Fine & Country Abode - Issue 4

CONTENTS

the property and lifestyle magazine COMPLIMENTARY ISSUE Thinking about a loft conversion / 10 Help your garden thrive this winter / 14 Properties for sale / 18 - Winter 2017 -

Brought to you by:

WELCOME

welcome - FROM THE FINE & COUNTRY TEAM -

Adrienne Dobson

Judith Allen

Clare Smith

Emelia Robson

Regional Sales Manager

Office Manager

Sales Negotiator

Administrator

As 2017 comes to a close, I’m delighted to welcome you to another edition of Abode magazine.

A the property and lifestyle magazine COMPLIMENTARY ISSUE Thinking about a loft conversion / 10 Help your garden thrive this winter / 14 Properties for sale / 18

t Fine & Country, we have over a decade of experience in providing the highest quality service to both prospective buyers and sellers and look forward to continuing to build upon our success in the future.

- Winter 2017 -

Brought to you by:

We sell more than just bricks and mortar; we provide a bespoke and imaginative promotional approach to sell the story of a home, enhancing the lifestyle of a property and focusing on the seller’s favourite features to truly bring the home to life.

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This month we’ll once again be showcasing a selection of the beautiful homes we have to offer, along with providing advice on how to add value to your home, sharing tips for keeping your garden blooming this winter and highlighting some of the best events from around the North East this Christmas!

We hope your 2017 has been as good as ours, and look forward to helping you with all of your property needs in 2018.

- what’s inside -

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Thinking about a loft conversion?

Winter Gardening Tips

Whether you need extra space for guests, or a private home office, get the most out of your home without the need to extend.

Office Addresses

Editorial & Advertising

Fine & Country

Narrative Communications

136 The Stables, Wynyard Village Wynyard TS22 5QQ

For editorial please contact Kristy Harmer

Tel: +44 (0) 1740 645 444 Email: info@fineandcountry.com

Tel: 07969 849 129 Email: kristy@narrativecommunications.co.uk

www.fineandcountry.com

Design & Publishing Narrative Communications www.narrativecommunications.co.uk

For advertising please contact Alan Dickinson Tel: 07982 719 373 Email: alan@narrativecommunications.co.uk

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Don’t let the trees go bare this winter. Brighten up your garden with seasonal plants to add colour all year round!

Partners

CONTENTS

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Properties for sale

Sold properties

From investment properties to forever homes, we have something for everyone this season.

A last look at some of the fantastic homes we’ve completed on this quarter.

What's inside

the property and lifestyle magazine

Thinking about a loft conversion?

10

Help your garden thrive this winter

14

Properties for sale

18

Sold properties

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COMPLIMENTARY ISSUE Thinking about a loft conversion / 10 Help your garden thrive this winter / 14 Properties for sale / 18 - Winter 2017 -

Brought to you by:

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Where Girls EXCEL Rainbow Hill Nursery Junior House Senior House Sixth Form

Durham High School for Girls Farewell Hall | Durham | DH1 3TB Tel: 0191 384 3226 Email: enquiries@dhsfg.org.uk

www.dhsfg.otg.uk School Charity No: 111995. Independent Day School Girls 3-18.

Rainbow Hill Nursery Set foot into our Rainbow Hill Nursery at Durham High School and you won’t want to leave.

Housed in a bright, well-equipped space, our purpose–built Nursery is an ideal environment for your daughter to begin her learning journey. Add to that our caring, well-qualified staff, and it’s hard to see what more any parent could want.

Purposeful play makes Nursery a fun and magical learning experience and our outdoor learning area is perfect for bear hunts and den-building or concocting magical potions in the mud kitchen. Eid, Diwali and the Chinese New Year give us the excuse to dress up and celebrate while finding out about other cultures.

In Rainbow Hill Nursery, children are encouraged to develop independence, confidence and an appetite for learning. You can be assured that your daughter will be in a very safe environment here where she will be nurtured and cared for.

Your daughter can join Rainbow Hill Nursery as soon as she has had her third birthday and we’ll invite her to spend time here before she begins to help her feel at home.

Junior House Any visitor to Junior House at Durham High School for Girls will be struck by our friendly, family atmosphere.

Our girls feel safe here and know they are valued by staff who care for them. Teachers take the time to get to know every girl well so we can meet her needs and help her develop socially, morally and spiritually into a confident, happy individual.

Our girls enjoy coming to school; they are excited about learning and take pride in their work, showing it off at any opportunity, including when their grandparents are invited to visit.

With a stimulating curriculum and exciting lessons, classrooms are busy, creative places of active, individualised learning. Music, PE and languages are taught by specialists and from Year 5 the girls have the fantastic opportunity of lessons in the Senior Science labs.

Outside the classroom there are trips for each year group linked to the curriculum and plenty of outdoor learning. Our impressive range of extra-curricular activities ranges from Latin Club to Irish dancing as we believe the more opportunities we can provide, the more talents the girls will discover and the more their confidence will grow.

Durham High School for Girls Farewell Hall | Durham | DH1 3TB Tel: 0191 384 3226 Email: enquiries@dhsfg.org.uk

www.dhsfg.otg.uk School Charity No: 111995. Independent Day School Girls 3-18.

Senior House Is it possible to take excitable, hectic, distractible, uncertain, endearing, dreaming, aspiring 11 year old girls and, in 7 years deliver polished, balanced, focussed young women, with top grades and the easy confidence they’ll need to meet a challenging and vibrant world?

In a word – yes!

From Day One in Senior House, girls are directed to excellence in their work and humanity in their relationships by a caring and well-trained staff.

They become strong individuals with an unassailable academic core and a broad hinterland encompassing drama to Duke of Edinburgh, poetry to politics, athletics to art. In short, they become fully alive. A door opens into Senior House. The whole world beckons.

Sixth Form Our Sixth Form has its own identity: students have their own suite which includes a common room, kitchen and study. Sixth Formers are also very much part of the whole school community and many take on responsibilities throughout the school.

Our excellent results at A Level are down to the fact that girls are taught by highly qualified specialists in small classes, while benefiting from exceptional pastoral support throughout these crucial two years.

But there’s so much more to life in the Sixth Form than work. Our enrichment programme includes guest speakers, life skills and current affairs, as well as the ‘survival cookery’ you’ll need if you’ve never looked after yourself before!

Girls and staff go out of their way to make new students feel at home. Whether you have been at Durham High for years, or have just joined us, within a few weeks those distinctions will be forgotten.

Before long you’ll feel as if you’ve been here forever and you’ll leave with excellent qualifications and friends for life.

- THINKING ABOUT A LOFT CONVERSION? -

What are the best uses for your extra space?

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TOP TIPS

There are lots of reasons why you may think about a loft conversion, but whether you need extra space for guests or want a private space for a home office, it’s important to get the most out of your space.

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ou may be shocked to hear you only require a minimum head height of 2.3m for a loft conversion, meaning almost all loft spaces are suitable. However, the sloped ceilings and strange angles found in lofts can appear challenging, so here are some of our favourite tips for using your space wisely.

> Lower your windows Lofts are a fantastic place for natural light, however you can sometimes miss out on the views outside your home by adding your windows too high. By lowering the height of your windows, you can benefit from both a light, airy space and external views.

> Take your conversion to a new level Does your loft have a particularly high ceiling? If so, you may want to consider maximising the space by adding a mezzanine. This could be used as a lounge area, study, or bedroom space.

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> If there’s space, find a use for it In a loft it’s not unusual to find tight spaces and, of course, slanted ceilings. However, that doesn’t mean you have to compromise.

For example instead of leaving a tight space empty, add shelving to create extra storage. You should also consider having bespoke furniture built to fit the space.

> Is there room for a staircase?

A staircase can take up a lot of space in the room below your loft, and can also be quite costly, so if you’re looking for a little extra storage, why not consider using a strong ladder?

> Be creative A loft conversion is a perfect chance to show off your creativity, so don’t be afraid to do something different.

- Don’t let the trees go bare HELP YOUR GARDEN THRIVE THIS WINTER

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TOP TIPS

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s winter approaches, here’s some ideas to brighten up your garden using plants, shrubs and berry bushes to add colour, depth and scent throughout the snowy season:

> Winter flowering plants While most winter bedding plants flower in spring, pansy, viola and primula will bloom during milder spells. Hellebores, or the Christmas rose, flowers in January too, adding a dash of pink, red and white to your outside space.

Finally, firm favourites, snowdrops and irises bloom early in the year and make for an ideal winter bouquet.

> Evergreen shrubs Evergreen shrubs keep their colour all year round and add real depth to your garden.

A camellia is a flowering evergreen shrub which boasts exquisite pink to red flowers and blossoms throughout the winter.

> Climbers A clematis cirrhosa ‘freckles’ can be relied upon to brighten up bare outdoor walls with a mass of cream and maroon or violet flecked flowers, from November to March.

> Berry bushes A berry-filled holly or virginia creeper bush can add a splash of colour to your garden, as well as provide a much-needed sanctuary for birds and wildlife during the winter months.

> Herbs Invest in some winter containers and you can benefit from a rich array of scented, evergreen perennials, such as such as rosemary, thyme, lavender and sage. With the short winter days, remember to position your containers so your plants can gain as much sunlight as possible.

> Winter vegetables Brussels sprouts and kale can be picked throughout the winter, providing you with a steady supply of seasonal vegetables – ideal for meat dishes and warm, hearty soups.

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Lion Bridge 5

Wynyard ÂŁ475,000

- For Sale A substantial five-bedroom family home. Occupying a corner position in a quiet cul-de-sac close to the golf course. The elegant lounge has French doors at the back, as does the family room, which opens onto the patio and lawn leading to a secluded garden. The kitchen is open plan to a dining area at one side and onwards to the family room while a formal dining room to the other side creates a fabulous run-through entertaining space.

The dining room could also be used as a playroom or a sitting room. The kitchen is fitted with cream units and complementary worktops with built-in appliances, and benefits from a utility room next door which gives internal access to the garage. Hardwood flooring runs from the Dining area to the hallway, a staircase leads to the first floor. The master bedroom is fitted out with wardrobes, a dressing table, and en suite bathroom.

The second bedroom also has a en suite. Three further double bedrooms share a family bathroom.

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FOR SALE PROPERTIES

Waterside 7

Hartlepool ÂŁ665,000

- For Sale A property with unique features and character offer views to the golf course, this exclusive seven-bedroom, three-storey home. Finished to the highest quality throughout, the oak staircase offers instant appeal to a welcoming hallway. Its impact is immediate, with a feeling of space and light with the two reception rooms through double doors to the right and left. The lounge has a wood-burning stove. The high specification continues into the dining kitchen which has an individual layout of island and peninsular units and granite tops.

Offering built-in stainless-steel appliances and a range cooker, pantry-style storage and adjoining utility room.

The kitchen leads open plan into a conservatory dining room and has doors opening to the garden. This is in addition to the main formal dining room at the front of the house and a further lovely family room with French doors to the garden, all together providing a superb amount of space for entertaining and for family. A fitted home office completes the ground floor.

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Black Wood 5

Wynyard ÂŁ720,000

- For Sale A substantial property perfect for entertaining, From the hot tub, fire pit and barbecue area to the AstroTurf and soft rubber play space and games rooms. Generous proportion rooms and high-quality fixtures and fittings.

Double doors to the hallway open into a formal lounge with stunning feature fireplace, a separate dining room.

The kitchen has an excellent range of cream units with granite worktops and island and built in appliances including a range cooker. Travertine flooring runs throughout and a practical utility room next door. The kitchen not only leads open plan into the family room, with three sets of glazed doors opening to the patio and garden, Heading upstairs from the hallway, the staircase turns left and right to a large landing with storage. The master suite comes with a walk-in dressing room and a beautiful en suite bathroom. The second bedroom also has en suite and the remaining 3 bedrooms share a family bathroom.

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FOR SALE PROPERTIES

Green Lane Cottage 5

Wynyard ÂŁ449,000

- For Sale A beautiful home full of character with a small paddock and self-contained annexe only add to the appeal for a family with animals, while the conservatory and timber deck with a hot tub. A large dining kitchen complete with ceiling beams and a log burner, The kitchen has a tiled floor, a generous array of units, a range cooker.

The lounge has a inglenook fireplace with log burning stove and opens into the conservatory giving access to the garden and outdoor dining area. A boot room with WC off the kitchen could make a home office or playroom since there are additional utility space. Upstairs there are five double bedrooms, all with pleasant views.

The master bedroom has built-in wardrobes. The large family bathroom has a corner bath and separate shower cubicle. The annexe has its own entrance yet is attached to the main house and boasts an open plan dining, kitchen and sitting room, a bedroom and shower room.

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The Plantations Wynyard SOLD

selling some of the region's finest homes

LD SO

15 The Plantation is at the heart of Wynyard Village.

Four reception rooms, five bedrooms, four en suites, a magnificent conservatory and gardens. The property stands on a corner plot in a quiet cul-de-sac. At the front, the attractive approach is via a sweeping blockpaved drive bordered by lawn and trees with parking and a triple, detached garage. The oak front door opens into a spacious hallway which extends to the full depth of the house to French doors at the far end. The quieter, left side of the house is occupied by a study and generous lounge with a feature fireplace and a dining kitchen, a family room leading into the conservatory and utility space. A dining room at the front completes the ground floor, all of which is beautifully presented. The kitchen is fitted with cream and aubergine units, with a centre island and integrated appliances and a walk-in pantry. The conservatory extends across the back of the property and is accessible from the lounge, hall and kitchen. It also benefits from underfloor heating, fitted blinds and French doors opening to the garden.

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SOLD PROPERTIES

The Wynd Wynyard SOLD

selling some of the region's finest homes

LD SO

59 The Wynd has woodland views to the rear. With three generous reception rooms, five double bedrooms with two en suites, storage, ample parking and a garden.

The layout offers formal entertaining space and rooms in which to relax. With a double integral garage and blocked paved driveway. The entrance opens into a hallway of which all the ground floor rooms lead. The lounge comes with a feature inglenook fireplace housing a log burning stove and French doors opening to the patio that runs across the back of the house. Also making the most of the garden views are the separate dining room, conservatory and breakfasting kitchen, which leads to a utility room. The kitchen has a range of integrated appliances and granite worktops. A further family sitting room with French doors and study.

Upstairs, the galleried landing opens an abundance of light. The master bedroom has fitted storage as well as a bathroom en suite. The second bedroom also has an en suite shower room making a lovely guest room that also benefits from built-in wardrobes.

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The Old Forge Witton Park SOLD

selling some of the region's finest homes

LD SO

A home with history, the peace and tranquillity that surrounds. The buildings stand as they did 200 years ago and lots of original internal features have been preserved including stone sills, beamed ceilings, fireplaces and exposed stone and brick. Together with a range in the kitchen, timber doors with latches, stripped floorboards and wood burning stoves complemented by old school-style column radiators, it all adds up to the kind of vintage charm that is highly desirable in a cottage.

Stylish lighting, contemporary travertine flooring with underfloor heating in the living room, a modern kitchen with integrated appliances, double glazing throughout and a fabulous bathroom ensure the cottage is as comfortable as it characterful. The two reception rooms are a generous size, with a feature made of the full height chimney breast in the living room thanks to a mezzanine level that provides a study or library space upstairs. The two bedrooms are equally well proportioned while the bathroom with its contemporary free-standing bath and walk-in shower is a relaxing haven.

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SOLD PROPERTIES

Broom Hill Farm Ebchester SOLD

selling some of the region's finest homes

LD SO

Broomhill farm, a stunning 5 bedroom detached property. The accommodation is beautifully presented throughout and boasts many period features including beamed ceilings, stone Inglenook and log turning stove along with a modern twist with state of the art fitted kitchen. As well as renovating the house the vendors extended it to the side to provide a fabulous sun lounge which doubles as a lounge and dining room and is also a superb space for entertaining with French doors that open out onto a large decked area for eating outdoors. A breakfasting kitchen which is fitted with a slate floor, high gloss units and island with granite worktops, integrated appliances, including an indoor barbecue and hot plate grill, a range cooker set. The property has four bedrooms upstairs and a fifth bedroom room on the ground floor with a shower room next door. The characterful master bedroom comes with a contemporary en suite shower room and the other rooms share a luxury bathroom with a freestanding bath. The Garden includes several raised beds, four greenhouses, outbuildings, fruit trees and chicken run.

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