FEATURE LISTING: Kensington Park paradise
A 150-year-old oak tree takes pride of place in the grounds of this turn-of-the-century Kensington Park villa, with a stunning modern addition by Outset Design and a garden created by Virginia Kennett.
“It was the tree that made me buy the whole property,” says the home’s current owner, Sadie Michell, a former social worker.
When Sadie purchased the home in 2017, she had been looking for a property she could renovate close to family and friends.
“I lived on a farm in Hahndorf and I’d just had a little girl and decided to move back down to town,” she says.
“My brother Hugo called me and said, ‘There’s a house near our house and I think you should look at it’.
“The front of the house had four beautiful rooms and the rear of the home had a lot of potential. It was the first house I looked at in Adelaide, so it happened quite quickly.”
The property is located near sought-after public and private schools and is just a short drive to The Parade and the CBD.
Behind its sandstone facade, the single-storey abode includes four bedrooms, two bathrooms and plenty of open-plan living space.
The master suite includes a walk-in wardrobe with an ensuite that looks on to an outdoor mural by local artist Lucas Grogan.
The modern extension houses an open-plan kitchen and dining area with a feature gallery wall – the envy of any art lover.
During the renovation by Outset Design, Sadie requested a minimalist design because she wanted to let the art be the focal point.
“I love my art. I have a good art collection, so I wanted the house to be a nice, clean space for that,” she says.
“I get bored of things quite quickly, so I didn’t want to put anything permanent in the home like a feature mosaic wall or something that I will hate in two or three years. We rehang and move artwork around.”
The open-plan kitchen and living area was designed with glass windows that provide an optimal view of the oak tree, with a redesigned garden by Virginia Kennett Garden Designs.
One of Sadie’s favourite features is the master suite, which boasts a spacious walk-in wardrobe.
“I love my big beautiful bedroom with the courtyard looking out to Lucas’s mural and the walk-in wardrobe,” says Sadie.
“There are some cool light fittings in there. There’s a Moray light in my bedroom that I’m just obsessed with … it’s going with the house.”
Sadie, who is currently living in Canada, says she will miss the memories and community of Kensington Park. But most of all, she will miss the beautiful oak tree.
“I just hope someone buys it and loves it as much as we did, because it is a very special place … I’ll miss that tree. God, I’ll miss that tree.”
The sale is being handled by Henry Gower Tillett and Lauren Davis from Harris Real Estate.