They went to the inspection and immediately fell in love. Bryce couldn’t deny its charm and gorgeous features, softening the fear of moving away from the city.
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“Once I saw the house, it was unlike any other house I’d been into,” he says. “It’s not a perfect or glossy mansion, more like a comfy slipper – a cosy home. There’s something quirky and beautiful about it.”
But the pair hadn’t so much as thought about putting their existing apartments up for sale, nor applied for pre-approval, so they had no idea whether the property was within reach.
“People also loved telling us ‘no’ – family, friends, building inspectors, and everyone in between, asking us why we’d buy an old home on a block that’s largely covered in rainforest,” says Bryce. “Everyone had their opinion on what could go wrong.”
Thankfully, they were able to sell their apartments and secure financing relatively quickly. The move happened soon after.
The pair couldn’t be happier with their purchase and plan to retain the property’s heritage – and have recently repainted it in its original Tudor colours. However, they have added one contemporary inclusion.
“We have a barrel sauna with a beautiful view over the forest,” Sainty says. Credit: Greg Briggs
“We have a barrel sauna with a beautiful view over the forest. It’s down a little path, nestled in the garden, completely private,” says Sainty. “You can run down there in the nude, sit in 80-degree heat on a crisp two-degree morning and take in the surroundings.”
Although the classic Tudor design appears seamless from floor to ceiling, it was actually pieced together over several decades.
It’s believed the top part of the property was shipped over from England in 1910 as a flat-pack kit home – a relatively common practice back then due to the lack of materials and skilled tradespeople in Australia. The downstairs spaces were later added by subsequent owners.
“We love the experience of moving between different zones, from the subterranean downstairs room, up the kooky staircase and landing, into the dark and moody living-dining room, through to the sun-drenched library looking out onto the forest,” says Bryce.
“To us, this home is perfectly imperfect.” Credit: Greg Briggs
“It makes the home feel large and adventurous and cosy at the same time.”
Given the property’s age, it naturally comes with a few quirks. It’s only connected to a septic tank, and its enclosed design and hillside positioning mean natural light can be in short supply.
However, the trade-offs make living here worthwhile.
“The safe option isn’t always the best option. I remember telling a building inspector, if I wanted a cookie-cutter brand-new home on a flat block, I’d go buy one,” says Bryce.
“To us, this home is perfectly imperfect, and we love its uniqueness.”
This article was originally published by Domain.com.au. Reproduced with permission.