Burleigh Lane, Ascot

The Story

As soon as Janni and Hugo saw the gorgeous, wooded garden at Hafan they were able to imagine themselves sitting out under the trees there on summer afternoons. The couple also loved the unusual, four-bedroom house itself, with its stylish, mid to late-20th-century design and its abundance of internal space. “The garden was like our own little piece of forest and the house had a quirky, 1970s’ aesthetic,” Janni recalls. “Inside, the main sitting and dining room was huge, with a sloped, vaulted ceiling and a mezzanine level above. It felt rather like a Scandinavian ski lodge and had a very warm and welcoming feel to it.”

LIGHT AND AIRY

It was back in 2020 that the family moved from Windsor to the house on Burleigh Lane. Since then they have renovated and enhanced it throughout, making changes such as replacing carpets with beautiful wooden floors, removing Artex ceilings and installing downlighting. “We have modernised the whole house,” she explains. “We have redecorated throughout, keeping everything very light, other than the odd feature wall here and there. In the main room, for example, we now have one wall in Farrow & Ball’s Studio Green. We also had new bathrooms fitted and installed a new front door. Outside we extended the terrace and installed a wonderful, new, timber garden office.”

GREAT POTENTIAL

When the couple bought Hafan, it had planning permission for a substantial extension to almost double it in size. “It is a superb size as it is but certainly there is potential here if someone else wants to take it further,” Janni says. “I have often thought it would be nice to extend to the back and side and perhaps move the kitchen so it overlooks the garden. There is also currently eaves space upstairs that is the same size again as the bedroom suite and mezzanine study area. There could be space for a couple more bedrooms up there (subject to the relevant planning permissions).” She adds: “This is such a large plot that the house could be extended and there would still be a very good-sized garden.”

FLEXIBLE ACCOMMODATION

Entered from the front via a lobby and the hall, the house was designed with its kitchen and utility room to the front. The main bedroom and bathroom wing, comprising three bedrooms and a family bathroom, is then to the right. “We have our master bedroom downstairs; Hugo has another bedroom as his office and I have the other as my treatment room as I am a massage therapist – the accommodation here is very flexible,” Janni observes. “Our teenage daughter then has the large top floor bedroom and its shower room to herself – and is able to tuck herself away up here!”

STREAMING SUNSHINE

The largest portion of the ground floor encompasses the impressive sitting and dining room. This has fabulous views over the garden and glass doors that can be opened up on sunny days. “This room is open-plan but we have sectioned it off so that it never feels too large. At lunchtime the sun comes in from the front and side and then throughout the afternoon it pours in from the top windows and there is the most wonderful light throughout the room.” She adds: “This space is very much the hub of the house for our daily living but has also been wonderful for entertaining. We have had lots of parties here.” Indeed, with a generous driveway and access to the back garden from the house, Hafan has been the perfect setting for summer lunches and barbecues.

A TRANQUIL AREA

Stairs from the sitting and dining room lead up to the mezzanine level above. Here there is a large room that is open to the space below but which makes a superb study or leisure area. “We tend to use it as an art studio,” Janni says. “I paint up there and my daughter and I use it for other creative activities too.” The garden studio, which could be an office, gym or teenagers’ den, depending on the requirements of the next owners, is also an outstanding, additional, versatile space. “There really are so many different ways you can enjoy the space here,” she suggests. “It has been a dream house for us – the only reason we are leaving it is that we are relocating to Denmark.” The location has also suited them well. “We really enjoy being just five minutes from the centre of Ascot and 10 minutes from Windsor. Yet the house is nestled in a super-quiet area. When we wake up in the morning, all we can hear is the sound of the birds. It is just oozing with peace.”

SETTING THE SCENE

Situated on a corner plot on a cul-de-sac, Hafan enjoys a good-sized driveway and double garage. To the rear is has a large, leafy garden, with a terrace for outside entertaining and a garden studio.

Within Easy Reach

A range of fine recreational facilities are in area including some of the world’s finest and most exclusive golf clubs such as Wentworth, Sunningdale, The Berkshire and Swinley Forest. There are also a number of excellent health and tennis clubs including The Berystede Hotel and David Lloyd Club at Royal Berkshire. Additionally there are world class spa hotels and restaurants nearby such as Coworth Park and Pennyhill Park. Schooling options are excellent with Charters (state) as well as a range of private schools including St. Mary’s, St. Georges, Papplewick, Hallgrove, Sunningdale Prep and The Marist.

WHATS NEARBY

Conveniently located for London, Heathrow Airport and the rest of the South East, Ascot has everything you need for day-to-day essentials. Artisan cafés and unique boutiques enrich the town. More extensive shopping centres can be found in Windsor to the north and Camberley to the west.

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.