When Morgana was a teenager the space became her bedroom for a few years. She flew the nest many years ago and the studio is once again used for ballet classes MaryJane teaches.
The space features a traditional bay window, a striking fireplace with art nouveau-style tiles, original Kauri floors, a decorative plaster ceiling and vibrant red walls in one half. This area can be closed off thanks to double doors and used as two rooms, but for MaryJane, having so much space to dance has been a luxury.
She and husband Phil are not fans of bland "cookie cutter" homes. They made sure that as well as preserving the original period features such as the leadlight windows and ornate fretwork that give their 1906 villa so much character, they've stamped their own colourful personalities on the place, and made sure it contains plenty of quirky touches, such as the L-shaped swimming pool laid out on a jaunty angle in the back garden.
In 1995 the O'Reillys added an extension to the rear of the house, building out, up and down. They gained a sunken living room with french doors out to a lower deck and the garden, a new kitchen and dining area that leads to an upper deck and, above the living room, a master bedroom with an en suite and storage tucked under the roof.
Phil says the living room is his favourite part of the house, and he likes being able to look down on it from the dining area. Morgana, an actor who has appeared in Neighbours, once performed her one-woman play The Height of the Eiffel Tower there.
"It's unconventional but it's very convivial," he says.
Meanwhile, MaryJane particularly loves the main bedroom upstairs, which is north-west facing so the sun pours in in the afternoon and early evening.
"I love lying on the bed reading," MaryJane says. "You can see the water and it is just a lovely room."
There are two further bedrooms on the main level along with a generous bathroom that has a spa bath and music speakers.
The garden is private with lots of established trees, and under the house is a huge storage room currently housing many of the costumes worn by the Limbs dancers in the 1970s and 80s. This area could be further developed.
The decision to put their home on the market has not been an easy one � not only have Phil and MaryJane enjoyed living in the house but they've loved the location close to Jervois Rd and Sentinel Beach, and being just a short drive from the city.
"But it is time for a change," says MaryJane. "We're going to downsize, and another family can make this their home."
