The Honey House, Swinton, TD11 3JJ

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A wonderful family home with valuable extras, the Honey House in Swinton is the exception rather than the rule

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The Honey House, Swinton

Occasionally, houses that appear to be nothing out of the ordinary turn out to be rather extraordinary. . . . and so it is with the delightfully named Honey House in the Berwickshire village of Swinton.

Built around 10 years ago in a particularly appealing setting within the village with far-reaching views at the rear across countryside to Duns, the Lammermuir Hills and Chirnside, the detached house has a distinctive, light honey-coloured facade that seems to emit a naturally warm welcome.

The first sign that this house may be different is the size, with accommodation over not two but three levels to make it a spacious family home with six bedrooms (one en suite), two bathrooms, 24ft dual aspect living room, rear-facing dining room partially open-plan to the adjoining fitted kitchen, plus cloakroom and utility.

But that’s not all. Outside in the garden is the recently converted Honey Barn, an amazing space currently configured as a 48ft-long double-height games room with a cloakroom and store off at one end and at the other end, a spacious sitting room with a multi-fuel stove, patio doors to a barbecue terrace and stairs up to a mezzanine kitchen.

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WHEN YOU’RE BUYING OR SELLING PROPERT Y . . . IT HAS TO BE BSPC

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The Honey House, Swinton

The barn is outstanding and offers unlimited uses as an extension of the main house, granny flat, holiday let, artist’s studio (there are two north-facing windows in the studio end), office, hobby area – the only limit here is the imagination.

Orientated almost directly due south, the Honey Barn’s other key feature is a roof fitted with 16 photo -voltaic solar panels, the maximum number permitted, which generate electricity for both the house and barn and feed the excess into the grid to provide an annual income currently between £1,700 and £1,900.

Featured Property The Honey House, Swinton, TD11 3JJ

Offers Around £325,000 • Details on: Page 20

Thought to be around 100 years old and originally part of a farm/dairy, the barn was rescued from decay and probable dereliction by present owners John and Tina Landon, who bought Honey House seven years ago.

“The main house was everything we were looking for in a family home,” says Tina.

An extraordinary 6 bedroom home

“We loved the size, the lightness, the beautiful views and the convenient location. The barn was an unexpected bonus and although the roof was leaking and it was basically just four walls fronted by a huge agricultural door, we could see it had potential, especially as a previous owner had replaced the back wall and the foundations were solid. As the roof needed attention – and the orientation was ideal – it was perfectly placed to utilise solar energy both the house and barn could benefit from,” she adds.

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“We loved the size, the lightness, the beautiful views and the convenient location of the house and the barn was an unexpected bonus” The Landons extended the barn at one end to provide a cloakroom, internal store and a log store with external access.

Inside, Velux rooflights make the main barn area a bright and lofty open space with a double -height ceiling and exposed beams standing out in contrast to the white walls and echoing the building’s wood finishes. The stove makes the sitting room a cosy setting, while the cleverly conceived mezzanine kitchen is neatly fitted and takes full advantage of the views.

At the other end of the landscaped rear garden, Honey House has an impressive specification and finish, with neutral decoration and floorcoverings.

The focal point in the dual aspect living room is a multi-fuel stove standing in a recessed fireplace with slate hearth and substantial timber beam mantel.

Similarly, the open-plan dining area and kitchen occupy the full length of the house on the other side of the entrance hall.

The contemporary kitchen looks out over the landscaped rear garden and is fitted with timelessly classic Shaker-style units paired with block wood worktops and tiled splashbacks, while appliances include a sizeable stainless steel range cooker with stainless steel splashback and overhead extractor/light.

Upstairs, there are four bedrooms (one currently used as a study) and bathroom on the first floor – master bedroom with built-in wardrobe storage and en suite shower room and fitted storage in all three bedrooms – while bedrooms five and six and another bathroom are positioned on the second floor, both bedrooms offering lovely views of the Lammermuir Hills to the rear.

The question as to whether this eminently desirable home ever had a connection with bees remains unanswered. “It seems more likely the name came from the house’s honey -coloured facade, which is also evident elsewhere in the village,” says Tina.

Regardless of origin, the name is yet another factor that makes this home so intriguing. The Honey House is an outstanding family home in a very appealing traditional village setting where amenities include a primary school (catchment for Berwickshire High School in nearby Duns), good amenities and an abundance of sports/leisure opportunities, with Duns, Coldstream, and the mainline railway service at Berwick upon Tweed all within a 12-mile radius.

Including a 48ft double height barn with separate lounge