1/39 Purinuan Road, Reservoir

A clipped hedge and a sunny north-facing lawn give this three-bedroom townhouse a pretty face to the street, but inside it unfolds with all the scale of a family house and a fraction of the maintenance. The living zone is generous and drenched in daylight, with sliding doors leading out to a deck at the side. Further back, the kitchen is bright and white, and its island bench does double duty as a breakfast bar and, in all likelihood, the homework desk. A gas cooktop, oven and dishwasher keep the cook well equipped, and the dining area opens onto the deck too, putting the barbecue just steps from the stovetop. Timber-look floors run throughout the ground level, and there is a laundry with direct access to the garage, a powder room and useful storage under the stairs. Upstairs, three carpeted bedrooms all come with built-in robes, and the main bedroom has the bonus of its own ensuite, trimmed with mosaic tile detailing. The other two share a bathroom where a full-size bath suits little ones at the end of the day, while the separate shower caters to teenagers and adults. Split-system air conditioning, a water tank and an additional car space on the driveway are welcome extras. Reservoir Village is close by for cafés and shopping, and Ruthven Station, Polaris 3083 and the Darebin Creek Reserve trails are all within reach. Bundoora Park and its golf course are handy for a weekend round, La Trobe University is a short drive, and the address is zoned for Reservoir Views Primary School and Reservoir High School, with Our Lady of the Way and St Stephen's also nearby. Buy it for the room it offers now and stay for everything it makes easy later on.