Blending period features with modern updates, this double-brick Edwardian in Burwood, owned by Bert Newton in the 1970s, has been a labour of love for over two decades.
“My late wife Kimberly Todisco fell in love with the house as soon as she saw it,” says the vendor, Steven Todisco.
“She cried and rang me at work while at the open inspection and said, ‘This is the one; we have to get it no matter what.’”
And they did. Infatuated with the heritage charm of the existing home at 11 Highbury Rd, the couple, who had a background in home renovation, began updating the property as soon as they had the keys – a process which, Steven says, hasn’t really stopped.
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The home was owned by Bert Newton in the 1970s.
The property underwent a renovation for 12 months.
“Kimberly was a renowned world abstract artist, Kimmi Lee Art, with a flair for design, and I have a background as a carpenter. We bought it in 2005, renovated it after work and on weekends for 12 months. Really, we have never stopped improving it,” he says.
“We did a major renovation in 2015, added a second storey, which took over a year to complete. We sourced things from around the world, tapware from the UK, and the tiles are handmade in Italy.”
The aim of the renovation was to seamlessly blend the old character with the new.
“We wanted to renovate the house so it was hard to see what was old and what was new, but with a luxurious and quality feeling,” explains Steven.
The home retains its three-metre-high walls, bay windows, ornate ceilings, large bedrooms, and chandeliers, while modern touches, including a handmade black crystal chandelier and hydronic heating, were added to create a contemporary, luxurious feel.
The aim of the renovation was to seamlessly blend the old character with the new.
The house has a price guide of $2.5m-$2.75m.
A perfect entertainer, the home features an indoor-outdoor kitchen and dining zone with an integrated sound system and bi-fold doors that lead to an undercover outdoor area with a kitchenette.
There is also a heated in-ground pool, a separate gym and a rumpus/guest bedroom.
“The house has everything you need, from movie nights, a gym and workshop out the back, to swimming in the electric heated pool in the middle of winter,” says Steven.
“The alfresco is perfect in the middle of summer or winter when all the walls are closed in to make its own out-of-doors room.”
Positioned in a central part of Burwood close to Toorak Rd shops, Deakin University and a range of quality schools, the location is also hard to beat.
11 Highbury Rd, Burwood, is listed with a price guide of $2.5m-$2.75m through Buxton Balwyn-Canterbury. It is scheduled for auction on June 13.
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