Nothing gets our property hearts racing like the good, bad, and the arty.

In 2017, some of our most talked about properties were polar opposites: dreamy or dilapidated. We gushed over interiors and gawked at disrepair.

At the same time, we clicked on those little rays of sunshine, to see the city through (or reflecting in) the windows, and we paused when natural light/shade created more impact than the fanciest interior ever could. Love or hate it, we were click-heavy for the arty too.

But let’s start with the GOOD:

This home at 71 Station Street, Petersham turned heads. Known as ‘Two by Three House’, it was one of the favourites of the year.

With its own warmth and natural sunlight, perhaps it was the type of home in which we could all imagine living.

Nearby at 143 Meeks Road Marrickville, this house set a new standard of cool for the area. The most impressive part was the unpretentious way it drew everyone in. Think plywood, hardwood details and native plantings.

From the upstairs retreat to the master bedroom (a retreat in itself), Meeks Road was a well-thought-out design-inspired home that worked for family living.

Keeping the Inner West theme running, this warehouse at 9A Albion Street, Annandale was equal parts residence and art gallery. With plenty of grit, this warehouse was more like a big shed before its conversion. It’s a home that actually got more soulful in its journey from industrial space to a home – no easy feat.

You wouldn’t find this sense of space in a conventional ‘house’.

With art and collectibles adorning every wall, it wasn’t just the warehouse that people were admiring…

The colours remained wild at this ex-industrial residence at 7 Alfred Street, St Peters. Now a cool home, this one had a rich history, including a former life as a crayon factory.

These apartments at 41 Birmingham Street, Alexandria were popular. A newer building, they have since gone on to win awards and thrill onlookers. This perfectly curated home was among the best of them.

With design and interiors from SJB, the space was as impressive as a home. But what about that decor and presentation?

Cool stuff.

Just when we thought warehouses couldn’t get any more homely, this one, from architect Dale Jones Evans, provided a 370sqm lesson on use of space.

It wasn’t as shiny as its newly finished counterparts, but the polished concrete details and exposed timber columns have remained as timeless as ever.

Over on the Balmain Peninsula, it didn’t have to be shiny and new to be a hit. This older renovation at 2 Clayton Street, Balmain was a chameleon. Where some people saw the loud exotica of the decor, others saw the quiet minimalism of the timber and glass.

In 2017, plenty of beautiful homes were found in the most unlikely of places. Take this one for example, an old horse stable house at 58 Derwent Lane, Glebe. The smaller 91sqm was enough to spark a bidding war between investors, pushing the result to $1.6 million.

The humble terrace featured thoroughly in 2017. But perhaps none were as classy as this Paddington home, re-invented to ensure the south-facing interiors would be injected with soft light… it CAN be done.

The pivot doors and wide views ensured that more than just sunlight was welcomed inside – this one was like living in your garden.

And, of course, the modern interpretation of a wine cellar – climate controlled and feature lit.

As with any year in Sydney, waterfront homes got our attention. Here’s a couple that glittered a little more golden than others…

In Woolloomooloo this apartment was gutted and refit to the most unrecognisable of levels.

And in North Bondi, this Hastings Parade apartment was perched on the cliffs of Ben Buckler. But rather than taking in views of the sand and bronzed bodies, this one looked out into the Tasman Sea. Moody.

With the good, you can always expect the bad. But in the mix this year, plenty of homes on people’s ‘BAD’ lists failed to deter other buyers.

This terrace was in perhaps the worst condition of the year, but at auction, 43 Waterloo Street, Surry Hills was snapped up with enthusiasm.

But hey, you’d be replacing the floors anyway. Right?

This dank-for-now terrace at 102 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills was just as popular.

And the not-for-everyone paintwork at 19 Goodchap Street, Surry Hills didn’t deter people either. The buyer ended up securing the adjoining dilapidated home, just to ensure the job would be an ambitious one.

Now as promised, the arty of the eye-candy pics. When we’re browsing property, we spend far more time looking at the more interesting/curated listings than any others. The people have spoken and we’re listening. Enjoy some of these faves.

And here’s to more in 2018.