The reason one distinctive Stepney villa is bright green

A bold-coloured Stepney home that served as a reminder of Italy to its migrant owners for more than half a century is expected to attract keen interest when it goes under the hammer.

The early 1900s villa at 18 Loch St is well-known to locals, distinguished by its grass green exterior.

Vendor Sandro Iuliano, who is selling his childhood home on behalf of his late parents, Salvatore and Livia, said his mum had the original stone facade rendered.

“There’s actually quite a nice stone under (the render),’’ Mr Iuliano said of the home, which looks as if it was constructed of solid green brick.

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The Stepney villa at 18 Loch St is well known in the area because of its green facade.

The former owners very specifically wanted it that colour, and for good reason.

The home was cherished for many years by its owners.

Keen decorators, they embraced bold colours right through the home.

“They painted the background (layer under the render) white and masked it with sticky tape and then did a scratch render on it.

“Then they pulled off all the tape, which left all that brick laying pattern.

“It was very innovative.’’

Bright red aluminium roof tiles, now faded, were the final flourish.

“Mum wanted it to be the green, white and red – the colours of the Italian flag,’’ Mr Iuliano said.

“She was far away from her homeland and she was just trying to bring some of those memories back here.

“Let’s just say being colour blind was helpful for me.

“I thought it was OK but I know green is probably not a colour you paint a home.’’

Mr Iuliano’s parents moved to Australia in the 1960s.

Keen home decorators, they embraced other bold colours within the interior of the three-bedroom residence and painted roses on the walls with an embossed rubber paint roller that was made by a family member and shipped from Italy.

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Much of the bright wallpapers and flooring remain today.

It’s like stepping back through time in each room.

The property will go to auction next month.

It’s drawing strong interest in the lead up to auction.

While those roses have now made way for traditional white painted walls in preparation for the sale, other rooms still boast brightly patterned wallpaper and rich-coloured carpet.

Outside, Mr Iuliano recalled the backyard was once full of fruit trees and grape vines, with his dad particularly proud of the tomatoes that were converted to sauce that was stored in the cellar each year.

“It was a really lovely home,’’ he said.

“It’s fair to say it’s been part of our family for a long time and it will be sad to see it go.

“I’m sure someone (who buys it) will do it up in the modern style and get rid of the green (facade) but, if it was retained, it would be nice – it would be saying someone approves of what mum and dad did.’’

The house, which has been listed by Ray White Kensington without a price guide, has already drawn interest from owner-occupiers, investors and developers alike, said selling agent Andrew Welch.

It will be auctioned on October 10.

– by Lauren Ahwan

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