Sketches of Spain
Apartment has a Old- Med feel and plenty of European panache, writes Catherine Masters
Tony and Janet Chase’s European- style home is one of two apartments that make up a distinctive three- level building. The whole space is flexible and either apartment ( both are for sale) is great for rental or perfect if you want to have a home and a business, they say.
The couple used to have their offices downstairs — they import motorcycle apparel — and live upstairs. But where they had the hub of their business could equally be residential, they say.
On this ground level there’s a kitchen, bathroom, lounge and rooms that would easily turn into bedrooms. Upstairs, where they lived, you walk into Italy or Spain.
Big metal fire doors open into a spacious loft apartment with double height ceiling, textured white concrete walls and steel fittings – there’s even a stunning steel kitchen in black and silver.
The building, on the road into Devonport village, has a mirror apartment set- up taking up the other side to theirs which is great, Janet says, because you only have one neighbour and you don’t have to deal with a body corporate.
It’s easy living and low- maintenance. The lounge has two bedrooms off it and a tiled bathroom and on the third level is the master bedroom with wide slat wooden floors and an en suite, and this room also has a deck that looks down on a garden centre, across to Mt Victoria and you can see the Sky Tower.
Tony says though the concrete building looks as if it’s been there for a long time, it was only built in the 1990s and has a brand new Code of Compliance. Now there is a sophisticated fire alarm system, which includes a voice directing you what to do in the event of a fire.
The Chases called in designer friend Stefan Rondel, who works with metal and iron, to bring the black metal theme throughout their apartment, which they have enhanced with other fittings, such as a black metal leaf chandelier Tony was told had been built for the set of Xena Warrior Princess.
The upstairs deck has a solid metal awning held in place by metal circles and downstairs in the open plan lounge with polished concrete floors there are three big soundproof windows with metal joinery which flood the room with light and look across to the greenery of a golf course.
The kitchen has a pantry hidden behind what looks like a metal wall, and they have incorporated a sloped cupboard under the concrete stairs leading up to the master bedroom.
But the piece de resistance is the large island bench that is on castors — they had a special steel island top made which you can move and drop down to turn it into a dinner table seating 12.
“It’s really styly and it’s all kind of metal,” says Tony.
“I think the nicest thing about it is it’s got a bit of panache the average apartment doesn’t have these days. You know, it seems like you can’t buy character anymore because everything’s just built vanilla and I guess this enables you to have a piece of France or Italy.”
Janet reckons it feels Spanish, but it would fit in any European city, or even as a stylish warehouse apartment in Melbourne.
Tony thinks it would make an incredible Air BnB: “It’s got loads of character, it’s close to Devonport, you can walk down to the ferry, there are buses right outside the front door, beach over there, golf course across there.”
The couple have a house in Takapuna now so have decided to put their side of the building on the market.
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1/ 25A LAKE RD, DEVONPORT SIZE: PRICE GUIDE: INSPECT: TENDER: SCHOOLS: CONTACT: ON THE WEB: * OSP for 2.
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