Victoria real estate: Tina Arena impressed by ‘funky’ makeover of her former Fitzroy home up for sale

The former home of Australian pop sensation Tina Arena has been described as “funky” by the singer after its current owners completely flipped the Fitzroy property.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom property at 101 Kerr St named The Glass House has had extensive renovations since Arena sold it in 2017 for $1.63 million.

One of the home’s new features includes the wrought iron bars of an 1880s child’s cot, adapted into iron lacework and used as decorative railings on the facade of the home.

Inside, each space has its own unique look and feel, with an original-brick fireplace encased in steel-framed glass and accentuated with LED lighting, taking centre stage.

“The owner is a designer. She comes from a background in textile clothing design, but she designs homes. She’s done it before and she’ll do it again, but she can’t be hired, she just does it for personal fun and for her friends,” said selling agent Henry Rutherfurd of Nelson Alexander.

“The purpose of the colours and gardens is so that it’s overstimulating. The idea is that no matter where you look, your senses are stimulated.”

Mr Rutherford said news of the renovation has made its way to the property’s famous former owner.

“Tina Arena’s manager has come through and sent her a video and she’s seen the videos and thinks it’s pretty funky. One of her good friends has inspected it too and thought she’d love it.”

The incredibly eclectic home spans two levels, with the living areas on the ground floor and the bedrooms, including a main with ensuite, on the upper level.

The interiors on the ground floor are sleek, with a mix of textures on the walls, dark paints, exposed beams and even a glass ceiling in the kitchen’s adjoining family area.

The backyard includes a back deck and surrounding gardens.

“The owner has the confidence to be able to do a renovation like that whereas lots of other people wouldn’t.

“You get a lot of those white-wash, generic renovations which are great, but they’re not as bold as this,” Mr Rutherford said.

“She’s planted established gardens in the back strip of land to make it feel like you’re in Bali.”

Mr Rutherfurd said the only thing lacking was off-street parking but a Fitzroy or Collingwood buyer who loves the location would likely snap up the property, although he has also seen interest from across Melbourne.

“We’re getting a lot of southside buyers that are not really looking in Fitzroy but they’ve seen the photos. They’re coming from Toorak, South Yarra, Cremorne.”

The property is listed with a guide of $3.095 million.

This story was first published as ‘Funky’: Tina Arena impressed by makeover of her former home now for sale on view.com.au