The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
City flat ticks all the boxes
A family home in the city doesn’t have to go hand in hand with the hustle and bustle of urban life, writes
T hose familiar with the fastpaced lifestyle of Aberdeen are perhaps among the crowd who can’t wait to buy a home in the tranquil countryside, it is of course an appealing scenario. Quiet roads, easy parking, green grass and friendly neighbours are nearly always synonymous with life in a small town, but one couple managed to find at all in the heart of the Granite City.
Nicky Gill, 39, and his wife, moved to 126 Broomhill Road in 2007. Having both previously owned one-bedroom flats in the city centre, they were keen to find somewhere with a little more space.
“We were after something which had two or more bedrooms and this had three double bedrooms,” recalls Nicky, a procurement worker who has spent most of his life in the north-east.
Location was also a focal point in the pair’s search for the perfect first home, and its proximity to the city centre and local schools was one of the main push factors.
Speaking of his fondness for the area, Nicky said: “When we initially bought the property we didn’t realise just how nice Broomhill is. Broomhill Primary is just 200 yards along the road and there’s a park right by the school where we take our eight-year-old dog, Kola, out for walks.
“There’s also the railway line which takes you straight to Duthie Park which is great in the summer and we don’t have to use the main roads.”
Unlike some issues city dwellers find themselves facing, the Gills, who are proud parents to 15month-old Charlotte, have never experienced noisy neighbours or trouble in getting the car parked within reasonable distance from the front door.
“We have been really lucky with our neighbours. We get on really well with them and we’ll certainly miss them when we go,” said Nicky, as he and his partner of 10 years prepare to begin the next chapter in their lives.
“We have relatives on the outskirts of Aberdeen so we want to be nearer them and with the new bypass we’ll soon have better access to Aberdeen for work,” he said.
“We’ll probably go for somewhere like Stonehaven or Newtonhill but we’re still looking at what’s available just now.”
The striking features of the property, which is currently on the market for £340,000, will perhaps be difficult for the elements of more modern homes to live up to.
Looking back on what first grabbed their attention, Nicky said: “We had already seen quite a few properties but this one really stood out.
“It was the style of the home with its large rooms and high ceilings that caught our eye and it’s really hard to find them in a lot of the new builds you see today.”
When first entering the flat, guests can immediately spot the old-fashioned dado rails, original wood panelled doors and ornate traditional features including moulded skirting boards and ceiling cornicing.
The living room, which Nicky describes as his favourite area of the ground-floor abode, is fantastically bright, with light seeping in through a large bay window and a carved feature fireplace sitting against the main wall.
Walking farther along the wooden-floored corridor there’s the kitchen, the condition of which is far from worn, and the care it has been paid runs through the whole the flat.
“No renovations were needed when we moved in and the only major thing we did inside the flat was put in a new bathroom,” said Nicky.
Looking as if it was installed just last month, the two-year-old fully fitted white suite is bound to serve the new owners for quite some time.
The only other large development to the property over the last few years was the patio area, surrounding fence and wellmaintained pathway which has turned the garden into a rare gem in terms of central accommodation.
Back inside, each room has been styled and decorated to the couple’s taste, with a subtle duck-egg colour in the hallway and cool neutral shades in the living room.
The property’s homely but elegant feel of the west end is perfect for those wanting to enjoy a peaceful life, without giving up the perks of the vibrant city.