When people move into a new home, however wonderful it is, most people will want to bring their own personality and style to the property to some degree, even if that's just styling the home with their furniture and changing a few wall colours.
And if you're buying a property that is relatively new rather than a wreck or a historic home that needs sensitive restoration, surely there isn't too much work to dive into? Just a few tweaks, and the advantage of buying a modern home becomes clear because you then have oodles of time on weekends and evenings to socialise and relax rather than getting out the power tools.
There's a townhouse by the water in a prime spot in Penarth Marina that has always had the best slice of the view of Cardiff Bay. Located on the corner as the waterside road bends around, the vista is mesmerising, but a few years ago it wasn't making the most of it.
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Enter Jack Hawkins and Gregg Evans into the story of this townhouse that is part of the exclusive Plas Taliesen complex in this special spot of the bay opposite Cardiff. They were determined to upgrade the property to not only make the most of its prime location, but sprinkle some interior design love inside too.
Now the spaces are contemporary and comfortable, stylish and smart that befits a dream home that can boast a slice of marina living in a posh part of town. At the front, the twinkling water of Cardiff Bay is visually enthralling and hours are spent on the glass fronted balcony watching birdlife and human life going out their business enjoying and utilising the water.
Stroll around the corner from the front door and the internal marinas are looking like a snapshot of the Cannes, South of France, probably minus the sunshine, with yachts bobbing about on the water where once ships docked with their cargo or to ship out Welsh coal. The area might be quite compact, but its history spans over 150 years.
According to Coflein's website the docks at the mouth of the river Ely and towards Penarth headland, were opened in 1865 and extended in 1884, promoted by Taff Vale Railway and used predominantly for the export of coal. In February 1886 Brunel's SS Great Britain left the docks for the Falkland Islands on her last commercial voyage.
But by 1931 the docks were suffering a speedy slide into decline and it closed in 1936, although it was reopened for use during World War II until by 1963 the decline was terminal and the docks permanently closed.
But like a phoenix rising out of the fire, the area rose up from the silent dock water and changed from industrial to luxury with the establishment of the Penarth Marina village from 1987. This redevelopment of the area included partially re-excavating the dock and basin to create around 350 yacht berths, surrounded by an array of posh, waterside pads to live in.
Surviving the remodelling of the docks was the custom house, now looking very smart and home to two restaurants, and the Marine Building, which sadly still stands empty.
These days many people like to take a stroll along Cardiff Bay barrage that links the marina to the shoreline of the bay as it sweeps around to Senedd Cymru, Wales Millennium Centre, St Davids' Hotel, and the range of restaurants on offer on the opposite bank.
And if you live in this remodelled townhouse, you can enjoy all the activities in the sunshine from the comfort of your own balcony chair with a cold drink in your hand. But the house has not always been so well connected to the water views and inducing instant calm.
When current owners Gregg and Jack were looking for a property in 2021 in Penarth it was almost like coming home for one of them. Jack says: "I am originally from Penarth and actually lived down in Penarth Portway along the Marina for part of my childhood, so I was familiar with the area.
"When we first saw the house we knew it had not been touched in quite a while, it was very dated and it lacked features. It didn't make use of the amazing view and the kitchen was very small and an awkward shape and there was a long, unnecessary corridor which took up a large portion of the downstairs. We liked the house but we did not love it.
"We were told that the property had a lot of interest but that everyone was put off by the amount of work that was needed. It needed more than just a bit of paint on the walls. We knew exactly from the start how we would renovate it.
"We even drew the floorplan after visiting of how we would reconfigure the downstairs and that is exactly how we did it when we bought it." But there was no time to waste on strolls around the marina or gazing out over the water, the house needed a top to toe makeover.
Jack says: "The property looked very sad, it had not been touched in a very long time, every room was dated. There wasn't one part of the house that didn't need touching.
"When completion day came we moved in and I think we started ripping it apart the very next day. The dining room was filled ceiling high with waste until the skip arrived."
Back in 2021 the lounge on the first floor had two windows that looked out over the bay and access to the balcony was via one door which got you out onto the principal outdoor space. This part of the house was one of the first things that had to be renovated and structurally changed to create a seamless connection to the Cardiff Bay view that is this home's number one selling point.
Jack says: "The most special feature of the property is the view, but the decking on the balcony was rotten and could not be walked on in certain areas, and it had red metal railings which blocked the view. And the lounge had an amazing view which was blocked by brick walls from inside.
"Our neighbour Jayne had already renovated her house and she had done an amazing job, we wanted to copy her! She had been the one who initially opened up the brick wall and fitted in big sliding doors. Our dream was to just copy what she had done as we were so impressed.
"You now walk into the living room and you instantly see the view and the water. Everyone who visits the property is amazed by the view. And now it has a large infinity glass balcony which gives you the most incredible view.
"The sun hits the balcony from around 5pm through to sunset and it's so nice to be able to sit out during the evening with a glass of wine with the sun shining on you."
But there was no time for sipping drinks on the balcony back in 2021, even in its tired state, as there were three-storeys of work to do inside and two courtyard gardens and a balcony that needed attention outside.
Jack says: "Every room and ceiling needed plastering, there was a lot of artex everywhere. We had to rip everything out, remove the bathrooms and kitchen and take it back to just its shell. The biggest jobs of the property was opening up a load bearing wall in the front of the house and putting in steel beams to have the sliding doors fitted.
"We had the old decking replaced and all the metal railings removed and then infinity glass installed. The downstairs had a really bad layout, the kitchen was very small and had an awkward curved shape. It had a long empty corridor which ran through the property and was such a waste of space.
"We removed a few walls downstairs and turned the kitchen into a great space. It had the original internal doors, external doors and windows so we had to get them changed to double glazing."
Now the ground floor has a plan that makes more sense for modern living, with a super stylish kitchen diner at the front that is a social hub with French doors that spill out onto the front courtyard. This bonus outside space is partially nestled under the first floor lounge balcony, so a perfect place to sit and watch any storms sweep across the bay without getting wet.
The kitchen diner is Jack's favourite space in the house. He says: "We enjoy cooking and it's really nice to have the patio doors open on a warm day with views of the sea. We actually planned the layout and design of the kitchen before we even completed on the house so it's nice to know it turned out exactly as we wanted."
The adjacent dining room is another space that entices you to gather, this time around a large dining table, or through more French doors to the rear courtyard.
Both spaces have been given some interior design love that reflects the owners' style - contemporary and yet timeless, with black accents and glossy units mixing with sophisticated wall panelling and the use of tactile, visually warm wood via flooring and furniture. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, with every item of furniture and accessories adding visual joy.
As well as the very successful remodelling of the lounge to create the maximum connection to the views and the balcony, the first floor offers the first of the bedrooms and as it has an ensuite so maybe it's the master?
Climb to the top of the house and the second floor has three more bedrooms and a family bathroom. Two of these rooms have amazing water views across the bay, so maybe one of them can claim to be the principal bedroom?
One of the bedrooms is currently being used as a home office, and with the desk placed opposite the window it might even elevate the situation to a new owner looking forward to a hard day's work hitting the laptop.
Throughout the bedrooms the sophisticated design continues. Each space has its own personality and aspects of interest to catch your eye and easily persuade it to linger there, from wall panelling to layers of sumptuous fabrics and cushions.
The two bathrooms and cloakroom on the ground floor all ooze the same elegance and attention to detail afforded to all the other rooms, with highlights including dark-toned, statement pieces, artwork, splashes of patterned tiles, metal basins and a tactile wall of wood in the double shower on the first floor.
There are moments of magic elsewhere too, with the stairwell a particular highlight. Some people don't optimise this space as an area where they can create a statement, but it can be spectacular. A well-proportioned, statement light can fill the void with glamour and demand attention and artwork can ensure the bare wall can join the interiors party.
In Jack and Gregg's home, the contrast of metallic lighting with black and white artwork plus the circular shapes against the backdrop of six rectangles creates a more dramatic vignette worth stopping for.
The dream home they wanted to create was always in the front of their minds as they pushed through the renovation project.
Jack says: "It was hard at times as we did live in the property while renovating it, there are only so many microwave meals you can stomach! Once the third floor was fully complete we were able to live on that floor and be dust-free."
There were a few traumatic moments, the most heart-stopping being how to get the new, huge sliding doors up to the first floor. It had to be done outside the property as the stairwell was too small and they did not want to have a 'pivot' disaster like Ross and his sofa in TV programme Friends.
Jack says: " It took five of us to somehow lift them up into the air and above the balcony. The second stress was the big one-way glass at the front of the property, we had waited weeks for it to arrive and then it arrived chipped. They had to send a new one out."
This panel of glass in the front wall that creates privacy as well as a clear view of the bay from the front courtyard is a genius addition to the house, indicating the level of thought that has gone into this renovation.
But these experienced renovators had to work fast to create their dream home, as the extended family had decided that Christmas was going to be hosted that year at the Penarth Marina townhouse, so that gave them just six months. They managed to get 98% of the work done by the time the big day came, with the only casualty being a delay in putting the tree and decorations up.
Six months might sound like a healthy period of time for a renovation but because of Covid-19 there was a major worry. Jack says: "The main challenge at the time was trying to find tradespeople, it was at that manic time during Covid where everyone wanted to have building work done and trying to find a tradesperson was proving very difficult.
"We contacted about six builders and most of the time they would never come back to us after saying they would quote up. Luckily, we were recommended someone who we were really pleased with. We finished around one week before Christmas; our sofas arrived two days before Christmas! We finished within the six months but it was a squeeze!
"The property has gone from an untouched and out-of-date home to being really light, welcoming and homely. No matter if the weather is rain or sun, it's always amazing to look out and watch the sea. You get the calming sea, with different boats every day. It's an amazing house with friendly neighbours and a quiet estate - it's an amazing place to live.
The transformed townhouse is on the market for £649,950 with Seabreeze Homes, Penarth, call them on to find out more. And don't miss the best dream homes in Wales, renovation stories and interiors, join the Amazing Welsh Homes newsletter which is sent to your inbox twice a week.
