THE dog was a clue, a model of correct canine behaviour, and finally the penny dropped and I realised the vendor of this home in Jarvis Street, O’Connor was dog trainer Dorthe.

“I’m not training the dogs, I’m training you,” she’d repeatedly told the class I’d taken my mutt to three years ago.

He passed with flying colours, despite not being up to Dorthe’s well-mannered Chrissie’s standards.

Dorthe’s three-bedroom home has all the warmth of her classes, a wonderfully eclectic space, where the original lounge/dining has been converted into a spacious bedroom/sitting room.

The second bedroom was melded from a couple of smaller rooms to create a generous space, with a huge walk-in robe — or study/sitting room.

The third bedroom is a converted railway carriage, a delightful space with timber walls, a classic railway car curved timber ceiling and french doors to the garden.

It would make a great teenage pad, with plenty of space to spread out in wonderful funky ambience.

The rear of the home is a series of renovations and additions which come together in a sprawling relaxed area.

The kitchen is huge, with a bank of white-fronted drawers and cupboards, topped with honey gold timber, a large hatch overlooking the living/dining area.

Sitting on 479sqm there’s room in the sheltered garden for a lovely alfresco area, and I can picture myself chilling on the circular limestone wall of the sunken conversation pit, where a central fire warms heart and toes.

Limestone terraces hold a veritable orchard of banana trees, loquat, fig and peach, and a heavily fruiting paw paw.

Close to South Street, this interesting, dog-friendly home is close to myriad shops and a short bus ride from Fremantle or South Fremantle’s cappuccino strip.

by JENNY D’ANGER

15 Jarvis Street, O’Connor
$550,000–4570,000
Rebekah Vos-Jamieson 0428 175 643
Locate Real Estate 9335 9007