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.
2 min
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.
The Australian leather house has opened an immersive four-day pop-up in Manhattan, unveiling its Bloom Collection and redefining what a product launch can look like.
A record-breaking $11 million sale at The Centennial Collection has set a new benchmark for luxury apartment living in Bondi Junction.
Hospitality entrepreneurs Bruce and Chyka Keebaugh have set a new price benchmark for apartment living in Richmond with their purchase of a Carmine House penthouse.
2 min
Leading Australian development manager Fortis has secured a landmark off-the-plan sale at Richmond Square, with high-profile hospitality entrepreneurs Bruce and Chyka Keebaugh purchasing a 550sqm penthouse residence in Carmine House, establishing a new price benchmark for apartment living in Richmond.
The purchase underscores the continued demand for premium, amenity-rich residences in Melbourne’s inner east.
The transaction marks a significant milestone for the $330 million mixed-use precinct, reinforcing buyer appetite for integrated, lifestyle-led developments.
Richmond Square comprises two residential offerings – Carmine House and Wiltshire House – alongside a 57-room boutique hotel, strata office space and a curated mix of retail and lifestyle operators.
As part of Carmine House, residents have access to hotel-style amenities and services, including concierge, housekeeping, dry cleaning and in-residence food and beverage delivery.
Best known for building The Big Group into one of Australia’s leading luxury hospitality and events businesses, the Keebaughs were drawn to the precinct’s integrated lifestyle offering and its proximity to Melbourne’s hospitality, cultural and sporting precincts, while remaining well connected to the Mornington Peninsula, where they spend much of their time.
As well, Chyka is well known to Australian audiences as one of the original stars of The Real Housewives of Melbourne, appearing across three seasons of the hit reality series.
Alongside her business ventures with Bruce, she has built a public profile as a lifestyle authority, authoring two books on home and entertaining, Chyka Home and Chyka Celebrate.
“We weren’t simply looking for a luxury apartment,: the couple said. “We were looking for a home that delivers an exceptional lifestyle every day. The combination of design, walkability, security and the broader precinct vision for the broader precinct immediately stood out.”
Jordan Winada, Head of Acquisitions (Commercial) Victoria at Fortis, said the result highlights evolving priorities at the top end of the market.
“This sale reinforces that premium buyers are prioritising the complete lifestyle experience,” says Winada.
“They’re increasingly looking beyond the apartment itself and assessing the quality of the surrounding neighbourhood as well.”
Sean Cussell, Director at Christie’s International Real Estate Victoria, who negotiated the transaction, said the result reflects the lack of comparable product at this level of the market.
“There’s simply no direct comparison for this in Richmond. It’s not just an apartment; it’s part of a fully integrated precinct combining residential, hotel, workplace and lifestyle amenity,” Cussell said.
“Buyers are increasingly assessing the broader offering, from amenity and walkability to service and convenience. Projects that deliver a complete lifestyle experience continue to outperform.”
The sale contributes to Fortis’ strong national performance, with the business recording more than $124 million in sales since March, the last three all record-breaking penthouse sales across the country, reflecting sustained momentum across its portfolio and continued appetite for premium, design-driven developments.
This follows Fortis’ recent record-breaking Ruby House penthouse sale in Sydney’s Double Bay, which set a new benchmark for apartment living in the suburb and underscores the strength of demand at the ultra-premium end of the market.
Richmond Square will announce its hospitality and lifestyle operators in the coming weeks as the project progresses towards completion this year.
From the shacks of yesterday to the sculptural sanctuaries of today, Australia’s coastal architecture has matured into a global benchmark for design.
Automobili Lamborghini and Babolat have expanded their collaboration with five new colourways for the ultra-exclusive BL.001 racket, limited to just 50 pieces worldwide.
