Characterful cottage has all mod cons

ANNE’S Cottage in Thame Road, Warborough, combines historic charm with extensive modernisation.

The 400-year-old, three-bedroom cottage has been fully renovated and refurbished, with retained and restored original wooden beams, stone walls and an inglenook fireplace.

Interior designer Jennifer Neill, from Fingest, has thoroughly updated the property.

She says: “It was a complete renovation project and from purchase to completion was about five months.

“It was completely gutted. Apparently, it was rented previously and there had been a leak and the tenants were on holiday, so there was quite extensive water damage.

“Because the owners didn’t live nearby they decided just to sell it in the end.

“So, when I purchased it, it was half gutted, so the whole lot had to be removed and replaced, so everything. We kept the original fireplace that was there.

“Upstairs, we vaulted the two ceilings and put in an en suite and then vaulted the third bedroom, because it’s a cottage and it’s quite nice upstairs to have a bit more space, it makes it feel a bit bigger.

“We did all new flooring and underfloor heating as it’s an old cottage, to make it more cosy in that respect. The previous owners had done a lot of the work to rip off the plaster and stuff like that, so when I purchased it the stone was exposed and that’s quite a nice feature, so I left it in some areas like the hallway and by the stairs. I just thought that added to its character.”

The cottage has all-new plumbing, electrics, roof and insulation. There is oil-fired central heating and mains electricity, water and drainage.

The kitchen/breakfast room features integrated appliances and marble work surfaces, an island with breakfast bar and underfloor heating.

The hallway leads to a cloakroom. The sitting room has exposed timbers and a stable door leading to the garden. Upstairs are three bedrooms, each with vaulted ceilings and restored timbers.

There are two new bathrooms, one a family bathroom and the other en suite.

A private footpath leads to the property’s gated, south-facing garden, with lawn, terrace and flower borders.

As an award-winning interior designer, Jennifer, who is SBID accredited, runs her own company, JN Interior Designs. She offers a bespoke and comprehensive service for both residential and commercial clients.

“I’m actually in the Hambleden Valley, in Fingest, but I cover all over. Most of my clients tend to be Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, with some in London.”

Each project is tailored to ensure the end results are flattering to the property’s period and style.

Situated just north-west of Benson, the village of Warborough has been used for filming episodes of Midsomer Murders.

The Six Bells pub is on the green, alongside cricket and tennis clubs.

There is a village store and a primary school. The village has easy access to Wallingford, Oxford and Reading.

l Anne’s Cottage has a guide price of £650,000 freehold. For more information and to arrange a viewing, call Robinson Sherston on (01491) 614000.