3 bedroom detached bungalow

For more than 24 years now Tosca has been home to its current owners and during that time they have transformed it into a magnificent property for all seasons. The couple have extended, reconfigured and modernised the single-story house to offer spaces for cosy relaxation during the colder months and indoor-outdoor living whenever the weather is warm. “The drawing room is a lovely size and is a great place to relax in the wintertime, when we might have the fire on,” one of them explains. “But the conservatory is wonderful all year round. In the summer, we have the French windows open and everyone wanders in and out. At other times, it is nice to sit in there and look out at the garden. Even during the coldest months, it is always lovely and warm because of the underfloor heating. It is a very relaxing place to be.”

FAMILY LIFE

As soon as the couple saw the property, which is thought to date back to the late 1950s or early 1960s, they realised it held great potential. “It was set back from the road which gave it a feeling of seclusion, as well as plenty of parking,” she recalls. “We could see there was lots of scope for extending and upgrading the house and making it into the home we wanted it to be.” They also loved the friendly surroundings, which seemed to offer a good balance of everything required for family living. “We had two small children at the time and were especially drawn to the fact this house was in the catchment area for good schools, including Charters,” she adds.

SUNNY DAYS

The family lived at Tosca for a while, getting a feel for the layout of the house and the changes they wished to make, before embarking upon their transformation project. “We extended out to the front to create a completely new drawing room,” she explains. “The old one then became a bedroom. We opened up the kitchen and dining room to create one larger, more modern space and then 10 years ago we added the conservatory.” Doors on to the conservatory can now be pulled right back to create an almost open-plan space with the kitchen dining room, making this whole area superb for daily living. “We spend most of our time in the conservatory: watching television or just enjoying the sunshine,” she says.

EASY LIVING

Tosca, which is decorated in neutral and muted tones, now features three good-sized bedrooms and a generous family bathroom. “The master bedroom looks out over the garden and benefits from an en suite shower room,” she says. “Like the rest of the house, both the bathrooms have been finished to a high quality.” Single-storey living offers the flexibility of being able to use either of the two front bedrooms for other purposes; this might include as a playroom, study or snug if required. The drawing room is an excellent space for welcoming family and friends at Christmas, while the kitchen dining room and conservatory are perfect for summer entertaining. “It’s lovely because we can open the dining table right up in here if need be or people can come in and out from the garden and sit out on the terrace, which is a good size.”

EXTRA SPACE

The outside space also incorporates a bonus room – a wooden cabin which could have a multitude of uses. “This is my Pilates studio and the place I quietly escape off to when I want some time to myself!” she admits. “It is a good size and could be ideal as an office, gym or extra room for teenagers.” Also in the garden, is a double-length garage. The owners have considered converting this to create even more accommodation. “But in the end, we didn’t need the space, and it has been ideal as somewhere for my sons to keep their fishing gear.”

GREAT PLACE

With the garage, plus the side and front driveways, there is an abundance of parking space at Tosca. With a local shop and Post Office just five minutes’ walk away and the High Street a 30-minute stroll through the racecourse, however, it would be easy to live here without a car. “The infant and middle schools are within walking distance and the bus for Charters stops at the top of the road,” she observes. “You can also get to Windsor or Bracknell by bus.” The owners have enjoyed walking at the racecourse and round a nearby field, as well as driving five minutes or so to Windsor Great Park and Virginia Water. “This is a very convenient place to be,” she adds. “Our plan now is to stay in the area because we have enjoyed it so much.”

SETTING THE SCENE

Tosca sits very centrally within its grounds, with ample off-road parking to the front and side. There is also a lawned area to the front, featuring a tree that blossoms every spring. To the rear of the house there is a large terrace, access to the garage and a raised lawn area, with a path leading to the cabin.

This detached bungalow consists of a reception room, kitchen with breakfast room, conservatory with underfloor heating, three good size bedrooms and en suite shower room to the master with underfloor heating.

To the front of the bungalow is gated driveway parking for numerous cars and to the size is a double length garage.

The rear garden has a patio which leads from the conservatory and the garden is mainly laid to lawn. This property also benefits from detached wooden studio/cabin at the bottom of the garden and the Garage offers potential STPP as does the existing bungalow.

This property is located in a quiet and popular residential location and is walking distance to Ascot Racecourse and Ascot Heath Infant & Primary School. Other nearby schools include Charters School, Heathfield, LVS, The Marist and Papplewick. The nearest train station is Ascot where services run to London Waterloo, Reading and Guildford. This is approx a five minute drive from this property. Windsor is within close proximity as is the Windsor Great Park.