This family home has worn many hats over the years. Now the duo behind a Melbourne institution are selling their family home that pays tribute to a lost loved one while offering a healing sanctuary and creative workshop.
When famed Australian milliners Leanne Ayache and Tibor Gyapjas considered buying their now cherished inner-city Melbourne home in 2011, people “laughed their heads off”, Ms Ayache said.
“They walked through the house and said, ‘Who would ever buy this house?’ The bathroom looked like Jurassic Park; The paint was peeling off the walls and there was mold everywhere. But we loved the beautiful big liquidambar tree at the back.”
There was another reason why they bought the detached 1920s house at 25 Lucan Street, Caulfield North.
Ms. Ayache’s sister, Sandra, was battling terminal breast cancer, and the couple had agreed to raise her boys, who were 11 and 15 years old at the time.
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25 Lucan Street in Caulfield North is going to auction with a price estimate of $2m-$2.2m. Image: realestate.com.au
They parted with about $1.12 million and began creating a home for the boys, renovating the house to honor its heritage.
“The stained glass is original and there are beautiful ornamental pieces and ceiling roses. And all the wooden floors are beautiful,” Ms Ayache said.
An open plan living, dining and kitchen area opens to a new outdoor terrace and outdoor living area. Image: realestate.com.au
“We made sure our kitchen extension was in keeping with the rest of the house and we’ve just built a beautiful new Blackbutt terrace.”
The kitchen features custom cabinetry, stone countertops and high-end appliances. Image: realestate.com.au
She has also poured her heart into the garden, where she and Sandra once toiled side by side.
“After she graduated, I spent a lot of years gardening because it reminded me of her.”
Yet this place has offered the creative couple much more than a retreat for the whole family.
Original features include Baltic pine floors, decorative ceilings, ornate cornices and stained glass windows. Image: realestate.com.au
About five years ago it became the base for their urban fashion brand Carlisle Hats, which closed its doors after twenty years on Carlisle Street in the Melbourne suburb of Balaclava.
“Before Covid, we made the decision to close the business and make handmade hats because we felt people wanted something different, something custom,” Ms Ayache said.
The family home became the base for their handmade millinery business after they closed their Balaclava shop for 20 years. Image: realestate.com.au
The millinery lived in one of the bedrooms and then in the dining room. Recently, the couple moved their workshop to the garage and their office to the adjacent studio as they prepared their home for sale.
The millinery lived in one of the bedrooms and then in the dining room. Image: realestate.com.au
“Customers enjoy coming to our house where they can see all the ribbons and choose what they want,” Ms. Ayache said.
“And they always say what a beautiful place it is. There is greenery everywhere, it is very relaxing.”
The spacious house has a separate dining room with tiled fireplace and sliding doors. Image: realestate.com.au
This elegant north-facing rear home, for sale for approximately $2.2 million, features four bedrooms, the master en suite, a separate dining room and a rear living area and kitchen opening onto an entertaining terrace, flat lawn, studio and garage.
A garden retreat with laundry room and bathroom connects to the double garage with access to the laneway to the rear. Image: realestate.com.au
Enough space for a workshop. Image: realestate.com.au
Baltic pine floors, decorative ceilings, ornate cornices, exposed brick walls and three fireplaces define the gracious interior.
The stone kitchen features a servery for alfresco dining, the external studio (with laundry room and bathroom with walk-in shower) would be suitable as a gym, teenage retreat or office, while the garage has access to the rear street.
The private backyard has a mature liquidambar tree. Image: realestate.com.au
Agent David Sciola of Jellis Craig expects the home’s character, one-level layout and private backyard to be a hit with upgraders and downsizers alike.
“It’s light, spacious and airy and the couple have put so much effort into this house; it’s very charming.”
Now that they’re approaching 60 and the boys have long since left home, Ms. Ayache and Mr. Gyapjas plan to downsize nearby — close to their customers, perhaps somewhere with room for the hats, or rent a separate retail space nearby.
The creative couple plans to downsize locally. Image: realestate.com.au
For Mrs. Ayache, saying goodbye to the house will be an emotional sting.
“For the boys, this is their parental home and I planted a tree in the front garden in honor of my sister.
‘I still have her ashes here in an urn; she’s going to help us sell this house.’
The house has worn many hats. Image: realestate.com.au
She doesn’t worry about her hats, though.
“The hat business is great here, but it will be even better somewhere else.”
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