There’s clearly something special about the house at number 83 Beaconsfield Place in Aberdeen, as it has only had four owners since being built in 1896.
Current owners Sine and Les Roberts have called it home for the last 10 years, but the people they bought the classic west-end terraced home from had owned it for four decades.
The Roberts were attracted to the house because it has generous-sized rooms, a south-facing garden and is in a great location – the only slight downside being it needed renovation.
Unafraid of a challenge, they bought the house then set about giving it a total overhaul.
“At one point the walls were stripped back to the granite,” said Sine, who works as a quality health and safety, environment consultant.
“We don’t mind getting our hands dirty so totally renovated the house, which included having it rewired, installing a new boiler and redesigning the layout of the kitchen and dining room to become one large open-plan room.
“We’d lived in our previous home for 20 years and it was fine for two adults and two children.
“But our children had become ‘boomerang’ kids – after leaving home as adults, they returned to live with us and work in Aberdeen several times – and our old house was just too small for four adults.”
The larger, five-bedroom house on Beaconsfield Place suited their needs perfectly, and as you can see from these photographs, over the years they’ve transformed it into a stunning home full of character and style.
Accommodation begins with an impressive vestibule, with original tiling and stained glass windows, which leads to the main hallway.
There’s a large, impressive formal lounge to the front of the property with big bay window and a feature fireplace with working coal fire.
The open-plan kitchen diner is a versatile, bright yet cosy room thanks to French doors, a wood-burning stove and stylish white-gloss base units teamed with wood panelling which gives a rustic yet modern look.
Fitted appliances such as the range cooker and American-style fridge-freezer are included in the asking price of offers around the £600,000 mark.
Other ground-floor accommodation includes a cloakroom with WC, and a bright corridor with utility space leading to a sun room giving access to the tiered sun-trap of a back garden with feature gazebo, and plenty of space for al fresco dining and entertaining.
The first floor has a well-appointed master bedroom and an original working coal fire.
“This would have been used as a lady’s room at one point in time,” said Sine.
“From the window you can see everything that’s going on in the street, which would have been a plus for ladies who had little else to do then.”
This floor also has two more large double bedrooms, one currently being used as a study, and a very stylish, recently upgraded bathroom.
The second floor has been recently reconfigured in order to utilise the space to its full potential.
There are two well-proportioned double bedrooms, one being especially large, and both are finished with an attractive neutral decor.
There’s also a bathroom and a further room with a kitchen area fitted with a small sink and breakfast bar.
“At one point we used to let out the top floor to theatre support staff – the house is within easy walking distance of His Majesty’s Theatre – but this space would also work well for those perhaps looking for a home suitable for multi-generational living,” said Sine.
Outside the house there’s a picturesque garden that’s not overlooked, with a driveway at the bottom of the garden accessed via a rear lane, along with a garage fitted with power, light and an electric door.
“We have loved living here for several reasons but especially the location, as you can walk from here to the top of Union Street in a few minutes, but when you step out into the back lane it feels like you are in the countryside.
“Beaconsfield Place is a lovely curved rather than straight street that’s lined with cherry trees, which in the springtime are absolutely spectacular.
“The only reason we are selling now is that our boomerang kids definitely aren’t coming back as they have both definitely grown and flown, so the house is just too big for Les and I now.”
Contact Ledingham Chalmers on 01224 632500.