Friday, May 29, 2009

Bathing with nature


Well, yes, this "flexible living & dining" room Natalia found could use a fresh coat of paint and a go with the Swiffer. But it gets more... um... blank canvasy outside:


I'm 99% certain that's where the toilet is. Or is it the "open-air bathroom" -- that is, the room with the bath? And which would you prefer?

28 comments:

Decadent Housewife said...

Maybe it's trompe l'oiel.

Anonymous said...

"derelict", "warning-very neglected condition", "very rundown", "not for the faint-hearted"...I'm sold, lemme get my checkbook.

bikerchick said...

Thanks for posting that lovely listing, and now I need another shower from viewing the pix! I'm pretty sure the only reason it can't be torn down is because it seems to be the only visible support for the buildings on each side that share walls.

Sabra said...

I'm sold, lemme get my checkbook.Oh, so you ARE the one who bought it?

CM said...

You gotta give it to the realtor: that was one honest listing! The house looks like a wreck, but as anonymous's compilation illustrates, he isn't afraid to tell you up front that it's a wreck! FWIW, I think the house looks beautiful, in its own way.

Sue T. said...

That is, like, totally gross.

Are the stairs really as narrow as they appear? That is a truly strange house.

Herself, the GeekGirl said...

Amazingly, it is sold! I'm guessing that building is a wood shed.

mudslicker said...

Are you sure this is in Australia because it looks mighty close to that abandoned Italian villa in The English Patient?

I'm positive I see Ralph Fiennes reading Herodotus out in the loo!

It's a bummer this airy gem has already been sold; however I bet the Snoopy "happy dance" of the neighbors on either side of the shared walls could not be contained.

Sara said...

No, honestly, Iron "GeekGirl" Misty , I really do think it's where the toilet is. It's not unusual in Australia for older homes to have the toilet in a shed out back, even in cities, and the listing says it has an "outside loo."

Anonymous said...

ah ... so the loo in the shed "out back" is where that famous phrase originated....

drjim said...

Gee...here in the USA they'd have that listed as "AMAZING OPPORTUNITY!", and "Needs a little TLC".
Guess the rules for truth in advertising are different Down Under.

Anonymous said...

Yep, lots of rowhouses in that part of Sydney were built with the loo out back. Still the case in a number of restaurants in Glebe, just North -- you go down the back stairs, through the alley, around the back. Part of the period charm.

Location on that one is hard to beat.

Anonymous said...

"Deceased Estate" - how long were they dead in there before someone noticed?

Glory von Hathor said...

The irony of an outdoor toilet being called the 'privvy' has finally caught up with me.

Meli said...

Good gravy, I had a nightmare once with stairs like that in it!

Anonymous said...

You know, when people include terrible photos while trying to make the house sound nice, it's amusing.

When a listing says "this house is a big wreck" and show you pictures to prove it, it's... a listing.

I don't get what's noteworthy about something like this.

Sara said...

I agree that it's a reasonable photo for what it is, anonymous, and I sometimes say that I'm cheating when I do it. It's just a photo from a real estate listing that made me laugh. Nothing on this blog should be taken seriously. It's humor (I hope), not reportage.

Unknown said...

The "loo" is even more outdoors than we imagined. Notice Chair's relative, Plastic Bucket, to the right of the shed...

Unknown said...

@Sue T., I think everything on that wall is a painting - except the fire damage.

Anonymous said...

@Anon -- I think it's noteworthy because of the condition of the property, and it is funny to me. No matter how honest the description is, and it is, if I just saw the words without the pictures I still wouldn't envision a place in that state.

Pretty much the only way for the agents to adequately describe that would be, "Truly fit for demolition only if it wasn't the support for two adjoining structures! Act now, before it molders away and collapses into the Australian dust! Bring your face masks and Haz Mat teams for this gem!"

So...if the commode is located in the scary shed, does that mean that there is no actual bathroom within? Surely there must be a way to bathe in there? Right? I mean, it's an old place but it's not that old.

I only mention that because at least there is probably existing (rotting) plumbing inside.

Anonymous said...

Okay, just noticed that there is no kitchen, at all. I have absolutely no clue how someone would manage without some sort of kitchen.

Gosh, I'd love to see follow-up photos of what the new owners actually do with this property! Talk about your blank slate.

Sugarglider said...

You may not believe this - but that property was highlighted on prime time news cause the auction attracted 47 registered bidders - builders and renovators - and it brought a record price. the location is what they are after

Moongrl722 said...

My Top Ten Ways the owner died list.
10) Fire
9) Stairs
8) Starved to death with no kitchen
7) Neighbors killed him/her
6) Spider bite on hiney whilst using scary loo
5) Stairs
4) Stairs
3) Stairs
2) Stairs
1) Stairs

Anonymous said...

Well, I can certainly see why it sold quickly and for a great price. The listing was straight-forward and honest ... and someone with the money to do so really will have the opportunity to create any type of space they desire behind that fantastic original facade. (No, I'm not being sarcastic. The front of the unit is really lovely.) If I'd been looking for a deal in that locale, I'd have been at the auction, too. It's a shame we'll never see the end result.

I don't suppose the neighbors will exactly enjoy the construction noise, traffic, etc., but I bet they are thrilled that the unit will be gutted and rehabbed.

Unknown said...

I'm confused: Which came first, the dead owner or the fire? Was it a murder and someone set fire to cover it up? Or was someone living in a scorched apartment? Either way, sad. :(

Mrs Coops said...

Absolutely speechless!!

*jaw drops on floor!*

jackie31337 said...

"Not for the faint-hearted" indeed, although the listing now reads "sold", so I guess someone is either very brave or stupidly optimistic.

dissimilitude said...

Well, the facade is nice, and assuming the good location, I can see somebody wanting it for a gut-and-rebuild project. My theory on the deceased owner is that they were in a nursing home or some type of long-term care for several years prior to dying and the property was vacant & vandalized.

I thought it was funny just because I've never seen a property described as "not for the faint-hearted" before.