Details

This stunning four bedroom extended Georgian residence can be found on the outskirts of the picturesque village of Birch overlooking the green, within walking distance of the popular ‘Hare & Hounds’ public house and restaurant.
Dating back to the early 1800’s, this beautifully symmetrical family home offers an abundance of period features and elegant interiors. The current owners undertook a renovation program to sympathetically restore the house and extend the rear to provide a contemporary, bespoke kitchen/living space with French doors that overlook an established rear garden. The garage has also been converted into a one-bedroom annex with vaulted ceilings and its own private entrance, as well as access from the extension. This versatile space could be used for elderly relatives, a nanny, or to provide an additional income.
During the restorations, the original property was stripped back to allow modern electrics and heating system to be installed, as well as cavity wall insulation. Decorative arched alcoves and additional lights and sockets were added to many of the rooms.
The ground floor is entered via a traditional porch with pillars to both sides and an original solid oak door with stained glass and cast-iron adornments. A welcoming entrance hall with tiled flooring affords doors into most of the downstairs reception rooms and from here a twisting stairwell leads to the first floor. Going back into the hallway, the door to the right brings you into a spacious living room with a large redbrick fireplace and a window to the front. This room has now been opened, and a step drops down drawing you into a comfy snug, an ideal spot to watch a movie on a cold winters’ night. The dining room is positioned on the left side of the hallway, it too boasts an open fireplace, dual aspects and a stable door that leads into the kitchen area that was designed by a local architect. It enjoys solid granite work surfaces, ample storage unit with soft closing doors, a Quooker instant hot water tap and a Rangemaster cooker. This modern space forms part of the large extension with French solid oak flooring and six remote controlled Velux windows that create a bright and airy space ideal for entertaining with family and friends. A separate utility/ laundry room is where the appliances can be found, along with a useful pantry. An inner lobby gives access into a shower room, a good size storage cupboard and a study with duel aspects and French doors onto the garden, which could easily be used as a bedroom.
The first-floor landing features an arched window with views across the pretty village green and countryside. The master bedroom boasts many traditional features and opens into an en-suite with twin sinks and a double shower cubicle. The vendors made the decision to convert a bedroom into a bathroom whilst the renovations were taking place, most modern buyers would prefer this. The second bedroom also occupies the front whilst the third double bedroom can be found to the rear next to the family bathroom.
Externally the front of the property is shielded by hedges with an opening that leads into a gravelled driveway with parking for a minimum of six cars. The right side leads to the private entrance to the annex, whereas the left side leads directly into the rear garden. The sizable garden is mainly laid to lawn and benefits from a large patio that extends to the side of the annex, an ornate pond, a variety of fruit trees, kitchen garden and a garden shed.
Birch is situated towards the west of Colchester, the village has a wonderful community feel with the parish church and the local award-winning country pub, 'The Hare & Hounds', is within walking distance.
The renowned Birch Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School has been recognised as 'Good' Ofsted report. The village caters for adults and children alike from the gardening club to the play area and country walks, there is plenty for all to enjoy.

Colchester is within easy access and offers an array of shopping facilities, galleries, theatres and its Historic Castle and Park. Tollgate/Stanes retail park offers an array of shopping facilities as well as Sainsburys, the newly opened Marks and Spencer’s and a variety of restaurants and cafes. The west side of Colchester is home to renowned preparatory and state schooling. The A12 is within easy access and offers access to London/ Chelmsford and Ipswich. Colchester mainline railway station and Marks Tey are a short drive away and offers direct links to London Liverpool Street in under an hour.

ENTRANCE HALLWAY - 15' x 6'2'' (4.6m x 1.9m)
Tiled flooring, understairs cupboard, twisting stairwell to first floor, 'designer' radiators, recessed lighting.

SPLIT LEVEL LIVING ROOM - 26'1'' x 13'7'' (8m x 4.1m)
Open fireplace with wooden surround and brick hearth, decorative arched alcoves. Radiators, window to front, exposed beams. Television point, recessed lighting, door into kitchen, French doors into family room.

DINING ROOM - 15' x 13'6'' (4.6m x 4.1m)
Open fireplace with red brick surround and hearth, decorative arched alcoves. Wall lights, two radiators, window to front and side, stable door into kitchen.

KITCHEN AREA - 19'4'' x 10'4'' (5.9m x 3.1m)
A bespoke fitted kitchen with soft closing cupboards and drawers, with solid granite worktop and wall mounted units above. Butler sink with mixer tap, integrated dishwasher and bin store. Gas and electric Rangemaster 5 ringed cooker with double oven under and extractor above. Space for American style fridge/freezer, radiator, 'Quooker' tap, French solid oak flooring, radiator, opening into:

FAMILY ROOM - 29' x 10'6'' (8.8m x 3.2m)
French solid oak flooring, fitted Welsh dresser with glass fronted doors and cupboards under. Breakfast bar, radiator, six remote controlled velux windows to rear, two sets of French doors with windows to rear. Porthole window, telephone point, radiator.

UTILITY ROOM - 8'2'' x 6'10'' (2.5m x 2.1m)
Double stainless steel sinks with mixer tap. Rolled edge worktop with cupboards and water softener under, plumbing for washing machine and tumble dryer. Space for fridge/freezer, tiled flooring, pantry, window to front and side, opening into kitchen.

INNER LOBBY - 7'8'' x 4'9'' (2.3m x 1.4m)
Tiled floor, coat area, storage cupboard.

SHOWER ROOM - 7'10'' x 5'3'' (2.4m x 1.6m)
Low level WC, pedestal hand wash basin, shower cubicle, marble white tiled splashbacks, drop light switch, window to side.

STUDY/BEDROOM - 16'3'' x 11'5'' (5m x 3.5m)
Radiator, wall lights, dado rail, recessed lighting, window to side and rear, French doors to side.

FIRST FLOOR LANDING - 15' x 6'2'' (4.6m x 1.9m)
Loft access, arched window to front.

MASTER BEDROOM - 15' x 13'7'' (4.6m x 4.1m)
Cast iron fireplace with decorative tiled insert. Two decorative arched alcoves, recessed lighting, picture light, radiator, television point, window to front.
JACK & JILL EN-SUITE - 12' x 8' (3.7m x 2.4m)
Low level WC, twin basins with mixer taps on marble top with cupboard under. Double shower cubicle with multihead shower above. Airing cupboard, wooden flooring, recessed lighting. Exposed red brick wall, part wood panelled, storage cupboard, drop light switch, radiator, window to side and rear.

BEDROOM - 2 - 15' x 13'7'' (4.6m x 4.1m)
Cast iron fire, two decorative arched alcoves, radiator, wall lights, recessed lighting, window to front.

INNER LOBBY - 7'4'' x 3'3'' (2.2m x 1m)
Stained glass window into bathroom, doors into Jack and Jill en-suite.

BEDROOM - 3 - 11'6'' x 11'5'' (3.5m x 3.5m)
Two double fitted wardrobes, radiator. Cupboard housing consumer unit, wall lights, window to rear.

BATHROOM - 9'4'' x 6' (2.8m x 1.8m)
Low level WC, pedestal hand wash basin with mixer tap, panelled bath with mixer tap and shower attachment. Fully tiled, radiator, window to rear.

ANNEXE -

ENTRANCE HALL/KITCHENETTE - 9' x 6' (2.7m x 1.8m)
Acessed via its own solid oak entrance door, vaulted ceiling, stainless steel sink with drainer and mixer tap. Rolled edge worktop with cupboards under, plumbing for washing machine, space for fridge/freezer, radiator, window to side and arched window to front, door into main house.

LIVING SPACE/BEDROOM - 18'10'' x 10'8'' (5.7m x 3.3m)
Wooden flooring, two radiators, wall lights, exposed timber beams, vaulted ceiling with two remote controlled velux windows to side, window and stable door into garden.

SHOWER ROOM - 10'7'' x 3'2'' (3.2m x 1m)
Low level WC, pedestal hand wash basin, shower cubicle with shower above, patterned tiled splashbacks, extractor, tiled floor, window to rear.

GARDEN SHED/SHIPPING CONTAINER - 18' x 7'5'' (5.5m x 2.3m)
Power and light installed but not connected, door to side.

OUTSIDE -
To the front of the property, there is a gravelled driveway with parking for a minimum of six cars. A gate gives access down the left hand side into the rear garden, which is mainly laid to lawn with a large patio and ornate pond, fruit trees, kitchen garden and established flowerbed borders, barbecue area.