Cooking up a storm

Follow the lead of Helene Omeros, who has just bought an apartment in the Monaco building in Main Beach, and customise your kitchen like a pro

AN apartment in the Monaco in Main Beach is set to have the Gold Coast’s most impressive home kitchen now that Helene Omeros and her husband Charles Millard (pictured) have bought in the building.

In a downsizing move, Ms Omeros (whose family own and run the iconic and multi-award-winning seafood restaurant Omeros Brothers in Marina Mirage) and Mr Millard have bought a three-bedroom apartment on the 11th storey of Ignite Projects’ boutique development.

Ms Omeros said the option to custom design the kitchen was a unique opportunity for the couple.

“We spend a lot of time cooking and eating together so having the ideal kitchen is so important to us,” she said.

“My brother (John Omeros) and dad (Nick Omeros) are both chefs, so they get in the kitchen with Charles and cook up a storm.”

Omeros Brothers is a Gold Coast icon with the Omeros family having operated some of the country’s leading restaurants for more than 40 years.

Mr Millard said it was important that their kitchen be practical, not only for cooking but entertaining.

“The kitchen is always the focal point for the first hour after guests arrive,” he said.

“That’s why we want to be interacting with our guests rather than having our backs to them while we use the cooktop and ovens. We find it works best if the ovens and cooktop are built into the island bench facing the living area so that way the entertaining flows perfectly.”

Mr Millard said key features of their new kitchen would be gas cooktops, two fridges and two over-sized ovens as well as a generous butler’s pantry.

Ms Omeros said they would be sure to consult her dad and brother on the kitchen’s design before it was built.

“The beauty of it is, once the design is finished, we get to run it past the chefs of the family for their advice. That’s not something many people can do.”

It wasn’t only the customisable kitchen, however, that led the couple to the Monaco building – location, views and five-star residential facilities were also a draw.

“We don’t get Broadwater views in our current building so that’s a lovely change,” Ms Omeros said. “The Monaco is also close enough to walk to my job at the restaurant.

“I’ve lived in Main Beach for six years and it has definitely grown on me, and my husband has been in Main Beach for more than 18 years.”

The Monaco is a 24-level building with a collection of full-floor and half-floor sky residences at 2-4 MacArthur Parade.

Elements of the apartments such as the kitchen configuration, as well as finishes and fittings can be customised, with prices for a three-bedroom, three-bathroom unit starting at $4.45 million.

The penthouse in the building is on the market for $9.5 million.

Construction by McNab is due to start in September.

LONGSTANDING Gold Coast developer Raptis has unveiled a new development for Main Beach – the $160 million Pearl.

The 30-level tower is being built to capture the demand for high-end apartments along the Gold Coast that offer a low-maintenance, high-amenity lifestyle.

The flagship offering in the building will be a super penthouse measuring more than 700sq m and featuring a pool, recreation area, library, high ceilings and a flexible floor plan, along with panoramic views of the coastline.

While a price for the penthouse and two sky homes lower down in the building, are yet to be finalised, more modest twobedroom units with hinterland views will start at $749,000, while three-bedroom units with ocean views will start at $1.375 million.

Twelve sub-penthouses, priced from $1.975 million, will also be among the offering of 80 homes in total.

Raptis founder Jim Raptis said the current property cycle offered opportunities for buyers to secure a sought-after Main Beach lifestyle.

“Empty-nesters, wherever they are located, are achieving more for their homes at the point of sale, providing them with the liquidity to secure a Main Beach lifestyle,” he said.

Raptis joint managing director Evan Raptis said the Gold Coast had recorded strong price growth against the backdrop of the pandemic, however, it still offered value to buyers.

He said the Gold Coast appealed to Sydney and Melburnians frustrated by lockdowns and a lack of affordable real estate.

Construction of Pearl is under way, with completion set for August 2022.