If you've ever driven out from Cardiff city centre and headed north through the leafy and historic village suburb of Llandaff, or in the other direction, you will have been treated to a visual display of beautiful period houses and buildings that rightly gives the district the label of conservation area.
And nestled within a collection of distinctive period properties in the centre of Llandaff village is a stunning Grade II listed house that can reward your eyes for noticing it with Victorian gothic-style splendour.
The unique property is well-known to local residents and people who regularly use the road, and maybe many of them have always wondered what gems of features and interior design await inside, and now they can find out either by buying it or by taking a virtual peek past the front door.
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The house is truly a unique property in its style and also its history, dating back to around 1863. According to website British Listed Buildings the property was built by prominent architect John Prichard, who is also attributed with the restoration of nearby Llandaff Cathedral in the mid 1800s.
According to Cadw this property that adjoins the probate registry was 'clearly intended to be the registrar's house but also used as a registry at some point'. The building achieved a Grade II listing from Cadw in May 1975, amended in 2003, for being 'a finely designed and little altered house by John Prichard, the pre-eminent Victorian architect of south Wales'.
Mike Bailie, director of estate agents Hern & Crabtree in Llandaff, says: "The house is only a short stroll to Llandaff's main high street, with its celebrated restaurant scene, independent shops and cafes along with easy access to the Taff Trail. Both Llandaff Cathedral School and Howells School are nearby, making the location ideal for families.
"The home has been sensitively and meticulously renovated under the guidance of interior designer Andrew Burch, which permeates a charming sense of grandeur and modest elegance throughout. The introductions of an exceptional bespoke kitchen and timeless Fired Earth bathrooms blend seamlessly with the property's epoch.
"The gardens have been landscaped with the vision of Cheryl Cummings, a RHS award-winning designer, to create a wonderful green outside space encased with stone walls."
So the estate agent clearly loves it and arriving through the fancy metal gates and parking next to the walled garden with glimpses of the orangery beyond and the English-heritage built detached double garage, it's not hard to see why Mike and anyone else visiting are instantly captivated - the attention to design detail at this property is evident immediately.
Through a delightful garden door that's embedded into the period stone wall gets you into the sunny and pleasant garden that offers alfresco dining on a terrace and entry into the amazing double-height glass drenched orangery.
But the front door can be found around the corner, at the front of the house, and again there's a characterful gate to get you there. From the moment you arrive at the front door the house envelopes you with its enchanting character - maybe take a moment to linger on the front veranda that is just one element of the home's distinctive facade.
The front door is a gem, offering a pretty arched and rose window design and opening into a porch area and then the main entrance hall, both of which can enthral you with beautiful period floor tiles.
Once inside the house, the period features will floor you as the character-packed backdrop that brings the beautiful interiors of this special home to life. There are many charming feature fireplaces and the house is awash with wonderful windows with engaging shapes and designs, including a surprising but super special floral-style rose window in one of the bedrooms.
But it's actually no surprise to find that the elegant and sophisticated interior design sweeps throughout the home, as the property has been lavished with much care, design thought and budget spent to create an inside as fabulous as the outside.
The result is an interiors scheme that brings visual warmth and layers of elegance to the spaces, but they are also rooms that welcome and invite you in to admire and enjoy, rather than rooms that are untouchable showpieces.
The sitting room at the front of the home enjoys a large, triple paned window under a surprise but splendid wood beam detailed section of the ceiling, under which a home office has been created.
There is a smaller room off the central hall being used as a music room and library that has a fabulous flagstone floor and bespoke bookshelves and cupboards that could make a cosier home office if a new owner prefers this option as a work space.
The sitting room window frames views of the equally historic and characterful St Michael's College opposite but the view inside to the substantial fireplace and log burner is equally engaging.
The dining room on the opposite side of the hall is another sociable space with proportionately large windows and an open-fireplace that is so welcoming it's likely your dinner guests will not want to leave.
When they do eventually leave the dinner table the sitting room might be calling for after dinner chats, although it's more likely the drawing room at the rear of the home will be calling loudest.
This generous room enjoys a huge box bay window that can offer a trio of windows with stained glass detailing that perfectly frame the view to the garden. This peaceful space is the place to fully relax on comfy couches, surrounded by period features and beautiful interiors.
As you wander around this stunning home the decor and more robust period features will dominate your attention, but don't forget to look up and down to see amazing stripped wood flooring and period tiles, and picture rails, cornicing and dados, as well as chunky panelled period internal doors, many of which still have their original door furniture.
A rear corridor with feature quarry tile floor gets you to a traditional timelessly styled shower room, a door out to a secret garden terrace that is so pretty, and a pantry, and then step into the kitchen breakfast room.
This is another amazing space that will stun, centred around a gorgeous bespoke kitchen laden with integrated appliances and supplied and fitted by Andrew Williams of Quails in Usk, with its centrepiece being the substantial, granite crowned island unit with breakfast bar, enticing you to sit and join the cook for chat.
Or you could sit at the very inviting breakfast table at the end of the room that overlooks the garden and has a door to directly access the outdoor terrace.
Of course this area of the house is so lovely it's not just for breakfast, it's likely the owner spends time enjoying many meals sat at this table and looking out over the walled garden.
There's a good sized utility room off the kitchen and a cellar accessed from the central hall to also explore, before the stairs entice you to climb and delight in the four elegant bedrooms and two luxury bathrooms that await you.
Arguably one of the show-stopping features this first floor can offer is a stunning statement roll-top bath, cloaked in copper and sure to catch your eye as you reach the head of the stairs.
Of course the sophisticated decor flows into all of these upper floor rooms too, a high-end finessing to the original features in each space that deserve to be joined by dreamy and appropriate interior design.
The distinctive windows, fireplaces, unusual ceiling shapes in some spaces, and warm wood floors are treated to a partnership of classic and timeless furniture, a palette of neutral colours peppered with pretty patterns, and layers of tactile fabrics. The combination is a winning one and produces slumber spaces that surely promote the best night's sleep for the occupants.
Up to the top floor and a bedroom that spans the whole available space and has a high ceiling extending into the roof that shows off exposed beams - and it is a space worth saving to last.
The room is dressed as a twin bedroom but could easily be the master as it has an ensuite accessed via double doors that also boasts a well-positioned central bath demanding the most attention and worthy of getting it.
This bedroom and ensuite is the perfect crown at the top of this magnificent property that oozes characterful original gems from the past and expertly adds to them with the gorgeous interior design - whoever is lucky enough to call The Old Registry their new home will surely feel like they're king or queen of one of Cardiff's most special houses.
The Old Registry is on the market for £1.3m with estate agents Hern & Crabtree, call their Llandaff branch on 029 2055 5198 to find out more. And don't miss the best dream homes in Wales, renovation stories, and interiors - join the Amazing Welsh Homes newsletter, sent to your inbox twice a week.
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