WHEN the Chook editor assigned me to review 40 Hope St in White Gum Valley, I Googled it, and sunk into my chair after viewing a bunch of under-whelming photos.

But on arrival I found myself standing in front of a charming cottage, and it transpired I’d viewed online photos of the the house in 2014, pre-renovation (they’ve now been removed).

Compared to the unadorned 2014 abode, the new incarnation is all flare.

The lounge room has ornate ceilings and walls adorned with funky wallpaper, while the kitchen has retained its original antique tiles and a refurbished wood-fired Metters stove, which is sure to invoke nostalgia in even the most cold-hearted.

But surely romantics will be glad the open-plan kitchen also has a 900mm, six-burner Westinghouse stove, and modern cupboards with ample storage space, and a stylish pine bench.

The renovations extend to the cosy modern bathroom, the laundry with a second toilet, and the north-facing alfresco.

Rich jarrah floorboards line the main living area and the three cosy bedrooms with built in robes. Other upgrades include ducted reverse-cycle air conditioning and a solar hot water system.

The alfresco is undercover and fitted with a ceiling fan to allow all-year-round entertaining. Mostly paved with exposed aggregate, the backyard is low-maintenance but has neat, tidy garden beds with established trees, including a 50-year-old olive tree, and veggie beds.

Further north is an outdoor wash house and a single garage and workshop, as well as extra off-street parking. The home is close to White Gum Valley Primary School and Booyeembara Park, and within walking distance of Fremantle.

BY JAYDEN O’NEIL

40 Hope Street, White Gum Valley
From $725,000
Yard Property
Rebekah Vos-Jamieson
0428175643