Home of the week: Beautiful and bright at Ballantyne Crescent in Franklin

This beautiful, bright and airy home is ideal for families and entertaining. The textural exterior, creatively combines brick, stone and wooden finishes to invoke a welcoming curiosity. The well-considered floor plan creates multiple shared spaces, along with a children’s wing and quiet space for parents.

The large corner block boasts lush gardens, with an automatic watering system to make maintenance a breeze. A covered alfresco dining area provides a delightful outdoor space to sit and enjoy a meal with friends, surrounded by leafy hedging. While a separate courtyard, complete with luxury spa bath offers an entirely different space to unwind.

Inside, the entertaining areas are smartly positioned around the alfresco dining area, with the kitchen, living, lounge and dining rooms adjoining and a rumpus room extending from the kitchen. The modern, streamlined kitchen combines function with style and symmetry.

The adjacent wing holds the bedrooms, with the master suite given distance from the other three bedrooms. “Though the kids bedrooms are a great size, the kids retreat is a great space to set up a home study or play room, having that extra living space at the back of the home offers the kids somewhere that is all theirs to enjoy”, says selling agent Theo Koutsikamanis, of McGrath Estate Agents.

A generous walk-in-wardrobe will suit Canberra’s fashion lovers, while a long ensuite vanity provides plenty of room for two in the master bedroom.

This home sits opposite a beautiful greenbelt, in a location that is hard to beat. “Homes like this, opposite a reserve and wetlands are highly sought after. The home captures interrupted and panoramic views of Franklins nature reserve and wetlands that will never change,” Koutsikamanis says. Close to The Marketplace Gungahlin, and a number of schools this is the ideal family home, just waiting for your inspired touch.

We love: We love the flexible floor plan, with four generously sized living spaces, and the design of the home which welcomes sunlight and garden views into every room.

Need to know: The highest recorded sale in the past 12 months was $1,134,000 for 30 Dorothy Green Crescent in February. Recent sales: $1,015,000 for 16 Nina Murdoch Crescent in May; $845,000 for 27 Daniels Street in September, and $787,000 for 23 Kylie Tennant Street in September.

Surrounding area: Franklin is part of the ever growing Gungahlin area, and its proximity to the CBD and Belconnen make it a desirable suburb. Much of Franklin’s population is new families or maturing couples and their children. Nearby schools include Harrison Primary School, Burgmann High School and Gungahlin College. It is just a short drive to Marketplace Gungahlin.