Situated in the picturesque Summertown countryside, Chapelvale offers a slice of country living only a stone’s throw from the bustling Uraidla main street.

The classic four-bedroom, two-bathroom home at 554 Piccadilly Road, Summertown is a commitment to perfection, effortlessly blending the 1880s cottage with a beautifully-crafted, contemporary country expansion.

It was the character of the stone cottage that first enticed Louise and Simon to purchase the property in 2014.

The home had previously been in the same family for a long time. However, not long before the couple purchased the property, it had been used as a rental and had lost some of its original charm.

“It needed a lot of work but it had the bare bones and a lot of beautiful features,” Louise says.

The couple embarked on a renovation to return the property to its former glory – removing the plastered walls to reveal red brick and ripping up the cream carpets that hid natural timber floorboards.

“I spent four days picking off all the tiny specks of paint because they had been carpeted over in the past and we wanted to retain the original colour and texture of the floorboards,” Louise says.

They also added a sympathetic modern extension, using elements of the original home to maintain the property’s heritage feel.

“We reused floorboards that we took out to make an area for a bathroom and put them in the hallway, in addition to exposing some stone walls as features in the bathroom and study,” says Louise.

“We also updated all the features of the house and put in plenty of new windows.”

Natural light abounds within the open plan design of the home.

Weathered woods, vintage red brick and earthy sandstone complement sleek kitchen benchtops, a Smeg freestanding oven, Cheminees Philippe wood heater and marble tile splashback.

The timeless marble tile continues through the lavish bathroom with heated floors, a romantic open fireplace and clawfoot bathtub.

The large windows and high ceilings allow light to flow into the cosy homestead, bringing the beauty and freshness of the property indoors.

A timber deck allows elevated views of the surrounding valley with plenty of space for entertaining.

There was not much to the yard when the couple moved in, but thanks to Louise’s love of gardening, it has been transformed into a flourish of life.

“We have done the whole garden ourselves, which is really rewarding.”

Louise planted a vegetable patch and fruit orchard for fresh produce and added a coop where the family keeps chickens.

“We have a big, beautiful blue gum out the front and it is kind of bonsai-shaped because it used to have powerlines above it, so, it was constantly cut and now has these gnarly branches.

“We have planted a little flower garden under the tree, which is very pretty alongside a rope swing for the kids,” says Louise.

There is also a rainwater storage tank and shedding.

“I hope we have done the property justice, bringing it back to life for another hundred years.”

Louise and Simon hope the new custodians will be able to love the home as much as they did, appreciating its beauty and taking care of it.

“They will love the views, the sense of light, the community and the feeling of being away from everything when in reality, you’re in very close proximity to town”, says Louise.

“You feel as though you are in the country but you have all these awesome things just down the road.”

“There are just so many special things about the house,” says Louise.

The couple and their children are moving to a larger piece of land to fulfil Louise’s dream of living on a farm, but they will miss the cottage they are leaving behind.

“It has a farm feel and I wish I could pick the house up and take it with us.”

The sale is being handled by Paul Richards of Sexton Glover Watts.