4 bedroom property for sale in Strawberry Fields, Great Boughton, Chester

Read article : 4 bedroom property for sale in Strawberry Fields, Great Boughton, Chester

Guide Price £325,000 - £335,000. Leaders Chester City & Hoole are pleased to offer this extended family home which also benefits from a converted garage making the accommodation adaptable and flexible depending on the needs of the purchaser. You are therefore urged to view to consider these features and the extensive accommodation on offer which can be summarised as follows entrance hall, separate wc., front family room, study / guest bedroom, "L" shaped kitchen / dining / family room, lounge, utility, further ground floor bedroom or gym, landing, master bedroom with en-suite shower, three further bedrooms and a modernised family bathroom. Off-road parking for approx. four cars and landscaped gardens.

Entrance Hall
Front door with twin double glazed patterned panels. Light wood Karndean flooring. Stairs to first floor with balustrade and spindles having close boarded finish to one side and double opening doors to storage area. Radiator. Coved ceiling with Artex finish.

Separate WC
Low-level wc and pedestal wash hand basin with twin taps and tiled splash back. Extractor fan. Continuation of flooring from entrance hall. Radiator. Artex finish to ceiling.

Guest Bedroom/Study 2.48m x 2.54m to face of wardrobe (8'1" x 8'3" to
Front double glazed window. Light wood effect Karndean flooring. Double sliding mirrored door fronts to wardrobe. Radiator. Artex finish to ceiling.

Family Room 2.80m x 3.79m (9'2" x 12'5")
Front double glazed window. Continuation of Karndean flooring. Coved ceiling with Artex finish.

Lounge 3.44m x 5.02m (11'3" x 16'5")
Connecting door to entrance hall. Double opening majority panelled glazed doors leading to dining area along with separate door opening. Radiator. Light stone effect fire surround with matching inset and hearth housing living flame gas fire. Two wall light points. Coved ceiling with Artex finish.

L-Shaped Kitchen/Dining/Family Space 2.70m x 3.43m plus 7.35m x 2.41m (8'10" x 11'3" pl
With a range of base and wall units in light wood finish having contrasting work surfaces, inset single drainer sink with waste away and mixer tap and tiled splash backs. 4 x gas hob with oven beneath and canopy filter over all finished in stainless steel. Glazed wall display units. Breakfast bar. Space for tall fridge/freezer. Integrated dishwasher. Radiator. Triple double glazed Velux roof lights to part vaulted ceiling. Two rear double glazed windows and rear double glazed double opening doors to rear patio.

Utility Room 2.43m x 2.88m (7'11" x 9'5")
Side part double glazed patterned access door. Rear double glazed window. Karndean style light wood flooring with geometric inset design to edge. Single drainer sink with twin taps having work surface and storage units beneath. Vented and space for dryer. Loft access point. Radiator.

Bedroom/Gym 4.21m x 2.48m (13'9" x 8'1" )
Front double glazed window. Light wood effect flooring. Radiator. Meter cupboard to wall.

First Floor Landing
Loft access point. Airing cupboard housing cylinder.

Bedroom One 4.48m x 2.79m (14'8" x 9'1")
Front double glazed window. Light wood effect Karndean flooring. Corner arrangement of tall light wood effect wardrobes with further gloss finish cupboards extending over double bed area with light wood effect bedside cabinets, set of tall drawers and further corner wardrobe. Radiator.

En-suite
Suite with double shower cubicle with double glazed doors to front and side sections having tiling to inner surfaces with shower fitting, wash hand basin inset to vanity with twin taps and storage beneath having side cosmetic shelf and low-level wc. Part tiled walls. Radiator. Shaver point. Continuation of flooring. Front double glazed patterned window.

Bedroom Two 3.09m x 2.84m (10'1" x 9'3")
Front double glazed window. Triple double wardrobes to one wall. Artex finish to ceiling. Radiator.

Bedroom Three 2.95m x 2.96m inc fitted furniture (9'8" x 9'8" in
Rear double glazed window. Double wardrobe, further triple wardrobe with one mirrored door front, cupboards extending over dressing table area. Radiator.

Bedroom Four 2.76m x 2.46m inc fitted furniture (9'0" x 8'0" in
Rear double glazed window. White wood grain effect cupboards extending over bed area, continuing through to double matching wardrobe having mirrored door front and bedside cabinet, further wall mounted cupboards. Radiator.

Family Bathroom
A contemporary white suite comprises P-shaped white bath with wooden side panel having waterfall mixer tap and Aqualisa shower fitting above along with glazed curved side screen, wash hand basin inset to vanity with waterfall mixer tap and having storage beneath and low-level wc. Shaver point. Attractively tiled mid-tone stone effect tiling to walls having mosaic inset detailing. Radiator. Rear patterned double glazed window.

Outside
To the front there is a paved off-road parking area which is double width providing parking for at least 4 vehicles and having a shaped side lawn. To the rear double opening doors leading off the dining area open out onto stone effect paviours forming a partially raised patio adjoining a shaped lawn with summerhouse and decking to front. A paved pathway leads along the rear of the property to a further gate giving access to an inner storage area suitable for siting of shed with water point. Paviours continue through to front access gate.

Council Tax Band - F (may be subject to change)

EPC Rating - C

It has always been my dream to take on a renovation project

Read article : It has always been my dream to take on a renovation project

Despite dozens of house-hunting trips over the years, Tom Wilson and his wife Jacky – who have lived in their bungalow since 1996 – had never found anywhere that was able to beat it for its location, plot size and friendly neighbours.

‘We came home one evening after viewing two houses we absolutely adored and realised there was something missing that didn’t clinch it for us,’ Tom explains. ‘So, rather than uproot ourselves by moving to another property in a new area, we decided to make this our dream home.’

Their bungalow originally belonged to a GP who had lived in the house next door and built it as his doctor’s surgery. It had already been converted into a home when Tom and Jacky bought it, but it didn’t have a perfect layout.

There was a warren of dark rooms on the ground floor, with two small bedrooms upstairs which didn’t suit the family’s needs, especially when their teenage son Luke grew older. A new open-plan kitchen and living area was central to their plans to remodel the bungalow, which would eventually include stripping the house back to only three exterior walls, then extending and reworking the space to the rear, front and into the roof.

Fact file

The owners: Tom Wilson, a TV producer and director, and his wife Jacky, who owns a hairdressing salon chain
The property: A three-bedroom bungalow
The location: Newcastle, Tyne & Wear
What they spent: The renovations cost £155,000. The house has been valued at £750,000

The couple turned to interior designer George Bond to come up with a layout that would reflect Tom’s love of all things modern, and Jacky’s need for a relaxed and welcoming family home.

‘It turned into a major project,’ Tom recalls. ‘We thought that only one or two walls would be knocked through, but George and his team came up with some amazing design ideas.

‘They took on board everything on our wish-lists, which wasn’t easy because Jacky’s tastes are more traditional, while I love New York loft-style apartments,’ he adds.

A light-filled, open-plan layout was essential to their needs, as Tom explains: ‘Before the redesign, I rarely went upstairs to the two small bedrooms as Jacky and I slept in the bedroom downstairs – but we needed to maximise all that space.’

Working to the Wilsons’ budget, interior designer George pared back Tom’s wish-list and reshaped it into a clear plan for open-plan living, featuring bold blocks of colour, with a dramatic expanse of glass at the rear of the bungalow.

‘We gave George free rein,’ says Tom. ‘There was no point in commissioning someone as talented as George, without allowing him to be creative.’

The plans involved moving the staircase and knocking through a wall, the chimney breast and the small ground-floor windows to turn the study/hallway and living room into one large, open space. A mix of rooflights and larger windows would let natural light into the core of the bungalow.

An extension at the front created space for a new entrance porch and ground-floor wetroom. In addition, the roof level was raised, so that they could extend the two first-floor bedrooms and create an extra bathroom and en suite shower room.

The most dramatic change was the new extension at the rear, which trebled the size of the kitchen and created a large living and dining area, with a bank of folding sliding doors opening out to the garden. The old bathroom was also knocked through and a conservatory was demolished.

‘Luckily, we had no problems with the local authority planning department,’ says Tom. ‘They objected to only one thing in our plans – a balcony on the flat roof of the kitchen. We weren’t allowed to build one, because it would have affected our neighbours’ privacy.’

Tom, Jacky and their son Luke, who was 15 years old at the time, moved into rented accommodation nearby, leaving the way clear for the builders to start work, which began in the summer of 2006.

‘I visited the site every day,’ says Tom. ‘Admittedly, it was quite horrible watching it being taken apart because we loved the house – we wouldn’t have bought it if we didn’t – but we’d accepted the new plans and were happy to go ahead with them.’

Two major building projects, including their own, were going on at the same time in their road, so there were delivery trucks and skips everywhere. ‘Luckily, we have fabulous neighbours who were very supportive and patient,’ says Tom.

The only real setback to the project came early on. ‘The local building inspector said that the foundations had to be deeper,’ Tom explains. ‘They had to go down to approximately a man’s height – it was something to do with all the trees round here and the risk of subsidence. Trouble was, the builders had released the diggers and everything had gone off site, so they had to be re-booked.’

By early 2007, when the structure was complete, the Wilsons started planning the interior. As they enjoy inviting family and friends to their home, a space where they could cook and entertain was a must. As Tom explains: ‘We love parties. We probably hold four or five a year – and all good parties tend to end up in the kitchen.’

Tom and Jacky chose three colourways – white, black and burgundy – for their open-plan kitchen-diner at the rear of the house, combining the units in bold blocks of colour with ice-white porcelain floor tiles, bamboo worktops and cream walls for a stylish contemporary look.

‘The white reflective surfaces make the most of the light, while the flooring, cabinets and black glass splashback all have a high-gloss finish which adds to the feel,’ says Tom. ‘We painted the walls in cream flat oil to create a subtle sheen and a neutral backdrop for the kitchen’s working area.’

The original kitchen door was moved to create space to wrap the new L-shaped run of units around the corner of the room. This has provided space for cooking and food preparation, while a large working island takes centre stage and a separate bank of wall units incorporates the fridge-freezer and extra storage cupboards.

Once the new kitchen and appliances were in place, interior designer George was able to reflect Jacky’s love of English country style with a bold fl oral wallpaper on two feature walls, one of which frames the opening to the kitchen area.

This wallpaper helps to divide the space by signalling a change of mood from the working kitchen area to the entertaining and living spaces. A mix of vibrant, softly curved furniture complements the contemporary kitchen design perfectly. ‘There is a second living room at the front of the bungalow featuring a double-height ceiling, which continues the airy, open-plan feel,’ says Tom.

Upstairs, the new family bathroom is simple but stylish with white sanitaryware, chrome fittings and neutral wall and floor tiles, while a contemporary freestanding bath makes a stunning focal point.

The newly extended master bedroom has mirrored wardrobe doors and a wallpaper featuring horizontal stripes to create the illusion of a wider, more spacious room, plus it has its own en suite shower. Luke’s larger bedroom also benefits from a wall of mirrored wardrobes and built-in storage.

The exterior of the bungalow was rendered to blend the old brickwork with the new. George gave Tom and Jacky a choice of colours, and they opted for green.

‘All the houses on our street are a mix of styles,’ says Tom. ‘They’re set back from the road, so you don’t particularly notice it that much. None of our neighbours has raised any concerns about the green render, which we think works well.’

Inevitably, the couple’s budget for the seven-month project was stretched, as they chose high-spec finishes and fittings. ‘Jacky and I manage budgets all the time in our line of work, so we had always criticised renovators on TV makeover shows if they went over budget,’ Tom laughs. ‘Our budget was over before we even started. We wanted a high-spec look and were not keen on having to replace things in a few years time, so it all mounted up. It’s amazing how much money is spent on items you don’t see, like pipework.’

He and Jacky are thrilled with the bungalow’s transformation – and its resultant rise in value. As Tom says: ‘It was well worth the outlay. Every time I come downstairs, I’m impressed. We were right to trust our instincts and stay here.’

The costs
Building work	£120,000
Designer’s fee	£13,000
Decorating and furniture	£10,000
Kitchen	£4,793
Appliances	£3,624
Flooring	£1,700
Worktops	£1,600
TOTAL	£154,717