4 bed detached house for sale in Llantrisant Road, Capel Llanilltern, Cardiff CF5 - 43271927

Read article : 4 bed detached house for sale in Llantrisant Road, Capel Llanilltern, Cardiff CF5 - 43271927

Summary
A charming detached four bedroom family residence, approached by a gated private drive with extensive private parking, and set within a private garden plot of appromimate 1.95 acres. With a stunning range of outdoor leisure features including a swimming pool and hot tub.

Description
Ty Newydd Farm is a distinctive house of character, built 1998 by the current owners on the site of an original period farm cottage which was reputed to date back to 1700 and occupied a an overall plot of 1.95 acres. This unique four bedroom family home enjoys the special benefits of ensuite shower rooms serving each of the double sized bedrooms plus a large period family bathroom equipped with a free standing roll top suite. Recently a stunning bespoke kitchen has been installed providing a wonderful social space (30'1 x 14'9), centred around a large island unit with Quartz granite work tops, stylish integrated appliances and inset with a charming stone Inglenook fireplace with contemporary log burner and a solid wood mantle. There are two utility rooms and two ground floor cloak rooms. The living space is truly impressive including five principle reception rooms plus a grand entrance reception hall inset with a wide staircase returning to the east and west first floors. All windows are double glazed with white PVC units, and there are two feature windows, both hexagon in design with coloured leaded glass. Central heating is oil fired with panel radiators and a modern tank installed also in 1998. Charming character features include exposed beamed ceilings and natural stone walls providing a Farm House theme, whilst the living space provide a contemporary style with both a large formal dining room for social meals, and a relaxing lounge with a stone Minster fireplace!

The Property
With a family in mind the capacious cinema room (18'10 x 17'8) offers a wonderful entertainment centre, whilst both the sitting room (19'11 x 13'6) and the sun lounge (16'3 x 15'0) offer flexible living space with french doors that open onto the gardens. Each of the double bedrooms also include individual walk-in wardrobes, and the unique advantage with the living space on the first floor is the undoubtable fact that each bedroom is well proportioned with pleasing outlooks across the surrounding gardens and grounds. A truly impressive family house situated within only a short drive to Cardiff, and within easy access to an exit onto the M4, allowing fast travel to Newport, Swansea and Bristol.

Outside Leisure Features
Whilst the property is approached by a long gated private entrance drive which leads to both a large double garage (20'10 x 22'1) and a double car-port (20'11 x 20'5), the outside space includes many separate areas for activity including a large L shaped lawn which is screened by high conifer trees, a fully heated outdoor swimming pool, a large decked sun terrace, an undercover patio and a matching covered hot tub. There is also a further summer house and a separate self contained home office. There are three further outdoor rooms buildings which could be converted into stables, whilst one of these buildings is already converted into a fully sound proof studio!

School Catchment
The property lies within the school catchment of Radyr High School, whilst local primary schools include Craig-y-Parc off Heol-y-Parc in Pentyrch Village, and Creigiau Primary School in Creigiau.

Ground Floor

Entrance Reception Hall 16' 8" x 14' 9" ( 5.08m x 4.50m )
A most imposing and charming large entrance reception hall, inset with a 6 ft wide spindle balustrade staircase with newel posts, exposed beamed ceiling, double radiator, approached from an open fronted porch via two part panelled white PVC coloured leaded glass double entrance doors with side screen windows. Built in understair cloaks hanging cupboard.

Downstairs Cloakroom 8' 5" x 2' 9" ( 2.57m x 0.84m )
Fitted stylish modern and contemporary cloakroom suite with tiled walls and floor, comprising a large shaped pedestal wash hand basin with stylish chrome mixer taps and pop-up waste, slimline W.C., PVC Georgian style window to rear.

Understairs Cloaks Cupboard

Lounge 20' x 15' 5" ( 6.10m x 4.70m )
Gracious room inset with a Minster fireplace with granite surround and hearth, exposed beamed ceiling, PVC double glazed Georgian style window with outlooks across a front sun terrace, further PVC Georgian double glazed french doors opening on to the rear gardens, double radiator.

Cinema Room 18' 10" x 17' 8" ( 5.74m x 5.38m )
A fantastic cinema/games room, equipped with ceiling with spotlights, wide PVC double glazed Georgian style windows overlooking the courtyard front gardens, projector screen, exposed stone walls, feature Living Flame electric contemporary fire, surround sound.

Formal Dining Room 20' 2" x 16' 2" ( 6.15m x 4.93m )
An elegant room with an exposed beamed ceiling, PVC Georgian style double glazed window with views across the pretty front courtyard, PVC Georgian style window to rear, double radiator.

Kitchen And Breakfast Room 30' 1" x 14' 9" ( 9.17m x 4.50m )
Well fitted along two sides with an extensive range of stylish and contemporary bespoke floor and eye level units with high gloss doors, panel fronts and chrome handles, Quartz granite work surfaces with island unit and large breakfast bar, integrated Bosch Schott Ceran electric induction hob with a stainless steel canopy style extractor hood with glass surround and lights, two integrated stainless steel sinks with a powerful power jet chrome mixer tap, integrated aeg dishwasher, integrated Hoover wine cooler. Two tall storage larder units, two integrated Bosch fan assisted electric ovens, ceramic tiled floor throughout, space for the housing of two American style fridge freezers, exposed stone inglenook fireplace inset with a log and multifuel cast iron burner with stone hearth, two double radiators, PVC window with side garden aspect, PVC window with front garden aspect, PVC double glazed outer door to front courtyard. LED plinth lights.

Utility Room One 12' 6" x 7' 11" ( 3.81m x 2.41m )
With access to an outer hall with radiator and PVC Georgian style door with access to rear gardens. Well fitted along one side with high gloss contemporary floor and eye level units with chrome handles and solid work surfaces with a ceramic tiled surround, exposed beamed ceiling, radiator, PVC Georgian style window to rear.

Second Downstairs Cloakroom 6' 11" x 3' 7" ( 2.11m x 1.09m )
Suite comprising wall mounted wash hand basin with chrome mixer taps and pop-up waste, W.C., ceramic tiled floor and walls, PVC window to side, radiator.

Utility Room Two 8' 6" x 4' 5" ( 2.59m x 1.35m )
Approached from the kitchen, fitted along two sides with high gloss contemporary and stylish floor and eye level units with laminate work surfaces and chrome handles, incorporating a modern sink with mixer taps, vegetable cleaner, space with plumbing for an automatic washing machine, space for the housing of a tumble drier, space for the housing of a low level fridge, ceramic tiled floor and walls, ceiling with spotlights.

Sitting Room 19' 11" x 13' 6" ( 6.07m x 4.11m )
A stunning room with solid oak floor and exposed beamed ceilings, PVC double glazed Georgian style french doors opening on to the rear gardens, further double glazed Georgian style window overlooking the front courtyard gardens, square opening leading to...........

Sun Lounge 16' 3" x 15' maximum ( 4.95m x 4.57m maximum )
A large and versatile sun lounge conservatory, inset with a solid wood floor, cavity brick outer plinth walls surmounted by PVC double glazed Georgian style windows, inset with PVC french doors opening onto a block paved courtyard front garden, double radiator, standard ceiling with spotlights.

First Floor Landing
Three PVC double glazed Georgian style windows with rear aspect, spindle balustrade landing, exposed beamed ceiling.

Master Bedroom One 19' 10" x 15' 5" ( 6.05m x 4.70m )
Gracious room with an exposed beamed ceiling, elegant coloured leaded glass hexagon shaped window with side aspect, two further PVC Georgian style double glazed windows with front and rear aspect, double radiator.

Ensuite Shower Room 7' 2" x 4' 3" ( 2.18m x 1.30m )
White suite with walls largely ceramic tiled, ceramic tiled floor, shaped pedestal wash hand basin, W.C., separate ceramic tiled shower cubicle with Mira shower unit and glass shower door. Radiator, PVC double glazed Georgian window to front, beamed ceiling with spotlights.

Walk-In Wardrobe 7' 2" x 5' 5" ( 2.18m x 1.65m )
An extensive hanging and storage space, electric light.

Bedroom Two 16' 7" x 16' 3" ( 5.05m x 4.95m )
A large impressive bedroom with an exposed beamed ceiling, double radiator, PVC Georgian style double glazed window with pleasing front aspect across the courtyard gardens and towards adjacent fields.

Ensuite Shower Room 7' 1" x 4' 3" ( 2.16m x 1.30m )
Modern white Ideal standard suite with ceramic tiled floor and ceramic tiled walls, comprising shaped pedestal wash hand basin, corner shaped corner ceramic tiled cubicle with Mira shower unit and shaped clear glass sliding doors and screen, radiator, PVC Georgian style double glazed window to front, beamed ceiling with spotlights.

Ensuite Dressing Room/wardrobe 7' 2" x 5' 6" ( 2.18m x 1.68m )
With extensive hanging space and shelving, together with a small access leading to the roof space, electric ceiling light.

Bedroom Three 15' 9" x 12' 6" ( 4.80m x 3.81m )
A charming room, equipped with three Velux double glazed windows, three further PVC Georgian style side windows overlooking a side garden with pergola, ceiling with spotlights, double radiator.

First Floor Landing Continued
Built-in linen cupboard and a further built-in full height airing cupboard with copper hot water factory insulated tank. Two further PVC Georgian style windows overlooking front courtyard, radiator, part beamed ceiling with spotlights.

Ensuite Shower Room 10' 11" x 6' 2" ( 3.33m x 1.88m )
Stylish modern recently installed suite with limestone style ceramic tiled floor and walls, comprising double size shower with contemporary Mira shower unit and clear glass sliding doors, chrome fittings, shaped wash hand basin with a contemporary built out vanity unit, mixer taps and pop-up waste, W.C. With concealed cistern, double radiator, PVC Georgian style window to side, ceiling with spotlights, built-in bathroom full height cabinet, hardwood panelled outer door leading to second staircase providing direct access to the kitchen and breakfast room.

Built-In Wardobe 12' 6" x 3' 10" ( 3.81m x 1.17m )
Approached via double doors with leaded lights and brass handles, extensive hanging space and shelving.

Bedroom Four 18' 5" x 10' 6" ( 5.61m x 3.20m )
With an elegant hexagon shaped PVC double glazed leaded coloured glass front window, further PVC Georgian style double glazed window with front garden and courtyard aspect, double radiator.

Ensuite Shower Room 7' 8" x 6' 9" ( 2.34m x 2.06m )
Modern white suite with ceramic tiled walls, comprising shaped pedestal wash hand basin, low level W.C., separate ceramic tiled shower cubicle with New Team 3000 shower unit and glass shower door, PVC Georgian style window to side, radiator.

Walk-In Wardrobe/dressing Room 7' 8" x 6' 7" ( 2.34m x 2.01m )
A good size, fitted with extensive shelving and hanging space, electric light.

Family Bathroom 16' 8" x 7' 10" ( 5.08m x 2.39m )
A most impressive white Period style suite with ceramic tiled walls and exposed beamed high atrium style ceiling with spotlights, comprising a free standing roll top bath with gold effect mixer taps and mixer shower fitment, W.C. With hardwood toilet seat and china handle, large shaped pedestal wash hand basin, double radiator, PVC Georgian style window to rear, PVC Georgian style window to side.

Private Entrance Drive
Approached via private gates with side pillars and leading to a long sweeping entrance drive that leads into the front garden and continues to a large block paved turning area with parking for several vehicles and equipped with outside lights and water tap.

Double Carport 20' 11" x 20' 5" ( 6.38m x 6.22m )
Electric power and light.

Double Garage 22' 1" x 20' 10" ( 6.73m x 6.35m )
Approached via electronically controlled fob operated roller double width door. Electric power and light.

Home Office 14' 5" x 14' ( 4.39m x 4.27m )
Fully equipped private detached from the main house home office, independently approached from the courtyard via a PVC double glazed door with side screen window, extensive power points and light fitments, outer hall leading to downstairs cloakroom with W.C. And wash hand basin, plus additional PVC outer door.

Store Room

Hot Tub
Fully operational hot tub with a timber trellis surround with timber pitched roof.

Outdoor Swimming Pool
Large fully heated electrically powered outdoor swimming pool with cover and decked side sun terrace, bordered with timber garden seats and outside lighting. Approximate depth 1.8 meters continuos.

Breeze House
Open fronted breeze house with space for patio table and chairs beneath a rosemary tiled roof with timber outer pillars

Decked Sun Terrace
Large decked sun terrace inset with a summer house/storeroom, detached and fully equipped with electric power and light, edged with outside lights and trellising for full privacy.

Outside Lawn
Large main lawn, edged with high grown conifer trees and garden trees to afford maximum privacy and security.

Enclosed Garden
There is a further enclosed garden which could be turned into a menage or small paddock, currently with hard concrete flooring but bordered with outside walls to afford privacy and security.

Hibiscus Island Residence: An Island Paradise Home in Miami Beach, Florida

Read article : Hibiscus Island Residence: An Island Paradise Home in Miami Beach, Florida

Would you love to live near the water edges of Miami, Florida? Of course you would say yes! What you would get once there is not just an island paradise experience, but, an island luxury living in a high-end tropical environment in a secluded, exclusive and a gated community in Hibiscus Island, Miami Beach, Florida. A waterfront house with a great indoor and outdoor living so suited for Miami’s year round tropical climate, from a long summer, abundant rainfall, and a mild, dry winter. Surely, this island property that we will feature today is a masterpiece to the designer and a priced-possession to the homeowner.

This modern house design was made possible by Architect Ralph Choeff of the Choeff Levy Fischman Architecture + Design, built by Bosch Construction. A house with a modern architectural design and a high-end tropical environment. Considering that this house is nested in a private island community in Miami Beach, Florida, the quality of living here is of great pride and price. Let us know more of this luxury island paradise living through this Hibiscus modern waterfront residence.

Location: Hibiscus Island Community, Miami Beach, Florida

Designer: Choeff Levy Fischman Architecture + Design

Style: Modern Tropical

Number of Level: Two-storey

Unique feature: A waterfront residence with a tropical architectural design and great massive indoor and outdoor living.

Similar House: A Stunning White Modern Home on a Greek Island

This is an astounding front view of this Hibiscus Residence. A two-level water-front house located in the water edges of Miami Beach, Florida. Ipe wood, natural stones and water features are the tropical elements commonly used in this house.

To the right of the house is the garage guarded in steel railings. Palm trees were placed to achieve a tropical tone in this modern architecture.

A simple wooden door opens the house to its indoor spaces and a lit up entryway warmly welcomes guests to the house. Also, stone steps leading towards the door travel over a Koi pond, one of the house’s tropical touch. Ornamental plants and palm trees surround the area.

This rectangular swimming pool is one of the great outdoor space in this house. Its underwater light effect reflects the water element of the pool. Lounging seats were in place to give comfier and a relaxing pool experience. Surely, your swimming pool experience here will be different from a sandy beaches bath along Miami Beach.

Read Also: Lovely Contemporary Home on Di Lido Island in Miami

Towards the end of the swimming pool is a covered entertaining area with a sunken lounge and an outdoor kitchen. During night time, it’s best to enjoy the view of the city light while lounging with family and friends in this classy and modern outdoor space.

From this photo, the glass panel set as the boundary from the outdoor space to the indoor space of the house. Its interior is a combination of wood and glass accent. Plants placed inside the house add a tropical aura to the space.

In the living room, continuity of accent and design is achieved. Light brown wall and floor tiling compliment the white ceiling of the space.

The modern kitchen design was achieved through a light wood cabinetry and white top design. An island is placed to accommodate five setters. Above the island are three pendant lights that give off simplicity and beauty to the kitchen.

One of the house great indoor space is this media room with a bar beside it. This space is best for a lazy afternoon. Large white couch, pillows, and chairs were added to accentuate the room. The bar on its side will surely add flavor to your high-end experience.

Contrasting colors of black and white made the living room more classy. Glass sliding doors can be opened completely for an uninterrupted view of downtown Miami. Below it is the rectangular type swimming pool.

Safety in style. Light wood stairs with glass railings lead to the upper floor of the house. The materials used for the stairs look great together. One will not question the strength of the glass material and the wood reflects its tropical touch. Modern and tropical.

Another great indoor space in this house is this chic and luxurious master bedroom. A small sitting area and working area had been incorporated into this room so that one can lounge and work at the same time. A glass surround wall is placed for an interrupted view of the downtown Miami. Onward is a balcony which is great for some open yet private moments. And, the space is in great combination with its white ceiling with hidden lights, white wall, and light brown floor tiling.

This is one of the many bedrooms available in the upper space of the house. A wall of cabinetry surrounds the room good for plenty of storage. The bed, its linens, the lampshade, tables and the floor carpet is in consonance with the theme of the whole space.

The master bathroom is placed next to the master bedroom. The space looks great and perfect for its dual sink vanity, a shower with a floor-to-ceiling glass surround, white freestanding bathtub, with views on the palm trees through the large glass windows. Its white ceiling provides a wider space, while the hidden lighting from it emit warm glow on the wood wall and the floor.

Truly, this house is a masterpiece project of the architect and at the same time a prized possession to the house owners. This may be of a very great market value, yet, undoubtedly, the island paradise living it may offer is priceless. This is just another achievement to the Choeff Levy Fischman Architecture + Design for this Hibiscus Island Residence. It is a fact that Miami’s cost of living is really priced high, thus, a home owner resident of Miami will be very much willing to sacrifice cost for luxury, comfort, modern, and tropical island living experience this Hibiscus Island residence can offer.

High-End Homes: French-style chateau on the Thornapple River listed for $1 million

Read article : High-End Homes: French-style chateau on the Thornapple River listed for $1 million

ALTO, MI – Located along a wooded stretch of the Thornapple River, this chateau at 5945 Tannon Court SE offers a French Country décor with Parisian accents.

Joann Amash, who is an aunt to U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, R-Cascade Township, has put the house on the market for $1 million with Realtor Robert Antonini of Coldwell Banker AJS.

Amash said she decided to put the 10-year-old house on the market after her husband, Mike, died last year and their children started to leave the nest. The family has owned the house for seven years.

Located on two acres in a subdivision half an hour southeast of Grand Rapids, the three story mansion offers views of the river from centrally located great rooms on each level.

Guests enter the home through a large foyer with porcelain tile flooring and a cherry-trimmed staircase. Off to one side, there’s a small room with faux-painted walls and a grand piano. The room could be converted into a home office.

Straight ahead is the great room with a large limestone hearth and a series of ornately draped windows that overlook a deck and a path down to the river about 200 feet away. In the summer, there’s a deck on the riverbank that allows for relaxing and offers a launching point for tubing, canoes or kayaks.

The great room opens up to a large kitchen with a large granite-topped island. Appliances are commercial grade with a hand-painted French country hood over the stove. An adjoining dining area is filled with light by windows that surround three sides of the room.

A hallway from the kitchen leads to a large laundry room that also includes an island for craft projects and a built-in desk for homework time. Another door leads to the three-stall garage with a flagstone floor.

The master suite on the ground floor features a large bedroom with river views and a see-through fireplace. The master bath suite features a powder room, walk-in closets, a glass-blocked walk-in shower and a Jacuzzi tub. Beaded chandeliers and wall sconces lend Parisian style to the suite.

On the second floor, there’s a great room that Antonini calls the “Safari Room.” Palm branch ceiling fans hang from the barrel ceiling. There’s a hearth with lion head corbels and a bank of arched glass windows overlooking the river.

Now configured as a large home office, the original owners used the upstairs great room as a play area for children. With 8,400-square-feet of living space, Antonini says the house is flexible enough so new owners could easily change the uses of the rooms through décor changes and minor alterations.

Also on the second floor, there are two full bedroom suites. Both feature full baths and large walk-in closets. On the ground floor, there are two more bedroom suites, each with a full bath – one with a steam shower.

Much of the lower level is dedicated to entertainment. There’s a large family room with a stone hearth and wet bar for parties. There also is a billiards room and a separate home theater room with a large wide-screen projection system.

For grown-up pastimes, the lower level also includes a well-ventilated cigar room and a tanning salon equipped with a tanning bed. The lower level also includes several large storage rooms and a two-stall garage and workshop that could be used to store watercraft or other toys.

Technologically, the house is up to date with security and lighting systems that can be centrally controlled and a surround sound system with built-in speakers throughout the house.

There are four furnaces that manage the heat and air conditioning in various portions of the house.

Jim Harger covers business for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email him at jharger@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter or Facebook or Google+.

Orchard House, Tisbury Road, Fovant, Salisbury - 4 bed - Guide Price £750,000 - Humberts

Read article : Orchard House, Tisbury Road, Fovant, Salisbury - 4 bed - Guide Price £750,000 - Humberts

Bedrooms: 4

A traditional four bedroom stone village house offering fantastic accommodation with superb character and excellent proportions. Enjoying a delightful setting, with about an acre of gardens, ample parking, oak, double open bay garage and workshop.

Beautiful period house

Character 4 bedroom accommodation

Spacious and light interior

Oak open bay garage and workshop

Well maintained gardens and grounds

Charming streamside setting

In all about one acre

Orchard house is without doubt a perfect example of a traditional stone village house with beautiful mellow elevations and slate roof combining to create a classic façade. Add to this the prettiness factor of the setting, a small brook with bridge and rose covered arch to the front door and extensive, well established gardens and the property easily becomes one of the most desirable in the village.

The character continues to the interior, with much of the original stone exposed, along with beamed ceilings, latch doors and wonderful Inglenook fireplaces. ensuring that the house retains a lovely period feel. Offering superb entertaining space, the accommodation has a pleasing, sociable layout with spacious light rooms that flow from the central reception hall.

Beautifully presented in a relaxed, faintly contemporary country style that allows the features of the house to speak for themselves, complemented by the addition of oak floors, updated bath and shower rooms and a Rupert Williamson bespoke kitchen.

An impressive Inglenook fireplace with fitted woodburner, and original bread oven provides the most inviting welcome in the large Reception Hall, with the inner hall offering excellent fitted storage and cloakroom.

The Drawing Room is beautifully light, rising to full height with attractive beamed ceiling and double, glazed doors opening to the garden, making it a wonderful space in which to entertain in the summer with direct access to the paved terrace. A separate, generous Sitting Room with stone walls and further Inglenook fireplace creates a comfortable place in which to relax and retreat to in the winter months.

Opening from the Reception Hall, the exceptional Kitchen/Dining Room runs along the back of the house, with a bank of windows overlooking the garden and doors to a secluded courtyard. Hand fitted with a limed wood kitchen under granite worksurfaces, and carefully laid out to provide room for a substantial table and chairs as well as sofas and seats, the room forms the hub of this lovely family house. A separate Utility Room offers further storage and appliance space.

On the first floor the Master Bedroom enjoys lovely views of the garden, has built-in wardrobe cupboards and an en suite bathroom with modern suite including vanity unit and matching storage. Bedroom 2 has a large walk-in wardrobe and there are two further bedrooms and separate shower room.

OUTSIDE

A gravelled entrance drive provides ample private parking and leads to the oak, open fronted double bay garage with attached workshop with power connected.

The Gardens are extensive and well maintained, bounded by clipped hedging and with a paved terrace close to the house. Raised stone borders filled with herbaceous planting flank steps up to spacious lawns, with a curving gravelled path leading the eye up through the garden, interspersed with many specimen and ornamental trees providing height and interest and including a lovely mature walnut tree. A clipped Yew hedge, bisects the lawn and at the top of the plot there are some lovely village-scape views to be enjoyed; the lawns giving way to naturalistic planting for ease of maintenance and including a carpet of spring bulbs and flowers, plus orchard with fruit trees and soft fruit cage.

SITUATION

Set in the sought after village of Fovant in the heart of the rolling countryside of the Nadder Valley. The thriving community of Fovant offers a good local shop, post office, inn, doctors' surgery and church whilst Tisbury, approximately 3½ miles, has everyday shopping facilities, schools and a main line railway station for London Waterloo and the West Country.

Fovant is approximately mid-way between the hilltop market town of Shaftesbury and the Cathedral City of Salisbury with their more comprehensive shopping, educational, arts and recreational amenities. The area offers a variety of rural pursuits including walking, cycling and riding.

Home Tour: Remodeled Anderson Township barn becomes gorgeous modern dream home

Read article : Home Tour: Remodeled Anderson Township barn becomes gorgeous modern dream home

ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Jerry Whitney wasn’t looking to move, but he was looking for a clear route from his Anderson Township home to the airport on a day when interstate traffic was heavy. So he cut down Five Mile Road toward Kellogg Avenue.

“I didn’t want to miss my flight,” he said. “And then I saw this place and said, ‘Oh, my god, look at that barn.’ And then I saw a ‘for sale’ sign and Five Mile Creek behind it.”

He fell in love. When his wife of 14 years, Karen, saw it, she fell in love, too.

On Dec. 31, 2012, seven days after that first sighting, the Whitneys bought the 30-year-old horse barn and its seven acres at a 30 percent discount from a motivated seller. It cost them $300,000.

Fast forward 18 months and the Whitneys – who had no previous home construction experience – moved out of a 300-square-foot trailer on the property into a home like no other, a dream house they played a big role in designing and decorating.

The shock of the unexpected experience has worn off, but not the excitement and contentment they feel for their fully modern, energy-efficient barn house. Also still strong is their appreciation for their project partners – among them architect Marc McConnell, builder Paul Kapitula, Keidel Supply, A&S Lighting, Tate Builders Supply, Cooknee Cabinets, KBR Countertop Specialists, Home Depot, IKEA, The Container Store and Peoples First Savings Bank.

All these forces came together to produce a four-bedroom, three-bathroom showcase of modern architecture and engineering that surprisingly fits inside a big, old, round-top home originally built for horses.

Not only does the place run on a geothermal energy system that held down last summer’s utility bills to $90 per month, it is designed to be the Whitneys’ "forever home." The couple asked for and got what architects call “living in place” features that will allow the Whitneys, who are in their 60s, to stay in their home permanently.

The house’s hallways and doors are extra-wide. There’s a 4-foot-wide shaft just behind a door off the entry hall where an elevator to the second floor and its master bedroom can be installed if and when it is needed. Next to the shaft is a laundry room with a chute from the second floor. The master bathroom’s shower door is wide and wheelchair-accessible. Even the landscaping is designed to require minimal maintenance and no chemicals.

There are picture windows in every main room through which the Whitneys, for the rest of their lives, can watch the water rush down Five Mile Creek, lots of wildlife – deer, cardinals, doves, woodpeckers, nut hatches, tufted titmice and blue jays – and the moon and stars.

Take the Tour

The Whitneys – she’s from Bridgetown and is a University of Cincinnati graduate, he is from Lima, Ohio, and is a Xavier University graduate – wanted to retain the bones of the barn. And there’s no mistaking what it used to be when you turn off Five Mile Road onto their curved driveway. The house’s Quonset hut shape is enhanced by two second-floor dormers, a glassy grand entrance and the original cupola poking out at the roof’s center.

The barn’s industrial-strength foundation passed inspection with flying colors and was retained, but most of the interior – the stables, tack room and hayloft – was gutted to the arched laminated beams that support the rounded roof. To keep it water-tight during a 100-year flood, the entire house had to be raised 14½ inches.

Architect McConnell was so inspired by the place, Jerry Whitney said, that he sketched the floor plan in eight hours and then started marking off the layout with blue tape.

What strikes visitors upon entering the Whitneys’ home is its whiteness, its angular walls and windows, and its uncluttered, modern décor. Yet hints of the barn are there in the entry in the form of a frosted two-paneled sliding door that leads into the living room and a long, floating ledge made of chocolate walnut Jerry Whitney picked up on a one-day drive to Kansas City, Missouri, and back.

The Whitneys had hoped to repurpose two sliding wood doors in the old stable, but their condition was too poor.

“So we were in IKEA one day, and we saw those panels on some cabinets and said, ‘There’s our barn doors,’” said Jerry Whitney, a sales executive with a logistics software company.

The doors might leak a little heat, but the gas fireplace and heated, polished concrete floors keep the living room warm.

“My parents came here for two weeks in October, and they were so warm. My mother learned how to work the thermostat and kept it at 70 degrees. We practically had to kick them out,” joked Karen Whitney, a longtime physician’s assistant.

To the left of the entry hall and beyond the elevator shaft, laundry room and mechanicals closet are two bedrooms that share what the Whitneys call their “spa room.” The bathroom features sparkly, speckled gray quartz countertops, a dual-sink vanity with matching mirrors, a standalone soaking tub and a glassed-in shower with grass-like textured tile. Chrome is the metal of choice for the hardware and fixtures.

To be added to the “spa” features later this year is a fenced-in outdoor shower.

While family photographs in the bedroom at the front of the house stir memories, the bedroom in the back is filled with a mix of family-made art and heirlooms and images from vacations the couple and their four adult daughters have taken.

A glass door from the back bedroom leads to a covered concrete deck that stretches almost the entire length of the house. The deck faces Five Mile Creek and the woods of Withrow Nature Preserve and is accessible from the living and great rooms as well as the 2½-car garage.

Walking back to the entry hall, visitors pass a colorful Campari liqueur poster and a large portrait of an 11-year-old Jerry painted by the late College of Mount St. Joseph art instructor John Nartker.

Across the hall is a stairwell that reaches to the roof. It features a light oak staircase with stainless steel chords and rail and leads up to two more bedrooms, the kitchen and a beamed great room. The vaulted room includes a sectional couch and two stuffed chairs, a glassed-in wine closet, recessed lighting and one floor lamp, a 9-by-6 picture window, a gas fireplace, a big-screen television and a separate dining area with chandelier that faces the front yard.

The great room is where they wind down on weekends with wine and the Wall Street Journal or watch birds – on sunny or gray days.

“Even if it’s raining, we don’t care. With all these windows, it doesn’t matter,” Karen Whitney said.

Three bird feeders hang off the fully plumbed, second-story deck where the couple grills out with friends and watches the ever-running creek and forest.

The 30-foot-long deck is party central when the weather is nice, but the kitchen fills the bill in the winter. Stainless steel appliances, a long, two-tiered white quartz cooking and eating island and glossy white and textured gray European-style cabinets give the kitchen the modern feel Karen Whitney prefers.

“It’s a fun, fun, fun kitchen to cook in,” she said. “We hosted Thanksgiving last year, and I couldn’t believe how easy it was to cook the meal. There’s so much space and convenience.”

To the side of the kitchen and overlooking the stairwell’s cathedral-shaped window is a quartz-topped desk that the couple uses as command central, to pay bills and handle other household business. 

Two bedrooms are situated down a hall behind the kitchen, but before them is an inviting, steel-railed spiral staircase. Karen Whitney uses the slanted-wall and naturally lighted bonus room – which has two large cubbyholes behind doors for storage –for yoga, Pilates and TRX workouts. The third floor’s balcony hovers over the kitchen and great room and provides an up-close view of a special light fixture suspended inside the windowed cupola.

“My parents gave us that,” she said of the brass and crystal chandelier. “It came out of the old Shubert Theatre in Cincinnati.” It lights up the great room like a stationary disco ball, her husband said.

A guest room with full bath and the master with bath and massive walk-in closet are back down the spiral staircase and below the bonus room. The couple outfitted their closet with a system purchased at the Container Store that holds all their clothes and accessories. There is no dresser or wardrobe in their room, just open space and a clear view from the bed of the backyard and the rising moon.

“It’s the most wonderful bed to sleep in, until you have to get up,” Karen Whitney said.

'We Took a Gamble on it'

The Whitneys had just remodeled their contemporary house on Little Dry Run Road, which sat on a half-acre and was what they thought they always wanted. Leaving it was far from their minds – until they spotted the old horse barn on Five Mile.

“We took a gamble on it,” said Jerry Whitney, whose experience rebuilding vintage cars equipped him with mechanical skills and gave him confidence they could build their own home.

“Our financial adviser said, ‘You guys are crazy if you don’t do it,’” he said. So they did, but not without sacrifice. Living in a trailer during the treacherous winter of 2013-14 and storing their belongings in a nearby 20-by-30-foot shipping container for 18 months weren’t the only challenges they faced.

“We’d never built a house before or made all the decisions we had to make, sometimes instantaneous ones like when your builder asks, ‘What do I do now?’ and you’ve got to have a decision right then,” he said.

“We turned it into an adventure that we could write a book about,” Jerry Whitney said. “Karen’s quote is, ‘We never thought we would live in a dream house, and now we own one.’ To go from a normal house to this is just amazing. I swear we were meant to be here.”

Chance to See the Whitneys’ House

The 2016 green living tours by the Cincinnati chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council includes the Whitney house on Sept. 17 ($15 for non-members). To join the Green Living Member Circle, click here. The group will tour a modern house in Northside on Jan. 16.

Bathrooms - Blue Girls Bathroom

Read article : Bathrooms - Blue Girls Bathroom

Chic girl's bathroom features a blue footed vanity painted Benjamin Moore Cornflower Blue adorned with glass knobs topped with white quartz fitted with a white porcelain sink under a blue arched mirror flanked by blue cabinets alongside a blue quatrefoil tiled floor.

4 Chairs Furniture

Modern cottage kid's bathroom boasts walls painted pale grey, Sherwin Williams Gray Screen, lined with a washstand painted blue, Sherwin Williams Georgian Blue, topped with carrera marble under a blue mirror illuminated by an industrial sconce.

4 Chairs Furniture

Modern cottage kid's bathroom boasts walls painted tan, Benjamin Moore Sea salt, lined with blue washstand under a blue mirror illuminated by an glass and metal sconce.

4 Chairs Furniture

Fabulous bathroom features frameless mirror on blue glass arabesque tile backsplash over two-tone washstand topped with vessel sinks and polished nickel faucets situated in next to large walk-in shower with seamless glass door and matching blue Moroccan tile shower surround.

Stephani Buchman

Nautical kid's bathroom features a nook filled with a white washstand under a Two's Company Know Your Ropes wall Mirror illuminated by white and blue cage sconces.

Digs Design Company

Glass corner walk in shower boasts its grand size displaying interior marble shower tiles in a gorgeous mosaic pattern.

Realtor

Fantastic walk-in shower boasts white and blue Moroccan tile shower surround accented with corner shower ledge above blue glass tiled shower floor.

Palmer Weiss

Gorgeous blue and white kids' bathroom features a dark blue washstand accented with gold knobs and a white quartz countertop holding a sink with a brass gooseneck faucet fixed in front of white subway backsplash tiles and beneath Restoration Hardware Bristol Flat Mirror.

Jennifer Muirhead Interior Design

Contemporary bathroom features his and her mirrors on blue arabesque tile backsplash over two-tone washstands topped with vessel sinks and polished nickel faucets situated in front of freestanding bathtub and next to large walk-in shower with seamless glass door.

Stephani Buchman

Fabulous blue master bathroom features a sink vanity, mounted on a black framed full length mirror, topped with blue marble countertop framing an oval sink over diamond pattern tiled floors.

Palmer Weiss

Chic cornflower blue French girl's bedroom with French bed with gray upholstered headboard and footboard paired with white and cornflower blue bedding and pillows.

Anne Hepfer Designs

Beautiful beachy bathroom design with blue walls paint color, white carra marble tiles shoer surround, blue glass accent tiles, blue mosaic tiles shower floor, beveled wood mirror, blue bathroom vanity cabinet, rustic tree branch clothes hanger and marble counter top.

Summer House Style

Modern cottage kid's bathroom boasts walls painted pale grey, Sherwin Williams Gray Screen, lined with a washstand painted blue, Sherwin Williams Georgian Blue, topped with carrera marble under a blue mirror illuminated by an industrial sconces.

4 Chairs Furniture

Contemporary bathroom features a frameless mirror and an off-white floating washstand suspended over a blue hex tiled floor.

Mona Ross Berman Interiors

Lovely kid's bathroom features a black sink vanity topped with contrasting white quartz countertop alongside a blue striped bath mat layered on gray slate tiled floor.

HGTV

Gorgeous blue and white fish themed kids' bathroom boasts floor clad in white penny tiles placed beneath a white washstand fitted with glass knobs and a white apron sink paired with a brass faucet fixed in front of white hex backsplash tiles lined with blue subway border tiles mounted beneath a window framed by Nina Campbell Aquarium Wallpaper lit by a copper light pendant.

Peltier Interiors

Blue nautical boys' bathroom features an accent wall painted with blue ships lined with white steps tools adorned with rope hardware tucked under a blue trough sink fitted with three faucets by Kohler as well as round frameless mirrors.

Studio DB

Chic white bedroom features a small gold sunburst mirror placed above an off white headboard with silver nailhead trim dressed in white sheets and cornflower blue pillows next to a cornflower blue velvet bergere chair.

Rue Magazine

Glass Walk In Shower clad in Blue Arabesque Tiles, Ann Sacks Revival Scallop Tile, alongside a white grid tile shower floor.

Threshold Interiors

Exquisite boys' bathroom boasts a blue ombre shower curtain hung in front of a drop-in bathtub framed by white subway surround tiles accented with recycled glass border tiles.

Butter Lutz

Contemporary bathroom boasts a drop-in tub fitted with a subway tile surround and a long window over a planked sloped ceiling beside a curved metal vanity mirror illuminated by bare light bulb sconces over a wall mounted sink atop a white and blue geometric tiled floor.

Claire Zinnecker Design

Pink and blue kid's bathroom features a white vanity fitted with lattice doors alongside a pink bath mat next to a drop-in tub and shower combo lined with white herringbone tiles finished with a pink and blue shower curtain.

Rita Chan interiors

Work has ground to halt on Beckhams' £6m country mansion

Read article : Work has ground to halt on Beckhams' £6m country mansion 

With seven different mechanical diggers standing abandoned and builders downing tools on an estate churned into a mud bath, this is the David and Victoria Beckham's new £6 million country pile, months behind schedule after ongoing rows with council planning bosses.

Work has moved at a snail's pace on Cotswolds triple-barn conversion all year after elaborate plans were blocked by planning officers and new ones were drawn up only to be bound up in bureaucratic red tape.

The couple and their four children had hoped to move into the nine-bedroom home this summer but have instead spent recent weeks at their home in Los Angeles and now may not move in for the remainder of the year.

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Work has moved at a snail's pace on Cotswolds triple-barn conversion all year after elaborate plans were blocked by planning officers and new ones were drawn up only to be bound up in beaurocratic red tape

The couple and their four children had hoped to move into the nine-bedroom home, this summer but have instead spent recent weeks at their home in Los Angeles and now may not move in for the remainder of the year

David and Victoria Beckham bought the home in the Cotswolds from landowner Nicholas Johnston, who is an old Etonian friend of David Cameron

These are first aerial shots of the house, which was bought in the new year from landowner Nicholas Johnston, an Old Etonian friend of David Cameron.

The triple-barn is joined at its north end by two glass-walled walkways - called 'Link Pavilions' in plans - to make the shape of a capital letter 'E'.

The shape of the triple barn allows for two eighty-feet-wide square courtyards within - one to the east and the ther to the west.

Architects seem to have gone to extraordinary lengths to persuade council planners that their plans do not adversely affect the environment.

The triple-barn is joined at its north end by two glass-walled walkways - called 'Link Pavilions' in plans - to make the shape of a capital letter 'E'

English country garden surrounding the house - at vast expense - with a mixture of bought-in mature trees, plants and shrubs fitting in character with the local environment" class="blkBorder img-share" />

The Beckhams have employed top-end gardeners to design an English country garden surrounding the house - at vast expense - with a mixture of bought-in mature trees, plants and shrubs fitting in character with the local environment

The Beckhams had been desperate for a huge swimming pool but have had to settle for proposing a 'natural swimming pond' within one of the courtyards so that it is not visible from the public road running nearby.

Similarly they wanted an elaborate outside seating and partying area in the other courtyard but have had to instead propose a 'temporary' 10-feet-wide wooden pergola which can be removed when necessary.

The Beckhams have also employed top-end gardeners to design an English country garden surrounding the house - at vast expense - with a mixture of bought-in mature trees, plants and shrubs fitting in character with the local environment.

The list of shipped in mature trees has is costing thousands of pounds and includes 23 evergreen oaks, seven white oaks, eight cherry trees, a plum tree, nine apple trees, three holly trees, nine witch hazels and a maple.

Within the eastern courtyard, a trendy 'natural swimming pond' is awaiting council approval to be sunk into the ground.

English country garden with a mixture of bought-in mature trees, plants and shrubs fitting in character with the local environment" class="blkBorder img-share" />

The couple have paid a fortune to design an English country garden with a mixture of bought-in mature trees, plants and shrubs fitting in character with the local environment

Until the council gives final approval for the lavish plans on the site, the numerous diggers remain at a virtual standstill

It is also not a very long drive from Soho Farmhouse, the exclusive members' country club where Prince Harry took Meghan Markle for a romantic break

At the moment and for the past few months, this area has just been a vast expanse of mud, as pictures show.

The proposed pool measures 41 feet by 24 feet and is just 4'7' inches deep meaning David himself, who measures 5'11' will only be able to be covered in water up to his chest when standing on the bottom. It certainly will not be deep enough to dive into.

The natural pool is chemical free, using a natural bio-filtration system consisting of mains water phosphorous pre-treatment. All equipment is contained in an equipment room under the tallet steps on the gable end of the east wing.

Architects have apparently been bending over backwards to win approval from council planners as the construction of the pergola in the west courtyard seems to show.

In the East Courtyard, it is proposed that the timber pergola will be constructed within the west courtyard formed between the newly reconstructed north wing and link pavilion, and the grade II listed central wing.

This simple timber structure measuring approximately 43 feet by 10 feet will provide support for climbing plants and provide shade for an outdoor seating area.

Architects seem at pains to clarify that: 'The structure is lightweight and can easily be removed in the future and as such could be considered to be reversible. The proposed pergola is freestanding is not connected to the listed buildings or rely on support from them in any way.'

Until the council gives final approval, the diggers remain at a virtual standstill.

The architect's proposal seems almost desperate in its efforts to persuade council planners to agree.

The architect's summary to planners reads: 'The proposed development does not alter the historic fabric of the listed building in any way. The proposed landscape scheme is less formal than the current approved and part implemented scheme, and more sympathetic to the heritage of (the original house), and as such provides a modest enhancement of the setting of the listed building.

West Oxfordshire District Council for permission to make more changes to their original scheme, including changing the tiles on the roof and details of windows" class="blkBorder img-share" />

In June of this year, the Beckhams applied to West Oxfordshire District Council for permission to make more changes to their original scheme, including changing the tiles on the roof and details of windows

David and Victoria Beckham are currently living in Los Angeles while they wait for their lavish new Cotswolds home to be completed

In conclusion, the architect states: 'The proposed development is of high quality design, materials and layout appropriate to the location and setting adjacent to the grade II listed Park Farm Barn. Both the proposed new outbuilding and driveway are well screened by the proposed site-wide landscaping scheme, mitigating any harmful visual impact on the wider landscape and setting. 

'As the landscaping matures the visual impact will be significantly reduced. It is hoped that West Oxfordshire District Council Officers will be able to support the proposed development. I look forward to receiving the application acknowledgement shortly and trust the allocated case officer will not hesitate to contact me should there be any queries regarding the proposal.'

In addition, in June of this year, the Beckhams applied to West Oxfordshire District Council for permission to make more changes to their original scheme, including changing the tiles on the roof and details of windows.

The application stated: 'It is proposed that the blue slates to the roofs of the newly rebuilt linking ranges are replaced with … stone slates to match those now in place on the listed barn and the east and west ranges.

'It is proposed that two metal flues be added to the west range to serve a new fireplace and kitchen extract and it is proposed that the approved metal windows and glazed doors be replaced by metal 'Critall' style windows and solid timber plank doors. These changes are considered to be sympathetic to the character of former utilitarian agricultural buildings.'

The couple, pictured with children Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper, are unlikely to be able to move into the home for the rest of the year due to the planning delays

David Beckham, pictured with son Romeo at Queen's Club last year, purchased the swanky conversion from Nicholas Johnston, and work on the home began in February

The application says that the windows and doors are the same as those used in a very nearby restoration of a Grade II listed building, as is the Beckhams' new house, which was approved by the council's planners.

Land Registry documents also disclose Posh and Becks paid £6.15 million for the swanky barn conversion.

Renovations started on the estate in February. They enlisted the help of top architect and 'development designer' Michael Ergatoudis, who works for Soho House. Publicly available plans show that Soho House get the veto over all fixtures and fittings. However soon afterwards work began, it appeared to come to a halt.

In April, David and Victoria applied to the local council for permission to reslate one of the roofs to create the 'unified' look they desire as the tile colours didn't match.

In July, a new application to the council asked for permission to change the roofs on outbuildings to thatched rather than tiled covering.

The nine-bedroom pile — joining up three separate buildings with two new glass extensions — sits in acres of rolling countryside near Chipping Norton.

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The bill for the construction is estimated at £1.8 million but is set to be double that with a state-of-the art security system being fitted

It is also not a very long drive from Soho Farmhouse, the exclusive members' country club where Prince Harry took Meghan Markle for a romantic break.

Landowner Nicholas Johnston, who sold the barn to the Beckhams, owns the Great Tew estate in Oxfordshire, where he hosts the Chipping Norton set's annual Cornbury 'Poshstock' music festival.

Johnston already had permission to renovate the Cotswolds property and it seems the Beckhams are happy to go along with his plans.

These include the construction of two mezzanine galleries, which could be used to house their collection of Banksy and Damien Hirst creations. They have also applied to build a swimming pool, a pergola, a 20-metre croquet lawn, a fruit orchard comprising apple, pear and plum trees and two vegetable patches.

Soho House, owned by Nick Jones, is said to be overseeing the renovations for the couple.

The bill for the construction is estimated at £1.8 million but is set to be double that with a state-of-the art security system being fitted.

Beckham, 42, and Victoria, 43, who already own a £31 million West London home, have been very strict with the builders, banning mobile phones on site.

There have been rumours for some time of David and Victoria's plans to move to the country with their family. Shortly after their wedding in 1991, the couple bought a sprawling house in Hertfordshire – dubbed Beckingham Palace by some – but sold it in 2014.

David, in particular, always looks at home in the country. He is a keen angler and there are plenty of fishing lakes in the Cotswolds area. There are also ample opportunities for David to sample a pint or two. 'I love going to pubs in the countryside, or to my local pub, where everyone knows me and I don't get bothered,' he has said.

The Beckhams will likely keep their four-storey Holland Park mansion in London, as the children's school and Victoria's fashion empire are based in the city.

Soho Farmhouse is a popular with the Beckhams. It is a popular spot celebrities and branded 'Hotel Smug' and 'Butlin's for Toffs' by critics.

On the 100-acre site of a former farm it comprises 40 purpose-built cabins, refurbished cottages and honeystone barns stuffed with every modern convenience, including bars, spas and even a cheese room.

The back-to-nature retreat is where guests can have their mojitos and custom-cured charcuterie delivered to their door in retro milk floats, and join early morning yoga sessions on surfboards.

Guests at this rural idyll are issued on arrival with wellington boots and Foffa bicycles, the two-wheeled steed of choice of fashionable Londoners, while their 4x4s are whisked carefully out of sight.

David and Samantha Cameron were said to be the last ones on the dancefloor during the opening bash last year.

This former working farm, complete with 40 log cabins with rustic metal bathtubs, Le Creuset cookware and larders stocked with artisan food, is an offshoot of Soho House, the exclusive London private members' club for media types.

It may have only opened last year, but it has already amassed an impressive guest list.

Supermodels have been hitting the dance floor with Oscar-winning actors. And sealing its reputation as the place to be seen, DJ Mark Ronson hired the entire estate for his 40th birthday celebrations on Thursday, with parties continuing through the weekend.

Guests are ferried to their luxury cabin on a reconditioned milk float while sipping on a refreshing beverage.

Or they can choose to ride one of the estate's 11 ponies, or hop on a retro Foffa bike, painted in Soho Farmhouse's signature teal blue, complete with wicker basket.

Others who have partied there include Princess Eugenie, Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend Cressida Bonas, Eddie Redmayne, Poppy Delevingne, actress Liv Tyler, Pixie Geldof, Jemima Khan, Mary Charteris and rapper Professor Green.

However Cotswolds locals have become increasingly annoyed in recent months with the constant stream of 4X4s hurtling long the single-track country roads leading to the trendy members club.

Residents took to the internet to complain to planning officials after the upmarket getaway applied for permission to build 10 new 'pods' in the style of pig sties to house an extra 40 bedrooms.

A decision is still pending but one irate horse rider wrote: 'They come out of Soho Farmhouse, in their shiny, fast cars and drive like maniacs.

'I have had cars behind rev their engines, beep, pass so close to my horse that I could have touched the car if I had reached out, but it's mainly the speed they fly around these little lanes.

'It's going to kill someone, be it a horse rider, walker, or cyclist.'

Another neighbour complained to the local council: 'The guests overtake, rev up and speed like boy racers. This is totally unacceptable behaviour.'

The rider added that the area was now 'not safe' for people on horses as they were being 'forced to mount verges', while traffic-calming measures were not working.

She added: 'The new people using Soho are enjoying their playground and totally ruining our peaceful countryside, not to mention the rudeness we are subjected to.