40 John Street

Cottesloe WA 6011

Built in 1902 and named after the tranquil town on the Isle of Man, Laxey Glen will excite history buffs, having operated in its time as a guesthouse, wartime military headquarters, a boarding house and a residential dwelling.
The owners have completely restored the four bedroom 600sqm home, aiming to respect its history while bringing it into the 21st century to make it as sustainable and comfortable as possible. Now classic Colonial architecture blends with New York apartment style interiors and a host of green features that include solar power, gas-boosted solar hot water, temperature-controlled gas heating, bore and grey water reticulation systems, the best of water and energy-efficient appliances, edible gardens and cross-ventilation from the gentle sea breezes (that means the evaporative air-conditioning is almost never needed).
Set on a 1234sqm corner block, the floor plan has numerous living zones and three private bedroom wings that gives the home versatile appeal for a broad range of buyers - families with young or older children, a couple who enjoy having guests to stay, entertainers and those looking for the perfect investment in a blue-chip coastal locale. The former maids quarters have been turned into a comfortable guest house, ideal for guests, elderly relatives, an au pair, studio or teenage retreat, the guest house has a separate entry, kitchenette, walk-in robe and ensuite.
Parents will appreciate the quiet privacy of the parents retreat where one can relax in bed while enjoying the ocean view through Cottesloe s Norfolk Island pines. A well-fitted out dressing room and ensuite with Italian marble floor and benchtop complete the luxe feel.
Entertainers have their pick from the main open-plan living with kitchen, dining and family room with cinema projector screen, formal lounge, library and numerous alfresco entertaining spaces as well as the large second living area, designed to be ideal for a children s living area or games room.
The children s wing branches off the dining, enabling parents of young children to keep an easy eye on them while in the home office or entertaining in the central kitchen (a chef s delight, with Miele appliances, oak cabinets, wide expanses of Italian marble benchtops and a scullery). Older children? The children s wing can be separated from the main living area with a panel of oak and glass bi-fold doors.
Equally suitable for older children as well as young ones, the children s living area opens up onto the wraparound veranda, where an alfresco dining area makes the most of the sea breezes and the beautiful garden outlook. Entertain out here while enjoying the sunset or in the back garden with wood fired pizza oven.
The gardens are something special. Professionally landscaped by the owners, the gardens were designed to be productive as well as beautiful, and feature countless fruit trees - apples, mature black figs, kumquats, Eureka lemon, navel oranges, ruby red grapefruit, eastern lime, kaffir lime, locust, pawpaw, mulberry, peach and cherry guavas. See your friends and family off home with bags of ripe produce picked from your own garden - even the privacy hedges are feijoa figs and olive trees. The gardens are reticulated from a bore, maintained with a fertiliser injector system and there is an 18,000 litre rainwater tank. There is a large basement workshop with huge jarrah workbench and two underground cellars, with thick limestone walls perfect for wine.
Just a short walk to the ocean s edge, the house is just one block to the beach, golf course, train station, tennis courts and also walking distance to cafes, including the famous local John Street Caf and Il Lido, while across the road is Cottesloe Civic Centre with children s playgrounds. With location, character charm and all the comforts of modern living, you will want for nothing in Laxey Glen.