Something about the nights drawing in and the weather getting colder makes me think of baronial halls and roaring fireplaces. In the summer, I feel light and contemporary and open plan. At this time of year I’m all about the grandeur.
So how’s this for starters? Looks impressive but actually you’re just buying a wing with a very manageable five bedrooms (!) which is on the market with Knight Frank for £1,295,000. It’s in Evesham, Worcestershire so think of the money you’ll save on asparagus and other veg – it likes to be known as the other garden of England.
It has been refurbished but all the original features have been retained and this room above certainly gives new meaning to the idea of a kitchen diner.
Also, if you thought this bedroom was large just look at that en suite bathroom below. How many sofas? Mind you if you forgot to take your towel to the shower before you got in, you’d catch a cold walking to fetch it.
And, of course special mention goes to the hallway in its beautiful shade of copper blush, just announced as the Dulux Colour of the Year for 2015.
But, if that doesn’t float your boat (in which case I’m not entirely what sort of boat you’re driving) what about this? We’re nipping over to Copenhagen for this one, which costs around £850,000 and has five rooms – variously described as a children’s room and a men’s room but no women’s room.
It was built in 1880 which means to mean there are no property taxes to pay as it’s protected but it has been refurbished and sound proof windows installed.
I am currently slightly obsessed with the idea of an old gym bench. I was in a hotel recently where there were a couple of low leather ones in the bar and now I see this suede one in a kitchen. I am taking this as a sign that I am meant to own one.
My other current fantasy is getting rid of the spotlights in the kitchen and finding something else but the ceiling isn’t particularly high and the trouble with those downlighters is that they do sort of give the best light for the job in hand. Although perhaps some hanging ones over the worktop where no-one is going to walk underneath could work.
Finally, I have succumbed to the modern with this five bedroom house in Cambridge, built in 1975 and on the market via The Modern House for £850,000.
I wasn’t too enamoured with the outside of this when I first saw it although there are some interesting architectural shapes at the back, but the more I look at it the more it has grown on me.
To start with I thought I would paint the breeze blocks but then as I looked at them they seemed to soften and I began to like them. I would definitely paint the woodwork though either white or dark grey and then you could throw all the colours you like in there.
The house is centred around a double-height central space so there’s plenty of light and original features include that spiral staircase, floor tiling of the same specification as used in the Barbican and a concrete open fire place.
I’m mentally redecorating as I look and now I really can’t decide if it’s Evesham, Copenhagen or Cambridge. What do you think?
