Your Country Property - Issue 36

RENOVATE OR DECORATE?

It’s really important to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. Take some time to consider what you want to change and why. Do you need more space? Are you looking to modernize your home? Do you want to create a specific atmosphere or style? Understanding your goals will help you to prioritize and plan your project effectively. Once you have a clear idea of what you want to achieve, it’s time to start thinking about the practicalities. Budget is one of the most important considerations. Be realistic about what you can afford and be prepared to make compromises if necessary. It’s also important to factor in any additional costs such as planning permission, building regulations, and professional fees.

THINK BIG

If you’re considering a big project like an extension, it’s worth investing in the services of an architect or designer. They will be able to help you with planning, design and project management. A good architect or designer will also be able to advise on how to make the most of the available space and ensure that the finished result is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

When it comes to smaller projects like redecoration, you may be able to tackle the job yourself. However, it’s still important to plan carefully and ensure that you have all the necessary tools and materials before you get started. If you’re unsure about any aspect

Renovating your home can be an exciting and daunting prospect. The chance to update your living space, improve your quality of life and potentially increase the value of your property.

Whether you’re considering a big project like an extension or a smaller project like redecoration, there are a few things to keep in mind before you get started.

of the project, don’t be afraid to seek advice from a professional.

One of the key benefits of renovating your home is that you can tailor it to your specific needs and tastes. If you’re looking to create a specific atmosphere or style, it’s worth spending some time researching different options. There are plenty of resources available online, from interior design blogs to social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram. You can also seek inspiration from magazines, TV shows, and diy stores.

SOURCING MATERIALS

Another important factor to consider is the practicality of your project. If you have young children or pets, for example, you may need to think carefully about materials and finishes that are durable and easy to clean. Similarly, if you’re planning a renovation with a view to selling your home in the future, it’s worth considering what potential buyers are likely to be looking for. This might include features like a modern kitchen, a well-designed bathroom or plenty of storage space.

When it comes to actually carrying out the renovation work, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it’s important to be realistic about timescales. Renovation work can often take longer than expected, so it’s

important to plan for any potential delays. It’s also worth being prepared for disruption to your daily routine. Renovations can be messy and noisy, so it’s worth considering alternative living arrangements if necessary.

Communication is also key. If you’re working with a team of professionals, make sure that everyone is clear about what is expected of them and when. Keep lines of communication open and be prepared to be flexible if necessary.

Finally, it’s worth remembering that renovating your home is a process, not a quick fix. Be prepared to invest time, effort and money into your project, but also be prepared to reap the rewards in the long term. Renovating your home can be a great way to improve your quality of life and create a space that truly reflects your personality and tastes.Putting the renovation and building work aside, aesthetically your finished projects look all comes down to detail and personal choice. This is your home so decor should reflect your personality and make you feel comfortable and happy. Considering functionality of your décor is something that quite often can get forgotten but should also be considered. For example, a decorative mirror not only adds style to your home but can also make a room appear more spacious.

TOP TIPS

PAINT

The right paint colour can transform a room, making it feel brighter and more spacious, or darker and more cosy. Consider the natural light in the room, as well as the mood you want to create.

Neutral colours are a safe option and work well in any room. However, if you want to add a pop of colour, consider using an accent wall to add interest to a room without overwhelming it. Glossy finishes reflect light and are easy to clean, making them a good option for high-traffic areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. However, they can also highlight imperfections on walls. Matte or eggshell finishes are better for hiding imperfections but can be more challenging to clean.

COLOUR AND PATTERNS:

Choosing the right colour and patterns for your home decor can make a big difference in the overall look and feel of your home. Neutral colours such as beige, grey, and white create a calm and soothing atmosphere, while brighter colours such as blue, green, and yellow can create a more energetic and livelier feel. Patterns can also add interest and texture to your decor. However, it’s essential to choose patterns that complement each other and don’t clash. Mixing different patterns can be challenging, so if you’re not sure, stick to one or two patterns in a room.

MATERIALS

When selecting materials, it’s essential to consider the purpose of the room. For example, hardwood floors may be beautiful in a living room, but they may not be practical in a bathroom where moisture can damagwe them. It’s also essential to consider the maintenance requirements of each material. For example, granite countertops may look beautiful, but they require regular sealing to prevent stains.

FURNITURE

When picking furniture for your new home, it’s essential to consider both style and functionality. Start by measuring the rooms and doorways to ensure that the furniture you choose will fit. Consider your lifestyle and how you use each room to determine the type of furniture you need. Invest in high-quality, durable pieces that will last for years to come. Choose a colour palette that complements your décor.

Tetbury Rocking Horses

Traditional Wooden Rocking Horse Makers

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We treat your Home like Our Home

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t: 01285 885 336 I e: info@parlourfarm.com www.parlourfarm.com

The Old Palace, Bull Lane, Wrotham, Kent

Contemporarily styled historic country house

Situation:

This handsome Grade II listed country house in Wrotham village which sits in grounds in excess of six acres that include a two-bedroom cottage, summer house, kitchen garden and paddocks. The Old Palace is a Grade II* Listed country house which is rich in architectural historic interest, but which was the subject of a comprehensive programme of refurbishment and updating, several years ago. With origins dating back to medieval times, the site had been used by Arch Bishops of Canterbury as a stopping off point on their journeys to and from Canterbury. The present house is an amalgam of styles through the centuries and displays architectural detail from the fourteenth century through to the twenty first. Coursed ragstone external elevations under a pitched tile roof with some windows dating to the sixteenth century, medieval oak floor boards and inglenook fireplaces together with exposed timbers and oak latched doors are some of the aged features remaining. Twenty first century attributes include complete re wiring, new plumbing, a ground source heating system and a Control4 home automative system.

Guide Price £3,395,000

4 reception rooms | 7 bedrooms | 5 bathrooms | Indoor swimming pool | Detached two bedroom cottage | Handsome Listed mansion of quality Marvellous marriage of contemporary and period detailing | Indoor swimming pool | Exceptional garaging | Edge of village location Approx 6.4 acres in total

t: 01285 885 336 I e: info@parlourfarm.com www.parlourfarm.com

Old Greenhouse Farm, Painswick, Stroud, Gloucestershire

A quintessential Cotswold estate in the Painswick Valley

Situation:

Charming Grade II listed Cotswold home in the Painswick Valley that offers the complete package with a substantial main residence, along with a cottage and two flats offering the potential for significant income generation or multi-generational living. The gardens and grounds are also a special feature which benefit from extensive lawns with ornamental ponds, woodland and a lawned paddock. This is a rare gem of a property idyllically situated in the Painswick Valley. Offering a substantial main residence along with a cottage and two flats the property has potential for significant income generation or multi-generational living.

Guide Price £3,000,000

t: 01285 885 336 I e: info@parlourfarm.com

www.parlourfarm.com

Powntley Copse, Alton, Hampshire

A handsome and generous detached family house with gardens and grounds (including paddocks) of about 5.2 acres in all.

Situation:

The house was designed to take full advantage of the setting with the living accommodation principally set to the southern side of the house. The generous living accommodation is set off a welcoming hall and includes a spacious sitting room with a fireplace, dining room, study and conservatory with double doors opening out to the garden. The accommodation is complemented by an open plan kitchen/breakfast room together with a utility, boot room and ground floor cloakroom/shower room. The first floor accommodation includes four bedrooms, with the main bedroom featuring a dressing room and a large en-suite bathroom and a family bathroom. The property has evolved over may years and has scope and potential to be adapted, subject to any necessary planning and building regulation consents.

Guide Price £1,450,000

Sitting Room | Dining Room | 24’ Study | Wide Hall | Conservatory | Kitchen/Dining Room | Utility Room | Boot Room | 4 Bedrooms

En-suite & Dressing Room to Bed 1 | Family Bathroom | Gardens and Grounds of about 5.2 acres in all | Outbuildings | Swimming Pool

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IN THE COTSWOLDS

t: 01285 885 336 I e: info@parlourfarm.com www.parlourfarm.com

Yarrowfields, Shrubbs Hill, Chobham, Surrey

Discreet equestrian opportunity in prime location

Situation:

Truly superb equestrian home located in one of the most popular villages in Surrey, Chopham. This impressive property sits within approximately 4 acres of stunning grounds and gardens with paddocks, a ménage and stables. Tucked back out of sight in a picturesque private road near to the historic village of Chobham, this charming residence occupies a lovely sylvan setting. From its exposed timber beams, majestic fireplace and leaded windows to the solid oak doors, bespoke kitchen and tastefully chosen contemporary themes, this is an utterly enticing home.

Guide Price £3,250,000

t: 01285 885 336 I e: info@parlourfarm.com www.parlourfarm.com

Kitchen Garden Cottages, Kettering, Northamptonshire

Built in the 1860s, this stunning property is a Victorian replica of 17th Century architecture, boasting many original features with beautiful diamond leaded windows and original stone.

Situation:

idyllic period property

Guide Price - offers in excess of £2,000,000

An

in North Northamptonshire, Kitchen Garden Cottages boasts extensive equestrian facilities and fantastic transport links into Central London. The property benefits from 18 stables, 30m x 60m arena with mirrors, lunge pen & walker and sits within a plot of 14 acres.

5 bedrooms I 2 bathrooms I 18 Stables I 14 acres | Tiled roof stable block compromises of 5 beautiful Scotts stables, 1 large tack room and a smaller tack / feed room I 4 Monarch stables with a wash bay area I 5-horse covered Monarch horse walker 30m x 60m Arena with a grease-based silica sand and rubber surface I 30 meters of training mirrors

During this time the colour will darken slightly. Once cured, your building should be protected against the elements for at least 10 - 15 years.

Exterior Wall Coatings, External Rendering, Masonry Coatings in Cheshire, UK

Climatised Coatings will enhance the appearance of your property and protect it for up to 30 years - no more repainting every few years. They carry a 10 year guarantee against chipping, flaking or peeling and are tough enough to withstand steam cleaning.

Climatised Coatings are a range of thick film textured coating systems for external protection, repair and decoration. Twenty times the thickness of ordinary paint and applied using high pressure, heavy duty spraying equipment, the range provides surfaces that are tough, durable, insulating, highly decorative and weatherproof.

Climatised Coatings combine mineral fibres, pearlite, titanium dioxide and oxidide pigments. They also contain specially prepared additives to eliminate fungus, mildew and other noxious growths on three high quality resins. They let the

building breath and are not affected by acid rain or a salt laden atmosphere.

Climatised Coatings prevent penetrating damp and are continually monitored and updated to provide a superior finish for all types of construction. They have an excellent adhesion, colour retention and resistance to carbon dioxide penetration, thus protecting concrete as well as stone and brick buildings.

Climatised Coatings also include Clear Coat, a transparent, invisible coating for brickwork, masonry and roofs, offering the same protection from the elements as our coloured coatings. It prevents bricks absorbing water then "bursting" when it freezes It also protects your pointing. Clear Coat has even been used to protect sea walls, lighthouses, windmills and water pumping stations.

t: 01285 885 336 I e: info@parlourfarm.com www.parlourfarm.com

Calder Vale, The Marsh, Wanborough, Wiltshire

Calder Vale offers fantastic equestrian facilities which are just a stone’s throw from the back door.

Situation:

Situated at the bottom of a private driveway and tucked behind an array of mature trees, Calder Vale is an attractive family home with fantastic equestrian facilities set within 5 acres. The 5 bedroom property benefits from 6 stables, 20mx x 40m arena and a walker.

Guide Price £1,395,000

5 bedrooms I 4 bathrooms/wc I 6 Stables I 5 acres | generous kitchen/breakfast room I master bedroom featuring built in wardrobes and an en-suite shower room I large garden | terrace with views across the paddock I 20m x 40m outdoor arena has a sand and rubber surface

t: 01285 885 336 I e: info@parlourfarm.com

www.parlourfarm.com

Malthouse Lodge Farm, Chippenham, Wiltshire

Malthouse Lodge offers an exceptional base for a professional rider or business. The facility has been thoughtfully designed with both the horse and rider in mind and is currently a full thriving livery yard.

Situation:

Guide Price - offers in excess of £2,500,000

Sitting in 25 acres, Malthouse Lodge Farm offers a four bedroom family home and equestrian facilities finished to a very high standard including a newly constructed 20m x 60m indoor school, outdoor arena and 30 stables.

4 bed Detached House I 3 bathrooms I 30 Stables I 25 acres | recently renovated farmhouse style kitchen I large graveled courtyard newly constructed 20 x 60m indoor school features mirrors at one end | 20 x 40m outdoor school sits in the heart of the facility and benefits from incredible views across the countryside

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A SOLID FOUNDATION, WHATEVER THE WEATHER

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Our solid, interlocking, slabs create instant hardstanding on any surface, whatever the weather, making them ideal for an immediate wet winter transformation or the perfect spring/summer project. Second to none when it comes to mud control, equally ideal to create alternative areas such as grass controlled turnout paddocks, lunge pens and riding areas. Mudcontrol slabs are a base and sub-base in one, so say goodbye to adverse ground conditions forever.

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t: 01285 885 336 I e: info@parlourfarm.com www.parlourfarm.com

Lodge Farm, Shelton, Bedfordshire

Lodge Farm is in a beautiful area of the North Bedfordshire countryside with outstanding views and amazing wildlife.

Situation:

Lovingly restored 6 bedroom barn conversion with 2 bedroom cottage, 7 stables, 20m x 60m arena, tennis court and 20 acres of private gardens and grazing land in the North Bedfordshire countryside.

Guide Price - offers over £2,800,000

8 bed Detached House I Self-contained 2 bedroom cottage I Lovingly restored, extended and immaculately presented barn conversion 7 Stables, 20x60m Martin Collins arena and 20 acres