Rooms

Picture Perfect
As soon as the current owners of Saddlers Cottage laid eyes on the picture-postcard thatched home in Chiseldon they knew it would be an enchanting, fairy-tale home. Believed to be at least 300 years old, it had a wealth of original character and charm. “It was in a lovely, village location, close to our places of work and friends and family, and it had a huge amount of potential,” one of them recalls. “We knew it would require a lot of work to restore it to its former glory and to make it into our ideal home, but we loved it so much.” She adds: “At the time, we thought it would be our forever home so we completed everything to the highest standard and specification, with features such as limestone floors, underfloor heating and high-end kitchen appliances.”

Living History
Indeed work on Saddlers Cottage was very much a labour of love. Eager to maintain the integrity of the Grade II listed house, they worked closely with conservation experts in a bid to create a home that offered both period charm and 21st-century comfort. Today, for example, the property still features a large inglenook fireplace, gorgeous oak beams and revealed stonework. “This cottage has a long history and it was important to us to retain its character,” she says. “It dates back at least as far as 1750 and has been the village saddler’s, butcher’s and Post Office at different points in its history. It has also been an antiques’ shop.”

Flexible Living
The delightful, thatched cottage is entered via a central reception hall. This gives access to the main rooms as well as a section of the property, that could almost be a self-contained annexe should that be required by the next owners. This part of the cottage features a utility room and a good-sized bedroom, with an en suite shower room and its own exterior door. “This area was ideal for my 16 year-old stepson when we first moved here,” she explains. “It gave him some independence away from the rest of the house. I am a beauty therapist and now use it for my treatments – and it is perfect! It could be ideal for short-term lets and could also suit someone with a grown-up child or older relative perhaps.”

Classic Style
Also downstairs is the exquisite drawing room, with its handsome, beamed ceiling and impressive fireplace, housing a wood burning stove. “This is where we sit and watch television in the evening – it is a particularly nice room in the winter when the fire is lit and it becomes cosy and warm.” The open-plan kitchen, dining and family room spans the entire depth of the cottage, featuring creatively designed areas to store and prepare food, dine together and relax on soft seating. Here stonework and beams can also still be seen and there are French doors which open onto the garden. “Like the rest of the house, this room has a classic style, featuring paints that have been carefully chosen in heritage shades, and with ample space for family living.”

A Warm Welcome
The kitchen features an attractive peninsula island, with units installed to a bespoke design topped by quartz and wooden work surfaces. An Aga brings something of a farmhouse feel to the space, while other luxurious touches include Neff appliances, a wine cooler and a boiling water tap. “This is the hub of the house, where we spend a lot of our time, cooking, eating, reading and chatting to friends and family when they come over. On warm days, it is nice to sit on the chairs at the end of the room, with the doors open on to the garden,” she says. Two more bedrooms, one with an en suite cloakroom, are upon the first floor of the cottage, adjoined by a useful dressing area. “The master bedroom is such a lovely tranquil room to sleep in,” she enthuses. “It has a beautiful beamed and vaulted ceiling.”

All Seasons
The couple have relished life in friendly Chiseldon. It has given them access to local amenities, while also being close to Swindon, Marlborough, the M4, Cotswolds and London. “Yet, at the same time, the village is itself, in an AONB so we have so many lovely walks on our doorstep,” she says. The owner admits she will miss everything from the pretty cottage frontage, with its established wisteria, roses and holm oak tree, to decorating the characterful house at Christmas time. “It looks so beautiful with all the Chrismtas lights up” she agrees. “We have been very happy here and we have thoroughly enjoyed working on the cottage and seeing it come to life.”

Setting The Scene
Warm in winter and cool in summer, thanks to its splendid, thatched roof, Saddlers Cottage is very much a home for all seasons. In the summer months, the owners like to spill out into their low maintenance garden, which has now been decked and transformed into a haven for outdoor relaxation and entertaining. “As soon as the weather is nice, our friends and family know it is barbecue time here!” the owner says. “We designed the garden to be easy to look after so we could simply enjoy it” There is an outdoor kitchen area, plus a log cabin, with electricity and lights, and a storage shed. The driveway at the cottage provides off-road parking for up to four cars.

Disclaimer
Chewton Rose Estate Agents is the seller's agent for this property. Your conveyancer is legally responsible for ensuring any purchase agreement fully protects your position. We make detailed enquiries of the seller to ensure the information provided is as accurate as possible. Please inform us if you become aware of any information being inaccurate.