Property of the week: 23 Barr St, Balmain
An extraordinary warehouse conversion in the inner west delivers in spades on luxury living
3 min
Artist Sandra Leveson is known for her luminescent paintings and prints, embracing vibrant colours and abstract textures in her work. So it comes as no surprise that her private home and studio of the last four decades has been a grand converted warehouse brimming with natural light and oodles of open space.
The one-time chemical warehouse in Sydney’s inner west is an extraordinary urban transformation blending a raw industrial palette with a savvy floorplan to create a unique work-from-home experience. Simultaneously a home, a studio and a gallery, Leveson’s Balmain bolthole is a testament to her artistic legacy and creative mind.
Selling agent Danny Cobden of Cobden Hayson, who is taking the property to market with a $7 million price guide, said the rare listing is an opportunity for a buyer with vision.
“It’s such a truly unique offering for Balmain. Warehouse residences do come up, but they’re pretty rare and this particular one hasn’t been to market in about 40 years,” he said.
“This is certainly very liveable as is, but it’s also an extraordinary blank canvas for somebody new to come in and put their own stamp on it.”
Measuring 535sqm of internal living space, the residence sits on a 573sqm block incorporating ample room for outdoor entertaining, storage and parking. The former atelier features a striking 29m-long facade with a dramatic sawtooth roofline providing spectacular double-height vaulted ceilings and plenty of floor space. Elevated steel-framed windows, exposed steel beams and a contemporary mezzanine upper level layout are reminiscent of Manhattan’s coveted lofts but rarely seen in Sydney.
The vast open plan ground floor space is anchored by a huge L-shaped entertaining gallery and living room punctuated by a central fireplace. While the high roof line and cavernous space are showstoppers in themselves, the piece de resistance is the 11m by 3m pool and private sundeck sitting at centre stage in a rooftop terrace visible from almost every corner of the property. Under the pool, there is hidden storage, as well as a laundry.
The commercial-grade eat-in kitchen has stainless steel surfaces and appliances and the ground floor also houses one bedroom with an ensuite, plus a self-contained one-bedroom apartment.
Up on the second level, two open plan bedrooms overlook the gallery space with two bathrooms, a dressing room and a second living area.
Additional amenities include a secure lock-up garage with a 3m clearance and loading bay, off-street parking and a lush tropical entry garden. The quiet cul de sac position tucked behind Darling St is close to Ann Cashman Reserve.
The Balmain warehouse has a price guide of $7 million and is on the market with Cobden Hayson via expressions of interest, closing September 25. For more information contact Cobden Danny Cobden on 0411 144 210.
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A sprawling French Provincial-inspired estate on two hectares has hit the market with a $17 million to $18 million price guide.
2 min
A grand 2ha family compound in Sydney’s north west has come to market with expectations it could break through the current price benchmark for the sprawling semi-rural suburb.
The Middle Dural estate at 65 Cranstons Rd is listed with William Brush of Manor Real Estate and has a price guide of $17 million to $18 million.
If the trophy home hits its target, the six-bedroom, five-bathroom residence will become the district’s priciest property.
Currently, the house price record for Middle Dural and the broader Hills District sits with 3 McLeod Rd. That stately mansion, also on 2ha, achieved $15 million last June through Manor Real Estate.
American architect John Henry designed the elaborate two-storey Cranstons Rd house, which merges French Provincial sophistication and Hamptons glamour alongside indulgent resort-inspired amenities.
Beyond security gates, a sweeping driveway and statement fountain announce the modern mansion with its classic columns and elegant porch.
Inside, a dramatic entrance foyer immediately captures attention upon arrival, with soaring 6m ceilings, a chandelier, and an elegant double-curved staircase as a standout centrepiece.
The home’s spacious floorplan covers approximately 1200 sq m of living space, specifically crafted to accommodate every event, from intimate family gatherings to large-scale entertaining.
Formal and informal lounge and dining areas flow out to multiple alfresco spaces, including the vast casual family zone and a stone kitchen complete with a fireplace, high-end integrated appliances, a long eat-at island bench, and a fully equipped butler’s pantry.
There is also a home theatre, a billiards room with a marble cocktail bar, a walk-in wine cellar and tasting room, a large home office or guest suite with bathroom, and a fully equipped gymnasium.
The detailed craftsmanship throughout the home includes herringbone timber floors, coffered ceilings, bespoke joinery and walls of windows framing the leafy outlook and grounds.
Upstairs, a mezzanine gallery separates two accommodation wings. On one side, the palatial main bedroom has a sitting area, a private balcony, and a large dressing room featuring two accessory tables. In the spacious ensuite, there are dual vanities, two showers and a freestanding bathtub.
Five more bedrooms, each with a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite, and an upper-level library that is ideal for children’s study or as a second home office.
The outdoor amenities at the Middle Dural compound rival a five-star resort with a 20m swimming pool, a championship-sized floodlit tennis court, and a separate entertainer’s pavilion that includes an outdoor kitchen, an open fireplace, a bathroom, and a sauna.
Additional features include elaborate chandeliers and feature lighting, a wine display wall, ducted air conditioning, decorative wainscoting, wallpaper, carpeted bedrooms, security and solar panels.
Surrounding the manor, the manicured gardens consist of expansive lawns and sculpted hedges, with an established neighbouring forest.
Popular schools, shopping centres, cafés and everyday amenities are within easy reach, with Sydney’s CBD approximately 40 km away.
The Middle Dural estate at 65 Cranstons Rd is listed via private treaty with William Brush of Manor Real Estate.
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