If buying a sound property investment is all about location, location, location, and if possible coupling it with the chance to add value, then finding a renovation project on one of Cardiff's most desirable streets is potentially a winner.
But you'll have to splash out £1m to buy it and then allocate a robust and flexible budget to the work needed to transform it from somewhat dated to one of the most amazing dream homes not just at that location but far beyond too.
But if you adore genuine retro interiors, there are some absolute gems hiding inside this house that you're going to want to keep, cherish and enjoy including a padded corner bar and an immaculate pink bathroom with gold fixtures and fittings that are currently totally 'on trend'.
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The house has been a much-loved family home for decades - it's the first time it has been on the market for over 50 years. It's a rare find in this location, on the leafy and affluent Ty Gwyn Road, Pen-y-lan, described by the selling agent as 'one of Cardiff's most popular suburbs'.
And it might be hard to argue with that statement, as the area oozes character and roads laden with the most charming of classic Cardiff Edwardian period, bay window terraces and detached dream homes hiding amongst their gated, private gardens.
There are parks aplenty too, including Waterloo Gardens nestled within the terraces that is a more secret spot to relax than the ever-popular and sometimes packed Roath Park and flower gardens, lake and recreation field.
There are independent shops and cafes to frequent too, again including ones tucked away on the smaller streets as well as the busy Wellfield Road and Albany Road on the edge of the area. The road is currently within the catchment areas of Lakeside Primary School and Cardiff High School, according to Cardiff County Council's website.
Just off the main artery through the suburb, Pen-y-lan Road, the house sits on a quiet residential street that is a long and winding route meandering north into the suburb of Cyncoed - another posh postcode that sends asking prices north too.
And set back from the street, surrounded by generous gardens front and back, is this detached house just looking for an update, although don't put any retro interiors you don't like straight into the skip as there is a buoyant market for buying and selling genuine items from interior design decades past.
The pretty stained glass front door at the side of the house opens into a spacious hall in the core of the home, and its position leaves the whole width of the house at the front as space to be happily incorporated into two large reception rooms.
The first of these rooms is described as a sitting room but as the house can offer four reception spaces, as well as a huge kitchen diner, this light-filled space could be allocated to whatever function needed by the new owner - it looks ideal to be considered for a home office or even a fifth bedroom.
The other room at the front of the house has a pinch of posh about it. As well as the beautiful bay window that adds extra character, the wood wall panelling adds an extra layer of grandeur as well as promoting a more intimate atmosphere, both sure to impress any dinner guests, as this room could work well as a dining room.
At the rear of the property is a lovely, large lounge that has a bonus set of doors out to the garden terrace, flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows that add to the invitation for light to join the space inside.
And in this space is the first of the fabulous throw-backs to the past - an open archway in the corner gets you into another room where a corner bar waits to serve you your favourite drink as well as make you stare at its awesome padded velvet facade.
These two joined rooms are sociable spaces and obviously where the party starts before maybe spilling out onto the garden but hopefully not spilling the drinks, or it's back to the padded bar for a top-up.
Also at the rear of the house is the kitchen diner that is another huge space that has friends and family gatherings at its heart.
The decor in here is more 1990s, maybe 1980s, but the kitchen units are just one of many features vying for your attention and awe in this space. There's the ceiling that gives you its own version of beams and there's the archway 'hatch' between kitchen and dining area, but surely the winner for your attention is the intriguing spiral staircase in the corner.
But before taking this circular route upwards, the imagination for this room is surely running riot - there is space to create the most breath-taking kitchen diner using the oodles of space available to make it truly the heart of the home.
Plus replace the window with a set of bi-fold doors and the room will flow effortlessly out into the generous garden and join the current doors on each side of the dining area as ways to get outside to enjoy it.
The wait to explore the spiral staircase is over - they lead to a bedroom that not only boasts lots of space but also has access to two rear balconies that offer views of the garden as well as a choice of spots to enjoy a relaxing brunch or drinks at dusk.
This unusual and very inviting room, with a higher ceiling, two balconies and, of course, its own spiral staircase is not deemed to be the master bedroom though, this can be found occupying the remaining rear space and comes with a large ensuite bathroom.
This ensuite is a little pink, white and gold gem and, considering its age, is in wonderful condition and strongly suggests that this home was well-looked after and adored.
The master bedroom looks out over the balcony and has its own access to this bonus outside space via a set of large sliding doors that provide oodles of light too.
The two remaining bedrooms at the front of the house are both doubles and spacious, containing classic wardrobe and drawer furniture from the past. Lastly, there's also a separate family bathroom that mixes popular 1960s bathroom colour choices or pink and blue, before anyone had ever heard of using avocado.
The house has potential to offer another level of accommodation potential in the loft too, subject to planning consent as well as budget limitations versus the need for more space.
The rear garden is a private island of seclusion within the capital city, with a visually engaging mix of mature trees and shrubs providing screening from the neighbours as well as nature's finest shapes and colours, and they have probably been living here as long as the pink bathrooms.
There's lawn, flowerbeds, terraces and a wildlife pond to provide the perfect mix of nature and humans, and offers a perfect place to retreat and relax as you work your way through the renovation of this fabulous family home in one of the capital's most popular places.
This Pen-y-lan property is on the market for £1m with estate agent Thomas H Wood, call them on 029 2062 6252 to find out more. And don't miss the best dream homes in Wales, auction properties, renovation stories, and interiors - join the Amazing Welsh Homes newsletter, sent to your inbox twice a week.
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