Newly married and ready to welcome their first child into the world, Emily and Paul Sidwell purchased the property at 43 Queen Street, Glenunga in 2007, eager to transform it into their dream family home.

“We purchased the home with the goal to renovate it, but we knew it would take us a while to get to that point,” Emily says.

“What we wanted was a big, open-plan living space and I was very keen to have an extra-large kitchen with lovely appliances so we can cook lots of delicious things,” says Emily.

Perfectly situated in an area surrounded by cafes, parklands and good schools, Emily and Paul had two children in the home before tackling the renovations they had planned.

“When I was pregnant with our third child, the day I had her was the day we started demolition on the back of the house,” Emily says.

“We demolished the lean-to at the back and really had to reconfigure the front as well.”

Emily and Paul were eager to maintain the 1950s art deco features of the home, keeping the beautiful wood panelling and leaving the original light fittings.

“What we wanted to do at the back was create a modern space that had a nod to the front of the home,” Emily says.

“It is painted the same throughout for flow and we replaced the floors with oak to ensure continuity and then the sandstone fireplace is an ode to the sandstone at the front.”

“All of our doors throughout the back are modern versions of the doors at the front. So, they’re very similar but not as ornate. We have used original door handles and some replicas throughout so there is a really nice feel out to the back.”

The end product is a magnificent four-bedroom, two-bathroom home with an open-plan living and dining space boasting high ceilings, large windows and endless space to host guests.

Emily and Paul also installed a large fireplace, which the couple says was an “absolute must-have.”

“There was a big stack of stones in the renovation on a slab and we had a stonemason carve each of those pieces of stone and build that fireplace,” Emily says.

“It is like a piece of art and you can even see the stone from the backyard where we have some great lights that illuminate it.”

With the renovations complete, Emily and Paul now have the perfect space for entertaining, the couple is always eager to spoil guests with home-cooked meals and plenty to drink.

“We have done lots and lots of entertaining here,” Emily says. “It is a really great home to have friends and family in.

“We have hosted family Christmases every year, all the birthday parties, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. We even hosted friends’ 40th here and my dad’s 70th.”

Now, as two of their children are starting high school, Emily and Paul are ready to move on and make their mark on a new home.

“We have been here for fifteen years and we want to have a go at doing something again,” Emily says. “When you are someone who loves doing renovations it’s always exciting to think of what we can do next time.”

Emily and Paul hope the next family will be able to sense all the happiness that has been in the home for the past 15 years and create their own memories in what is a brilliant opportunity to take over the perfect family entertainer.

“This house is completely done for the person who wants everything; it is all here. There is the security system, the lighting, the solar, the heating, the watering system and everything is planted and landscaped,” Emily says.

“They just need to unpack their suitcase and move in.”

The sale is being handled by Clarence Ling and Kiet Duong of Belle Property.