Heidelberg Heights residents only have good things to say about their suburb. It is quiet, peaceful and convenient. With a number of developments underway, people are spoiled with choices, especially good cafes. But still, these three are in their top list:

The Chairman Cafe

Francis St, Heidelberg Heights VIC 3081, Australia

The Chairman Cafe is famous for their muffins but it’s not the only reason why people go to this cafe. This cafe is one of the best places to go to for local food. Their interesting menu is filled with sweet and savoury dishes. The cafe is also taking it a step further in pushing for sustainability by using reusable cups. Sustainable, kid-friendly, and wheelchair-friendly – The Chairman Cafe truly knows hospitality.

Sunnyside

24 St Hellier St, Heidelberg Heights VIC 3081

Sunnyside is an aesthetically pleasing modern cafe in Heidelberg Heights. It has a good brunch menu with plenty of vegan and gluten-free options. Easy on your orders as they serve huge platters of their dishes. Their coffee is also a must-try! Drop by with your furry friends as they are also welcome in the cafe.

Crate Specialty Coffee

67 Haig St, Heidelberg Heights VIC 3081

Of course, coffee is the highlight of Crate Specialty Coffee. But what’s more interesting about their business is how much they care for their employees. The good ambience in the cafe is brought about by the aura of both the satisfied employees and customers. Every cup of Crate is surely made from expertly brewed quality beans.

Cafes are pit stops for people to meet, eat, and connect. Cafes are considered as a third place in the community. A third place is the place where people spend time between home and work. A community where people can socialise and unwind is essential to the overall health of its residents.

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Brunswick is more than just a modern suburb. It is a vibrant and thriving multicultural community that leaves visitors wondering why they haven’t moved in there yet. On its outer shell, Brunswick emanates an eccentric character with its pleasantly-jarring fusion of heritage housing stocks and establishments and neatly-designed contemporary structures. The traffic in the commercial area illustrates its eagerness for modern life.

And one of the numerous things that locals and visitors love about Brunswick is its selection of restaurants. Here are 5 of the top-rating restaurants in the suburb you should be checking out today.  

Wild Oats Bakery & Café

166 Admiral Fitch Ave, Brunswick, ME 04011 

+1 207-725-6287

A no-nonsense, all-natural, organic deli and bakery, Wild Oats Bakery & Café impresses with a menu of lovingly thought dishes and desserts that inspire nostalgia and a sense of home and comfort. Take your pick among the homemade soups, salads, crafted sandwiches, handmade loaves of bread, colorful cakes and pies, and a lot more!

Apart from that, Wild Oats Bakery & Café also offers a range of options that are vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free. 

Customers are provided outdoor seating so they can enjoy the cool breeze and the vigorous movement of modern Melbourne living. And even if they opt to dine indoors, they are allowed to bring their dogs for an extra homey feeling.

Wild Oats Bakery & Café serves breakfast, lunch, and brunch. Cash, credit card, and digital payments are accepted. 

Joshua’s Restaurant & Tavern

123 Maine St, Brunswick, ME 04011-2009 +1 207-725-7981

A restaurant and pub rolled into one, Joshua’s Restaurant & Tavern offers a wide American food selection that includes soups, salads, seafood, steak, and pasta. Joshua’s also offers burgers that you can create yourself and the restaurant’s specialty, Joshua’s Stone Fired Pizza.

The restaurant also serves vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dishes. Joshua’s offers lunch and dinner with a notable roster of wine and beer. 

Cash and credit cards are the accepted payment methods

Cameron’s Lobster House

18 Bath Rd, Brunswick, ME 04011+1 207-725-2886

As the name suggests, Cameron’s Lobster House offers seafood with the piece de resistance, a hot cup of lobster stew. And what’s good about this is that their lobsters and crabs are locally caught in Maine. 

But Cameron’s doesn’t stop there. They offer ham sandwiches, salad, fries, chips, soups, and more! All of which you can pair with a cold bottle of beer.

Cameron’s is open for lunch and dinner and provides indoor and outdoor seating and takeout. 

Brunswick Diner

101 Pleasant St, Brunswick, ME 04011-2206+1 207-721-1134

Doubling down on the American food experience, Brunswick Diner serves lobster, sandwiches, toast, fries, and a host of other seafood dishes. Visitors will enjoy a backdrop of an authentic 50s American diner complete with a bulky and flashy jukebox. 

Brunswick Diner rides with the times with its vegetarian-friendly options. The diner is available from 6 AM to 8 PM and serves all its dishes for the entire day. 

Scarlet Begonias

16 Station Ave, Brunswick, ME 04011-2093+1 207-721-0403

A family-owned-and-run neighborhood bistro, Scarlet Begonias serves a range of international dishes with a strong inkling of American and Italian. The selection delights with pasta, pizza, burgers, soups, stews, and salads, just to mention a few. 

Scarlet Begonias offers vegetarian and gluten-free options for the more conscious eaters out there. 

Indoor and outdoor dining is available. Reservations are available for bustling evenings. 

Scarlet Begonias has a full bar with a range of alcoholic beverages if you need a pick-me-up weekend.

Cash, credit cards, and gift cards are among the available payment options. 

These Brunswick Restos are Waiting For You!

These restaurants make for a fine time in an inner-city suburb that bursts with character. But don’t take our word for it. If you ever get a chance to visit Brunswick, don’t forget to drop by any of these restaurants to experience good food and good company.

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Worn and weary walls are never attractive. Sure, some people might prefer rough, gritty, or even grimy, but let’s face it, shabby isn’t always chic.

Giving your home a fresh coat of paint does more than revitalize it; it also increases its value. Provided you choose the right colour for your house, professionals agree that it will get an aesthetic and economic upgrade that will get the attention of your prospective buyers.

Should You DIY or Hire a Professional?

At the onset, painting your house on your own appears to be an easy job. It sounds like a good resort to earn money for the property you’re selling without spending on professional fees.

However, your potential savings are outweighed by the question of whether or not you have the patience and discipline to get the job done. Consider the relevant tools, the tough-to-reach areas, and the value you place your home with versus its actual value. These take precedence before you think of dipping the brush into the paint.   

Painting your house successfully also depends on the size of your property and its current condition. Observe if moisture gets into the walls. If they do, then they need the attention of a professional. If the walls are still rough in texture, with uneven surfaces on select areas, you need to have it skim coated. Performing this would prove meticulous and requires skill and control. As this is the case, you might need the help of a professional.

However, if you only have to apply a fresh coat on an already-painted wall, you can do it yourself. Just make sure to budget your time and get help from a loved one or friend if necessary. This will save you money and will prove to be a fun activity. 

Neutral Colours: The Way To Go 

As mentioned earlier, neutral colours can increase your home’s economic appeal. Houses painted with hues of beige, gray, taupe, and white are seen to make fast sales. Real Estate agents say that these colours allow prospective home buyers to imagine themselves in the space-imagine how they would make it their own through their design. Painting your home with neutral colours allows it to breathe easily, blessing your property with neatness and simple elegance.

So if you’re hoping to make a sale, you must look into these five neutral colour variants you can paint your home with.  

1. Greige

A cross between gray and beige, greige is replacing the former as the go-to paint colour for contemporary living spaces. 

Greige imbues a property with an air of warmth and coziness. It is the soft compromise between taupe and gray. It can work well with any furniture type that is coloured brown, gray, or black. 

Greige creates a calm atmosphere that relaxes and beautifully complements wooden furniture.

2. Soft White Alabaster

Creamy and almost off-white, soft white alabaster manages to be a luminescent white without being stark. Regardless of the lighting or the furniture placed in the space, soft white alabaster will remain consistently white. 

It can brighten up a room, making it cheery and more spacious. Considered a timeless hue for your home, soft white alabaster is a good paint colour choice for small spaces.

3. Gray Mist

Gray Mist is an off-white hue inclined toward the warmer side of the spectrum. 

Designers agree that because gray mist is fairly neutral, it is easier to handle. 

One surprising thing about gray mist is that it has undertones of green. And because it leans toward the warmer side of greige, homeowners must pair it with warmer shades or undertones so that their spaces won’t feel and look laborious.

4. Iron Ore

A dark, dark gray, iron ore should be paired with colours belonging to the same hue groups such as yellow and green. Pairing it with blue makes for a discombobulating combo. 

Iron Ore can also create a somber and luxurious air. It is a clean backdrop to organic furniture or earthy tones. If you’re looking for a sleek and cool hue to paint your walls or fixed closets and shelves with, iron ore is a perfect choice. It manages to blend well with urban and rural-style homes.

5. Snowbound

Snowbound is a light and crisp white hue. However, placing it beside other shades of white, it is actually grayish. Nonetheless, when used in an otherwise contained and relatively-small space, it easily lights it up.

Commonly used on trims, snowbound is also ideal for exteriors, interior walls, ceilings, and furniture.

You Can Never Go Wrong With Neutral Colours

Provided you are able to pair them with furniture and home décor with the right colours and undertones, the neutral colours discussed here will make your home attractive to buyers. 

Choosing the right tone for your property increases its market value and leaves you with a space exemplary of contemporary elegance.

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The development of Heidelberg West brought in more families and young couples to the suburb. Establishments and businesses are also keeping up with the demand of its demographics. Heidelberg West is transforming to be one of those suburbs where everything is close by, starting off with the essentials – shops.

Where to shop in Heidelberg, you ask? Here are just a few of your options:

Vinnies Heidelberg West

40/44 The Mall, Heidelberg West VIC 3081, Australia

If you are looking into incorporating sustainability in your lifestyle, you can start with shopping at Vinnies. This clean and tidy thrift store is one of the hidden gems in the thrifting community. They have a wide range of products to choose from and the staff are always ready to assist you with your needs.

Direct Chemist Outlet Heidelberg West

Shop 1, 15-23 The Mall, Bell St, Heidelberg West VIC 3081

It is important to know where to get first aid and other medications. Direct Chemist Outlet is one of the go-tos of Heidelberg West residents for their medical needs. Knowing that their staff are professionals and knowledgeable in their field would make you feel that you are in good hands.

Rayan Grocery

25 The Mall, Bell Street, Heidelberg West VIC 3081, Australia

Sometimes, we can’t find the spices that we need for our dishes, especially if we’re cooking specialty dishes. Lucky for Heidelberg West locals, they can always head to Rayan Grocery to get their supplies. With the store’s interesting mix of food and spices, it’s not a problem for locals to recreate their favorite continental dishes.

Bell Street is the host to more than 80 businesses in Heidelberg West. This is where residents head to whenever they are looking for anything. Other businesses are also sprouting in the other areas of the suburb.

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A library isn’t only a resource place for books. It can also serve as a small community for interaction and a hub for new information. Reservoir Library takes pride in being one of the best places to go to when looking for useful resources about almost anything. Here’s what we love about Reservoir Library:

Their facilities

Lighting is not a problem in the Reservoir Library as every corner here is well-lit. There are meeting rooms that are spacious enough to hold meetings or just simple group studies. The computers are also easily accessible for everyone to use. And when you’re low on energy, you can always count on their free tea or coffee. There is also a mini kitchenette where you can fix yourself a light snack. With all these, we can say that the Reservoir Library is designed to promote an inspired space for learning. When you think of a library, you’d simply associate it with books. Reservoir Library went the extra mile in turning their space into a community hub more than just a place for books.

The way it’s organised

When you’re in a great mood for reading, nothing breaks your spirit more than a disorganised array of books. In their effort to continuously encourage people to visit, Reservoir Library keeps the space well-organised by assigning different sections for every genre. The layout of the library is also easy to navigate. But if you have trouble finding a title you want to read, the cooperative and friendly staff are always there to assist you.

The programs

Aside from entertaining curious minds, Reservoir Library also hosts programs every now and then. One of the staple programs every weekend is story time for kids. These kinds of programs allow these young minds to explore and navigate their creativity through arts and crafts. Sitting with other kids also allows them to socialise and share a feeling of togetherness. Programs like this help in creating a tight-knit community starting from the young ones.

A library is a nice facility to have especially if there are mostly families making up the neighbourhood. The reason why families and young couples are considering Reservoir is because of its affordability compared to its neighbouring suburbs. A fully functioning library such as Reservoir Library is a great addition to Reservoir’s amenity that could be greatly considered by such demographics.

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Aside from being a home to lovely old-styled houses, Eaglemont is also the dwelling suburb of one of the oldest shopping strips in Melbourne: Eaglemont Shopping Village.

Some of the shops here have been operating since the 1920s and have undergone a lot of improvements over time. The independently owned shops in Eaglemont Shopping Village charm not only the locals but also residents from neighbouring suburbs.

In this blog, we will talk about the top-rated Silverdale Road boutiques:

Australian Chocolate Emporium

Sweets and chocolates are probably the most perfect gift to anyone for any occasion. At the Australian Chocolate Emporium, every chocolate is different. The shop is known for selling and displaying interesting and extraordinary chocolate flavours. The shop itself is a showcase of how great local Australian chocolates are. Be ready to be greeted by their friendly staff who will humour you with their extensive knowledge about chocolates.

Aniseed Cafe

Food and flavour are the top selling points of any cafe. At Aniseed Cafe, aside from perfecting these two, people are also talking about their exceptional customer service. They are always willing to go the extra mile to accommodate requests – we’re guessing that’s how they get regulars.

Senior Art Supplies

Art is for everyone and Senior Art Supplies surely knows this. The little art shop features a wide range of art supplies that cater to both beginners and professionals, so you will surely find what you are looking for. The shop’s layout is perfectly thought of for you to find items on your own. But should you require further assistance, their staff are more than willing to help you out with your inquiries.

Eaglemont Dish

There is something about homemade dishes that just satisfies our palates. Maybe because it fills both the tummy and the soul. At Eaglemont Dish, they only serve the best of their homemade meals. Vegetarians are also welcome as they have lots of healthy vegetarian options. Regulars recommend their meat pies.

Eaglemont Fish and Chips

This small fish and chips shop is a family owned restaurant known for only serving the highest quality of fish in the area. Their spotless shop reflects how much they value freshness, cleanliness and quality. Order a meal from the shop and experience the owners’ generosity with their occasional freebies.

Eaglemont Village does not only spoil residents of Eaglemont with quality and interesting shops, but also contributes to the appeal of nearby suburbs.  

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Regal and stately, Ivanhoe East has all the conveniences of modern Melbourne life without compromising its innate tranquility and humility. The streets are vibrant vignettes of heritage and modern homes embedded in lush foliage, framed by old trees that stretch high into the smiling skies.

Nightlife is nowhere in sight in Ivanhoe East, making for meek and humble evenings that let professionals unyoke themselves from the demands of the day. 

Nonetheless, residents who desire the hip and stylish metropolitan are just 15 minutes away from the offerings of the CBD. For all their shopping essentials, residents can go to Lower Heidelberg Road, the suburb’s center, which opens them to a host of retail stores. For a wider selection, Eaglemont presents a quaint shopping village restrained from the usual discompose of urbanized areas.

Residents also enjoy Ivanhoe East’s own news outlet, church, community bank, bakeries, fruit stores, meat shops, milk bars, and supermarkets.

If you are looking for a suburb that serves your peace, Ivanhoe East is for you. Visit and experience it for yourself. You might find yourself falling in love.

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Macleod is a quiet suburb that takes pride in its tight-knit community. This little community is recommended to anyone who are looking for quiet living with all the convenience of city living. In this blog, we have enumerated the things that you can do in Macleod.

Bring kids to Harry Pottage Reserve (Not Hogwarts)

Contrary to what you might think, Harry Pottage Reserve wasn’t named after Harry Potter! It is in fact named after Harry Pottage, a councilor who prevented the site from becoming a housing development. At present, Harry Pottage Reserve has a playground that features curved slide, wave slide, ladder, climbers and a whole lot more to keep kids entertained, engaged and active. Fur parents can also bring their pets here as long as they are on chain, cord or leash.

Bike around Gresswel Nature Conservation Reserves

Gresswell Nature Conservation Reserves is made up of Gresswell Forest, Gresswell Hill and Gresswell Habitat Link. This nine-hectare reserve was once part of the Mont Park Psychiatric Hospital grounds. Here you’ll find remnant River Red Gum woodland that’s home to many different bird and animal species such as barking owl, swift parrots, tawny frogmouth, black and yellow cockatoos, pardalote striated, spotted scarlet robin, etc. You can bike around this area or walk your dogs as long as they’re on a leash at all times. 

Have a picnic at The Cascades Waterpark

Meditate through the sound of the running water and the chirping of birds at The Cascades Waterpark. The grassy picnic spot is just alongside the creek where you can spot some ducks that aren’t afraid of petting as long as you share your food with them! Frogs and (occasionally) turtles are also spotted in this area. 

Shop at Macleod Village Shopping Centre

Everything that you might probably need is here – from fresh meat and poultry to professional services. Macleod Village Shopping Centre is a local shopping center that has many great local offerings. It has a strong community feel as personal services are proudly offered by the family-owned shops. 

Cafes at Aberdeen

Aberdeen Road in Macleod is known for its strip of amazing cafes and restaurants. It’s the go-to place of couples with kids and fur babies especially because of its distance to a nearby park. In this blog, we have enumerated our favorite cafes that we thought you should try when in Macleod!

Residents of Macleod are proud of its safe and sound community and their peace and quiet neighbourhood. So whether you are looking into buying or selling properties in Macleod, Collings Real Estate can surely assist you with your requirements. Simply fill out our contact form or shoot us an email at info@collings.com.au and we’ll reach out to you.

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