Brighton townhouse emulates iconic old world actress Ava Gardner

A collaboration between Mim Design and architectural designer Nicholas Wright has led to four stunning Brighton townhouses, one of which is currently on the market.

Described as a labour of love by Wright, the project has been in the works since 2021 with significant hurdles in the way.

“What we’ve had is probably one of the hardest periods of building that I can remember,” says Wright. “The last three-to-four years have been trying, especially with COVID. Then price increases, material increases, labour shortage. It’s been tough, but it’s been very rewarding.”

And persistence certainly paid off. The boutique townhouse has been designed with meticulous attention-to-detail and all the features necessary for luxurious living. It includes four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a butler’s pantry, an outdoor plunge pool/spa, theatre space, wine cellar, double remote garage and an internal lift. To finish the exceptional property, the townhouse has a rooftop terrace that offers glimpses of the city and views over William Street Reserve.

When Wright first came across the site, it housed a beautiful old Victorian that was “virtually falling over”, but it was the great frontage and the north facing rear that impressed him.

“It was beautiful, but it was quite an old home. It was a home to an Olympic swimmer.”

To create the elegant and grand look of the property, Wright worked with Melbourne-based studio, Mim Design. Of the collaboration, Wright believes that Fanning “nailed it”.

“It’s quite unique and also timeless,” says Wright. “It’s not going to date, but it’s very Brighton at the same time.”

“We feel that we’ve nailed the beachy Bayside feel, but with a bit of class and softness.”

The townhouse has a bright and neutral colour palette with unique touches through the finishings. One such example is the exquisite jade stone that was used in the kitchen and then carried through the rest of the home. Curves and circles are repeated motifs both internally and externally throughout the property, giving an overall feeling of softness and sophistication.

“We introduced the curves from the outside internally, and that’s followed right through from the bench-top splash back to upstairs in the master bedroom bookshelves. It’s a point of detail.”

But it’s the feeling the townhouse evokes that Wright is most proud of.

“The feedback I get from people is that when they come in, it feels like a home,” he says. “There’s a warmth to it, and I think that’s where the textures and the colours and the use of materials works really well. It’s quite subtle, but it’s got a beautiful feeling when you walk in.”

The townhouses have been tailored for the semi-retired/down-sizer market, with two already purchased by this demographic.

“(The townhouses) are for the couples who don’t want to have all the maintenance of land, but they don’t want to be in an apartment either,” Wright says. “They still want to have a shared facility where they can lock up and leave it, but it has the proportions of a home.”

To market the properties, each one has been named after an iconic old-world Hollywood actor. This one is called Ava, after the legendary Ava Gardner. As part of the sale, the new owner will be given a black and white print of the actor.

The townhouse has been listed by Kay and Burton Bayside with a price guide of $4.4 to $4.7 million.