Seaview in Glebe has all the right ingredients for an ideal escape. After a big day of exploring Hobart, you can relax under the warm glow of lanterns and gaze out at the amazing vista, from your vantage point perched high on the hill.
But it didn’t always look this way. Owners Georgina Young and her husband inherited this property in 2019 from his godfather when it was just a ‘tired and run-down’ place in desperate need of some TLC.
The pair set about transforming the holiday home in a way that seamlessly blended the Edwardian’s original bones with a contemporary Japanese-style of architecture.
‘The inspiration was the existing architectural styles of the house,’ Georgina says. ‘The extension was existing; it was added on in the ’90s after a house fire destroyed the lean-to at the rear of the house.’
It took the couple two years to restore the house, enlisting the help of Belle Bright Project and Lynda Gardener for the interiors in the renovation. Pops of slate blue bring a moody energy to the lounge room (dubbed the ‘whiskey room’!) new main bedroom and its accompanying ensuite, which even offers views from the luxuriously large shower!
‘We added an ensuite to the master bedroom and a deck to the existing rear Japanese-inspired extension. We plastered and painted every room, sanded, and oiled all the exposed woodwork in the open plan living-dining kitchen area and polished all the floorboards,’ Georgina added.
The open-plan living, dining and kitchen area form the heart of the home, complete with a wood-fire place to keep visitors cosy. The renovation was completed and opened to the public amid the turbulence of last year’s lockdowns in September 2021. Since then, plenty of guests have come to stay and remarked on the property’s warm atmosphere, timber detailing, complementary furniture, and attention to detail.
‘Our guests are always incredibly taken aback by the spectacular views of the city, river and mountain and can’t believe how close it is to the city and the waterfront. [It’s] about five minutes by car, yet it backs onto bush and is quiet and secluded,’ Georgina explains.
And with one step out onto the wrap-around verandah you can take in the fresh Tasmanian air. It doesn’t get much dreamier than this!
