Nestled in the heart of the countryside in the beautiful village of Nether Whitacre is this charming and deceptively spacious Grade II listed character cottage. Oak Cottage originally began life as a bakery around 1650 before being sympathetically extended in recent years to perfectly combine the old with the new, resulting in the beautiful home we see today. When the extension was undertaken in 2006, the original property was taken down to its framework before being meticulously rebuilt in preparation for the new extension. With all the character you would expect from the era, the cottage boasts some lovely original features, including exposed beams and inglenook fireplaces. The accommodation briefly comprises a generous lounge, living room/dining room, large breakfast kitchen, guest WC, office/fourth bedroom, two staircases, three excellent double bedrooms, and three en-suite bathrooms. Outside, the property has an electric gated entrance, a long sweeping gravelled driveway, outstanding front, side, and rear gardens of circa 0.75 acres, and some impressive outbuildings, all surrounded by open countryside. GROUND FLOOR The cottage offers three separate entrances: the original door at the black-and-white front of the cottage, the French doors at the rear, and the central entrance, which the family tends to use. The central entrance, where old meets new, leads directly into a useful boot room/cloakroom area. With its beautiful reclaimed Elm floor and feature exposed brickwork, this reception hall provides access to all principal ground floor rooms. At the front of the property are the original two large reception rooms, both boasting an array of beautiful period features, including magnificent fireplaces and exposed beams. The first of these rooms is currently used as a dining room but could just as easily serve as a second lounge. It features a most impressive inglenook fireplace and a charming exposed panel of wattle and daub, showcasing the building's historical past. A picture window at the front offers lovely views of the large private foregardens, and this room also has the original cottage front door. Additionally, there is a useful understairs cupboard and a staircase leading to the first-floor landing. Leading from here, through an original door, we enter the fabulous sitting room. With windows to both the front and side gardens, this delightful room, featuring an open fireplace and an array of exposed beams, offers a lovely space to relax and entertain family and friends. To the rear of the property, as part of the modern extension, is the superb farmhouse-style breakfast kitchen. The solid oak kitchen by Paula Rosa contrasts beautifully with the natural slate flooring and countertops. There is an excellent range of integrated appliances, including a Rangemaster double oven and grill with five gas burners and a hot plate, an extractor fan above, a Fisher & Paykel double-drawer dishwasher, an AEG washing machine, an AEG tumble dryer, and ample space for a large American fridge freezer. The kitchen also incorporates a one-and-a-half-bowl stainless steel sink unit with a side drainer and a fabulous butcher’s block freestanding cabinet with additional storage. French doors lead directly from the kitchen to the rear terrace, and doors open to the guest WC, which also houses a generous laundry cupboard. The study is also accessed from the kitchen and offers lovely views across the rear gardens. It also houses the Worcester Bosch boiler behind custom-built cabinetry. This room offers various options for use and would make an ideal ground-floor bedroom if required. UPSTAIRS The property has two separate staircases. The first leads from the entrance vestibule in the centre of the cottage to a landing with a built-in wardrobe, which then opens into a spacious and beautifully presented double bedroom. This delightful room benefits from two dual-aspect, floor-to-ceiling Velux windows, offering fabulous views across the gardens and open countryside beyond. It also has excellent built-in eaves storage. The bedroom has a good-sized en-suite with smart neutral décor, white ceramic floor and wall tiling, and a modern white suite comprising a panelled bath with a shower above and glass screen, a hand basin inset into a vanity unit, and a low-level WC. The second staircase is in the original Grade II listed part of the property and leads from the dining room. The beautiful landing has high ceilings and original exposed beams. Leading from here is the stunning principal bedroom suite, which has dual-aspect windows, a magnificent stone fireplace (currently sealed but capable of housing a wood burner if desired), and a beautiful high vaulted ceiling with exposed beams. There is also a built-in double wardrobe and a heated towel rail. The smart principal en-suite offers a white suite comprising a shower cubicle with a power shower, a hand basin inset into a vanity unit, and a WC with a concealed cistern. The third double bedroom suite is also accessed from this landing and offers generous space, fabulous garden views through a delightful picture window, and beautiful décor. There is ample room for a large freestanding wardrobe, along with two original built-in storage cupboards. The pretty en-suite, featuring William Morris wall covering and a beautiful copper hand basin with an ornate tap, also includes a walk-in shower cubicle with a power shower and a low-level WC. OUTSIDE The gardens that surround Oak Cottage on three sides are an absolute delight, offering complete tranquillity, open countryside views, and impeccable landscaping that creates an idyllic oasis away from busy life. It’s rare to find a property that boasts equally impressive fore gardens as those at the rear, but with its long sweeping driveway and large lawned area adjacent, the fore gardens perfectly frame this charming cottage. Accessed down a quiet country lane, electric gates lead through to the generous long gravelled driveway with sensor lighting right up to the property entrance. There are also power and irrigation points in the fore garden to assist with maintaining the grounds. A lovely old stone wall borders one side of the property, with deep mature hedging behind. To the other side are raised beds, mature trees, and beautiful rose gardens. A blue brick pathway leads through the first of two gated entrances, adorned with a stunning mature wisteria, and continues up to the original porch. The second gated entrance leads to the block-paved pathway that runs alongside the property and around to the rear sunken terrace. The terrace at the rear has a tall retaining wall offering shelter from the elements on the generous terrace area, perfect for al fresco dining and entertaining. There are two excellent storage areas built at the side of the patio, creating a useful tool shed, BBQ area, and log store. Wide steps lead up to the main rear and side gardens, which, although mainly laid to lawn, feature some fabulous planting and an array of fruit trees, including Bramley apple, plum, damson, cherry, and hazel. There are three distinctive spaces within the garden, each with power and lighting. The first is a delightful, decked summer seating area, complete with a thatched roof, creating the perfect outdoor lounge for long hot summers. To the rear of the garden are two impressive outbuildings. The one affectionately known as “the shack at the back” is a superb summer house, complete with its own covered decked porch. The last outbuilding combines a superb workshop with ample storage, a hand basin, and lots of natural light through a wall of windows. Adjacent is an excellent storage shed. These solidly constructed structures offer tremendous potential for a multitude of uses. Services, Utilities & Property Information: Mains Gas, Electric and Water Gas Central Heating Private Drainage via a Septic Tank Broadband: We suggest you check with your provider. Tenure : Freehold | Council Tax Band : D |EPC: Local Authority : North Warwickshire Features: - Garden - Parking
