On The Market

The Fender Weekender Is On The Market!

This is officially *the* week for incredible homes on the market…but this one might just take the cake!

Yep, it’s the unbelievable Fender House in Mount Martha we featured this time last year. After three years and some pretty incredible renovations, the current owners Katie Brannaghan, her husband Ian and their daughters Milla and Yvie are ready to find a new custodian for the home we have fondly come to know as the Fender weekender!

Written
by
Sally Tabart

The Fender House in Mount Martha, with renovations from Whelan Project. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

Say hello to that green carpet! And a peek of B&B Italia sofas from Castorina and Co in the background. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

The view coming down the stairs from the kitchen, leading into the music room then the sun room, then out onto the deck. Karl Fender’s original hand-drawn picture of the house framed on the wall above the fireplace. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

There are stairs and split levels everywhere in this house. These stairs lead from the sun-room to the music room then up another level to the kitchen.  You can also see the original porthole lights in the ceilings and the very uniquely designed light boxes, which Katie and Ian re-furbished. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

The built-in cabinetry and wood panels are original, as are the wood panels, and Katie and Ian put in the Terrazzo tiles from Perini Tiles. Danish chairs and table from secondhand store in North Melbourne, and colourful champagne glasses box on the shelf was a wedding gift from the UK. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

Super 70s staircase! Photo – Derek Swalwell.

The newly renovated kitchen. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

Milla’s room with bed from BedTime, mushroom lamp from CCSS Melbourne, and linen from Kip and Co and Country Road. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

The kids zone upstairs. Large smiley face artwork is called the Friendship Flag and is from Outré Gallery in Melbourne. The white pot is Melbourne designed, Mr Kitly (self watering) from My Grandfathers Axe. The small orange tulip table and brown Featherston chairs are from CCSS Melbourne. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

This is the main bedroom, with  a Derek Swalwell picture, Jacobsen floor lamp and Patricia Urquiola clip bed (both from Hub furniture), little stool next to the bed is from Luke Furniture. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

Renovated ensuite with white 70s mosaic tiles. Orange floor vase by Kartell. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

The pool has undergone some restorations, but the incredible shape is the original design. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

A peek into the formal lounge, with vintage Bertossi lamp and ashtray. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

Writer
Sally Tabart
31st of October 2020

Since Katie Brannaghan and husband Ian purchased this Mornington Peninsula property in April 2017, they undertook some massive renovations to restore the circa ‘73 home to its former glory after its previous owners left it in a bit of a shambles. This absolute gem was one of the very first projects of a then-23-year-old Karl Fender, who went on to become one half of the iconic Melbourne architecture firm, Fender Katsalidis. Katie and Ian went to great lengths to ensure that the home was restored as closely to its 70s origins, adding in all the modern comforts to make this the absolute dream.

Beyond the aesthetic features, renovations included a complete kitchen overhaul, introducing hydronic heating and cooling system, rendering the pool, installing solar panels, landscaping, building a woodshed, and bringing in a septic tank. Now, with its updated kitchen, original wooden paneled walls and terrazzo floors that spill out around the pool, the six-bedroom home is better than ever!

Positioned on 3 acres of private bushland in Mount Martha, just a few minutes drive from the beach and local shops, Katie counts ‘the quiet seclusion, not being able to see another house from the property, and being surrounded by giant gums, as some of her favourite elements of the home.

As much as they love their holiday home (and boy, do they love it!) Katie, Ian, Milla and Yvie have come to terms with the fact that they’re truly city slickers at heart, and have decided to give someone else the opportunity to enjoy this one-of-a-kind home. When we asked Katie what she’ll miss most about it, her answer was imbued with love. We’ll leave you with her words about this treasured home, which really say it all:

‘The trees, space, and nature. The feeling you get when you enter the home, it’s like stepping back in time. The flow of the house as you move from room to room. The light that streams in from the floor to ceiling windows.

We’ll miss the nights by the open fire, playing music whilst we look out at the lit-up pool and palm trees. We’ll miss waking up to the sound of birds and looking out the windows seeing nothing but trees and green.

There just isn’t any other house like this in Australia.’

View the complete listing for 109 Hopetoun Avenue, Mount Martha here!

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