I feel proud when people say the house makes them smile

WHEN Elizabeth and her husband Jeremy decided to build the “perfect” house from scratch, she took a course on just how to do it.

The couple had been living in a cottage on their two-acre plot for almost 40 years.

“We kept a horse and had stables,” says Elizabeth. “We decided to build a large, detached house for ourselves on about a quarter of an acre.

“Because I am a perfectionist, I went on a course with the National Self-Build and Renovation Centre in Swindon, which gave me invaluable experience.

“I completed another renovation course and went through five different architects before settling on the professional who helped me design the house. We didn’t compromise on any detail.” Now, 10 years later, the couple’s vision is a stunning 3,713 sq ft property with four bedrooms and four bathrooms as well as smart systems throughout.

Kites Wood House is situated in the village of Upper Basildon in the Berkshire Downs.

The property is set well back from the road and approached by a sweeping gravel drive which can accommodate eight cars.

The impressive entrance hall features an eye-catching curved staircase and double height
ceiling.

There is underfloor heating throughout the house and light blond Danish Douglas fir flooring from Dinesen on the ground floor and landing.

Elizabeth says: “We had all the planks cut to size so that there would be no joins and it was treated with lye so that it is very easy to maintain.”

The attention to detail extends to the handmade bricks and carefully sourced roof tiles.

The hand-crafted kitchen features a large island with an oak top, an integrated Wolf double oven and hob, steam oven and sub-zero drawer fridge as well as a walk-in larder.

Steps lead down into the living room with the dining area off to one side.

Sliding doors open on to one of several terraces of Brazilian slate. There is a wood burner built into the wall. A separate sitting room with a wood burner is off the entrance hall which continues round to a cloakroom with shower and then to an office.

There is a good-sized rear lobby, which is perfect for muddy boots and wet dogs as it has a separate access from the side of the house, and a large utility room.

The wooden staircase leads to a spacious gallery landing with access to the loft, which is boarded and full-height.

The principal bedroom suite measures the width of the property and has views across the garden and woodland.

It has a separate dressing room and luxurious en suite with bath and walk-in shower.

There is a second bedroom suite with en suite shower room, two more double bedrooms and a family bathroom.

Outside the single detached garage is used as a workshop and has a useful cloakroom and plant storage.

The sunny level garden is laid mainly to lawn and watered by an automatic irrigation system.

It is dog- and child-proof and backs on to woodland which is home to lots of wildlife. There is also a large two-room garden shed.

Elizabeth says: “The woodland is unspoilt by light pollution and there are no buildings nearby to disturb the birds and animals. It is a very special piece of land.”

So why are the couple selling up?

“We are both in our seventies now,” says Elizabeth, whose husband is a semi-retired aviation consultant. “Our children have left home and we feel it’s time to downsize to a lock-up-and-leave.

“It will be a wrench to leave after 47 years on this plot but we feel it needs a family again.

“Kites Wood House has been described as a house that makes people smile and I feel proud of that.”

Upper Basildon has a pub, church and post office while nearby Pangbourne has other amenities and a mainline station as well as excellent local schools.

• Kites Wood House is on the market with a guide price of £2.2 million. There is further land available by negotiation. For more information or to arrange a viewing, call Warmingham & Co in Goring on (01491) 874144.