THE BSPC PROPERTY GUIDE / FEATURE PROPERTY
A country bungalow in Roberton that’s six years old and even better than new Ask Keith Powell why he bought his home in the pretty rural hamlet of Roberton, four miles south of Hawick, and the answer is four succinct words – ‘rural, bungalow, detached and views.’
The couple were just as busy outside – the rear lawn has been replaced with drainage underneath, a patio has been laid, and the top of the garden has been landscaped and planted to include a vegetable garden.
“We were retired and looking to escape the rat race when we found this newly built house on the internet,” he explains. “We came to see it and the rest, as they say, is history.”
The house has been painted and decorated from top to bottom inside and out, and Keith has installed fencing and an attractive farm-style entrance gate. The reality of which greatly surpasses any perception of the term ‘in move in condition.’
Built in 2006, the four/five bedroomed bungalow is far more spacious than it appears. But for Keith and his wife Jean the main attraction was the location and the lifestyle it offers, with glorious scenery, walks and wide variety of outdoor activities, while Hawick’s shops, schools and other amenities are all within a ten-minute drive. Offering all-on-one-level living at its best and with low-level windows to maximize the views, the layout is unexpectedly spacious and flexible, with a hall, living room, large dining kitchen, utility, dining room, sun room, four bedrooms (one en suite), study/fifth bedroom and family bathroom. Although the house was new and they were the first owners, Keith and Jean felt it still had scope to improve the specification – and lost no time in doing just that. The long list of projects undertaken in the last few years includes replacing and upgrading the master bedroom’s en suite shower room (now includes a double enclosure with jet shower), refurbishing and tiling the family bathroom with the addition of vanity storage, fitting quality Karndean flooring in the hall and kitchen and re-carpeting the bedrooms, and upgrading the kitchen, adding more units, a central island, built-in double oven, and fivering LPG gas hob in place of the electric hob installed by the builder.
Decorated in tasteful neutral shades throughout, this is an immediately attractive family home that would appeal to all age groups. Kitchens sell houses and this one would win anyone over, from the beautiful tile-effect Karndean flooring to the now enhanced range of light oak units and coordinating worktops and splashback tiling. The island is a major benefit, providing additional storage and worktop space plus breakfast bar area. An open archway in the kitchen leads through into a delightful sun room, currently used as an informal dining area – but equally suitable for a wide range of alternative uses.There’s also a well-fitted utility/laundry room with additional cupboard storage.
The front-facing formal dining room is another adaptable room, as is the present study, which could be a fifth bedroom. The existing four bedrooms are all double size – three with double or triple wardrobes, while the main bedroom overlooks the rear garden and includes a well appointed en suite. The enclosed gardens provide a safe environment for children and pets and, having been fully landscaped, require little to keep them looking good. A slabbed patio at the rear provides a base for seating and al fresco dining – there’s also a shed, driveway, and a detached garage, the latter with power and additional storage in the loft. Retired or not, the living is very easy in this picturesque rural area , with glorious countryside on the doorstep and easy access to the A7 and major motorway links south and north to Edinburgh.
1 Borthwick View Roberton Guide Price £275,000 Details on page 20
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