A TINY weatherboard workers’ cottage from the street, this home in Duke Street, East Fremantle is a veritable Tardis inside.

A long, lean hall reveals the cottage’s heritage cred, including wide baltic pine floors, painted a charcoal black, that were no doubt ships’ ballast in the late 1800s. Adding to the heritage appeal is the fact a former editor of the Herald lived here, back in the early ‘90s.

The main bedroom is in the original section, a generous space with floor-to-ceiling built-in-robes and a lovely ensuite.

Then you step into the engine room, via the original central lounge, and wonder where the Doctor is as you take in a sweep of modernity in a massive open living/dining/kitchen.

Bifold doors peel back on two sides opening the house up in an apparent sleight of hand that had me wondering how the ceiling stayed up.

It seems the vendor’s husband isn’t the sort to take no for an answer, and when told it couldn’t be done, went ahead and did it, coming up with a seriously solid steel build that seems to defy gravity.

The result is a stunning alfresco area that melds into the home’s interior to create a vast space stretching out to a series of timber decks and a swathe of emerald green lawn.

The generous, ultra-modern kitchen would have the most demanding chef salivating, with its sweep of essa stone bench tops, including a huge island, and slew of cupboards and drawers.

The home stretches down the 509sqm block, with three bedrooms forming a wing.

Floor-to-ceiling glass gives the vendors’ two littlies access to the garden — and their amazing tree house based on the castle from the movie Frozen.

With a skillion roof the vendors were told ducted aircon wasn’t an option, but Mark simply had it put under the floor, where it very effectively pumps cool air on the hottest days.

Acoustic rated glass throughout and acoustic walls, keeps out traffic noise from nearby Stirling Highway.

80 Duke St, East Fremantle
mid $1 million
Jennifer Castle 0414 572 40
Acton East Fremantle 9319 3022