dwell. on the Northern Beaches. 270820

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Suburb Profile. Seaforth, 2092 Photo: Mark Merton / Sydney Images Middle Harbour... the beaches – is it any wonder these locals are invested in a fit and active lifestyle? By Kate Farrelly Central yet secluded: it was these two essential qualities that saw interior stylist Kristin Rawson trade Manhattan for Seaforth in 2011. “Being here is the perfect, easy-access spot to anywhere on the northern peninsula but also to the inner city,” she says. “It’s a very convenient location to have the Northern Beaches lifestyle but still have access to the city.” Rawson initially looked for beachside living in Freshwater and Collaroy but with work requiring regular trips into the city, she couldn’t reconcile the extra 20-minute commute. Belle Property Seaforth agent Justine Hallows has lived in Seaforth for 20 years and says it was the suburb’s proximity to the city that lured her from the eastern suburbs with her young family in tow. “I came from Rose Bay which was so busy and lacked trees,” she says. “My kids were two and four at the time and there’s a lot more space here and it’s actually quicker to the city from here than from the east.” Hallows says the suburb is a true safe haven for families, something that Rawson appreciates as she brings up her two children, Billie and Jackson. “We spend most afternoons in the backyard or playing in the pool,” Rawson says. “The kids can ride on their scooters up and down the pathway Median house price: $2.355 million Median unit price: $1.295 million Population: 7139 Dwellings: 2457 and they can ride bikes to school. You see that a lot, the locals are invested in this lifestyle and they’re fit and active.” Rawson speaks highly of the award-winning baked goods at the local bakery Staple, where friendly staff take coffee orders while you wait in line for artisan sourdough and pastries, and Hallows is a fan of The Wine Room at the RSL in Ethel Street where you can pair share plates and cocktails from Wednesday to Saturday. Seaforth offers a great selection of restaurants and it’s a short drive to both Mosman and Manly for more wining and dining options. Hallows says the free ‘Hop, Skip & Jump’ bus service makes trips to Manly a breeze and is particularly useful in the school holidays for delivering teenagers and their surfboards quickly and safely to the beach. Clarke & Humel agent Jordan Galpin grew up in Seaforth and enjoyed weekends kayaking on the harbour or riding on bush trails through Bantry Bay Reserve and down to Manly Dam. He says people are often surprised at just how central the suburb is. “It’s a very short drive from the Spit Bridge, only 10 minutes in the car down to Manly, you’ve got the option to go straight up the Wakehurst Parkway to the upper north shore, Chatswood and Frenchs Forest and there’s great public transport into the city.” Market snapshot. Galpin says the opening of the Northern Beaches Hospital has been a bit of a game-changer for Seaforth, which is the “closest prestige suburb” to the new facility. “We’re seeing an increase in doctors and surgeons looking for a family home close by,” he says. Upgraders are also out in force. “In the past 12 months we’re seeing more people move from the lower north shore because their money tends to go that little bit further and Seaforth is ticking more boxes on their wish list,” says Galpin. Hallows says entry level homes tend to be found on the north side of Frenchs Forest Road, where prices start in the high $1 millions, with the most expensive properties located on Seaforth hill where you can find water views close to the village. Galpin says deep waterfront homes with marine facilities also command top dollar, with the suburb’s record price standing at $12.675 for a Laura Street waterfront that traded in 2017. 6 August 29, 2020 <strong>dwell</strong>.sydney
You Must See. On Trend. Timber transformation 86 Ellery Parade Multiple contracts are already out after one open at this sizeable family home and agent Jordan Galpin is not surprised. “Not only do you get a large, near-level block of land with a north-facing garden, you also get views of the harbour – it’s quite unusual to get both in Seaforth,” he says. And the three-level home packs a punch too, with five bedrooms, three bathrooms and four living zones including a light-filled kitchen and family room with feature fireplace which opens to private landscaped gardens and a glass-framed pool. High ceilings, oak flooring, ducted air-conditioning and a double garage are all part of the package. The property goes to auction on September 12. $3.9 million – $4.29 million; Clarke & Humel – Jordan Galpin 0403 919 005 20 Palmerston Place You can catch the bus to the city from right outside this renovated five-bedroom family home positioned a level walk to the village shops, primary school and kindergarten. Agent Justine Hallows has already shown 45 groups through the two-storey property and says there’s lots of interest from lower north shore buyers. The ground floor living spaces have been designed with indoor-outdoor flow in mind, with two sets of bifold doors opening onto garden terraces overlooking the pool. The bright island kitchen features a butler’s pantry and the lounge room comes with a fireplace. The property goes to auction on September 5. $3.1 million; Belle Property Seaforth – Justine Hallows 0419 616 596 It’s always a treat to discover original floorboards hiding beneath faded lino or dated carpet. You can even afford to smile if the pine floorboards you inherit have split, suffered water damage, or weathered to a tacky orangeyellow hue thanks to the tung oil or solvent-based polyurethanes that have dominated timber floor finishes in the past. Because the good news, says Lucio Alfaro, director of Pittwater Eco Floor Sanding, is you’ll seldom come across floorboards that are so bad they need to be replaced. Every day Alfaro gets at least two requests from homeowners keen to give their pine floors a makeover. “‘We just bought a house, we have these old orangey floors, we hate it, what can we do about it?’” Alfaro says it all depends on the look you’re going for, but there are a handful of options currently in high demand. For those targeting a northern beaches coastal aesthetic, limewashing or whitewashing is a popular choice. It can make a small room feel larger, or lighten up a space that’s lacking in natural light. It can look either rustic or polished, depending on the condition of your floorboards and how carefully the floors are prepared. The finished effect can be soft and summery with a clear, water-based polyurethane top coat for protection. Following the fashions in floorboards A renovated property at 176 Whale Beach Road Whale Beach just listed with LJ Hooker Palm Beach (pictured below) shows off the results to great effect. While a traditional limewashed floor involves pure slaked lime in water, modern technology has seen the development of high-quality wood wash or stains to replicate the surface glow of authentic limewash. Alfaro says these products offer a simpler application process that is longer-lasting and more easily maintained. Alfaro says if your floor includes mismatched boards, or too much colour variation, you can opt for a solid paint colour, a choice that can make a dramatic change to a room. “We did Wendy Whiteley’s floor in white and it had quite a big impact, it’s almost like a gallery,” says Alfaro. “You can choose any colour on the palette, with light grey a popular choice right now.” But perhaps one of the most striking finishes currently in vogue is a dark stain, commonly referred to as Black Japan. Alfaro says an authentic Black Japan finish requires burning the surface of the wood to achieve ‘You can choose any colour on the palette, with light grey a popular choice right now.’ the desired charcoal colour. A far easier option is to buy a dark brown or charcoal-coloured stain that matches the darkest knots in your timber boards, which don’t absorb pigments as well as the rest of the floor. Depending on the product used, you may still be able to see the timber grain but the orangey tones of the aged pine will be banished for good. The result is a rich, dark finish that can make a room feel warmer and will help other colours pop. While pine flooring is common in older homes, more recent builds may feature top quality timber boards that will benefit from a restoration rather than a makeover. “If someone has really good hardwood flooring like blackbutt or brushbox, you really only need to sand it and apply a clear poly to preserve the natural features of the wood.” And Alfaro has some good maintenance tips: take your shoes off at the front door, use felt protectors on furniture feet, use window coverings to shield your floors from the western sun and don’t wash your boards too often or they’ll wear out too quickly, cracking and peeling over time. <strong>dwell</strong>.sydney August 29, 2020 7
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