2019-06-01 25 Beautiful Homes

25bh | rural new build

S

arahCharlesworthandher

husbandAndrewwerelivingin

a 400-year-oldlistedcottage

whentheydecidedit wastimefor

amove.‘Ourfriendsandfamilywere

frequentlycomingtostay,andwesimply

neededmorespace,’saysSarah.

Thefirststepwastocompiletheirlist

ofmust-haves.Thecoupleagreedthat

theydidn’twanta newbuild,andwere

seekinga spaciousbarnconversion,

preferablyonewithanopenoutlook,which

provedeasiersaidthandone.‘Tryingto

finda propertywithbothviewsandopen

spacesturnedouttobeverydifficult,’says

Sarah.‘Wesawlotsofbarns,buttheywere

allhemmedinbyotherbuildings,and for

us,a senseofspacereallywaskey.’

Intheend,SarahandAndrewfound

theirpresenthomebyaccident.‘Wewere

onourwaytoyetanotherviewing,and

drove past an oak-framed new build with

a ForSalesignoutside,’saysSarah.‘We

couldseeit hadfar-reachingviewsso,

despitethefactit wasa newbuild,we

decidedtohavea look.Itfeltcomfortable

themomentwesteppedinside.’

Andthesurroundingareareally

appealedtothecouple,too.‘Theclincher

waswhenweopenedthedoorstogointo

thegarden,’saysSarah.‘Therewere

paddocksandfieldsbeyondit,anda river

whereyoucouldhirea rowingboat.Itwas

soquaint,it completelywonusover.’

ThehousealsosuitedSarahand

Andrewbecauseit requiredrelativelylittle

buildingwork.‘Webothhavebusyjobs,so

wedidn’twanttotakeona majorrenovation

project,’saysSarah.‘Butwedefinitely

wantedtoputourstamponthehouse.’

Topofthelistofimprovementswas

replacingthebathrooms.‘Theywerepretty

standardandwewantedtomakethem

more contemporary,’ says Sarah. The next

CONSERVATORY

Theindoorandoutdoor

seatingareasmirroreachother,

creatinga senseofunity.

TrySoufflécornersofa,£2,535,Loaf.

Mangowoodtrestlecoffeetable,£285,

French Connection Home, would work

THEPROPERTY

Detachedcountryhouse

L O C AT I O NKent

ROOMSSittingroom,dining

room,kitchen-diner,study,

conservatory,gardenroom,

cloakroom,fivebedrooms

(twoensuite),bathroom

PURCHASED 2008

PREVIOUSPROPERTY

‘Wewerelivingina 400-year-old

listed cottage,’ says Sarah.

home truths

NEw bUILD

58 | 25bHJunE 2019