6A The Crescent, Marryatville, SA 5068

Designed and built by prominent Interior Designer Angus Foulds, this unique artisan-built home is a secret world revealed at the press of a button. A gently wooded grassy vista is revealed, with Italianate cloisters around a fountain giving a feeling of spaciousness and depth to what is actually the perfect down-size.

The main living room opens out into the cloisters at cathedral-ceiling height with three very tall sets of French windows, internally curtained with a tapestry-effect flat hang and Angus Foulds trademark billowing hems. The fabric gives subtle textural enhancement.

Artisan-crafted internal and external features maximise the play of light through day and night. Downlights throughout the house enhance the drama. Wooden shutters in each room enable change of light intensity. Natural Indian stone floors embedded with ancient fern and fish fossils move seamlessly from indoors to outdoors. Bevelled Tasmanian parquet floors in the bedroom wing have been crafted to create a warmth of texture, contrasted with the bespoke tiling of the main bathroom.

The master bedroom is a complete wing in itself behind majestic double doors. This wing contains a surprising Trompe-l’oeil bathroom, gilded fittings, and two sets of French windows opening out onto a private lawn. The French windows have not only rich tapestry curtains for winter warmth but also light linen curtains which billow in summer. The large wood-scented walk-in wardrobe also contains a Corby trouser press, as well as plenty of shelving and hanging space.
A rare find is the “Toile” guest bedroom, using the ancient French technique of repeated surface decoration on walls, bed, chairs and wardrobe.

The double doors of the master bedroom are echoed by the double doors of the office, or third bedroom. This room has plenty of floor to ceiling built-in cupboards, with extra hanging space.

The large cathedral-ceiling living room has a newly installed cosy gas log fire, with a magnificent stone fireplace blending perfectly with the floors in both colour and texture. There is an evaporative cooling system for the summer. Walls show the feathering of artisan sponging, creating a subtle marbling effect reminiscent of the European patina of age.

The limed-wood kitchen (hand-limed by Angus) displays superb European hand-finished silver-washed door-knobs. The solid elm scrubbed-wood bench tops make reference to the work tops of our forebears, and both fridge and dishwasher are behind wood. A second sink stands behind the elm-wood bar with which to welcome visitors with a coffee or a drink.

Stepping out into the cloisters, a third sink and kitchenette is hidden behind the floor-to-ceiling storage cupboards running along most of the width of the property. This side of the cloisters is perfect for erecting long tables for big dinners or family gatherings, with the furniture stored in the outside cupboards.

The architectural design and detailing of the home (check out the braid-and-cord finish around the interior of the main entrance doors) provides a legacy of Angus Foulds design, built on hospitality and the enjoyment of the seasons of nature and overlaid with constant reference to European culture.

This extraordinary home is perfect for down-sizing, while still having space and style to entertain friends and accommodate family. Parties of up to 150 people have been held here, with a dance-floor erected around the fountain and a marquee over the courtyard garden. It is also a serene and tranquil natural environment for a couple or a single person.

C/T: 4348/22
Council: City of Norwood, Payneham & St Peters
Zoning: Residential
Council Rates: $1,714.69 p.a.
SA Water: $271.76 p.q.