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A beautifully presented and extended detached family home situated within this highly popular residential area within walking distance of central Berkhamsted. The property offers versatile and spacious family accommodation throughout whilst benefiting from a private landscaped rear garden. The acco

When the current owners of 9 Oakwood first saw the house which was to become their home for the next 11 years, they immediately spotted the potential for turning this already roomy property into an outstanding family home. But they certainly had their work cut out. The house, built in the 1970s, was in need of a facelift and some serious modernisation work before they could even start to turn their vision into reality.

"It still had the original fixtures and fittings - including an avocado-green bathroom. There weren't sufficient electrics so we had to do major work in every room. It's taken us some time but we've got there", explains the owner Mrs Lagdon. "The beauty of the houses around us is that they're all different, so you can really let your imagination go wild if you want to and end up with a fantastic result."

Plenty of imagination has certainly gone into the transformation of this house which now has five bedrooms instead of the original four. The master bedroom suite also has a dressing room – the touch of luxury you won't find in many houses. The changes have also created a downstairs family room and a much bigger lounge designed so that it has the feel of a conservatory.

"A lot of this was my idea", continues Mrs Lagdon. "We had an architect but I'd spent a long time planning what I thought was feasible and he thought it was great. I really believe we've significantly enhanced the house. I love the flexibility that we've built into it. We can all do whatever we want without it affecting other people. My son plays instruments, so he can go into the lounge to do that while we're watching TV in the family room."

Outside, the large garden offered more potential for improvement. "When we moved in, there was a whole line of conifers across the middle of the garden. It was pretty gloomy, so one of the first things we did was have about 18 trees taken down," says Mrs Lagdon. Over the years, they have also improved the borders, added a patio, a workshop and even created a vegetable patch. "There are raspberry canes there now and we've grown runner beans, potatoes, courgettes and had growbags with tomatoes and peppers. It's lovely".

Despite the fact that Oakwood is within walking distance of the town centre, just two minutes' drive from the bypass and a short drive from the train station, this popular corner of Berkhamsted offers the best of both worlds. There are some lovely cycling routes nearby and great countryside right on the doorstep, with a forest behind the back garden.

"It's a lovely neighbourhood. I've always enjoyed living here", adds Mrs Lagdon. "It's safe for children to play outside the houses, although, because the gardens are big, they tend to go to one another's gardens and play there. There's a very good group of families here and we all get on very well together. It'll be a fantastic house for whoever moves in."