50 River Crescent, Broadbeach Waters, modelled on the Palace of Versaille, has hit the market.
A main river mansion modelled on France’s Chateau de Versailles has hit the market offering a lavish lifestyle of which King Louis XIV would have approved.
Creating a 17th-century masterpiece was never the intention of owner Patrick de Zilva when he bought 50 River Crescent in Broadbeach Waters in 1993 for $610,000, yet it became a passion project that has resulted in him spending the past 17 years living like a king.
The owner loved the French architecture of the home.
“My wife and I had travelled to France a few times, we loved Europe, and we were both attracted to the French style architecture,” Patrick said.
“That’s why we liked this house. Structurally we did nothing to it just transformed the inside and the gardens,” he said.
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Landscaped gardens with topiary trees and manicured lawns were added.
Yet what started out as a simple paint job in his daughter’s bedroom, suddenly exploded into a full-on home renovation, Baroque-style.
Marble statues, Corinthian pillars, intricate cornicing, domes with Michelangelo-inspired artworks, antique furnishings, gilded mirrors and crystal chandeliers are a feast for the eyes when you enter the Broadbeach Waters home, while manicured topiary gardens make you feel like you are in a Parisian park.
This ceiling dome was inspired by the work of Michelangelo.
“I escalated it to an extreme,” Patrick laughed. “I am a man of extremes.”
“My wife and I visited the Chateau de Versailles several times and every time we went there we were blown away. We loved the Hall of Mirrors (one of the most famous rooms in the royal palace) so we thought, why don’t we do this in our dining room?
Most of the furniture is antique and imported form Europe.
“The makeover took about 18 months to finish. We had plasterers, painters, decorators – quite a few people were working here at the same time. Trying to do it today would be impossible.”
Mr De Zilva’s Hall of Mirrors, which he has dubbed the Dining Room of Reflection, opens out on to sculpted gardens as does the French country-style kitchen, which may look antique but comes with all the top appliances from the 21st Century.
The master suite has a canopied bed made of marble columns and with antique lighting.
On the ground level is also a guest bedroom modelled on Mary Antoinette’s private apartment, which features imported Italian marble floors, a fireplace, ornate ceilings and cornices, with French doors opening out to the pool, alfresco area and main river beyond.
Upstairs is the Louis XIV master suite, balconies open out to river views, a large changing room, separate bath, shower and double vanity, not to mention a huge canopy bed with marble columns and antique lighting.
The traditional French kitchen may look old but is equipped with top-of-the-range appliances.
There are two further bedrooms and a study on this floor, all decked out in the same Baroque style.
The attention to detail in this home is extraordinary with much of the furniture being antique and imported from Europe.
“The house is full of things we have collected on our travels from Europe; the fireplace for example. I carried that back from Europe in my hand luggage on the plane,” Mr De Zilva said.
French door give way to romantic main river vistas.
“Airports were a little more lax in those days. You would never get away with it now.”
While the Palace of Versailles is today somewhat of a museum, Mr De Zilva said his version was anything but.
“It’s been a very functional family home and we’ve had lots of gatherings here,” he said.
“It is going to be so hard for me to leave.”
The Dining Room of Reflection is a homage to the Palace of Versailles famous Hall of Mirrors.
Marketing agent Grant Stephens of Harcourts Coastal Prestige said the house had already generated a lot of attention from an eclectic mix of potential buyers with 36 inspections carried out in the first week of marketing.
“The house has real soul and earth to it. Even if it isn’t your style of decor, the layout of the house is good, and it is unique, so it will do well in an established market,” Mr Stephens said.
The property will be auctioned on Saturday, October 2 at 10.30am.
Most of the home’s furnishings are also available for sale through separate negotiation.
The home has a very French feel.
The home will be auctioned on October 2.
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