A NEW LEASE OF LIFE
Lashbrook House
Stunning four-bedroomed property in a village setting

Behind this former outbuilding in the quiet village of Jacobstowe, lies a stunning family home, full of imaginatively-designed living space and stylish detailing.

The first thing hat catches your eye when you step inside Lashbrook House in the little village of Jacobstowe is not the sense of space and light, not the stunning bespoke kitchen nor the wonderful views across the front garden ‑ but the staircase.

Beautifully handcrafted in oak and designed to be the focal point of the magnificent reception/dining hall, it gently curves up and round to the first floor, where an oak balustrade continues to draw the eye along an impressive galleried landing before it tapers off, tantalisingly, behind a smooth, newly-plastered wall.

The staircase is one of the key features in a property that, over the past 18 months has been transformed from a derelict old outbuilding into a wonderful country home.  The building may have originally been used as a coach house for the neighbouring rectory; itself a beautifully restored home which dates back to around the 17th century.

Over the years, the coach house gradually fell into disrepair and, by the time the current owners discovered it, it required, as they cheerily explain, ‘less of a conversion, more of a complete rebuild’.

There then followed many months of hard graft and toil, during, which time the dilapidated outbuilding was turned into a habitable property, cleverly and sensitively rebuilt by the current owners to enhance, rather than disguise, its original character. Entrance is via the impressive, vaulted reception/dining hall, a large open‑plan living area with a Gothic‑style picture window at one end overlooking the front garden ‑ a dramatic setting, perfect for winter dinner parties.

At one end of the reception hall lies the kitchen/breakfast room and separate utility area. Here, a discerning eye has created a stylish living space, full of light thanks to another large picture window in the dining area of the room, this time overlooking a courtyard at the back of the house.

French oak floor and handmade wooden base and wall units sit comfortably next to stylish granite work surfaces with circular overhanging oak inserts, while, behind the painted cupboard doors, there hides a whole host of integrated appliances, such as a Neff dishwasher, microwave and oven. Halogen down lighters provides plenty of light for cooking; while, in the evening, attractive glass lights ‑ sourced from Amsterdam and hung low over a central island unit ‑ help create a more ambient feel.

Next to the kitchen/breakfast room is the study and cloakroom, while, at the other end of the reception hall is a large, airy drawing room (around 28ft by 18ft) with exposed beams and a handsome stone slate hearth. No pictures or television here just lovely views over the secluded walled courtyard, floor‑to­-ceiling windows along one side of the room large enough to take in the sky as well as the ground.

Upstairs one end of the galleried landing is devoted to an impressive guest suite, unusual internal arched windows giving a birds eye view of the kitchen/breakfast room on the ground floor below. The ensuite shower room is pretty special too: a circular shower cubicle tiled in tumbled marble, and complimented by a beautiful limestone washbasin set on a Travertine Italian limestone shelf.

The remaining two bedrooms and family bathroom are equally pleasing whilst, tucked away at the other end of the landing, is the master suite with built-in wardrobes and its own luxurious en-suite bathroom.  One window in the bedroom overlooks the large lawned front garden, another smaller one peeping out across the back courtyard – a wonderful outdoor space, expertly landscaped with a central flagstone path and plenty of pretty shrubs and climbers.  Beyond the courtyard, there lies a wide gravelled driveway, with ample parking for several cars.

Conversions of former agricultural buildings are fairly common these days, but it takes a certain amount of flair and imagination to create something really special and by special, we mean something unique, something that brings out the best in the original structure and makes you catch your breath when you step through the door.

At Lashbrook House, the current owners have succeeded in creating just that, and it’ s this overriding sense of quality and attention to detail – from the exquisitely crafted staircase and Gothic-style picture window in the reception hall, right down to the polished chrome fittings in the bathrooms – that really sets this house apart and makes it so wholly appealing.