Modern Beauty in St Lucia - $1.695M

This house in St Lucia, Brisbane is about as far away from today's other St Lucia home (which was a Queenslander-style home).

No, this home is bold, modern and very sophisticated.  It is built on a small block (550m2) and the house takes up the majority of the footprint - leaving only a very small patch of grass.  So small that I wouldn't spend the money on a petrol lawnmower - instead I'd buy the hand held push type and get in some exercise at the same time!

Timber, glass and and open spaces feature heavily.  It certainly feels like the home owner wanted to add a sense of openness in a small space.  They have achieved this by removing walls (the upper level where the Master Suite is located has a very open feel) and by adding space in the ceiling height and using void spaces very well.

The house spans over three levels - let's go through them.

Lower Level

The lower level has the pool and outdoor area (kabana and outdoor shower); living, dining, kitchen and media room.  It also has a small  wine cellar and powder room.

This is what the real estate listing says about the lower level:

The open-plan kitchen/ dining/ living area is a masterpiece, maximising the home's natural magnetism for light and breeze and opens onto a remarkable alfresco area. You will find yourself enjoying cooking in this chef's gourmet-designed kitchen. With a huge walk in pantry, expansive stone bench tops, soft closing cupboards & drawers and an eight burner cooktop, it is the ideal kitchen for entertaining guests or conjuring up a simple feast. The open living area flows to the alfresco area that overlooks the infinity edged swimming pool perfectly located between the alfresco area and cabana creating the perfect environment for entertaining. A media room, powder room and wine cellar complete this level. 

Sounds amazing, right?  Tell me, is Kabana spelt with a c or a k?

Here are the photos, starting with outdoors.....

Kabana and Pool (Lower Level)

The pool is entered via the patio - you can see the glass frame fence and the stairs in the pool.

Pool and Patio (Lower Level)

Just off the patio is the living room.  I love the openness with the bifold doors that open straight out onto the patio and pool.  The owners have also put up some privacy screens on the fence to block the view of the next door neighbour straight into the living area.

What really works for me in here is the use of the louvered windows and the bifold doors.

Living and Patio (Lower Level)

On the floor plans, there is a 'library' shown.  I think calling it a library is a bit of a stretch and probably a bit snobby because the library is in the photo below - on the other side of the tv unit.  It's probably more of a bookshelf because there doesn't seem to be enough space to even pull a chair in there.

The photo below shows how you can make the floor plan very open - by opening up the wall to the study which is located on the middle level.  To the right of the study is bedroom 2 - with bifold windows that can also be opened right up.

Even the staircase has been given the open treatment with the use of the timber slats.

Living and Kitchen (Lower Level)

The kitchen boasts stone bench tops, the ridiculously expensive tap fittings and an eight burner stove. The letdown in this room is the light fitting.  It looks like a stock-standard fluorescent light.  I would have preferred more industrial-like pendant light fittings.

Kitchen with bifold doors, walk in pantry, and a day bed.  The room beyond the kitchen is the Media Room (Lower Level)

In the Dining Room, the bifold doors that open up into an internal courtyard.

Dining Room with Internal Courtyard (Lower Level)

At the back of the house, on the lower level, is the media room with a very trendy, very industrial feature light.

Media Room (Lower Level)

Middle Level

The middle level includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms, the study and a laundry room.

The real estate listing says this:

Three of the four spacious bedrooms are found on the middle level of the home, all with built in robes and one having an ensuite. A large home office with built in work stations and a wall of built in storage is located on a mezzanine level overlooking the downstairs living area. 

Here are the photos, starting with the study.  It is a very functional room with a pretty basic desk arrangement.

Study (Middle Level)

Bedroom 2 overlooks the kitchen / dining / living room.

Bedroom 2 (Middle Level)

Bedroom 3 is at the back of the house.  The block is a sloping block, so this bedroom (and bedroom 4) has a nice garden outlook.

Bedroom 3 (Middle Level)

The main bathroom is floor to ceiling tile with a bath and a walk-in shower.

Bathroom (Middle Level)

Upper Level

The upper level is dedicated completely to the parents - with a master bedroom, ensuite, walk-in robe and a sitting area.

Here is what the real estate listing says:

A spectacular parent's retreat is found on the top level and includes an enviable dressing room with floor to ceiling cupboards, drawers and hanging space along with a jewellery display cabinet any girl would be proud to call her own. The luxurious ensuite is spread over two separate rooms. One located off the dressing room featuring a rainfall shower with side jets & sprayer, separate toilet, floor to ceiling travertine tiles and double vanities. The other being the pinnacle of “bathrooms” with a huge circular bath positioned in the middle of the room taking full advantage of the tranquil outlook of Ironside Park. 

Master Bedroom (Upper Level)

Master Bedroom (Upper Level)

The master bathroom features the same tile as the bathroom on the middle level.  The shower includes a rain shower and is completely glass free (the cleaner in me loves this part).

Master Bathroom (Upper Level)

Floor Plan

Floor Plan