From pink to perfect: Inside a true Unley Park mansion
An Unley Park icon has been given a new lease on life and is set to delight for generations to come.
Vendors Jane and David bought the 1894-built Rutland Hall at 2a Rutland Ave in 2011 and have since transformed the tired old girl into a luxurious family entertainer.
“I remember when we first came through the gates and we saw this tall mansion painted pink and overgrown with gardens – it was quite a sight, but we knew it was the place we wanted to be our family home and we could see its potential, but we knew we were taking on a lot,” Jane says.
The picturesque facade. Supplied
How it looked before. Supplied
The timeless hallway and living room. Supplied
As it was when vendors Jane and David bought it. Supplied
“We fell in love with it and we could see it was solid. We were living at Seacliff and had three young kids at the time and were looking for a bit more space, and its proximity to great schools like Scotch and Walford was a consideration because the kids were just starting out. We’ve really turned it into just the most wonderful place to live, and nothing needs doing – you can simply move in and enjoy it.”
The modernised dining room. Supplied
As it was at the time of purchase. Supplied
The contemporary eat-in kitchen. Supplied
The original, more traditional kitchen. Supplied
That process didn’t happen overnight, with the couple spending plenty of time and money resurrecting the property, stripping it back to its bare bones and, with the help of KRIVIC BUILT, bringing it well and truly into the future.
“Everything was old and tired and we started again – everything is new,” David says.
“Our whole concept was that we wanted it to have a sense of timelessness and to have the high quality fixtures and fittings you’d expect to find in a five-starhotel in London – we wanted to walk inside and it to have that feeling.
One of the most decadent master suites you’ll ever see. Supplied
A more casual living area. Supplied
How’s that for a wine room? Supplied
Despite it being a classic Victorian mansion it operates like a brand new home. Every window offers a view over the garden and we considered the needs of our family and designed it to handle everything we threw at it inside, from muddy football boots, to dogs and active kids and their toys.”
The three-storey home has four bedrooms, formal and informal living spaces, two balconies, a wine cellar/tasting room, a pool, a pool pavilion and a tennis court and sits on a spacious and surprisingly private 1531 sqm allotment.
The floodlit pool and court. Supplied
The alfresco area with outdoor kitchen. Supplied
“That tennis court has been absolutely fantastic and we’ve had a lot of family celebrations here over the years both inside and out, year-round,” Jane says.
“We’d love to see a young family really enjoy it, but it could just as easily be ideal for a professional couple, someone with an eye for quality, or those that love to entertain. We’re incredibly proud of what we have accomplished here and we will really miss it, but it’s time for us to downsize and let someone else love it.”
The property is on the market without a price guide through Stephanie and John Williams of Williams Real Estate.