SHOWCASE Possibly the coolest pad in Exe

PROPERTY

A PLACE TO CALL HOME

HOLMBUSH Calm, spacious – dollops of West Country festival vibes – welcome to the ultimate rural retreat By Imogen Davidson-Smith

Who could blame people for wanting to have a staycation in Devon during the last few months? It’s got countryside, ocean and that gorgeous, friendly city called Exeter. And this property looks a bit like a high-end holiday home; a thing of beauty that might exist in one of those listicles entitled “The top Ten Most Stunning Holiday Homes Near Exeter.” Something so gorgeous you’re only allowed to stay there for a week. Nobody could possibly live there permanently, could they? Well, yes, they could and they can because it’s on the market now.

And in any given time this property would be a find but after lockdown this one really fulfils the criteria for it’s got that thing we’ve all been craving over the last few months – outdoor space. And in a really cool, I’m-having-a-festivalin-my-back-garden-in-Devon kind of way.

This shindig comes teeming with huge, beautiful outdoor terraced areas, one a rooftop terrace attached to the house and the others all spaced out around the garden; one even has a bar in it, all for eating, drinking, and being merry. We think you could even go the whole hog and theme these terraces: the disco terrace, the yoga terrace, the wine and

cheese terrace, the possibilities are endless! In short, these outdoor areas mean you can have as much fun – or solitude – as you wish.

Inside, the mellow party continues with a décor that is cool, contemporary and bright; where light colour schemes and whopper windows pervade.

The ground floor accommodation is accessed from a reception hall, opening into a dining room with French doors leading to the fabulous exterior terrace. There’s a good-sized office, an extensive sitting room with bi-fold doors to another garden area, and a spacious kitchen which comes with a large breakfast bar. Completing the ground floor accommodation is a generous size family room, a useful utility room and a cloakroom.

Upstairs, Holmbush offers a spacious master bedroom, complete with en suite wetroom and French doors leading to a wonderful roof terrace. There are four further double bedrooms, two on the second floor, and two with en suite shower rooms. Bedroom two also has a dressing room, and a stylish family bathroom completes the accommodation.

To top it off, if you are one of the many whose living arrangements have meant there’s an additional bod in your brood, separate from the main house is the coach house complete with openplan kitchen/sitting/ dining room and a bedroom and wet room.

There’s really no need to book that one-week staycation holiday – how about you just buy this dreamy home to spend the rest of your days in. n

HOUSE NUMBERS Square footage 3,000 Bedrooms 5 (main house), 1 (coach house) Bathrooms 3 Where Ide, Exeter

Outside Spacious lawn, roof terrace, outdoor bar and four decked terraces Guide price £975,000 For more Strutt & Parker Exeter Estate Agents, 24 Southernhay W, Exeter EX1 1PR; 01392 249164; www.struttandparker.com