Walk through the front picket gate and step back into another era at this picturesque period property, located in one of Maitlands finest suburbs. Situated on more than 1900sqm in the midst of lush, landscaped gardens, Somerset is a stately and stylish example of a late Victorian era home, with a wide timber bullnose verandah, complete with decorative cast iron lacework, wrapping around front three sides of the property. Built in 1893, the four bedroom home features 12 foot high ceilings, French doors and timber sash windows, which together project a sense of space and grandeur. Period details can be found throughout the property, from stained glass window panels above the front door, tall skirting boards and decorative iron door knobs, to the high picture rails and beautiful ceiling roses. A charming detailed archway sets off a long central hallway that is typical of the Victorian-style architecture, leading from the front entry all the way through to the original back door of the house. A casual living area, which was an addition to the original design, and combined kitchen / dining room are located at the end of the hallway and lead out via a large glass and timber sliding door to a rear covered verandah and the sizable backyard. The well-proportioned master bedroom and second bedroom are located on either side of the hallway at the front of the house. Both feature fireplaces with timber mantels and decorative tiled hearths. The homes operational wood-burning fireplace creates a magnificent focal point in the generously-sized formal living room, with its white marble mantelpiece providing a striking contrast to the black tiled hearth. A crystal-look chandelier adds a further sense of opulence to the grand living space, while double timber French doors allow plenty of natural light into the room while also providing access to the wraparound verandah. Two additional bedrooms are located opposite the living room, with the fourth bedroom including access through to the kitchen. Polished hardwood timber flooring runs throughout the original section of the house while floating timber floorboards have been used in the kitchen, which was renovated 15 years ago, to help create a more seamless connection with the rest of the home. Wood is a major feature in the kitchen, from the polished 30mm timber benchtops to the heritage-look wood panelled doors used for the cabinetry and large corner pantry, which have been painted white to deliver a classic country-style finish. Small blue and white chequerboard pattern tiles, blue stained glass window panels and teal painted walls add a cool splash of colour in the kitchen that contrasts nicely with the exposed brick chimney breast above the former fireplace, which now houses a freestanding Westinghouse electric oven and stove. A wide timber framed window over the sink provides ample light and a glorious view of the leafy backyard, while a large servery with wooden benchtop creates a connection between the kitchen and the adjacent casual living area. This area shares the same colour palette as the kitchen, with teal walls, a neutral-coloured carpet and a bank of white panelled doors on one wall, which conceal a massive amount of storage space that stretches from the floor to the ceiling. The storage cupboards are located adjacent to the laundry and main bathroom, which both feature green and white tiled floors laid in a classic chequerboard pattern, as well as white subway tiles on the walls. Fixtures and fittings sympathetic to the era of the home have been used extensively in the bathroom, from the old-fashioned wooden and stainless steel pull chain toilet cistern through to the freestanding claw foot bath, complete with a chrome plated three-piece telephone tapware set. A similar style of tapware has also been used in the shower, while a timber vanity with recessed basin and gooseneck mixer complete the heritage look of the bathroom. A second smaller bathroom is located next to the kitchen and contains another shower, toilet and basin, which is useful for those working in the nearby study. The home is set back on the large block, with a formal arrangement of murraya hedges and brick pavers leading from the front gate to the verandah steps. Iceberg roses, camellia bushes and a towering ornamental pear tree add to the flourishing greenery in the front yard, while a line of pine trees run down the boundary of the property alongside the 60m long gravel driveway, which leads to a freestanding weatherboard garage and attached workshop. The rear yard has been lovingly transformed over many years into a natural wonderland full of colour, life and picturesque seating areas, with a wide variety of established trees and flowering annuals and perennials ensuring an ever-changing landscape all year round. A garden of exceptional quality, which has been previously opened to the public as part of the Maitland Garden Ramble, it has been cleverly sectioned into separate areas to provide both privacy and an aesthetically pleasing arrangement. A sturdy hedge of Port Wine Magnolias separates the grassed area from the driveway and garage, while a raised garden bed complete with towering camphor laurel tree and wide variety of flowering bushes is one of many focal points in the rear yard. Venture through the Pierre De Ronsard rose arbour and beyond the magnolia hedge to the inviting in-ground salt water pool area complete with its own gazebo, which provides the ideal spot to watch the kids as they swim while also taking in the magnificence of the surrounding gardens. A range of fruit trees are dotted around the property including mandarin and mulberry trees, while a large vegetable patch with four garden beds has been created in a fenced off corner at the rear of the block. With its formal gardens at the front, lush landscaping at the back and timeless sophistication inside, Somerset offers an oasis of elegance in the midst of suburbia. SMS 12Pat to 0428 166 755 for a link to the on-line property brochure.