Early next year, The Village Pantry (88 Mount Eliza Way) will celebrate 10 years as one of the most loved meeting places for Mount Eliza locals. The savoury and raspberry scones are near-famous and the chatty coffee line in the morning is the perfect place to catch up on comings and goings. Founder and owner, Nichole Kerkhof, has serious local credentials, having grown up in the area and hit on the idea of a warm and inviting café with great coffee and home-cooked food by accident.
After a stint in London and Melbourne working in advertising, it seemed natural to return to the Peninsula when it came time to raise a family. Like most successful women in business, she needed more than the three boys to satisfy her interests. “The idea came together like most crazy schemes; over a few wines,” she laughs.
Overheight ceilings give rise to spectacular bay views in an icon of home design, built by Nichole Kerkhof and currently listed with RT Edgar Mount Eliza.
The Village Pantry is now a place that’s a valued part of our social fabric, where people come to meet and enjoy time with each other in a richly textured coastal chic café that’s as welcoming to new, young families as it is the generation of retired locals preserving the country town feel of Mount Eliza.
Yet, running a busy café and the agendas for her three boys, Nichole has somehow managed to fit in the construction of one of the most beautiful home entertaining spaces in Mount Eliza, currently listed for sale.
There are hints of The Village Pantry in the cool coastal colour scheme of the imposing home as well as the feeling you’re going to be well taken care of. Timber and stone, gloriously high ceilings and one of the area’s best water views come together in a stunning bespoke home, that much like The Village Pantry, suits people of all ages and stages.
“My father, Keith, built some amazing homes around here,” says Nichole. “It was always a dream of mine to build something up to the standard of the homes we grew up in and that he’d be proud of.” Using many of her family’s contacts and a bit of cellular memory, Nichole’s dream build is nothing short of perfection.
Perched above the cliffs squarely between Ranelagh and Kunyung beaches, the first thing that grabs your attention as you enter the breathtaking open plan living is a three meter long kitchen bench. Only after admiring the seriously cheffy kitchen does the striking view start competing for admiration. A complete 180 degrees from the heads all the way past the city over Port Phillip Bay is one of those features in a Mount Eliza home you can’t get anywhere else. With the eye of a seasoned professional, Nichole’s made it a spectacular feature of the house.
We asked Nichole for her top five Live Love moments and for this Mount Eliza native, it was a tough call.
Love my girls – “Everyone says they come for the scones and coffee, but I get so many compliments about my gorgeous staff that I honestly think that’s why I have such loyal customers.”
Live for the schools – six outstanding public, catholic and private primary schools.
Love the opportunities – Support for new businesses, access to creative people
Live for the changes – “We’ve experienced a massive shift in last 6 years; it used to feel a bit sleepy and retirement, but now it’s all young families. It’ll be interesting to see how they shape The Village in years to come”
Love the community – Caring people who donate time and energy to preserve the environment
“I’ll be sad to pass the house along to the next owner, but happy to move on to the next project,” says Nichole. If her business sense and keen aesthetic are anything to go by, Mount Eliza can look forward to more great things from this much-appreciated local whose dedicating her career to creating great spaces designed for enjoying time with friends and family.