High On The Gloss

The Age

Saturday December 16, 2006

KERRIE O'BRIEN

From warehouse to wow house - Kerrie O'Brien inspects an impressive conversion.

PROPERTY REVIEW: PRAHRAN, 29 Hinton Lane $1.95 million

Private sale

Agent Kay & Burton, 9820 1111

Melway 2L G10

ABOUT a two-minute walk from Greville Street, this is one amazing warehouse conversion. Though technically not a house, it's hardly an apartment, given its size; it extends over four floors and has three or four bedrooms, depending on the configuration.

Interesting finishes have been used throughout, with unusual textured materials appearing on floors and walls alike. There's drag-brushed red paint in the kitchen/living/dining room, and chocolate, bronze and old gold in the bedrooms. Italian glass tiles in bronze are used in one of the bathrooms, which has a Japanese-style tub; the other has a gorgeous freestanding bath that looks like a giant half eggshell.

The flooring throughout is recycled timber, with a glossy dark stain.

Marine wire doubles as a design element and the banister on one side of the staircase from the ground floor to the top. On the top level, a skylight sits over the stairwell. And at the back of the apartment, a 12.5-metre-high water feature made up of 26,000 glass pieces provides a dramatic visual backdrop.

The kitchen and living room are dramatic with a red and black colour scheme, including black granite benchtops, red paint on the walls, red cupboards, a Smeg cooktop and silver, custom-made lights. The kitchen sink overlooks the water feature.

The living room has an open fireplace.

Outdoor space is provided with two balcony/terrace areas, one of which is finished in black pebbles, heated and fitted with a daybed. Aluminium and glass concertina doors open from the apartment to these terraces. Parking for one or two cars is provided on the ground floor; heating and cooling is individually zoned; and a dumb waiter runs from top to bottom.

The property has been entered in the 2007 Design Awards and the owner, Michelle Forsyth of Ethereal Design, was responsible for the conversion.

Surprisingly quiet given its central location, the apartment overlooks a park and rooftops.

It is within walking distance of Prahran market and public transport and close to good schools.

© 2006 The Age

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