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Suburb Profile. Dee Why, 2099 Photo: Mark Merton / Sydney Images A cosmopolitan makeover and a relaxed beach vibe has piqued buyers’ interest in Dee Why. By Kate Farrelly Growing up in Dee Why was all about the beach for Hayden Quinn. The Masterchef alumnus, cookbook author and podcaster who is now headlining Channel 10’s second season of the popular lifestyle program ‘Taste of Australia’, says the colourful suburb remains his favourite place on the northern beaches. As a kid, Quinn says a typical day revolved around “the beach, a couple of hot chip sandwiches and lime cordial on the back deck” with his two sisters and his mum and dad. “We spent our life down there at the beach, we were pretty lucky,” he tells Dwell. The suburb has evolved over recent years but Quinn says the residential development and retail revamp has injected a new lease of life. “It’s become a little busier, there’s more energy and more options,” he says. “It’s become fresher and newer and more exciting. There’s a real mix of young families, new Australians and the oldies… I love it.” Quinn says Dee Why’s diversity is definitely one of its drawcards. “One of the beautiful things I love about Dee Why is how multicultural it is,” he says. “You can find great produce and great places to pick up different cuisines, from Chinese and Italian to Vietnamese and Thai. [Going Median house price: $1.89 million Median unit price: $800,000 Population: 21,518 Dwellings: 10,018 shopping] is a great way to get to know the people that live in the suburb and the food they really enjoy eating. It’s really influenced my understanding of different cuisines and cultures and it’s been great growing up with that diversity.” A “fair weather surfer”, Quinn is also a regular at Dee Why Point. “For me one of my favourite things to do when the surf is cranking is to drive around to the carpark on the headland,” he says. “You’ll see all the familiar faces you grew up with and you love, and they make you feel like you’re truly at home. It’s a great way to keep connected to home and the people you enjoy spending time with.” A magnet for families, the beach and surrounding parkland sit directly opposite a strip of eateries where you can grab fish and chips to enjoy picnic-style on the grass or dine in with front row views of the promenade. Cunninghams agent and local resident Matt Nicastri says the suburb’s walkability is another highlight. “There are very few suburbs that have the walkability associated with Dee Why but still have that relaxed coastal vibe,” he says. “It’s a great choice if you like that convenience.” Market snapshot. Low stock levels have proven frustrating for agents and buyers, however Nicastri says there are promising signs of more activity for the spring market. Cunninghams has appraised over 100 properties in the last 30 days and Nicastri expects those appraisals to translate to more stock, and he’s heard from a local broker that loan pre-approvals have increased as well. “There’s been a lot of conversation around there being too much development but I looked last week at how many listings there were and there were only 62 for sale,” he says. “That’s not a lot given the density here, so it shows an appetite for the suburb.” The entry price for a two-bedroom apartment is around $750,000, says Nicastri, with houses starting around $1.5 million. Premium property can be found on the headland, with prices from $3 million. Nicastri says more young families have moved across in the wake of infrastructure improvements which include the B-Line, with the new buses making light work of the city commute. “People are attracted to Dee Why because of the town centre, which has been a really big win for the area,” he says. “It’s really cosmopolitan and council has done a good job improving the streetscapes.” 6 August 15, 2020 <strong>dwell</strong>.sydney
You Must See. On Trend. The hero bath 3/149 Oaks Avenue With beautiful ocean views and stylishly renovated interiors, this light and airy apartment in the iconic boutique block ‘Balboa’, is footsteps to the beach and all the action. Situated on the first floor in the recently refurbished security building of only nine apartments, it boasts two bedrooms, a spacious living-dining space, as-new kitchen, sleek bathroom, internal laundry, timber floors, custom cabinetry, plantation shutters and the sought after full-length balcony and oversized lock-up garage with storeroom. Agent George Bachtis says the property is a readymade investment with good rental prospects and a great weekender… but why would you want to leave? For sale by private treaty. Guide price $1.1m. McGrath – George Bachtis 0419 293 780 39 May Road An influx of out-of-area buyers looking for lifestyle have joined enthusiastic locals to inspect this five-bedroom, five-bathroom family home. Spanning three levels, the property claims ocean views from its top floor living room and north-facing balcony. The main living spaces are at entry level and include a marble island kitchen with integrated Ilve appliances and oak flooring. There are two bedrooms on this level and three more upstairs, the master with en suite and walk-in robe. You’ll also find a double garage, a self-contained studio and a pool at ground level. The property goes to auction on August 27. $2.2 million; Upstate – Peter Mosedale 0408 177 207 Take a guess at the world record price paid for a bath tub… If you’re thinking somewhere in the thousands of dollars, you’ll need to think bigger. In 2011, an unnamed buyer paid an eye-watering US$1.7 million for a hand-carved caijou bath. Aptly named Le Grand Queen and sold by the Caijou Group at the Dubai International Jewellery Festival, the bath was reportedly fashioned from a 10-tonne slab of “healing” caijou stone said to be 180 million years old. Frequently the star of a bathroom renovation, freestanding baths have enjoyed a long spell in the spotlight. The good news is you can get your very own hero tub for a substantially smaller outlay, with baths starting around $800. But before you splash any kind of cash on your bathroom, it’s important to make sure you have the space to do justice to a standalone tub. Hardware & General marketing manager Joanne MacGregor says it’s usually the luxury of a large space that creates the hero effect. “Freestanding baths are right on trend,” MacGregor tells Dwell. “People are looking at making the bath the hero with beautiful lighting and tapware. But have you actually got the space for it?” As a general guideline, it’s good to allow at least 100mm between the bath and the wall on Should you take the plunge in your bathroom? all sides. This provides access for cleaning and the impression of space to spare. Then you’ll need to have room for a shower screen or cabinet doors if they swing out. Remember to measure all door openings, hallways and stairwells that your bath will need to travel through to get to the bathroom and also to consider whether your floor structure can take the weight of the bath (filled with water and people!). If space isn’t an issue, the next thing to think about is the bath’s main purpose, says MacGregor. If it’s purely for adult relaxation there’s little more than the budget to consider. But if little kids will be using it on a regular basis, a freestanding bath can be a backbreaking option. “If you’ve got a young family a freestanding bath wouldn’t be my first choice,” she says. “I would go with a bath that’s got low sides and is comfortable to reach into: maybe a drop-in bath that you tile around so you have a seat there where parents can sit while watching children.” Finally the fun part: design. MacGregor says you can go modern with straight lines and a thin lip, or coastal Hamptons, which gives you the flexibility of a wider lip and a little more ‘Buy a bath that doesn’t just look good...’ contouring. You can even go traditional with cast feet – although keep in mind that an elevated bath exposes the plumbing. While acrylic baths remain the most popular for being both lightweight and affordable, a statement bath often calls for more up-market materials like stone, copper or cast iron. And when it comes to colour, the sky’s the limit. “Black is very popular at the moment,” says MacGregor. “But depending on your budget you can have your bath in any Dulux colour.” If you need help exploring all the options, Hardware & General’s Brookvale showroom offers a VIP service. Book in for a free, one-hour consultation and staff will find you a parking space, make you a coffee and give you their undivided attention in the bathroom showroom. MacGregor says buyers are fairly equally split between freestanding and drop-in baths, often along the lines of house versus apartment owners. Ultimately she advises customers to go with comfort over style. “Make sure you buy a bath that doesn’t just look good,” she says. “You want to enjoy using it too.” <strong>dwell</strong>.sydney August 15, 2020 7
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