Capital Gains: Ainslie home was beautiful in 1957 and it's beautiful today

On Andrew Wright’s first day of retirement he stumbled upon a new project.

He took the scenic route through Ainslie on his way to meet his wife, Margo, for lunch and saw a for-sale sign outside a striking, modernist house. For 38 years it had been the home and surgery of his old family doctor, so he had visited the property before.

Andrew and Margo quickly arranged an inspection, and they bought the four-bedroom home the next day.

Since that day in 2008, the couple have been hard at work renovating the home; from the bedrooms and the sunroom to the lounge and outdoor entertaining area, the integrity of the original design was at the forefront of Andrew and Margo’s minds.

“When we got inside, it really had everything we were looking for,” Andrew says.

“We could see what needed to be done to bring it back to its glory. One of the things we’ve really concentrated on is ensuring the lines are crisp and clean.”

Mid-century modernist design elements – such as vivid white and charcoal paint, timber details and stone features – have been incorporated, while double glazing, LED lighting, under-floor heating and solar panels provide all the modern luxuries.

Built in the 1950s, the home’s eye-catching design has been appreciated since it was first constructed: it featured on the cover of Home Beautiful in 1957.

The couple will be moving to Melbourne to be closer to family, but they’ll be sad to say goodbye to their Ainslie home.

“It’s a very difficult wrench as it’s our dream home,” Andrew says.

Number 8 Duffy Street, Ainslie, will be auctioned on Wednesday, March 30, through Luton Properties Dickson agent Holly Komorowski. Price guide: $1.4 million-plus Inspect by appointment. EER: 1.5.

Record house sale in Ngunnawal

A suburb price record has been set in Ngunnawal after the sale of a home at 5 Margany Close.

The spectacular five-bedroom home sold at auction for $1.11 million last week, breaking the previous suburb record of $1.1 million. The long-standing Ngunnawal suburb record was set in 2011 with the sale of 41 Tanderra Crescent.

Nine parties registered to bid for the home, which was sold by Luton Properties Gungahlin agents Samantha Hague and Nick Paine.

Ms Hague says the home attracted strong interest during the auction campaign.

She says there is limited high-end stock on the market in Gungahlin and large, executive homes are in demand.

The Margany Close home sits on an expansive block with uninterrupted views across the golf course. It features a versatile floor plan and a variety of formal and casual living spaces.