Some people fall in love with an area long before they have found a flat or house somewhere within its boundaries to call home.
Smitten and already seeing yourself living as part of the community in your dream location, the challenge is then to find a home that is in your budget and you feel a connection with that will ultimately lead to you making an offer.
But sometimes people have to compromise on the dream home to secure the truly desired location, especially within a set budget - so what's more important to you, location or property?
READ MORE: The 400-year-old Welsh cottage for sale that comes with a barn, annexe and sweeping country views
When house hunter Jo, 36, originally from Magor, was looking for a place to call a home in Cardiff it only took one visit to fall for the intoxicating charm of Llandaff, as many people do.
She says: "I’ll never forget walking past the cathedral and the high street on my way to the viewing. Jasper's tea house looked so quaint – it was like something out of a film."
And Jo was very lucky because in a case of property serendipity that doesn't happen for every house hunter, a cottage on the achingly quaint Bridge Street had just come on the market and it was within her budget - she was about to achieve the double dream of location and home.
The house in question was a two-bed terrace that although pretty on the outside was suffering from a bad case of the bland and the beige - but Jo's creative flair with classic and tasteful interior design was about to cure the décor disease.
But before getting the paint brush out and the pops of colour in, Jo was overcome with how lucky she was to have secured an abode on one of the capital's most picturesque little streets, lined with a myriad of pretty period properties.
Jo says: "On the day I moved in a neighbour came over to welcome me to the street and they said 'there's something about Bridge Street' - and they were absolutely right.
"It's the most lovely place to live as you're part of a village, while still being so close to the city centre. Hearing the cathedral bells ringing each day brings me so much joy – as do the carol singers who visit Bridge Street each Christmas. It's really magical."
Another distraction that could have slowed up the process of bringing interior life to the cottage was the proximity to the River Taff, where Jo likes to visit when her nieces and nephew come to stay.
She says: "They love to have a picnic on the river bank, feed the ducks and pick blackberries. I can also cycle all the way to work, which is close to the city centre, without having to go near a single car as I cycle through Llandaff fields and through Bute Park. It's brilliant for someone like me who isn't brave enough to cycle on the roads."
As well as the obvious amenities at the end of the street, along the local high street, and the cathedral green there's another feature that adds another positive to the village location.
Jo says: "Having the best pub in Cardiff at the end of the road is great – lazy Sunday afternoons in the Heathcock can't be beaten."
But lazy days strolling down to the river or down to the pub had to be interrupted to wake the interiors up from their tired slumber, and it didn't take too long for Jo to get going with her colourful and classic combination to refresh and revive.
She says: "From the moment I walked into the cottage, I knew it was where I was going to live, and exactly what I was going to do with the place. I wanted to keep the walls traditional cottage white – and introduce bold colours with furniture and art. I love traditional white cottage walls – it's bright and fresh.
"I kept the skirting boards and ceilings all white too to make the place seem larger and more open. The cottage isn't a big place so it's really important to make it feel as spacious as possible – all white walls definitely does this."
One of the benefits of living in a conservation area is the preservation of the most attractive original features or the addition of period appropriate replacements, and on Bridge Street one of these features are the sash windows.
Jo decided to enhance her beautiful windows by adding wooden white plantation shutters which provide privacy but not at the expense of masses of light.
The cottage might not be the biggest home on the street but Jo has cleverly made the most of the space available with some careful thought.
She says: "I quickly learned storage is everything when you live in a cottage. Over the past year and a half I've spent lots of time having clever storage fitted – double tier wardrobes, a handy shed and shelves, shelves and more shelves.
"I'm most proud of the book shelves I had made for the cubby as you go up the stairs. It was just empty space beforehand, but now it's really striking, full of personality, and a fantastic use of space."
For socialising with friends and family, and because Jo loves cooking, the kitchen is her favourite space, but maybe the most impactful addition to the cottage is in the living room.
She says: "The very first thing I did when I moved in was have the wood burner fitted – and I'm so glad I did. I love to sit and read or have a glass of wine in front of the fire, which heats the whole house too. I also love my pink velvet sofa – it's actually a double sofa bed, which is handy for having a few friends to stay for the weekend."
The experience of renovating her cottage has given Jo an insight that anyone who has done something similar, at whatever level of work, will also know; that managing to find reliable people to work on your home makes all the difference.
She says: "I've learnt good, reliable trades people are worth their weight in gold. I have been lucky with a brilliant carpenter, decorator and a handyperson thanks to recommendations from friends."
One aspect of living in the heart of Llandaff village that Jo wasn't prepared for was how much other people love it too, but also that some are so fascinated with the properties that line the charming streets they have a go at trying to have a nose inside.
She explains: "Llandaff village is such a picturesque part of Cardiff with the cathedral, the green and the pretty high street, so lots of people like to visit and stroll around the winding streets. Bridge Street is really quirky as there are so many different types of houses on the street – it's full of character.
"People seem to be really interested in the little row of terraced cottages and I've had some people (very politely!) ask to have a look inside when I've been having work done in the house. So I've said yes – as long as they don't trip over the ladder or touch wet paint!
"It's quite an unusual thing to happen, but the cottages are unusual too, and I totally understand why people want to see what they're like inside. I'm really proud of my home too, so don’t mind people having a nose around."
But now that Jo's cottage is on the market there's only one way to see around it - you are a serious buyer who has made an appointment for a viewing with the estate agents.
The house offers two bedrooms, one bathroom and one upstairs cloakroom, plus a sunny rear garden, and is for sale with a guide price of £340,000 with Hern and Crabtree, call their Llandaff branch on 029 2055 5198 to find out more.
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