Perth Voice Interactive

This stunning two-storey home on Joel Terrace, Mt Lawley could feature in a magazine showcasing cutting-edge modern living.

So I was surprised to learn it was built in 1971, the home of well-known architect Peter Christou.

At a time when most of Perth was building homes with closed-off rooms, Christou created sweeping open spaces and relatively few walls, soaring ceilings and huge plate-glass windows.

Front of house is a sprawling formal lounge/dining area, where floor-to-ceiling bifold doors take in river and hill views—and lead to a timber deck.

Port-hole skylights

This is the perfect spot to enjoy a vino while watching planes take off from Perth airport and Burswood Casino’s flickering lights.

The informal living spaces are equally impressive, with soaring jarrah ceilings, plenty of huge windows, port-hole shaped skylights, and a fantastic red feature wall.

A central fireplace, open on two sides, has been converted to a stylish gas version, with heat-rocks spreading a mellow warmth.

The ship’s galley feel to the kitchen is not just about its shape, but also the use of marine ply for the plentiful cupboards, pantry and bench tops.

Glowing a soft gold, they’re topped by stainless steel.

Two of the three bedrooms form a ground floor wing, where the ship ambience continues, with timber walls and floors in the hall and sloping, white-painted timber ceilings in the bedrooms.

Head upstairs and Christou’s home office is an amazing space, where  cupboards and drawers, designed to hold his architectural drawings, are also crafted from softly-glowing marine ply.

Skylights and banks of windows in the slanted jarrah ceiling ensure this is a light-filled space.

The adjacent sitting/kids’ play area opens to the kitchen below and has glass doors leading to a deck overlooking the pool, with its natural rock waterfall.

This time of the year you could go all Swedish and heat up in the cedar-lined sauna, off the downstairs bathroom, before taking a plunge.

Said bathroom is a gorgeous space, with a wall of glass onto a very private Japanese garden.

Back upstairs the main bedroom is a huge space, with ensuite and walk-in-robe, not to mention a balcony with sweeping views.

Sitting on 491sqm, this amazing light-filled home offers everything today’s family could want, in a package that has stood the test of time.

by JENNY D’ANGER

161 Joel Terrace, Mt Lawley
$1.595 million
David Lomax | 0412 292 450
Acton Mt Lawley | 9272 2488