If you are up for a project and love Italianate houses, 130 Were Street Brighton might just be the property for you.

This solid single-level home has great original period features such as stained glass entry door inserts, baltic pine floors and four marble-surrounded open fireplaces. Front formal rooms are of grand scale and have a tremendous feel to them.

While this property is situated on the southern side of the street and opposite local shops, it is in Were Street, which is highly regarded as one of Brighton’s better streets. This tree-lined street has good width and features some wonderful houses. At just over 900m2, land size is good and there is a generous setback to the front and side boundaries.

The suggested design option would retain and refurbish the original charm and splendour, and create, on a single level, a modern extension well suited to contemporary living. This house already has tremendous formal areas, so what is needed is a very good informal area to match. This should be located at the rear of the property, so that visual and physical connection is logical and uninterrupted to the rear yard. Northern sunlight would be brought in via a central courtyard and skylights to the rear open-plan area. This is very important in terms of light and warmth, which this house will particularly crave in Melbourne’s winter months.

New kitchen, bathrooms and the laundry areas would be of good size and conveniently located on the eastern house wing, consolidating plumbing services.

While our rating of 557/1000 is on the low side, this property could well soar into the high 700s if properly renovated.

Design well.