It may look like a typical Victorian property, but behind the doors lies a spectacular hideaway that blows potential buyers away the moment they step inside. 

The four-bedroom home on Rathmines Street in Fairfield, about 8km north-east of Melbourne’s CBD, is the picture of Edwardian charm: white weatherboards, a traditional bullnose verandah, and leadlight windows framed by timber fretwork.

But the moment you walk through the doors, it’s clear this isn’t your standard Federation-era home.

Nicknamed the ‘Hug House’, the white facade has undergone a major transformation, blending the home’s original character with a bold, contemporary redesign.

Owners Corey and Prue Baker purchased the property for just under $1.6million in 2023 – with plans for a standard makeover and resale, but what followed turned a modest family home into an architecturally layered sanctuary.

While many of the heritage features remain – including ceiling rosettes, mantled fireplaces, and timber detailing – a sweeping rear extension shifts the tone entirely.

A new split-level layout, semi-vaulted ceilings, and a series of north-facing sliding doors open the home up to light, space, and movement.

Listed with a price guide of $3.58million, the property is drawing attention not only for its design but also for its story – a classic suburban house reimagined with both nostalgia and nerve.

White weatherboards, a romantic bullnose verandah, delicate leadlight windows and ornate fretwork greet you at 174 Rathmines Street, Fairfield

White weatherboards, a romantic bullnose verandah, delicate leadlight windows and ornate fretwork greet you at 174 Rathmines Street, Fairfield

Nicknamed 'Hug House', this four-bedroom residence has been given a remarkable new lease on life

Nicknamed ‘Hug House’, this four-bedroom residence has been given a remarkable new lease on life

The home bridges old-world craftsmanship with high-concept modern design in the most unexpected, and deeply satisfying, way

The home bridges old-world craftsmanship with high-concept modern design in the most unexpected, and deeply satisfying, way

The transformation has been the work of homeowners Corey and Prue Baker, who purchased the house in 2023 with plans to renovate and resell

The transformation has been the work of homeowners Corey and Prue Baker, who purchased the house in 2023 with plans to renovate and resell

Walk through the front hallway and it’s like moving through time.

The heritage detailing gives way to soaring semi-vaulted ceilings, bold architectural angles, and living spaces bathed in northern light.

Sliding glass doors open onto a sun-soaked deck and mineral swimming pool, while custom timber joinery and polished concrete floors offer a tactile, earthy balance to the modern layout.

In many ways, this house is a masterclass in contrast: warm yet sharp, heritage yet hyper-contemporary, intimate yet expansive.

Imagine settling in beside the fireplace on a winter evening, the fire casting shadows across the oak floors.

Or prepping dinner in the sleek, curved kitchen – complete with luxury appliances, marble surfaces and a butler’s pantry – while the kids drift between the open-plan lounge and the garden outside.

There’s an almost cinematic quality to how the house flows.

The master bedroom is all light and softness, with a walk-in robe and skylit en-suite. 

Sliding glass doors open onto a sun-soaked deck and mineral swimming pool, while custom Blackbutt timber joinery and polished concrete floors offer a tactile, earthy balance to the modern layout

Sliding glass doors open onto a sun-soaked deck and mineral swimming pool, while custom Blackbutt timber joinery and polished concrete floors offer a tactile, earthy balance to the modern layout

The heritage detailing gives way to soaring semi-vaulted ceilings, bold architectural angles, and living spaces bathed in northern light

The heritage detailing gives way to soaring semi-vaulted ceilings, bold architectural angles, and living spaces bathed in northern light

In many ways, this house is a masterclass in contrast: warm yet sharp, heritage yet hyper-contemporary, intimate yet expansive

In many ways, this house is a masterclass in contrast: warm yet sharp, heritage yet hyper-contemporary, intimate yet expansive

It's a rare thing in the Melbourne property market: a house that honours its past but isn't afraid to do something surprising The family bathroom is lined in terrazzo with brushed gold tapware and a soaker tub

It’s a rare thing in the Melbourne property market: a house that honours its past but isn’t afraid to do something surprising

The family bathroom is lined in terrazzo with brushed gold tapware and a soaker tub. 

Even the laundry feels elevated, complete with a full mudroom and powder room tucked discreetly at the side.

Out back, the garden – landscaped by James Wallace – is built for lounging.

The mineral pool glimmers under the afternoon sun, and there’s also direct access to Rubie Thomson Reserve.

It’s a rare thing in the Melbourne property market: a house that honours its past but isn’t afraid to do something surprising.

It offers the romance of Edwardian living, the flexibility of smart design, and the kind of craftsmanship that’s increasingly hard to come by.

Fairfield itself continues to draw attention for its blend of calm, community-oriented streets and easy proximity to High Street cafes, Thornbury’s cultural pull, and the natural beauty of the Darebin Parklands.

For the Bakers, the project has been about more than just resale.

From the front picket fence to the back garden gate, this is a home that manages to be both stylish and deeply comforting – a rarity in any era.

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