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THE BSPC PROPERTY GUIDE / FEATURE PROPERTY
A unique architect-designed house near Stow The opportunity to own a spectacularly modern house in an idyllic rural setting is something of a rarity – and that falls a long way short in summing up Windlestraw House, which is situated close to the village of Stow and stands in around half an acre of garden grounds that include a decked patio, spa-style hot tub and a Finnish barbecue hut.
While the quality of the fittings and finish is evident at a glance in the mix of Spanish slate and solid French oak flooring that extends throughout the ground and first floor levels, state-of-the-art kitchen, built-in storage, three contemporary en suites (one of which is a wet room with two umbrella-style showerheads) and family bathroom with travertine floor/wall tiles and a whirlpool bath.
To really appreciate this four bedroomed property’s unique qualities you have to start at the beginning.
But then there are the things that you don’t see, such as the under-floor heating.
The house was completed in 2007 for present owners Gavin and Jo Broomfield, whose vision and ideas were incorporated into the design by OMI Architects in Falkirk. As this was intended to be a ‘forever’ house, quality was paramount in not just the specification and finish but also in the construction, which is what underscores this building’s sense of solidity and longevity. “The site and views were a major influence in the design, which has an overall floor area of 333 sq metres or 3,584 square feet and large amounts of glazing to make the most of the glorious views and country setting,” says Gavin. “We also wanted to avoid cramming in lots of bedrooms and make the most of the space by creating an open-plan layout with vaulted, double-height ceilings to emphasise the feeling of space and light.”
“Some of the walls are a foot thick and having under -floor heating throughout is a sustainable and logical choice as it heats space from the bottom up,” explains Gavin. Complementing the heating, the ground level is floored in slate, while the upstairs rooms have solid French oak flooring. The property also has an attached double garage and as the under-floor heating extends here also, it gives this additional space other potential uses.
THE BSPC PROPERTY GUIDE / FEATURE PROPERTY
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offers a contemporary take on country living Unusual window formations and varying ceiling heights add to this home’s overall wow factor while the layout from the main reception hall includes a 23ft living room with windows on three sides and feature Living Flame fire, study with custom-built furniture and storage, shower room, a dining room with two walls of glass that fold back to fully open the room to the rear-facing outside deck, utility, large storage room, and a fabulous kitchen with a central island, granite worktops, range cooker with sevenburner hob and overhead extractor, integrated dishwasher, and a large American-style stainless steel fridge freezer. Upstairs, the main bedroom has French doors on to a rear-facing balcony, wall-to-wall fitted storage and walk-in dressing area, and a fully tiled en suite wet room. Bedroom two is a similarly stunning en suite double room, which has the added distinction of a head-height storage platform accessed by a ladder, while bedrooms three and four continue the extensive glazing theme – bedroom four also has wall-to-wall storage.
Windlestraw House, Ferniehirst, Stow, TD1 2SP Fixed Price £650,000 Details on page 7
Outside, the garden grounds are mainly lawn bordered by dry stone walls and mature trees – and with only sheep for neighbours, this is the perfect setting for the garden hot tub and bespoke barbecue hut that can be used all year round. Windlestraw House is a magnificent property that offers a unique take on country living, while the location, which is only a few minutes drive from the A7, puts it within easy reach of nearby Melrose and Galashiels – and an easy commute to Edinburgh that will become even easier when the new rail station opens in Stow as part of the planned Borders rail link with the capital.