40 Dalgety Street, St Kilda

Architect Nick Harding of Ha Architecture Product & Environment has transformed this majestic terrace in a tranquil St Kilda street into a modern masterpiece by opening it up to the north light and creating a brilliant connection with the outdoors.

The terraces traditional front rooms have been re-configured so the front sitting room, TV room and kitchen/meals are all connected. Yet each is distinctive, flexible and light-filled.

Custom made cabinets and wall units sit happily beside original marble fireplaces and lighting by designers Christopher Boots and Anna Charlesworth, who designed the handmade brass wall lights featured throughout. The pendant light in the kitchen is by Coco Flip a local designer. The kitchen and living zones are on the ground floor, but because of the gradient of the land, they form the first floor at the rear of the house above a lower ground bedroom suite.

The kitchen area is the heart of the home. Black steel-framed doors open on two sides to a walled deck, which extends the kitchen and dining area outside for indoor-outdoor entertaining. A pizza oven, vertical garden and built-in seating are standout elements of this urban garden setting. The kitchen includes bespoke black and white graphic floor tiles, soft-closing black cabinetry, handmade green splashback tiles to mimic the greenery outside, heavy duty oven and cooktop, industrial- style polished concrete benchtops and integrated fridge/freezer.

The original solid timber staircase goes to a split landing, with the master suite at the front of the house. A walk-through wardrobe leads to the en suite with a frameless glass shower and twin vanities. Another bathroom serves the second bedroom on this level.

The lower ground bedroom suite, with fitted walk-in-wardrobe and Arabesco marble en suite connects to the rear courtyard through a wall of steel-framed doors. Planted with slender silver birches and espaliered olive trees, the courtyard connects to a double garage with entry from the street at the rear of the property. Other features of this stunning home include hydronic heating, high-end Italian fittings, laundry, ground floor powder room, 2000 bottle bluestone wine cellar, automatic watering system, security system and abundant storage.