Treasure Cottage, Wellow, is a beautiful rural property set next to a field where cows graze. Picture by Robin Crossley.
HOMEFILE
Location...Wellow
Bedrooms...Three doubles
Price...£850,000
Agent...Watson Bull and Porter
Tel...01983 752018
WITH roses clambering up its thatched roof, a stone frontage and cows grazing in a meadow behind, Treasure Cottage is the epitome of an idyllic country home.
But step through the heavy oak front door of the detached home, in Coopers Lane, Wellow, and everything changes dramatically.
"Someone said it is like rustic meets industrial," says one half of the couple who built the stunning property a decade ago, carrying out much of the work themselves.
The description is apt, as inside is a huge contemporary open-plan living, dining and kitchen area, with a full-height vaulted ceiling, exposed structural wall and ceiling beams and front and rear windows.
At each end of this wow-inducing space is a blue-painted steel staircase and balustrade with aluminium treads, one leading to an open-plan mezzanine study area and the other rising to a galleried landing with two bedrooms and a bathroom off.
A striking feature of the living area is a tall Austroflamm multi-fuel stove, with a stainless-steel pipe extending 25ft up to the lofty ceiling.
Softening this urban look are abundant natural materials and ivory walls throughout allow their beauty to shine through.
One of the owners has skilfully made quality oak-framed windows, attractive oak doors with latches, oak architrave and superb built-in cupboards in every bedroom, as well as shelving and cupboards in the mezzanine study area.
Attractive Monterey pine flooring enhances the mezzanine area, the upstairs landing and two bedrooms.
Adding versatility is a separately accessed side annexe, comprising a living room, bedroom and appealing contemporary-style en-suite, all with lovely, glossy natural-coloured porcelain floor tiles.
The owners have also worked their magic outside, creating beautiful lushly planted gardens with gravelled areas, stone walls and many plants and shrubs, including dramatic formium as well as more traditional cottage-garden plants, such as lavender.
Treasure Cottage is set side-on to the lane and front and side gardens with mature beech trees, a pond, pergola and sitting areas extend to the partly-gravelled back garden.
A paved terrace here is perfect for relaxing while listening to Thorley Brook flowing gently through the adjoining field where cows graze.
Next to a front gravelled parking and turning area is a detached barn ideal as a workshop or for storage and the cottage has an integral garage.
The cottage is warmed throughout by underfloor heating.
Riven-slate flooring features in the fabulous, 39ft long open-plan area and bespoke oak base cupboards in the spacious kitchen are topped with slate.
While this area includes Smeg range cooker, there is plumbing for a washing machine, dryer and dishwasher in the adjoining utility room with a WC off.
Both upstairs bedrooms have imposing lofty ceilings and the master bedroom, with a smart en-suite shower room, looks over the rear garden and meadow, while bedroom two is front-facing.
Between the bedrooms is the main bathroom with a white suite and wall tiles and dark floor tiling.
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