This beautiful 40s home has been lovingly restored and extended, creating the perfect balance of spaces, forging a wonderful connection to the outdoors. A restrained approach honours the home's historical charms, showcasing preserved vintage details and engendering a grounded and calm escape from the nearby bustling city.
Ideally placed on the city side of Ainslie, the home is just moments from the Braddon precinct, a stone's throw from the CBD. You can see Mt Ainslie from the back deck and there is a surrounding of green spaces, including the endless trails of the Reserve. The classic red brick form with terracotta roof, sitting low?enveloped and held by immaculate and well-tended gardens.
The materiality sings with the soft notes of solid timber joinery, earthy spotted gum floors and delicately patterned carpets. Lovely details speak of the past ? bakelite and brass fixtures, timber pelmets, patterned glass and vintage drop pendant lighting. Beautifully built fixed timber joinery, including an elegant cocktail bar, feature within the combined living and dining, where life is celebrated around the original hearth, now set with a gas fireplace.
The kitchen has been updated while still relishing the charm of a bygone era. Cobalt blue tiling pops against timber worktops, as banks of cabinetry marry with a wall of open shelving for perfectly curated crockery and glassware. Workspace and oven are perfectly integrated within the original cooking hearth, complete with timber mantle. While adjacent, a renovated laundry room, seamlessly incorporates a floor-to-ceiling pantry.
There is a sense of intimacy and balance to the entire home, as high ceilings and light dappled rooms centre around the central family hub. A thoughtful extension has created a serene master retreat. There is an airy bedroom, modern bathroom and sunny living area, spilling to an elevated deck. Built-in-robes in solid ash, feel concordant with the original cottage, while we love the dark theme of the ensuite, its unapologetic modernity.
The original cottage houses serene bedrooms that capture leafy views and cluster around the original bathroom with separate toilet. Here the signature timber joinery works its magic, as picture rails and built-in-robes feel historically rich. The bathroom has been updated and is simply appointed in crisp white set against preserved floor mosaics, in classic hues.
A delight of deciduous trees welcome light in winter and gift welcome shade during the hotter months. The magical gardens are a dreamy mix of natives, perennials, fruiting trees, with a bounty of home grown vegetables. Emerald green lawns wrap around the home, set against retaining walls in red brick, to match the house. It is the kind of garden you want to meander within, enjoying the dappled light, the shadow patterned grass, discovering secret alfresco nooks, all perfectly arranged for communion and retreat.
Ideally housed on the city side of Ainslie, the home manages an enviable "5 minutes from everywhere" connectivity. Dash to Majura Park and the Airport, connect with the vital Braddon scene, immerse yourself within all the happenings of the CBD or explore the ever-changing Dickson precinct. The house is within walking distance to the city, the Ainslie shops, well-loved for Edgar's Gastro pub and the award-winning IGA, 200 metres to the walking and biking trails of Mt Ainslie Reserve. Close to transport including the light rail, providing fast links to all of Canberra, the home is also convenient to many good schools including the ANU. It is a mere 5 minutes to the CBD by car.
features.
.gorgeous renovated and extended classic Ainslie cottage
.three bedrooms, two living areas and two bathrooms
.double Canberra red-brick 40s cottage with extension added in 2005
.terracotta tiling
.ideally place on a wide tree-lined street on the city side of Ainslie
.deep frontage with green hedges, shady Chinese elm, grove of roses and mix of ground covers and plantings
.welcoming foyer with coat cupboard
.beautiful spotted gum flooring and soft carpeting
.high ceilings, picture rails, solid ash doors and joinery
.generous living combined dining room with bespoke fixed cabinetry
.beautifully preserved vintage details ? bakelite and brass door handles, patterned glass and pendant lighting
.renovated kitchen with banks of storage, timber worktops, tiled splash back, electric gas oven and cooktop and dishwasher from Bosch
.adjacent laundry with large pantry
.separate master wing with large bedroom, wall of ash built-in-robes, modern bathroom and living area flowing to deck
.RC split system to master
.bedroom two with built-in-robe and fixed bookcase
.bedroom three with leafy views
.updated original bathroom and separate toilet
.timber linen cupboard
.evaporative cooling
.ducted gas heating
.double glazing throughout
.elevated rear deck with views across garden
.two raised vegetable beds (one wicking)
.mix of figs, raspberries, hazelnuts, cherries, lime, lemon and grape
.6000 litres of rain water storage beneath the deck
.second alfresco nook, shaded by grape twined pergola
.timber weatherboard single garage with power and gated access
.long private driveway
.coveted inner-north locale, close to the local shops, a variety of schools, Braddon, Dickson, and the CBD
FINE DETAILS (all approximate):
Land size: 909 m2
Build size: 141 m2 (approx.)
EER: 3.0
Build year: 1945
Rates: $6,497.09 pa
Land tax: $14,062 pa (investors only)
UV: $1,250,000 (2024)