the other side with a large central porch/entry.  The entry continues into the spacious and highly-detailed gallery that runs the length of the home.  Bedrooms, bathrooms and powder rooms are off to the side of the gallery.  All are given privacy by small returns and hallways into each room.  Further along the gallery, pairs of feature-glass doors open up to the formal library / sitting room, and dining room.

Finally, the gallery ends with the kitchen area, which runs across the back of the home.  This large kitchen also has a wine cellar and walk-in pantry.  The family room has feature glass doors that open out onto the rear courtyard and covered alfresco area.

Many hours were spent by our designers and the client researching and selecting the specific detail and materials suited to its era and how they could combine, where they had to, with more modern elements and expectations.  Even the tradespeople got involved with suggestions on the finer detailing on site, it was a true collaboration.
Externally, second-hand bricks from the period were sourced and laid in patterns typical of the style, timber windows with unique lead-light glazing were used, and even the front fence and gate design matched the period.

Inside the 3.3-metre ceiling, large cornices, plaster detailing including feature corbels and keystone arches, and strapping on walls and ceilings set the tone.  A combination of stained and painted (emporite) cabinetry help to set the different moods for each room while the large skirting, architrave and sill moulds that match the painted timber windows and routed doors carries a theme through the whole home. 

The kitchen is magnificent with its mantle over the cooker, cornice moulds, corbels, glass doors and dish rack.  Even the glass and wrought iron door to the cellar and the pendant lights enhances the theme.

On the floor the marble-tiled entry/gallery flows through to a Sydney blue gum parquetry floor of the family room. 

Having a laneway that enable car access to the rear of the property was a key factor, this and the clever use of a hidden wing wall (detailed to match the rest of the front of the home) enabled a symmetrical front elevation as well as practical access for rubbish bins and service access.  The use of an aged render, a natural slate roof in a bell hip shape, arched windows and carefully selected wrought iron work, coach lights and mouldings provided classical Melbourne look with French overtones.

Inside the ground floor consists of an entry hall, large study, media room, large formal room, formal power room and large laundry under the stair.  An open plan kitchen (with meals family room opens out to the large Alfresco (with outdoor kitchen) and the pool area with solid block walls creating a courtyard effect.  There is a small passageway to the garage at the rear past the outdoor powder room with shower and plenty of storage space.

Up the timber and wrought iron stairs you find 3 large bedrooms each with large walk in robes and shared access to two bathrooms as well as the master suite with huge walk in robes, spacious ensuite with large feature bath and bedroom sized to match.

The internal detailing is simple classic modern with understated features to suit the outside of the home, typical 3m ceilings, Ravida style plasterwork, cornices, skirtings and architrave quietly compliment the clients beautiful furniture and artworks, the colours were also carefully selected and provide a perfect backdrop for the drapes and soft furnishings.

The use of the highest quality materials fixtures and fittings and Ravida quality construction combined with an intelligent floor plan and classical styling inside and out, makes this home one of Melbourne’s finest.

The rooms downstairs are huge with an entry, study, guest bedroom with access to the powder room with shower, living and dining rooms laundry with heaps of storage and open plan kitchen meals family area to the rear that opens out the alfresco.

The rear alfresco is raised above the landscaped backyard and has an outdoor kitchen that is the envy of any BBQ expert.

The feature curved stairs lead up to 4 huge bedrooms each with their own WIR and ensuite, (the master with its own retreat area) plus a sitting / multi purpose room and two huge storerooms.

Totalling over 88sq the size alone is impressive, add the strong masculine porch, pediment and detailing on the front elevation, Ravida’s cleaver use of levels, our high level of build quality and our usual use of high end materials fixtures and fittings and you get a house that will make an impression from both inside and out.