The hearty construction is predominantly double-cavity brick. The couple added vented gas central heating, "It's so warm and dry."
The property has superior security from the street; its tall picket fence flanked by a gate with intercom and secure garage (plus triple off-street parking). This was reassuring for Anya when she allowed the kids free rein over the fully fenced grounds.
Most of the house's exterior is low-maintenance exposed brick.
The entrance has been updated with leadlights designed to match those in the lounge and lighten the wide hallway.
The interior has been repainted and the kauri floors re-sanded in the last couple of years. Anya's chosen a mainly white background palette. The exceptions are the three children's rooms - one of which has the option of an over-door bunk - which are painted vibrant blue, green and purple with matching doors. These line up along the hall with the front master bedroom and two renovated family bathrooms.
The lounge, with an ornate plaster ceiling, is Anya's favourite room. "The light in there is just beautiful." It adjoins the kitchen-dining-living room where several TV commercials have been filmed. The recently re-done kitchen maximises cabinetry. Stainless steel features in the bench, double-width oven and splash-back. It enjoys an outlook over the back garden.
There's also vast built-in storage in a promenade of cupboards in the rear utility room-laundry. The Brighouses added another bedroom (with en suite) off this, used as a TV room by the kids when guests aren't visiting.
In summer, living often spills out the open-plan area's rear French doors to the patio, which effectively becomes an outdoor room as its wisteria canopy thickens for half the year.
The level rear grounds have enough room for outdoor entertaining, a lawn for children to run round on, a trampoline and picturesque "Wendy house". They also contain Anya's separate cottage-style little office.
She has her own consultancy, Bedlam Interior Design, and has enjoyed altering the villa's decor and furnishings over the years.
However, after a dozen years, the family are now ready for a new project and change. But they're happy to leave the Wendy house and trampoline for the next family - that's the sporting thing to do.
