Celebrity cookbook author Kim McCosker has stirred international interest in the upcoming sale of her beloved Caloundra sky home that has all the right ingredients for an extraordinary, absolute-waterfront lifestyle.
Kim, of 4 Ingredients cookbook series fame, is inviting offers over $5.95 million for the 650sqm, five-bedroom sky home over two levels in Anchorage on Maloja, at 12/34 Maloja Avenue.
The property – with sweeping views across Pumicestone Passage, Bulcock Beach and the shipping channel – is being jointly marketed by Linda Feltman, Clare Thompson and Brittany McCurdy, of Henzells Agency.
The woman, who has sold more than nine million books across all titles in her series, developed a cookware range, phone app and television series broadcast in 24 countries, loved the unique floorplan and, together with husband Glen Turnbull, set about creating what was to be their ‘forever home’.
So, what does the eye-watering price tag buy at what is being billed as an “unparalleled residential experience”?
Part of the answer is an exclusive address on one of Caloundra’s only direct waterfront streets – only moments from the Caloundra shopping precinct, beaches and boardwalks in Queensland’s 2023 Top Tourism Town – and feeling like you’re living in an aquarium as you look out over the expanse of water and see myriad fish species, stingrays and turtles.
Inside are two master suites, including a self-contained upper level.
The lower-level master/guest suite provides a spacious, sophisticated private environment. The upper-level master boasts breathtaking views, a huge walk-in robe and floor-to-ceiling marble ensuite.
The additional three bedrooms are also located on the upper level, serviced by two bathrooms, private north-facing balcony and laundry featuring Miele washing machine and dryer.
The main living and kitchen zone seamlessly connect with the waterfront terrace and outdoor kitchen area that has undercover and open spaces and features timber decking, a hooded five-burner gas barbecue, custom cabinetry, granite benchtops and large commercial bar fridge.
Given Kim’s love of cooking, the impressive chef’s kitchen has been designed for entertainers and features high-end Gaggenau and Miele appliances and a Vintec wine fridge, granite stone benchtops, custom Qasair rangehood and Zip HydroTap. The upper level’s kitchenette also contains similar high-end inclusions.
And the successful buyer will appreciate the attention to detail.
The sky home has been rewired as a smarthome (Kim marvels at the fact that while on a family holiday in Vietnam recently, she was able to speak through an app with a delivery man who came to the front gate).
Having put her creative mark on the interior design and layout of about a dozen properties with Glen, Kim said this one took on an “art deco, New York-inspired glamour”.
The jaw-dropping ‘wow factor’ is everywhere: the 12m long entry statement wallpapered in a striking Pacific Ocean blue with gold fans motif; the black-and-white palm tree wallpaper mural, titled Tropical Eden, on the living room wall; the exquisite chandelier called The Wave; and the swirling blue and gold carpet square, reminiscent of Pumicestone Passage below, that was the foundation piece for building the entire living room decor and responsible for tying together the indoor-outdoor spaces.
Of the five carparks, three are located in a private-panelled, triple, remote lock-up that also houses the humidity-controlled, 450-bottle wine cellar.
The other secure undercover car park has separate access and can accommodate either two cars, a boat or jet ski, plus storage.
The complex features a heated magnesium swimming pool, with ensuited dining area, private jetty and timber boardwalk, CCTV security cameras, video intercom system and lift.
Kim is a convert to apartment living, saying the sky home gave her family their Sundays back.
“Someone said to me, ‘Are you coming back to house dwelling?’ And I replied, ‘No. Once you make the jump, it’s very difficult to go back’,” she said.
“The real gift of living in an apartment is ‘Sunday’. Sunday for us in our previous home, was gardening, mulching, weeding, whippersnipping, mowing, cleaning the pool and arguing with the boys about who’s going to do a dump run.
“By the end of it, we were all over it. We were paying a gardener, paying a pool man, and a spa man, and figured out annual body corporate fees weren’t dissimilar.
“Now the biggest decision for us on a Sunday is: ‘Where shall we have brunch?’.
“How fabulous is that? That’s living, and once you experience that, it’s very hard to let it go.”
“We went from a very big home into an apartment and were a little nervous. But there’s a lot of upside to apartment living, including much-lower maintenance.
“Location and access to amazing facilities – that’s really helped create this beautiful lifestyle for us.”
Kim and Glen are reluctantly selling to take up “a one-off opportunity for an early-stage development project”.
“A very big decision, given we thought it was our forever home,” said Kim, who is chair of the Caloundra Business Alliance.
“We were in our previous home (canalfront at Pelican Waters) for 16 years. This one has just been a little under two years.
“It’s so beautiful but we’ve got a wonderful opportunity. We don’t do things lightly. It’s been a very well-considered decision.
“We’ll still be living in 4551. If you love the water and the proximity to the water, it’s unrivalled. You can be on the beach in one block and in the next block, you’re in the main street of a rapidly growing, artistic city – it’s amazing.
”We’ve looked elsewhere, but you simply cannot beat this location, the surrounding beaches and all its facilities.”
Agent Linda Feltman describes Kim’s sky home as an “irreplaceable masterpiece” and is already fielding inquiries from overseas.
“Sky homes are hot property around the world. Where else can find this degree of absolute waterfront opulence on the Sunshine Coast? This bespoke penthouse sets a benchmark that few could follow,’’ she said.
“We’ve already had two international inquiries.
“I’ve got another property in Pelican Waters at the moment of a similar price range and there’s global interest on that as well.
“There’s a lot of expats that are wanting to come back to Australia and call it home again.
“We’re finding that, particularly with a sky home like Kim’s, they can absolutely have it as a holiday property as well.
“They can have their personal groundsman and personal pool manager to look after everything while they’re away, and they’ve got a beautiful holiday resort to come home to.
“This is what dreams are made of. This exceptional sky home perfectly blends lifestyle, location and luxury.”
Asked about who she hoped would be the prospective buyer, Kim said the property would attract “a niche market”.
“The right person always turns up,” she said.
“When we sold our last house, it was to a potato farmer from Tasmania. If you were to have asked me ‘who do you hope buys it’ then, I would never even have thought to have suggested ‘a potato farmer from Tasmania’.
“I just hope it’s someone who is looking for a relaxed lifestyle.
“That is the gift Anchorage has been to us. You return home after a busy day and you love walking in the door. We’ve all been very creative and happy here. It will find the right person. Undoubtedly!”
For sales inquiries phone Clare Thompson on 0407 198 021 or Linda Feltman on 0412 805 362.
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