Architect Carla Middleton’s Light-Filled Beach House for Sale in Tamarama
An architect’s own home, this Tamarama beach house has been created with love.
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Ideally placed between Bondi and Bronte beaches, with Tamarama’s pint-sized strip of sand just a short walk away, architect Carla Middleton’s personal project was a labour of love and location.
The one-time sombre semi on Tamarama St had been a classic 1910s Federation home in need of some TLC, but thanks to the modern transformation, the revived residence is a light-filled family retreat made for coastal living.
As a result, Tama House has been showcased in design publications such as Habitus Living, House & Garden as well as The Local Project.
Listed with Charlie Beaumont and Alexa Duffy of PPD, the designer beach house will go to auction on April 9 with a price guide of $6.9m.
When Carla and her husband Chris bought the narrow and dark dwelling in 2012, their first priority was to accommodate their growing family while also injecting their own personal touch.
Bringing in loads of natural light was top of the brief while the long 309sq m block allowed for an innovative approach to the improved floor plan that is now flexible enough to move with a family through various stages of life.
Every detail has been carefully considered, which is to be expected for the planned forever home of an award-winning architect. Fine finishes include European oak floors, custom joinery, and acoustic QuietWave insulation in the first-floor addition. It also features Brodware tapware throughout, custom linen curtains by Pip Casey Interiors and lighting by Cult, Tovo and Coco Flip.
Now the five-bedroom, three-bathroom home, complete with a home office, has retained some of its period charm while also adopting some 21st century functionality.
North-facing skylights, picture windows, and large sliding doors illuminate the home, while a dramatic 7m void crowning the living zone adds to the sense of volume and grandeur.
The new design embraces the home’s gable roofline, extending it in an asymmetrical form and the savvy use of glass means the trees, clouds, stars, and sun are on show throughout the day.
Honouring its Federation roots, the home still has its wide arched hallway and ornate 3.4m ceilings in the front bedrooms, while the rear extension – wrapped in James Hardie fibre-cement cladding – has a contemporary stamp.
In the sophisticated kitchen there are Caesarstone Cloudburst surfaces, a Miele induction cooktop, Neff slide and hide oven, and a coffee station. On each floor there are full bathrooms and the ground level houses a large laundry with convenient side yard access.
A cocktail bar has been cleverly tucked under the dining room stairs and the voluminous lounge flows out to a private barbecue deck made of spotted gum and a garden designed by Pepo Botanic. To the rear of the block, a separate studio office with air conditioning is a tranquil break away space.
On the upper level there are three big bedrooms including a main with a walk-in wardrobe and a shower ensuite with twin vanities.
Sitting on one of Tamarama’s most sought after streets behind an original Federation facade, the home has parking for two cars, is in Bondi Public School’s catchment area, and is close to beautiful beaches, ocean pools and South Bondi’s vibrant dining.
Tama House is on the market with Charlie Beaumont and Alexa Duffy of PPD. The home is set to go to auction on April 9 with a price guide of $6.2m.
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Buyer demand, seller confidence and the First Home Guarantee Scheme are setting up a frantic spring, with activity likely to run through Christmas.
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The spring property market is shaping up as the most active in recent memory, according to property experts Two Red Shoes.
Mortgage brokers Rebecca Jarrett-Dalton and Brett Sutton point to a potent mix of pent-up buyer demand, robust seller confidence and the First Home Guarantee Scheme as catalysts for a sustained run.
“We’re seeing an unprecedented level of activity, with high auction numbers already a clear indicator of the market’s trajectory,” said Sutton. “Last week, Sydney saw its second-highest number of auctions for the year. This kind of volume, even before the new First Home Guarantee Scheme (FHGS) changes take effect, signals a powerful market run.”
Rebecca Jarrett-Dalton added a note of caution. “While inquiries are at an all-time high, the big question is whether we will have enough stock to meet this demand. The market is incredibly hot, and this could lead to a highly competitive environment for buyers, with many homes selling for hundreds of thousands above their reserve.”
“With listings not keeping pace with buyer demand, buyers are needing to compromise faster and bid harder.”
Two Red Shoes identifies several spring trends. The First Home Guarantee Scheme is expected to unlock a wave of first-time buyers by enabling eligible purchasers to enter with deposits as low as 5 per cent. The firm notes this supports entry and reduces rent leakage, but it is a demand-side fix that risks pushing prices higher around the relevant caps.
Buyer behaviour is shifting toward flexibility. With competition intense, purchasers are prioritising what they can afford over ideal suburb or land size. Two Red Shoes expects the common first-home target price to rise to between $1 and $1.2 million over the next six months.
Affordable corridors are drawing attention. The team highlights Hawkesbury, Claremont Meadows and growth areas such as Austral, with Glenbrook in the Lower Blue Mountains posting standout results. Preliminary Sydney auction clearance rates are holding above 70 per cent despite increased listings, underscoring the depth of demand.
The heat is not without friction. Reports of gazumping have risen, including instances where contract statements were withheld while agents continued to receive offers, reflecting the pressure on buyers in fast-moving campaigns.
Rates are steady, yet some banks are quietly trimming variable and fixed products. Many borrowers are maintaining higher repayments to accelerate principal reduction. “We’re also seeing a strong trend in rent-vesting, where owner-occupiers are investing in a property with the eventual goal of moving into it,” said Jarrett-Dalton.
“This is a smart strategy for safeguarding one’s future in this competitive market, where all signs point to an exceptionally busy and action-packed season.”
Two Red Shoes expects momentum to carry through the holiday period and into the new year, with competition remaining elevated while stock lags demand.
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