From the outside it looks like a typical terraced house but step inside and you find a superb family home with an impressive bespoke dining kitchen and charming bathroom, along with a loft conversion.

Rachel and Paul Gleave have lived in the property for 14 years since they relocated from Worcester for Rachel's job as a dispensing optician. She now works for an education charity and loves her new employment, although she describes it as a huge job change.

Paul is employed at Carlisle Brass and since the couple moved to Cumbria, the family has grown with the addition of Isaac, 11, Lauren, 10, and eight-year-old Reuben.

Rachel said: "The house is deceptive from the outside – I think I’d be surprised by the size of it coming in for the first time."

It is well situated for local amenities, including shops and schools, among them Kingmoor and Stanwix Primary Schools and Trinity Secondary School.

Rachel said: "It’s extremely convenient for Carlisle. We’re in the catchment area for Kingmoor so the kids can walk home from school and it’s walking distance down to Trinity so it’s definitely convenient for schools.

"We’re on a bus route but you can walk into town if you’re feeling energetic; it takes about 25 or 30 minutes."

The house has a door from the entrance hall into the living room which has a feature fireplace and wooden flooring, and another door leading into the dining kitchen.

"Until about five years ago the kitchen was at the back of the house," said Rachel, "but now it is literally the centre of the home. It’s quite big – it used to be the dining room so we’ve just rearranged the rooms.

"The old kitchen is now an office and utility room and the kitchen is now the middle of the house. I love it, it’s the real heart of the home."

The dining kitchen has an integral microwave and dishwasher, space for a large table and chairs and an eight-ring double range-style cooker which the Gleaves will probably leave for the new owners.

"Friends who have seen the property brochure have said they think the kitchen is amazing," Rachel said.

"I love the kitchen but I love the bathroom too. We used to have a water tank but that was taken out when the heating was updated so there was room for a separate shower, as well as the bath. It’s quite a large room, big enough for a walk-in shower and a bath."

The loft was converted to a third bedroom with two Velux windows about 10 years ago to create more space. Now that the children are growing up, Rachel and Paul have moved out to allow the boys to take up residence.

Rachel said: "One of the great things about our house is that there’s plenty of built-in storage, which you don’t seem to get in newer houses. I think that’s really beneficial."

There is also has a fair amount of outside space at the back of the house with a yard, brick-built outhouse, an off-street parking space, second parking area and a garden.

Rachel said: "We do quite genuinely love our house."