Interior architect’s own luxe reno transforms Leopold ugly duckling – realestate.com.au

Ayush April 25, 2024

31 Myuna St, Leopold, is on the market for $1.25m to $1.35m after a major renovation.

A luxury renovation by an interior architect more accustomed to working on multi million-dollar Melbourne mansions is poised to add more than $600,000 to the value of a Leopold home.

Joshua Malcolm of Studio Jock turned renovator to transform his own original 1987 brick residence into a stylish sanctuary.

His love of contemporary Californian minimalism heavily influenced the calming design set among landscaped gardens at 31 Myuna St, Leopold.

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Mr Malcolm said he originally planned to make the 789sq m property his 10-year base but had since decided to list it for sale through RT Edgar, Bellarine agent Ashlyn Schweiger.

The four-bedroom home, which last sold for $586,000 in 2021, has a $1.25m to $1.35m price guide.

The listing will again test the top end of Leopold’s residential market following last month’s confidence boosting $1.6m sale of a standout custom-built home at 23 Cresta St.

Mr Malcolm said the top to bottom renovation had been a labour of love as he tackled most of the work himself, including constructing three separate outdoor entertainment zones in the large back yard.

The original ceilings have been painted in the lounge.

What a transformation since 2021.

The new kitchen has an induction cooktop, pyrolytic oven, combi steam oven, twin integrated fridges and an integrated dishwasher.

“My own personal aesthetic that I love is the California contemporary style, Wabi Sabi minimalism with an element of luxury,” he said.

“The structure of the home is very clean lines. It’s a lovely home to be in – it feels very calm and curated but also very liveable and practical.”

Customised paint colours and dark engineered oak floors create just the right mood in the sunken lounge, which counts a raked ceiling, wood heater and double glazed display wine cellar among its features.

The central kitchen fitted with Italian marble services both the dining area and a clever breakfast nook off a second living area at the rear.

The breakfast nook has a beautiful garden outlook.

The landscaping carves out many different zones in the back yard.

This space is the gateway to a large deck, fire pit zone and meticulously planned garden that includes a lawn, vegetable beds and a garden shed/workshop.

“(The breakfast nook) was a very small room with no functional use so I thought I would just blow that out and turn it into something really beautiful,” Mr Malcolm said.

“It has beautiful garden views and it’s a great place to start the day because that’s the morning sun there.”

Belgian linen sheer curtains add a soft touch.

The dining area has direct deck access.

The interior architect, who originally hails from Byron Bay, said Geelong’s mid-century modern and postmodern homes drew him to the area.

He said the location of Leopold, where PropTrack shows the median price is $680,000, was “perfection”.

“With wineries, the beach, Geelong, it’s so good and there is this real family nature to it and there’s a lot of parkland and a really good community feel,” he said.

“Why should people not be able to have nice houses in an area like that?”