Eddie Perfect sells East home; amusingly, it’s the same house he satirized in his 2015 musical about buying and renovating.
“It was based on a true story but ramped up to nightmare proportions,” says the award-winning comedian, writer, actor, and composer.
Currently on a break from workshopping Vivid White with the Bangalow Theatre Company in Byron Bay, he reflects on the work.
Moreover, obsession with home ownership and renovation pitfalls remain just as relevant now as when his dark comedy first staged by the Melbourne Theatre Company.
- Owners: Eddie Perfect and Lucy Cochran
- The property: A renovated c1920s double-fronted weatherboard home
- Address: 39 Barkly Street, Brunswick East, Victoria
- Price guide: $2.1 million-$2.31 million
- Auction: 10.30am, September 21
Eddie Perfect sells East home; Perfect, 46, and wife Lucy Cochran encountered friends at an open inspection of a tired Californian bungalow-Edwardian hybrid, painted khaki.
The thought, “What if we both want it?” sparked the idea for his musical. Renovations led to countless decisions.
They chose Melbourne’s inner north for convenience. After tiring of Healesville commutes for early TV shoots, they rented nearby.
“The inner north was always familiar, unpretentious, and neighborly,” he says, which reduced buying anxiety due to known streets.
Eddie Perfect sells East home, describes himself as a passive participant, with credit given to Cochran and Splinter Society.
Two front bedrooms, the living room, and other areas were restored to 1920s beauty, and functionality was improved throughout.
The renovation added character to both new and old elements, thanks partly to vibrant colors throughout the home Eddie Perfect lists.
Dulux’s Vivid White was complemented by royal blue leadlight designs, including a porthole window above the staircase landing.
Crimson hearth tiles were added to the living room fireplace, where marshmallow-toasting became a cherished ritual for the family.
Peacock-blue family-room panelling, a fairy-floss pink side gate, and trims in black, bronze, and timber completed the vibrant look.
Daughters Kitty and Charlotte, now 15 and 12, were quite young when they lived in the home during renovations.
The family utilized the quaint front verandah with double art-deco doors as their kitchen and dining space during this time.
“You’re 100 percent guaranteed to get into a conversation with passers-by,” Perfect says.
Transitioning from the old guard of Italian and Greek families, the area is also home to families with kids at the primary school.
Yet, despite these traditional roots, the community remains notably hip.
Cochran loves the easy access to playgrounds, parkland, and Merri Creek, as well as nearby villages and Edinburgh Gardens.
She appreciates proximity to eateries, cafes, trams to the city, and the Capital City bike path, enhancing daily convenience.
Flexibility was essential for their family home on 322 square meters, especially valuable during the pandemic lockdowns.
Upstairs, a pocket space off the main bedroom has served as a study, walk-in wardrobe, and nursery over time.
Additionally, a piano-sized nook in the dining area allowed Eddie to tinker while keeping an eye on the stove.
The kitchen features a vast indoor-outdoor granite bench, divided by a gas-strut awning window, ideal for cooking, entertaining, and dancing, according to Eddie Perfect.
Behind the sink, an internal window allows the cook to see into the living room, drawing in northerly light from the rear and connecting with children or guests.
For separation or solitude, the standout feature is the garden studio. Located ten bluestone pavers past the rear deck, it’s a light-filled creative space.
The studio, with glass sliders meeting at one corner and an ivy privacy curtain, has become Eddie Perfect’s cherished retreat. “The studio and I have a great relationship,” he says.
Perfect has spent considerable time enjoying the view of his bird-attracting garden with olive, Meyer lemon, and Damson plum trees, while working on projects there.
He has written extensively in the studio, including Vivid White and Beetlejuice the Musical. The space is also suited for late-night calls and Zoom meetings with his booming voice.
Eddie Perfect sells East home, highlighting these unique features and personal touches that made the property special.
Thanks to the creative space and time spent in New York, Eddie Perfect’s Tony Award-nominated Beetlejuice the Musical will open at the Regent Theatre next May.
The musical, based on Tim Burton’s macabre film, will have its cast announced at Halloween.
The Perfect family is excited about their move to the Yarra’s Studley Park area. They look forward to giving their daughters and “lockdown dog” Bronte, an Australian shepherd, more space.
Additionally, they plan to further indulge their passion for local birdlife in their new home.
