6 Excelsior Pde, Marrickville NSW 2204

Moments from the Cooks River and Marrickville's trendy village, this extraordinary c1911 freestanding sanctuary gives little away from the street. Step inside and the world expands, with a lush, canopied garden alive with native birdlife and towering tropical palms, creating a rare sense of privacy that simply doesn't exist this close to the city. Room after room, Kauri Pine and Cypress Pine floorboards run underfoot beneath soaring 3-metre pressed metal ceilings, while a beautifully oversized kitchen anchors the open living and dining domain, walls of glass surrendering entirely to the green world beyond.

Multiple timber decks wrap the home at every level, each disappearing into the canopy. A winding brick path threads through a serene garden, with a fish pond and all, to a self-contained studio with exposed timber trusses and an ensuite, perfect for guests, income, or whatever life requires. A substantial storage space below adds workshop or home office potential to an already remarkable 518sqm holding. Beyond the gate, grocery shops, hip cafes, jazz bars and restaurants are a minute's walk away, and Cooks River parklands just a little further still. Properties of this soul, this scale and this setting are simply irreplaceable.

- Four-bedroom freestanding family home + studio