On The Market

Two Renovated Victorian Townhouses For Sale (Right Next To Each Other!)

This Victorian-era building has been a shopfront and a home, then a combined shared home, and now two separate townhouses!

Lovingly renovated by siblings Fran and Tim Wilson of Folk Architects, and after 14 years of living in close quarters (first together, and then side by side), 700 and 698 Brunswick street are now for sale.

The two-storey, two bedroom (plus study), two bathroom townhouses both feature immaculate interiors and serene exterior courtyards – the embodiment of sophisticated inner-city living!

Written
by
Bea Taylor
Supported by Jellis Craig

The kitchen inside 700 Brunswick street features a long kitchen island that doubles as a dining table. Khai Liew sideboard. Photographic artwork by Greta Costello. Photo – Willem Dirk du Toit.

Taps from Astra Walker. Photo – Willem Dirk du Toit.

From the street, 700 Brunswick street sports a green front door and 698 Brunswick street features a pink one. Photo – Sarah Mackie.

Sculpture by Bruce Armstrong. Sollos chairs from De De Ce. Photo – Willem Dirk du Toit.

Bespoke cabinetry and large shutters feature in the living room. Cream rug from Cadrys Rugs. Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance sofa and ottoman from Ligne Roset. Photo – Willem Dirk du Toit.

In between spaces inside the townhouse have been utilised to maximise space, such as a reading nook and home office. Photo – Willem Dirk du Toit.

Travelling through the reading nook/home office space is one of the bedrooms. Photographic artwork by Greta Costello. Photo – Willem Dirk du Toit.

Terrazzo tiles and an in-built bath feature in the upstairs bathroom. Photo – Willem Dirk du Toit.

Lightly coloured tiles and walls create a feeling of space in the upstairs bathroom. Photo – Willem Dirk du Toit.

When siblings Fran and Tim Wilson (co-founder and director of Folk Architects), bought this 1880s Victorian building in Fitzroy 14 years ago with their other brother, Chris Wilson, it was two separate terraces. 

At the time, the group were looking for a big warehouse space they could turn into a shared house, but this historic building caught their eye instead. ‘It felt spacious with the high ceilings, and as the site was two separate dwellings, we could see the potential for renovating and making it into one big, beautiful home,’ says Fran. 

‘The three of us have always been super close, and had regularly hung out in Edinburgh Gardens, so when we moved in, our new homes felt like one big house and a new hub for our friends to gather in the heart of North Fitzroy.’

Plans to renovate the heritage property, which included a rooftop deck, were underway, until each of the siblings met their respective partners and decided they needed their own space. After Chris moved out, Tim and Fran each chose a dwelling to call their own, and renovated each home separately – retaining the backyards as a communal space for both families.

Now, Fran and Tim – and their families – are moving on (this time in seperate buildings!), and their much-loved Fitzroy ‘commune’ is up for sale, as two unique dwellings on separate titles; 698 and 700 Brunswick Street. 

700 Brunswick Street (above) has been designed and renovated to optimise the existing building footprint. “There was an emphasis on adaptability, flexibility and efficiency in the house planning,” Tim says. ‘The aesthetic is clean and simple, utilising natural materials to create a welcoming home environment.’

This two bedroom Victorian townhouse captures the essence of inner city living with easy flow between interior spaces and out into the courtyard. The ground floor holds the living, dining, kitchen, laundry and powder room. A generous study, bathroom and two bedrooms, one leading out onto the deck, occupy the upstairs.

The interiors are minimal and sophisticated, with bespoke cabinetry in the lounge and kitchen, which connects seamlessly to the dining room with a large island that doubles as a table. ‘In between’ spaces have also been utilised to maximise space, including a home office and reading nook.

The kitchen island and dining table with a Carrara marble benchtop. Brown stools by Grazia & Co. Photo – Sarah Mackie.

The entrance to 698 Brunswick Street features a sweet pink front door. Photo – Sarah Mackie.

Inset shelving exposes the white walls behind to keep the space bright and light. Artwork by Brendan Huntley from Tolarno Galleries. Photo – Sarah Mackie.

Coffee table by Made By Morgan. Photo – Sarah Mackie.

Fresh white walls help to open up the spaces even more. Bedside table by Made by Morgen. Photo – Sarah Mackie.

The downstairs bathroom and laundry. Photo – Sarah Mackie.

Pops of colour feature in 698 Brunswick street, including soft green cabinetry. Photo – Sarah Mackie.

Fran says, ‘the backyard is a great space because although you are right in the heart of vibrant North Fitzroy, it feels like your own private oasis with the big palm tree and incredible heritage buildings in the surrounds.’ Photo – Sarah Mackie.

700 Brunswick street (on the corner) and 698 Brunswick Street (facing). Photo – Sarah Mackie.

698 Brunswick Street (above) is a timeless and minimalist design. ‘I studied textile design, so colour is really important to me,’ says Fran. ‘My husband Alex is a project manager, so he also has a keen eye for detail. We wanted the character of the building to be expressed so we used natural materials that were sympathetic to the solid structure, keeping the exposed brick.’ 

Their goal for a ‘soft and homely, yet clean and simple’ designs evident in this two-bedroom house. Colour punctuates the space, with a sweet pink front door and soft green cabinetry in the bathroom, yet the home still pays homage to its history, with soaring ceilings and detailing. Much like its neighbour, 698 features the living, dining, kitchen and bathroom on the ground floor, with two bedrooms, toilet, study and deck on the upstairs floor. 

700 and 698 Brunswick street, VIC are listed with Jellis Craig and will go to auction on Saturday 5 March at 10.00am and 10.30am, respectively. Check out the full listing here and here.

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