I RECENTLY calculated I’d written almost 1500 home reviews over my years at the Herald, which amounts to around 500,000 words. That’s almost Tolstoy’s War and Peace.
So you’d think I’d know better than to judge a book by its cover, or in this case a home by its facade.
The austere front of this Lefroy Road home belies the interior’s warmth and easy livability. A swathe of concrete in the front garden makes for plenty of parking but I think it could do with softening, easily achieved with a tree or two.
Probably built around 1950/60 all four bedrooms run off a long, central hall.
All are double because back then kids were expected to share, so each has room for two single beds, two wardrobes, and a dressing table or two.
Of course mum and dad’s room is bigger, ‘cause that’s for the grown-ups.
Across the hall, walls have been removed to create a spacious, semi-open living/dining/kitchen area that flows seamlessly one to the other and out to a spacious outdoor living area and a huge backyard.
The generous kitchen has had a modernising makeover, with plenty of bench space and crisp white soft-close drawers, a massive shiny new stove and a bank of louvres that can be adjusted to keep the kitchen slave cool.
Although with a commodious, covered patio I’m betting a lot of the cooking is done outdoors on the barbecue. Lushly planted garden beds makes this a delightful spot to entertain, or just relax with the paper or a good book.
And with 663sqm there’s plenty of room for the kids to kick a ball, or play a round or two of backyard cricket on the lawn.
A cedar studio at the rear of the property is just the shot for a teenager’s pad, or a budding artist to hone their skill—or maybe just a terrific playroom for the kids or a sanity escape for mum.
Because this really is a great family home, within walking distance to the lovely Beaconsfield primary school, South Beach and a fantastic selection of cafe and boutique shopping in the fast growing South Fremantle cafe strip.
by JENNY D’ANGER
25 Lefroy Road, South Fremantle
From $1.09 million
Rachel Meyer 0428 916 651
Property Gallery 9430 9430
Open every Sat 11–noon