Craighill Road, Knighton, Leicester, LE2

Set in Knighton, this bay-fronted period semi-detached home pairs its original character with a striking extended kitchen and dining room, and it's finished throughout with a crisp, contemporary eye.

The house sits behind brick pillars and a gravelled driveway with off-road parking. Its red-brick frontage and wide bay windows are softened by mature planting on either side. The entrance hall sets the tone as soon as you step inside, with a black and white geometric tiled floor, a large vertical radiator and clean white walls leading through to the main rooms.

At the front, the living room is a well-proportioned space and the bay window brings in plenty of natural light. A deep green feature wall frames a fireplace with a pale marble-effect surround, with warm wood-effect flooring underfoot. It's a calm, comfortable room that works just as well for quiet evenings as it does for having friends over.

The real heart of the home is at the back. The house has been extended to create an open-plan kitchen and dining room of over 21 feet, flooded with light from a skylight and bi-fold doors opening onto the garden. Navy handleless units wrap around the room with white worktops, a gas hob and an integrated oven and microwave, while a peninsula breakfast bar makes a natural spot for morning coffee. An exposed brick wall adds texture, and there's plenty of room for a large dining table as well as a dresser. Off the hall, there's a ground floor WC finished in white metro tiles.

Upstairs, both bedrooms are doubles with fitted wardrobes. The principal bedroom mirrors the living room below, featuring a bay window. While the second bedroom looks out over the rear. The shower room is smart and modern, with a walk-in shower behind a black-framed glass screen, a recessed shelf niche, wood-effect tiling, matt black fittings and a floating vanity unit.

Outside, the rear garden is laid to gravel and enclosed by fencing. It's low-maintenance, with room to add planting, seating or a patio to suit. The bi-folds open straight onto it, so through the warmer months it feels like part of the kitchen.

Knighton is a popular spot with families and professionals alike, and Knighton Park and Victoria Park are close by for green space. The independent shops, cafés and restaurants of Queens Road in Clarendon Park and Allandale Road in Stoneygate are within easy reach, and the University of Leicester and the city centre are a short journey away. From Leicester station, London St Pancras is a little over an hour away, which makes this a practical choice for commuters.