8 Bowen Street, Balaclava, Vic 3183

A contemporary sanctuary with a front-row seat to Balaclava’s buzzing café culture, this architect-designed home strikes the perfect balance between urban vibrancy and private serenity. Set within a heritage-lined pocket just moments from Carlisle Street’s celebrated dining scene, its exceptional design prioritises light, space, and adaptability, creating a home as stylish as it is effortless. Beyond lush greenery, the dual-level layout unfolds with an inviting sense of volume, enhanced by high-set ceilings, light voids, and natural timber finishes. Two separate living areas provide flexibility, seamlessly connected by a sleek kitchen featuring stainless steel appliances, abundant storage, and a moveable island bench that adapts to any occasion. Sliding doors extend the interior to an enticing low-maintenance courtyard, where bluestone crazy paving and landscaped gardens add to the home’s tranquil appeal. Upstairs, a dramatic ceiling void amplifies the natural light, leading to three generously sized bedrooms, each with robes, including the main bedroom with a covered balcony. Two bathrooms, one on each level, cater to practical needs, with laundry facilities integrated into the ground-floor bathroom, whilst ducted heating/cooling, an alarm system, custom in-built storage, and off-street parking via ROW round out a turn-key proposition. With Balaclava Station, St Kilda Primary School, cafes, Chapel Street and Brighton Road trams, and St Kilda’s foreshore all within easy walking distance, this is city-fringe living at its best.