A PACKED lunch, a map and a water bottle are prerequisites for a tour of this Applecross mansion.
With six bedrooms, five bathrooms, upper and lower living spaces, garaging for 10 cars, and sitting on 1346sqm of land, my survival pack should also have included a Segway.
Instead, I wandered dazed through massive room after massive room.
By the end I was well ready for crumpling into a chair, gin and tonic in hand (from the in-home bar) and gazing at the sumptuous views of the Perth skyline through walls of glass.
I could have saved my legs a walk by taking the lift.
Carving a graceful arc on Riverway this two-storey home was built at an angle to make the most of river and city views.
Curved walls of glass in the formal and informal second-storey living areas and the main bedroom ensure nothing is missed of a constantly changing vista (which I find much more interesting than the relatively bland canvas of uninterrupted ocean that northern suburbs people pay for).
“It’s beautiful at different times of the day, storms coming through or sunrise…you never get sick of it,” the vendor says.
The house was built to meet the needs of a family of seven: The gargantuan kitchen designed so mum could cook while her marauding horde swarmed in for after-school snacks and drinks, “without [us] falling over each other,” she says.
A wall of glass onto the curved marble and granite staircase keeps noise down, and makes temperature control easier.
Masses of black granite benchtops and soft golden timber cupboards conceal an assortment of labour-saving devices and keep the bench spaces free of clutter. Perfect for schoolbag dumping!
Dust and dirt can be swept up to the ducted vacuum, at the base of a cupboard, and with a gentle tap of a toe it’s magically sucked out of sight.
And as if there’s not enough space in the kitchen, there’s a huge scullery off to the side.
The main bedroom is on this level too, a more than generous space, with doors to the balcony. Its massive ensuite won an architecture award (imagine that, an award especially for bathrooms), and you can see why with its stunning burl and ebony double vanity, underfloor heating and curved glass shower.
The walk-in robe/dressing room has a Robin Hood: A concealed ironing board for a quick press before heading out.
The home’s second floor is a voluminous open space with both formal and informal living and the bar area—currently populated by a baby grand and an organ.
A wall of glass onto the curved marble and granite staircase keeps noise down, and makes temperature control easier.
A huge front-facing balcony is just the spot for alfresco entertaining, with space for dining and reclining, and a built-in-barbecue kitchen.
Wave-like curves are a decorative feature of this waterfront home, including an undulating timber ceiling over the balcony.
And the river-facing office has a curving ceiling, matched by the curve of the built-in desk. Although with views like these I can’t see the occupant getting much done.
This is the ideal party house, with areas to suit everyone.
Recently a 90th birthday was held upstairs (there’s easy access for wheelchairs, with a lift, ramps and a wheelchair-friendly powder room).
The next day there was a Hawaii-themed bucks’ party around the pool.
The pool “cabana” is part of the house, with indoor/outdoor carpet, and a “wet” bathroom.
A spacious family/theatre room, with its own kitchen, makes this an ideal area for teens to entertain their pimply friends, leaving the grown-ups to relax upstairs.
Hand me another G&T, will you, darl?
by JENNY D’ANGER
1 Riverway, Applecross
POA
Steve Currie 0413 984 569
Caporn Young 9385 5559