Current owner Elizabeth Banitsiotis, who is a clinical psychologist, moved to her Gilberton home 18 years ago with her husband and four children.

“It was a perfect sized house for us,” says Elizabeth.

“It’s a beautiful, grand old house, and it continues to have a lovely warm and welcoming feeling. You feel secure and safe when you’re in the house.

“It’s a unique home … the real estate people have said in their description, Art Deco, [but] it feels as though it’s something out of Tuscany.

“You wouldn’t find another house like this in Adelaide.”

Located near cafes on Walkerville Terrace, O’Connell Street and Melbourne Street, 15 James Street, Gilberton is a six-to-seven-bedroom house spread across two storeys.

Upon entering the grand entrance hall, you will find a sitting room to the right and a dining room and sunroom to the left.

There are also three bedrooms on this floor, a home office, a spacious laundry, a bathroom, a kitchen and an additional living area.

Along the way, Elizabeth and her family have renovated the house, including the bathrooms and the kitchen.

“We’ve turned a property into a home that we’re comfortable to live in and to create memories with our children over the years,” she says.

“I was trying to modernise yet stay within the era of the home. Our goal was to make improvements and bring it into this century, but also to respect the era that the home was built in.”

Making your way upstairs, you will find the other three bedrooms, a bathroom and the master suite, with a dressing room, an ensuite and a balcony looking onto the fairy tale garden.

Elizabeth says that while they had some help designing the garden, most of it was done by her husband.

“He had a vision of what he wanted to create and it was all about low maintenance. It’s low maintenance but glorious, grand and accommodating for family and friends,” says Elizabeth.

“Because of the pavilion outside, we’re able to have friends and family over to create memories with them and to spend time with them all year round. That was the motivation behind that – bringing family and friends together.”

Elizabeth says the pavilion is her favourite part of the garden, along with the wisteria, the frangipani tree and the two magnolia trees.

“These things can be admired from any spot in the garden … if you’re sitting in the family room or the drawing room, we can admire all these features. It doesn’t matter where you are in the home,” she says.

“It’s just a stunning garden.”

Elizabeth says everyone in the family has a favourite spot in the house, but hers is the sunroom with its large bay windows.

“It’s a beautiful place to sit and have a coffee or drinks of an evening,” she says.

“It’s the perfect spot for me to see all of the things I love about my garden – the magnolia and wisteria. It’s a beautiful, warm place to be.”

After 18 years in their Gilberton home, and their children having grown up, the owners are looking to downsize.

“It’s a massive house … I’m getting teary now talking about it – my goodness! It’s time to share it with the world, with whoever is ready to move in and fully appreciate the beauty,” says Elizabeth.

“You take your memories with you, so I know I’ll have the memories, but it’s the spirit the feeling of the home … I think I’ll miss that the most.”

The sale of 15 James Street, Gilberton is being handled by Sally Cameron from Toop+Toop.