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Looking at images of this layered and lived-in home, it comes as no surprise it’s been in the one family for 33 years.
Angela Richards, nurse and right-hand woman at Albert Park boutique Albert & Victoria, and her husband Sandy, business consultant and start-up investor, bought this 1860 Victorian Italianate terrace in Port Melbourne back in 1987.
The couple initially rented out a room to friends to help with mortgage repayments, but over time the property became their much-loved family home. Their three children have now moved out, so these days the grounds are shared with nine-year old white rabbit Gypsy, and bantam chickens Rose, Violet Ivy, Daphne, Clementine and Dulsie!
From the street, the house looks almost exactly as it did in 1860, but numerous changes have been made inside. After 10 years living in the home, two rooms were added above the garage (once used as a party deck!), serving as everything from a dress ups area to a toy room, Lego play land, art space, and study over the decades.
Major renovations were also undertaken in the previously dark ‘70s kitchen, to suit the style of the rear courtyard. ‘Think light, white, lime wash, beams, Cornish/Spanish/Greek, rustic and open,’ is how Angela describes the space. ‘It’s my dream kitchen – this is everything to me…I am a huge fan of open shelves, lime washed rough-render walls, and mismatched chairs collected along the way.’ Meanwhile, a large room off the kitchen was transformed into a laundry/butler’s pantry. ‘I still love this space, and would not do a thing differently,’ Angela says.
Walk into this kitchen now and you’ll see an ever changing display of glassware, baskets, and other beautifully mismatched items. The dried flowers are a new passion of Angela’s, but she hopes to one day have an entire wreath room!
While renovations have been completed professionally, the styling of this house is all Angela. Over the years she’s ripped out the carpet and became ‘totally addicted’ to painting the floorboards white, curated a treasure-trove of vintage items that are proudly displayed, and created numerous textile pieces in her very own sewing room. ‘I’ve loved doing it all – it’s very satisfying to create our home’, she says.
After more than 30 years in this house, Angela and Sandy have decided to move to Merricks Beach where they own an Airbnb in (check out the listing here!) and holiday house.
If you’re in the market for an eclectic city terrace, keep your eyes peeled on Port Melbourne’s real estate listings next month!
