Oakdene
House type: detached villa
Size: four bedrooms
Location: Pollokshields, Glasgow
Price: Offers over (pounds) 605,000
The grand avenues of Pollokshields in Glasgow's south side can be an imposing sight. Images of families taking tea from the best china and prodigies practising piano spring freely to mind.
Behind every set of heavy timber storm doors, however, is a family home. True, a rather impressive home, but one which has to provide the togetherness that every family wants - but the space that every member needs.
For 10 years now, Oakdene in Sherbrooke Avenue has done just that for the Ballard family. With Gordon working in the oil industry, the family has been peripatetic to say the least, but having this solid family home to return to after another foreign excursion has been comforting. Now, however, with more work in the south-east, the family is being forced to relocate.
''If I could scoop the house up and take it with us, I certainly would,'' says Jackie Ballard. ''We have loved this house, particularly because it wasn't quite as expansive and huge as many others in the area.''
On first sight, it's a difficult comment to believe. Through the impressive entrance, it's a few steps up to the wide main hallway. This split-level hallway is an introduction to a surprising home.
Most of the living is done in this part of the house, with a formal sitting room, casual family room, large dining kitchen and dining room all retaining the traditional touches of a period home. The influence of a young family is obvious however, with contemporary touches in every room.
According to Jackie, they ''practically live'' in the conservatory which runs the length of the side of the house, and it's not difficult to see why. With such a secluded garden, it is still afforded privacy but has the flood of light which keeps the spirits up during winter months. The conservatory is carpeted and feels more like another room rather than a typical extension.
It's easy to imagine having pre or post dinner drinks before moving through to the more formal dining room, decorated in relaxing shades of blue.
Most of the house is decorated with posters, prints and photographs from the family's travels, another touch which adds a more informal feel.
There are more traditional touches, however, with a grand piano in the wide bay of the drawing room. The staircase is also suitably impressive, with an unusual design which allows more light from a tall leaded glass window to circulate in the space. The half-landing also accommodates an almost New England-style shower room. In many of the rooms, particularly the four large bedrooms, there is painted tongue and groove panelling which adds a lightness.
''We've carried out a lot of work in our 10 years here,'' adds Jackie. ''The conservatory is new. There was one here, but we needed to replace it. Basic work such as rewiring, plumbing and the new garage have been carried out.''
More practical elements include the laundry, which is off the kitchen. More than just a simple utility room, this could provide valuable storage as well as somewhere to hide away the less aesthetically pleasing parts of running a home.
The garden has also been made child-friendly and is now mainly lawn, with areas for toys and an outside playhouse.
Oakdene provides what seems to be the best of all worlds for those hoping to move into a desirable area.
Even those of us who have the luxury of staying at home are loathe to spend all our time maintaining expansive homes. This is a large family home by anyone's standards, but it's a manageable one.
With rooms that are lived in rather than simply maintained, it has a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. ''We have been reluctant to sell,'' adds Jackie Ballard, ''It's been a wonderful family home and one that I know someone else will get a lot of happiness from.''
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