Home of the week: Character and comfort at 51 Brereton Street, Garran

51 Brereton Street, Garran
$1.5 million-plus
4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2 car spaces
Auction on Saturday, June 25, at 11am, onsite
Inspect on Saturday from 1.15pm-2pm, and Wednesday from 5pm-5.30pm
Luton Properties Manuka, Richard Luton and Sophie Luton  0418 697 844 or 0410 750 413

This four-bedroom house in Garran is filled with character and modern comfort.

It’s noticeable as soon as you step through the front doorway into the soaring entry, covered in striking glass.

Recently renovated, the house is a good example of transformation sympathetic to the property’s original charm.

The sleek kitchen includes a large, central island bench surrounded by plenty of storage, granite benchtops and stainless steel appliances, and is balanced by the home’s neutral, classic palette.

It leads into the snug lounge room, a warm place thanks to a gas fireplace, grey gum timber floors and a backdrop of established trees.

Glass doors open onto a large timber balcony overlooking the sparkling salt-water swimming pool, a lovely landscaped yard and the Federal Gold Club course backing the property.

A separate dining room tucked around the corner offers further glimpses of that distant foliage.

Four bedrooms and extra living space spread across another three levels offer flexibility.

The large master bedroom on the “mid level” comes with a walk-in wardrobe accessed via the ensuite, complete with a central double vanity unit, a seamless glass shower and a hidden toilet.

You’d be easily mistaken for thinking the large studio was the main bedroom.

It’s a flexible space the size of a living area with plenty of built-in storage. It could be used as a large bedroom, guest accommodation, a home business and more, with a small bathroom and the double-garage nearby.

Further living space can be found downstairs in the tiled rumpus room, which comes with a cellar and separate toilet and opens on to the pool area.

Upstairs, a second rumpus room is more open, overlooking the entry below and segregating the remaining rooms.

To one side are two more bedrooms with built-in wardrobes, plus a bathroom complete with a shower and toilet.

The latter is a good example of the attention that’s gone into ensuring this house makes the most of every nook and cranny, with the vanity, mirror and a skylight designed to fit with the room’s angled ceiling.

At the opposite end of the floor is the large fourth bedroom, which features a built-in desk and shelving and another en suite.

Ducted gas heating and split-system air conditioning, an 8000-litre water tank and solar panels complete the package.

Room for improvement: New owners might crave a bath.

Need to know: Highest recorded sale in Garran (past 12 month) was $1.74 million for 71 Brereton Street, in July. Recent sales: $1.46 million for 57 Curlewis Crescent, in February; $1.15 million for 49 Couvreur Street, in April, and $857,500 for 27 Gilmore Crescent, in May.

Surrounding area: The Woden suburb of Garran borders Red Hill Nature Park and Hindmarsh Drive. The area is home to Canberra Hospital, Garran Primary School and Garran Neighbourhood Oval. The suburb is within minutes of the Woden Town Centre and Canberra College.