Rising to the renovation challenge
4:49pm Tuesday 25th March 2008
When Nasima Pathan and husband Javed Khan were looking for a house, they were about to buy one that was more or less ready to move into when they spotted this one for sale on the same street.
"We could see that it needed a lot of work doing, but the location and the size were ideal and we decided we were up for the challenge," says Javed. It was a challenge they would not regret stepping up to.
The work at the house - located between Chellow Dene and Daisy Hill - took about 18 months, but the couple were wise enough not to live there while workmen tore their new home apart, finally moving in during 2005.
"We'd moved up from London and had a house in Peel Park, which meant it was easy to supervise the work. We had virtually everything done, bar a complete rebuild," he says.
"We had a new roof, every internal ceiling and wall was replaced, every wire and every pipe was changed and we put in a new central heating system. The only thing we didn't do was put in double glazing, but that was already installed."
The garden at the front was replaced with paving to allow for additional off-road parking, and for that finishing touch the front of the house was sandblasted.
"Fortunately, everything was fairly straightforward. Originally there were seven bedrooms but just one one bathroom and a toilet, which would have been a nightmare. So we added a bathroom to the second floor, an en-suite to the main bedroom and a cloakroom downstairs. We went for an unvented pressurised cylinder for the hot water," says Javet.
For the uninitiated, this is the modern equivalent of the immersion heating.
"You can put it anywhere in the house - we have it in the cellar - and it maintains pressure throughout the house, so you could have the water running in all the bathrooms at the same time and you wouldn't lose water pressure," he explains.
Once the outside of the house was sandblasted, it was time to concentrate on the interior decor.
"Nasima did a lot of research on the internet, looking for suppliers of everything from bathroom suites to radiators, and then together we decided which was appropriate. We wanted a modern look without losing the character of a house which was built in about 1881."
Now a vertical central heating radiator sits happily alongside ornate ceiling coving in the lounge, while the dining kitchen is the last word in modernity with its granite effect work surfaces and granite floor.
The floor in the kitchen was the one glitch while all the work was being carried out. "We discovered that it was so heavy that we had to put rolled steel joists in the basement to take the weight."
Originally Javed and Nasima wanted to turn the basement into a flat for when Javed's parents came to stay. There is already a door into the garden from the basement and the rest of the space is ready to be converted.
Once they had finished their task they had a home to be proud of - as well as plenty of space!
On the ground floor is a carpeted lounge with feature fire surround with gas fire and bay window, a cloakroom under the stairs, and dining room or study which is carpeted with a feature fire surround fire and inset fire.
The stylish kitchen has a range of wall and base units, one-and-a-half stainless steel sink, gas cooker point, extractor fan, tiled splashbacks and plumbing for a washing machine.
Upstairs there are four bedrooms on the first floor, the master bedroom having a range of fitted wardrobes and a tiled en-suite shower room, plus the family bathroom with a granite floor, double shower cubicle, wash basin and corner bath.
"We use the second floor for guests, so there are three further bedrooms and a guest bathroom, with a tiled floor and bath with shower over."
The couple both agree on which is their favourite room in the house.
"Definitely the dining kitchen; we spend such a lot of time in there. It has three massive windows so it's lovely and light. I think the huge bay windows are what attracted us to the house in the first place, because light is so important."
Outside, a block-paved area was created and the back garden landscaped.
"Originally it was on a slope, but it isn't now. We have a nice level lawn and a patio, and it is enclosed by flower beds and stone walls."
The couple are now looking to downsize, but say they are going to miss their house in Cranbourne Road.
"I don't think we'll find something else as spacious as this with such really high ceilings and big rooms. It's a pity we can't just shrink this one," Javed adds.
This property in Cranbourne Road, BD9, is on the market for £375,000 with Black Horse, Bradford, 0871 4237144, & Apex Estates, Bradford, (01274) 733191.