For anyone who loves the idea of either doing their first home renovation or for someone who has become an experienced 'doer-upper' expert, it can now be a challenge to find a house ripe for updating.
And to find one that is nestled within a very popular area adds to the excitement, or stress, of the hunt.
So this three-bed terrace within a popular city suburb, a well-loved home for many decades, is a bit of a rarity.
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The house is located within the area of Canton in Cardiff, a suburb that has seen over the decades its standing within the capital evolve into one of the coolest places to call home.
Located next to the suburb of Pontcanna, arguably the trendiest place to live in the city and once included in The Sunday Times most fashionable places to live in the UK, Canton has been submerged by the 'ripple effect' trickling out of its neighbour.
This is the instance when one area of a city, town or village becomes so desirable and then so expensive that it becomes unachievable as a place to buy a house for many people, so they start house hunting in the area next to it.
Thus, the ripple effect of higher prices in one area spread out towards and into the neighbouring and surrounding areas.
Pontcanna might have 'rippled' its popularity and increasing house prices out into Canton, but this suburb can stand alone as a place where people want to live based on its own merits and not only as a Pontcanna neighbour.
Yes, you can walk to the boutique shops and eateries of Pontcanna, stroll along the Taff river bank and around Pontcanna Fields, but Canton can offer its own unique establishments and outdoor spaces and is also walkable to the city centre.
The area is considered to be a vibrant, multicultural area of the capital that has, over the years, developed into an area many describe as trendy.
From the period properties that line the terraced, residential streets to the development of apartments such as within historic Suffolk House, there is a range of properties and prices for most people, although thanks to the 'ripple' these are steadily increasing.
According to property portal Rightmove, properties in Canton had an overall average price of £281,174 over the year 2021.
This is significantly over the national Welsh average of £203,224 reported by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) in December 2021.
Overall, sold prices in Canton over 2021 were 7% up on the previous year and 17% up on the 2019 peak of £241,140.
The majority of sales in Canton during 2021 were terraced properties, selling for an average price of £281,733.
Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £318,579, with flats fetching £164,010.
For eating out the suburb can score lots of points, with sociable cafes, cool bars and trendy restaurants mainly along the main artery road through the area, Cowbridge Road East, offering abundant choice. Find out more about that here.
Canton's cool culture tag arguably initially and predominantly extended from the existence of Chapter Arts Centre, hiding amongst its residential streets.
For decades this multi-artform venue has offered a range of cultural events from independent movie screenings to gallery exhibitions, international art and performances.
The venue was updated in 2009 when the visitor numbers are said to have doubled to 800,000 a year, making it the second most popular attraction in Wales and the cafe arguably one of THE places to be seen in Cardiff. Find out more about that here.
Victoria Park is another landmark of the suburb popular with local residents, especially families.
From the legend of Billy the Seal to the stunning autumnal colours, the playground to the toilet block converted into a coffee shop, the park is a popular outdoor area for strolling and socialising.
So it's not hard to see why Canton has grown in popularity over the years - from up-and-coming to definitely arrived. Find out more about how Canton has changed here.
Help with your hunt for a home here:
So to find a house tucked away on a small residential street away from the hustle and bustle but literally a corner away from all the amenities is becoming a challenge.
This three-bedroom, much-loved home offers not only space but a chance for a new owner to put their own interior design stamp on it.
Step inside the double-bay house and some of the classic interiors from the 1970s await to be discovered. From stone cladding to wood panelling, the reception space can boast both in abundance.
The standard two reception rooms usually found in a terrace in the area have already been combined to create one open space, thanks to the demolition at some point of the dividing wall.
At the front, the lounge space has the benefit of the bay window which lets light flood in but can also offer shutters, a style very 'on-trend' at the moment.
But probably these shutters are original from the 1970s and proves that features from the past can often revolve around time and arrive in the present as the latest 'must have' thing for your home.
And if you love stone cladding as a classic retro feature the fireplace is a winner, as this central structure can offer you a unique take on one of the most prominent interior design styles of the 1970s.
As was the style of that decade when creating a fireplace that commanded attention, the structure and the cladding extends to either side and offers a built-in shelf perfect for sitting yourself, your books or your television.
The dining room at the rear of this amalgamated reception space carries on the retro theme and includes more wood veneer and an internal door that is a statement retro addition.
If a new owner wanted to hunt for original features from the era the house was built, a panelled door might be hiding behind the veneer board and the original staircase spindles might still be in-situ in the hall, again hidden behind boarding so popular in the 1960s and 1970s.
There are built-in cupboards in the dining space too, and a window overlooking the garden.
Many owners who live in a house with this layout have changed this rear window to a door to create an appealing indoor outdoor flow directly to the garden.
Into the kitchen and the lino and the cupboards are the most noticeable retro elements, but it's a good sized room and once updated to a new owner's requirements, could easily accommodate a breakfast eating area.
The kitchen leads to a small, single-storey extension that could be utilised as a utility room.
But maybe more appealing, although less practical, would be the addition of a set of French doors at the end of the two combined spaces.
This would lead directly out to a garden patio and would again promote the indoor outdoor flow and make this spot maybe the loveliest in the whole house.
Imagine sitting at a breakfast table inside with the doors flung open and the dawn chorus doing its best to shake off your morning sluggishness.
Up the stairs and it's a bonus to find not just three bedrooms but also a first floor bathroom, this is also designed well enough to fit in a four piece suite.
The house gives you a 1970s 'high five' with its over-arching colour palette of brown, orange and yellow, and arguably the best spot for this as a complete design is the bathroom.
If you love original mid-century retro decor, one of the hottest interior design trends of 2022, surely those bathroom tiles are staying put?
The rear garden is another good space and with some work and planting would make an idyllic spot to take a break from the renovations happening inside.
And once the renovation project is finished, this garden can grab all your updating attention, to create a special outdoor spot in the capital to call your own.
The house has one further benefit to add to the space, the chance to update and add value, and the garden - and that's the solar panels fitted to the rear roof.
According to the estate agent the panels generate around 2MWh per annum and registered for Feed In Tariff (FIT) until 2035.
With energy bills increasing, this can only be a surprise but pleasing discovery for a potential buyer at this house offering a slice of retro and a bundle of past memories.
The Canton house is for sale for £270,000 with estate agent Allen & Harris, call their Canton branch on 029 2022 2344 to find out more.
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