36 Ivan Street, Fitzroy North, Vic 3068

This delightful terrace-style Victorian cottage, with well-planned gardens and a side courtyard, fuses period charm with modern convenience. Renovated and partially re-built under architect supervision for its present owner, the property is entered from a colourful English-style garden. Two sunny bedrooms run to one side of the hallway: the first looks out across the lace-trimmed verandah to the garden and has an open fireplace. The second has a tall Shug window to bring in light from the courtyard, and has its own door to a tiled two-way bathroom. At the end of the hall a Victorian glass and timber door leads into the new section of the house, where careful planning has resulted in an unusual amount of storage. A deep pantry gives access to a concealed upper level space above the laundry, amply provided with cupboards. The compact U-shaped kitchen (with dishwasher, timber benchtops and polished timber floor) looks out over the well-proportioned living and dining area, where eastern light from two sets of timber-framed windows is augmented by skylights set into the limed-timber cove and beam ceiling. The deep courtyard garden, with gate to a right of way, is paved and pebbled in a pattern of curves and circles; with a mature crab apple in one corner, it has been carefully planned to display a palette of Springtime colour. A pergola set high over the gabled rear faade is covered with an ornamental grape vine. Including gas central heating, ceiling fans and garden water tank, this appealing property is conveniently located in a quiet tree-lined street, close to public transport, parklands and shopping.