Heritage Hyde Park villa with luxury extension
This heritage Hyde Park villa has been restored to its former glory with a modern extension that champions bright, spacious and comfortable living.
When Anna Standish happened upon her Hyde Park property, built in 1910, its heritage character had been suppressed by a gaudy bungalow facade. But she knew it had potential.
“It was originally a return verandah villa, and it had great structure underneath,” says Anna, co-founder of Montessori House.
“The front rooms were quite spacious; they had beautiful, ornate ceilings with a lot of height.
“The house itself had great structure and I thought I could definitely bring it back to its former glory.”
Now fully restored, the return-verandah villa has a light and bright facade, a prelude to its extended interior.
The extension champions natural light, optimising its north-facing orientation.
“It was on a nice parcel of land, so there was the opportunity to put a lovely big extension on the back with a bit of height and lots of light and glass,” Anna says.
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“We looked at how we could bring in some more light with a breezeway running from the old to the new.”
Anna sought to maintain its character, but with all the comforts of modern living.
“That’s where the breezeway comes in, it’s a focal point between the old and the new,” she says.
“[The extension] doesn’t compromise the front of the house … when you come in, it’s quite open and high, but it doesn’t overshadow the original home.
“I think there’s a good balance here.”
The extension champions comfort, functionality and open living that flows to the outdoors.
Anna says the kitchen is the centrepiece of the home, featuring a 3.5-metre-long statuario marble island bench and premium Gaggenau appliances.
The home also features a swimming pool, outdoor dining area and solar panels with two Tesla batteries.
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There’s also a golf simulator room that Anna says has the flexibility to be converted into an additional living space.
Anna prioritised high-end materials and fittings to make the home as functional and comfortable as possible.
“It was important to have lots of glass, height and large enough where it felt like you’re in a nice space, but not too big where it’s echoey.
“It was all about entertaining; being able to get together and watch a game, have dinners or parties, it’s all happened here.
“It’s just really warm and comfortable.”
This wasn’t Anna’s first renovation, but with the intention of making it her forever home, it was unlike any house she’d flipped before.
“It was more of a labour of love and I did everything to the highest standard because I thought I’d be here forever,” she says.
Now that some of Anna’s children have moved interstate and overseas, and she only has one son remaining at home, she is looking to downsize.
“It just ticked all the boxes for me,” she says.
“I definitely will miss it.”
The sale of 29 Commercial Road, Hyde Park, is being handled by Rocco Perre of Ray White.
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