Over the past decade, Mubashar Sharif and his family have transformed their home on Green Lane. Not only have they redecorated and refitted it to make it into a contemporary home for modern family living, but they have also significantly increased its size and added a self-contained annexe. “We bought this home back in 2012 because it offered us so much potential,” he recalls. “Not only was it in a great area of St Albans, with access to good schools and everything else we needed, but it also sat in a massive garden and had so much scope for further extension. Since then we have improved it significantly, but there is still potential for new owners to take it even further and to put their own stamp on it.”

ENERGY EFFICIENT

Believed to date back to the 1960s, the semi-detached property had three bedrooms when Mubashar bought it. “In 2016 we carried out the loft extension,” he explains. “This gave us two more bedrooms and another family bathroom. We now have a total of five bedrooms and two family bathrooms within the main house.” Other work has seen the property upgraded with a new kitchen and bathroom, plus the addition of a downstairs cloakroom. The house has been redecorated throughout and steps have been taken to make it as energy efficient as possible. “In addition to having solar panels installed, we have also had the entire house insulated,” he adds.

WHERE THE HEART IS

Today, the house, which is set back from the road, is entered from the front via a hallway. At ground-floor level, there is the large drawing and dining room, together with the kitchen and the cloakroom. “The drawing and dining room tends to be the heart of the home – this is where we spend most of our time,” says Mubashar. “We sit down to meals in here, watch television in the evening and entertain friends and family. We often have parties in here too, on occasion welcoming up to 18 people very comfortably.” The kitchen has worked well for the family, but there could be scope to extend it further – subject to the relevant planning permissions – to create a spacious kitchen, breakfast and family room at the back of the house. “This is something our neighbours have done and as the garden is so large, there is ample space,” he observes.

BEDROOMS AND BATHROOMS

The first floor of the house accommodates two double bedrooms and one single, as well as the family bathroom. Stairs now lead up to the second floor, where the two new bedrooms and bathroom are situated. “Again, new owners could look into adding even more bedroom and bathroom space if they wished,” he says. “It could be possible to carry out a double-storey extension at the back of the house. This could give you additional first-floor accommodation as well as a large kitchen below – and again, it would not take away too much space from the garden.”

FLEXIBLE LIVING

The annexe was created five or six years ago. Attached to one side of the house, this has its own private front door and encompasses a bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. The kitchen is well equipped and has a breakfast bar for dining at. “We have always let this out and it brings in a good income, which could help new owners with their mortgage payments,” he suggests. Equally, it could be a superb space for older relatives seeking some level of independence from the main house or for grown-up children who are saving up so they can move into their own home. The large garden at the Green Lane property offers further potential for even greater flexibility of use. “There is plenty of room out here for a garden studio, should new owners wish to add one,” Mubashar says. “This could be used as a home office, gym or leisure space.”

EXCELLENT LOCATION

The family have enjoyed their time at Green Lane and will be sad to move. “We have also really enjoyed living in this area,” he agrees. “We have found it very easy to reach local shops and it takes just 15 minutes to walk into town. We can get to the station and good road connections quickly and there are lots of nice parks in the area to take the children to.” He adds: “This house has been perfect for us for all this time, and we do love St Albans. We hope those who come here after us will enjoy it as much as we have done.”

The house is set back from the road. To the rear it enjoys a sizeable garden, with ample space for children to play and for outside relaxation, dining and entertaining.

“We bought this home because it offered us so much potential.”

“Not only was it in a great area of St Albans, with access to good schools and everything else we needed, but it also sat in a massive garden and had so much scope for further extension.”

“The loft extension gave us two more bedrooms and another family bathroom. We now have a total of five bedrooms and two family bathrooms within the main house.”

“In addition to having solar panels installed, we have also had the entire house insulated.”

“The drawing and dining room tends to be the heart of the home – this is where we spend most of our time.”

“We often have parties here, on occasion welcoming up to 18 people very comfortably.”

“There could be scope to extend the house further to create a spacious kitchen, breakfast and family room at the back.”

“We have always let the annexe out and it brings in a good income.”

“The annexe could be a superb space for older relatives seeking some level of independence from the main house or for grown-up children who are saving up.”

“There is plenty of room outside for a garden studio, should new owners wish to add one. This could be used as a home office, gym or leisure space.”

“We have also really enjoyed living in this area.”

“We have found it very easy to reach local shops and it takes just 15 minutes to walk into town.”

“We can get to the station and good road connections quickly and there are lots of nice parks in the area to take the children to.”

“This house has been perfect for us for all this time, and we do love St Albans.”

“We hope those who come here after us will enjoy it as much as we have done.”