Eccentric interior decorator Jean-Pierre Heurteau doesn’t change for anything – not even for an open house.
The renowned ‘flamboyant’ Melbournian has put his house on the market, but has not buckled to pressure to declutter the six-bedroom, three-bathroom home for the benefit of prospective buyers.
Mr Heurteau said he ‘did not believe in’ hiding away his possessions and hiring generic furniture just to make a sale.
Mr Heurteau said he ‘did not believe in’ hiding away his possessions just to sell the house and does not want ‘generic’ furniture
The Edwardian property currently looks like a museum that houses Mr Heurteau’s collection of vases, artefacts and trinkets
‘I don’t get inspired by looking at generic interiors — it’s a stage,’ he told Herald Sun Real Estate on Friday.
‘In the 80s people used to dress up homes, now they dress them down. Why should I change my whole life for a sale?’
The Edwardian property currently looks like a museum that houses Mr Heurteau’s chandeliers, antiques, religious icons, swords, wall mounted antlers and deer heads, giant animal statues, figurines, tribal art, and animal prints.
The collection, which has taken Mr Heurteau three decades to amass, will be on full display in his Dandenong Road home until it is sold.
In fact, he purchased the Armadale property because it allowed him to display his collection for the first time – it had previously been in storage.
His favourite artefacts are the religious ones, particularly clocks, which he keeps on permanent display in his bedroom.
Mr Heurteau’s favourite artefacts are the religious ones, including plastic clocks, which he keeps on display in his bedroom
The huge property, which boasts an amazing six bedrooms, will be shown to buyers with Mr Heurteau’s current decorations
‘I am a mad collector of religious artefacts,’ he said. ‘My friends think I’ve gone mad but I love them.’
But his favourite room is the dining room, which he calls ‘so glamorous’ because it is large enough to really ‘go out of your way’ to throw a special event.
The kitchen is described as an ‘oversized entertainer’s kitchen’ on the Gary Peer listing, with a walk-in pantry, as well as informal sitting and dining rooms taking up the sprawling lower level.
The kitchen is described as an ‘oversized entertainer’s kitchen’ on the online real estate listing, and also has a walk-in pantry
Mr Heurteau’s favourite room is the dining room, which he says is ‘glamorous’ enough to go all out and host ‘special events’
Mr Heurteau installed a mirrored wall, a suspended Venetian mirror and a 19th century French chandelier in the formal dining room, but retained some of the traditional aesthetics such as the fire places and lead light.
‘It is an extraordinary home and it is full of all of his incredible things,’ Mr Peer. ‘This is how he lives and this is how is he selling.
The house will go under the hammer on September 17 and is expected to fetch upwards of $2 million.
The house in Malvern will go under the hammer on September 17 and is expected to fetch about between $2 and $2.2 million
There is a 19th century French chandelier in the dining room and living room, as well as sculptures, vases and lavish furniture
Real estate firm director Gary Peer said that behind the museum-like decor, the ‘really great house’ boasts an open-plan kitchen and meals area, formal dining, family and lounge room with open fireplaces, as well as a north-facing landscaped private backyard.
Outside, a north-facing plantation style decking enjoys relaxing views of the low maintenance, botanical surrounds.
The second storey boasts a further three bedrooms, one with a delightful balcony & a large shared bathroom.
A north-facing plantation style decking on one of the upper levels looks out onto relaxing views of the botanical surroundings
The second storey boasts a large shared bathroom – one of three bathrooms in the large house – as well as the extra bedrooms
New owners will also enjoy street parking, ducted heating, reverse cycle & a coveted location close to Malvern Central & public transport.
After the house sells, Mr Heurteau intends to auction off his current collection to make way for different pieces.
‘I think I will get another big home and put big pieces in it,’ he said. ‘I want bigger, more gilt (French gold furniture) with big Asian pieces — a lovely museum mix.
New owners will also enjoy street parking, ducted heating, reverse-cycle air conditioning and a coveted location in Malvern
After the house sells, Mr Heurteau intends to auction off his current collection for new pieces, like ‘big elephants in marble’
‘I have a vision of massive things from Indian palaces in the garden — big elephants in marble in the garden.’
‘It is an extraordinary home and it is full of all of his incredible things,’ Mr Peer. ‘This is how he lives and this is how is he selling.
‘This one has to be seen to be believed.’