Garran gem an entertainer's dream

Space, light and a place to entertain have been the hallmarks of a Garran couple’s love affair with their Harpur Street home over nearly 20 years.

Zoe and Shane Phillips bought the ex-government home in August 1997 and have since transformed it into an award-winning, contemporary home with stunning views.

Zoe said the couple spent some time before they decided what they wanted to achieve.

“Primarily, we wanted to create a sense of space and to flood it with light,” she says.

“We also wanted a home where we could entertain and the living space and deck have certainly accommodated up to 50 people.

“And we wanted to take advantage of the views and that meant going up.”

The subsequent extension and renovation was a merit winner in the 2006 Professional Home Improvements Awards.

Any memory of the home’s previous incarnation as a government home has well and truly been erased.

The ground floor open-plan area incorporates a modern kitchen that looks onto dining and living areas, out through large glass sliding doors onto a spacious deck, spa and private back garden.

The 202-square-metre, north-facing home has three bedrooms downstairs while upstairs is accessed via a soaring mezzanine void that leads to a spacious master bedroom, en suite and deck.

There are stunning views across the Woden Valley to the Brindabellas.

An outdoor bonus is that the double garage incorporates a fully-lined and insulated studio at the rear which overlooks a secluded courtyard.

Zoe has used the studio to pursue her love of painting.

“I can snuggle away there and just lose myself,” she says.

Another useful feature is a large cellar.

Zoe has some special memories of the home and its location.

“We’ve really loved living here and one of my favourite aspects is the ability to just walk up the road with the dog to the Red Hill nature reserve,” she says.

“We’re close to nature and to the city.”

Zoe and Shane are retiring to the Barossa Valley in South Australia.

The Garran house sits on 679 square metres of land.

No. 15 Harpur Street, Garran, will be auctioned on Saturday, July 30, at noon through Philip Kouvelis Real Estate agent Nicky Symon. Price guide: $1 million+. Inspect Saturday, July 16. 12.30pm-1.15pm. EER 1.0.

Heritage features

A sun-flooded room convinced the current owners of an early Canberra cottage they had found their new home nearly 20 years ago.

Olive and Jack Everard moved to the ACT from WA in 1997. After looking at a few properties they inspected the Currong Street South home in Reid.

“The sun shone so beautifully into the main living area and we just said ‘this is it’,” Olive, 83, says.

She and her husband, Jack, now 92, have enjoyed many sun-filled days in the distinctive white-washed home that sits toward the front of a level 1205-square-metre block within the Reid Heritage Precinct.

The impeccably maintained, circa-1926 home has many heritage features including high ceilings, double brick construction, terracotta roof tiles, timber sash windows and original fireplace.

The home is largely original and includes two bedrooms, a flexible third bedroom or dining room, large lounge room, and kitchen.

No. 15 Currong Street South, Reid, will be auctioned on Saturday, July 30, at 1pm through Luton Properties Dickson agent, Holly Komorowski. Price guide: $1.1 million +. Inspect Saturday, 11.15am-noon;  Wednesday, noon-12.30pm. EER 0.5.