Brian Page takes a look behind the modest exterior of a detached bungalow to find an extended home with a superb entertaining space.

AS surprise packages go they don’t come much more surprising than this week’s property of the week pick.

On the face of it this is a modest bungalow, pretty enough in its own way, with a cottage-style double frontage twinkling its eye at the passerby.

But you’d never guess, that twinkle aside, just what lies beyond… For this is a remarkable home, cleverly extended top and bottom to provide a remarkably spacious family home.

“It is a bit of a surprise house,”

Nikki Rhodes says, “looking at if from the front you would never guess that it’s actually such a big place.”

Nikki and husband Chris have brought about that transformation, extending, refurbishing and adding to the original bungalow they bought eight years ago.

They bought it because of its location – at the Hopgrove roundabout end of Malton Road, a semi-rural spot with lots of open space and yet very handy for York city centre.

“We thought it was a good location, especially as it was in the catchment area of Huntington School which has a great reputation,”

Nikki says. “We wanted somewhere that felt like the country but was still handy for town.”

More than that, as it transpired.

Brilliantly handy for the outer ring road, the A64 and commuter routes, their home is also five minutes from Monks Cross and its supermarkets, shops and the new John Lewis and M&S.

And yet, as Nikki says, it has a definite rural feel – possibly enhanced by the family’s back garden wildlife collection (of which more later).

When the Rhodes family arrived this was little more than a two bedroomed bungalow but they quickly realized its potential and set about making changes.

Down came walls, up went a new staircase, new bedrooms and bathrooms and – most striking of all – up went a ground floor extension to the rear.

“It was quite a lot of work,” Nikki says, “we had to move out to live with Chris’ mum while it was all done.”

What they moved back into, after careful project management, was a splendid, spacious home which boasted four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room to the front and a completely refitted kitchen and huge family room to the rear.

The latter is the real highlight of this new-look property, a stunning space washed by light streaming in from a full run of bi-folding doors which open wide to the patio area and garden beyond.

“This is a great entertaining area,” Nikki says, “it’s like bringing the outside in. We have had loads of parties here. There is lots of space inside and when you throw the doors open you have all of the outside space as well.”

Not only is it spacious but it is stylish, with inset downlighters above and solid engineered oak wood flooring underfoot. The kitchen area – all clean lines and shipshape tidy – is tucked away to one end of this room and boasts a fine range of integrated appliances including fridge and freezer and dishwasher and with two AEG electric cookers and five ring hob.

The wall and base units have quartz work surfaces and there is an ultra modern touch in the shape of instant boiling water hot taps.

There is also a separate utility room tucked away which includes space for washing machine, tumble dryer and a fridge freezer.

As Nikki says, a great party place.

But if you have had enough of all that entertaining you could escape to the peace and quiet of a separate lounge to the front of the house – and enjoy stylish touches including oak flooring, coving and an attractive cast iron fireplace in limestone surround and granite hearth.

And if you are totally tired out then across the hallway is the house’s master bedroom with its own smart en-suite with shower cubicle and fully tiled wall and floors.

The rest of the sleeping quarters can be found upstairs (via that new staircase) where the extension has created a set of three bedrooms, two providing teenage dens for the couple’s children George and Will.

These two bedrooms are full of character, having sloping ceilings yet with full head room (the advantage of extensions over loft conversions) and plenty of light from Velux and side windows.

The third room is a den of another kind – it is set up as a home office (“that one is my husband’s den, his get-away-from-it-all room,”

says Nikki).

The bedrooms here are served by a family bathroom with three-piece shower suite, including step-in shower cubicle.

The rear garden starts outside the family room, with a raised decking area providing a sunny seating spot.

Beyond, it is mostly laid to lawn, with mature trees and shrubs creating a good sense of privacy – and the garden is not overlooked – as well as adding to that feeling of being in the country.

There is certainly something entrancing about this delightful home – made all the more entrancing by being full of so many surprises.

Malton Road, York.

Reception rooms: 2 Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 2 Gardens: Parking forecourt to the front, pleasant, private rear garden with summerhouse to the rear and a sunny courtyard to the side.

Wow factor: A superb family room with bi-folding doors to rear garden.

Price: £345,000.

Contact: Iglu 01904 567568.