A stylish transformation on one of Ainslie's best streets

By
Ray Sparvell
October 16, 2017

4 Davenport Street, Ainslie
$1.1-$1.2 million
4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 5 car spaces

The “worst house in the best street” has had an amazing transformation in this Ainslie home that now offers stylish contemporary living.

Jane Goodall and Chris Parkinson bought the 1959, three-bedroom, one-bathroom, old “govie” around 2015.

“We needed somewhere to live while our new home was being built in Downer. After we’d moved in, we started to wonder what we could with it,” Jane says.

“It was on a good-sized block and in a great location close to schools and both the Ainslie and Dickson shops.”

Jane’s love of home renovation and design led the couple on a journey of transformation for a tired, old building.

“We researched what people were looking for in a home and looked at how we might be able to incorporate those features,” Jane says.

Close liaison with the selected builders determined a previous extension at the back of the home could be repurposed along with the creation of a smaller extension at the front.

The house now presents with two zones: the front contains the entry, a study nook, four bedrooms, the master with en suite, a main bathroom and a living room.

This flows into the garden wing that features the kitchen, dining and family room.

“We put a lot of emphasis in the creation of a chef’s kitchen – it has three ovens,” Jane says.

“That’s probably an indicator of our approach to the innovation. We didn’t want it to simply present as a renovation ‘flip’, but as the outcome of a thoughtful redesign where no expense was spared.”

She believes the home would suit a young family, a professional couple or downsizers with its manageable and low maintenance 777-square-metre block.

Auction: Saturday, March 25, 10.30am, onsite. Inspect: Saturday, March 18, 9.30am-10.15am; Wednesday, March 22, 5pm-5.30pm; Saturday, March 25, 10am-10.30am. Agent: Holly Komorowski, home.byholly, 0434 973 987.

4 Harpur Street, Garran
$860,000-plus
3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 car spaces

Garran was considered one of Canberra’s outer suburbs when this home was built on Harpur Street in 1967.

Fifty years later, this solidly built, three-bedroom, family residence has now come onto the market for the first time.

The homeowner’s daughter, Jenny Waldie, remembers the fun she and her brother had playing on the building site as the home, designed by her parents, was gradually realised.

“They really liked the size of the block and its views,” she says.

“Mum and dad were also keen to create a house with maximum ‘useability’ that also took advantage of its north-facing aspect.”

Two large living areas capture the sun and Jenny recalls many casual meals in the “sunroom” that opens onto an outdoor entertaining area.

At the front of the home is a large kitchen that flows into the formal dining room. There are three generous bedrooms all with built-in robes. The main bathroom has a bath and shower and a separate toilet has a second shower.

Beneath the home is a triple garage, a workshop, cellar and plenty of storage.

Auction: Saturday, March 25, 1pm, on site. Inspect: Saturday, March 18, 1pm-1.30pm; Saturday, March 25, 12.30pm-1pm. Agents: Jane Kusetic, Chris Wilson, Cream Residential0408 662 119, 0418 620 686.

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