There are some streets in some cities, towns and villages that are so distinctive they can claim to be called a landmark road, and are well-known to many, if not most, local residents.
Cardiff's Cathedral Road is surely one of those streets, a main artery route from the northern suburbs of the capital into the city centre.
The tree-lined avenue travels through the heart of the popular and trendy suburb of Pontcanna, once named one of the most fashionable places to live in the UK. Find out more about that here.
READ MORE: The changing property landscape of one of Cardiff's landmark streets
On one side of the road you will find Pontcanna Fields, the River Taff, Bute Park and Cardiff Castle. On the other side of the road is a warren of characterful streets of period homes, boutique shops and eateries to discover.
The street can also claim to be visually and historically distinctive. According to the book 'Canton' by Bryan Jones, Cathedral Road was once known as Pontcanna Lane, running between Plasturton Farm in the south and Pontcanna Farm to the north.
The book suggests that between 1885 and 1900 many large villas were constructed, occupied by the very wealthiest families of Cardiff. These huge, usually four-storey period properties still command attention and although some of them have been converted to apartments or offices, the houses that remain whole are some of the most sought after real estate in the capital.
Especially towards the city centre end, the street has in more recent times been experiencing some significant property redevelopments.
There are a number of sites seeing demolition and conversions to create complexes of contemporary apartments within period buildings, as well as within new build blocks that optimise the dwellings available on each site.
Wandering down the street, its grand abodes that dominate the streetscene do not go unnoticed by most people.
Impressive features include double storey bay windows, stone detailing, fancy parapets that crown the top of the facades, large front doors with period details and stained glass in the windows.
Most of the houses have a good sized front garden too, some with ornate wrought iron fencing and gate leading to a tiled path to the front door.
This five-bed house for sale on the street has all of these features, and more.
And if first impressions are anything to go by, the gate and garden, facade and features whet the appetite that a tour around this dream home is going to be a treat.
But maybe not what you might expect.
Push open the intricately glazed front door and step in, and you're into a contemporary design behind the period facade.
Yes, there are period features inside that link back to the home's vintage credentials such as the carved newel post and staircase, very fancy multi-layered cornicing and stained glass windows.
But the house has been totally refurbished into a sleek, slick, stunning contemporary style home.
From the shiny Carrera marble hallway even out to the garden, the interior design is modern and more masculine than the floral and fancy decor that many homes from the Victorian era offer.
It's surely more James Bond meets contemporary gentlemen's club meets luxury glossy interiors magazine than you maybe expected to encounter from a Victorian villa on this street?
And the current owner has totally dived into their preferred choice of interior design, with the luxury, high-end spec of design running throughout the house.
Of course, refurbishing an older home means you can now add some bonus features at the same time you are picking out the contemporary kitchen.
And this house can offer internal walls that have been insulated and padded with noise reducing boarding, underfloor heating, bespoke built-in wardrobes, integrated lighting and electric doors on the double garage, as well as five bathrooms that could all easily be relocated into a five-star hotel and not look out of place.
From the marble cloaked hallway, take a right into the front reception room and it's not a classic Victorian fireplace that greets you but contemporary flame fire nestled within a slate tiled chimney breast.
Even if contemporary design is not to your taste, there's no denying that this room is a show-piece of modern style, from the colour-block art on the walls, to the black ceramics, from the leather seating to glass and metal furniture.
Through an open double doorway into the rear sitting room that has partial visual separation via a chain curtain into a more practical space.
This room is being used as a comfortable and stylish home office by the current owner, with the grey decor again acting as a perfect neutral backdrop to pops of colour via statement pieces, such as the wall lights and artwork.
Along the hall and past a handy ground floor cloakroom and into the rear kitchen, dining and relaxing zone that flows directly out onto the garden terrace via two sets of sliding doors that meet at the corner.
This is clearly a very sociable space, from the breakfast bar integrated into the monster kitchen island, to the separate and more formal dining table and chairs.
This eating zone then effortlessly flows into the squashy corner sofa relaxing zone, and then out to the glass roofed garden patio.
This area looks like a space straight out of a glossy contemporary homes magazine or a finished 'reveal' from Channel 4's Grand Designs property programme.
And presenter Kevin McCloud would surely be gushing about this space, with the design ensuring that the visual flow is seamless - connecting the floor, walls, ceiling and units, as well as drawing the eye to the garden at the end of the space.
The space oozes luxury fittings, fixtures, tiles and units, with a host of integrated appliances hiding behind the designer doors.
As well as double ovens and an integrated hob in the island and a hood concealed within the suspended ceiling panel, there's also a wine cooler but this isn't the only space in the house for the bottles, or for that matter for the socialising.
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Wandering back from the kitchen diner and there's a staircase tucked under the stairs to the first floor, but this flight goes down to a hidden lower floor.
But there's no musty basement waiting to spook you in this prestige house, this lower floor is a wine cellar with a tasting area that surely transforms to a party space once the first bottle has been opened?
Add some music and some atmospheric lighting and let the party begin.
The exposed stone wall gives character as well as visual warmth and a tactile nature to the space, with light streaming in from a window nestled in one corner.
Once the party is over, owners and guests need somewhere to kip, and this substantial home has five bedrooms to offer.
Each has been given the interior design makeover that keeps the style consistent throughout, but the master suite is the stand-out slumber zone.
Occupying the whole front section of the house, the next door rear bedroom has been sacrificed and transformed into a spacious ensuite and separate walk-in wardrobe.
And it is all the better for it, with now enough space for the ensuite to truly sing - with statement free-standing bath, double sinks and double walk-in shower harmoniously combining to make a luxurious bathroom.
The master bedroom spans the whole of the width of the house and so benefits from dual aspect windows as well as ample space for a sofa, large bed and a wall of bespoke, built-in wardrobes that supplement the separate, walk-in wardrobe room.
The design of the top two floors of bedrooms is well-thought out to optimise the space as well as continue the modern decor.
There are two double bedrooms on the first floor within the rear section of the house that protrudes out into the garden and each have an ensuite shower room groaning with contemporary design, including the choice of radiators, taps, wall mirror and suite.
Up to the second floor, and there are two further bedrooms and again clever design of the layout means each room can boast an ensuite. One of these bedrooms is currently being used as a gym.
But there's an extra bonus up on this top floor that is a bit of a surprise - a kitchenette is the first space in the rear section of this converted loft, with a sink, coffee machine, fridge and microwave.
This is a big bonus to anyone sleeping on the top floor, as a midnight snack or breakfast is only a few steps away rather than down two flights of stairs.
There's a clever pocket door at the end of the mini kitchen that slides into the wall, saving the space that a traditional door would demand.
Behind the sliding door is a practical space - a laundry, boiler room and ample storage for any extra stuff a new owner of this fabulous contemporary abode will be bringing with them when they move in.
The contemporary, super-stylish Cardiff home that could easily be the star of a slick spy movie or the base for the best parties on the street is on the market for £1.25m with Jeffrey Ross, Pontcanna, call them on 029 2049 9680 to find out more.
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