Queenscliff 22 Queen Street

If this is the first time you have heard the name Alishia Minett, rest assured it will not be the last. With a string of award nominations under her belt already, this young and upcoming architect/designer has just been granted the award of Australian House and Garden's Number One room of 2013. The room itself just happens to be the kitchen of 22 Queen Street, Queenscliff; fitted with Miele appliance and integrated Liebeherr fridge and freezer, the resulting labour of love and collaboration with her mother over a five year period to build a home that reflects their passion for both superior quality and respect for the surrounding area. The story of this home is as much in the processes of its construction as it is in the family that brought it to life.

Travelling all over the world to source fixtures that include (but are certainly not limited to) polished Turkish blue stone flooring throughout including each of the luxury bathrooms, Italian Caravaggio lighting and honed quartz vanity basins in the powder room and ensuite, French marble counter tops and mantle in the vast, open epicurean kitchen / living and even hand milled Australian Spotted Gum throughout, this is a property that is completely (and uniquely) authentic. From the antique Japanese Tea House doors leading to the penthouse style master suite to the stainless steel guttering that feeds a 20,000 litre under-ground rainwater system; not a single detail has been overlooked.

Overwhelmingly well planned, the home flawlessly mirrors its owners' values when it comes to the true meaning of design. fully sustainable home featuring cross ventilation, forestry certified timbers and recycled timber and, though undeniably decadent, also entirely unpretentious, the simple elegance of natural resources and bold linear elements make this a building that sits comfortably within its coastal environ, without encroaching upon it.

Strategically positioned portals offer both unexpected glimpses as well as completely intentional views of the bay, ocean and rural landscape but it is the cocktail deck on the uppermost level that spectacularly illustrates the home's exceptional positioning. Offering 360 degree views that encapsulate the most impressive panoramas of the Bellarine Peninsula and far beyond its golden shores, this is the most obviously expressive ode to the family's reverence for their location. Beneath the surface of Original Tom Dixon pendant lights, imported Irish Belfast sinks (in a proper, working butler's pantry) and the three different colours of Mt Gambier limestone mined specifically from three different quarries, it is the less obvious features that provide testament to the unique value of this home.

Being able to walk just 3 minutes to private ocean beaches is a relatively evident factor of the property's allure, but the calm that envelopes you as you stroll the gently curved entry path, (with its hand cut slabs of Chinese marble and imposing ancient grind stone alongside the whispered hum of trickling water) is a less tangible attraction that permeates the senses and feeds that place deep within that we cannot adequately explain. Cliche's aside, this home has a soul that embraces its inhabitants in a way that is entirely welcome and completely captivating. The finest home in the heart of a gourmet food and wine region bounded almost entirely by water; the genius of its design is truly incomparable and its value- not just as a residence but also a lifestyle in its own right- is infinite.

Also visit stand alone web site: www.22queenstreet.com

Expansive Spotted Gum Decks incorporating concealed fittings Comfortably luxurious Unrivaled 360 degree views 5kW solar system 20,000 ltr underground rainwater system with drip irrigation Double garage with additional workshop area plus large cedar garden shed 3 minutes walk to private ocean beaches Authentic, original fixtures and fittings Award winning design Architectural and Technological excellence Within gourmet food and wine region 90 minutes to Melbourne

Terms: 10% deposit, balance 30/60/90 days

Land: 668 sq m approx.