Lane Top, Farnham, Surrey

This exceptional contemporary home rises against a backdrop of evergreen woodland on the outskirts of the village of Churt, near Farnham. It was designed by the award-winning architect Kate Stoddart for her own family, and marries a striking material palette of charred larch, vertical brick slips and a joyous punctuation of Rowen-berry red steel. Internal accommodation extends to approximately 3,824 sq ft over two light-filled levels, including a detached annexe/studio and secure garaging with EV charging. It rests in a secluded plot of just over an acre of private land, within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and enjoys footpath access to National Trust SSSI heath lands, forests and lakes.

The Tour

The house is set back from a quiet country lane with views over paddocks to borders of woodland. Beyond an electric gated entrance, a private driveway arches around a section of lawn to reach a parking area and detached double garage and workshop.

A wide front door opens into a generous reception hall against a continuation of the long brick-slip exterior. Cloak storage lies ahead and polished concrete floors with underfloor heating extend throughout.

Natural light is brought into the centre of the plan at various points through a series of cleverly positioned skylights. To the left of the hall are two large bedrooms with share of a Jack-and-Jill bathroom, and a guest WC.

To the right is a sweeping open-plan expanse that combines the kitchen, dining and informal living room. This enormous room is orientated to the south, with a wall of sliding glazing opening onto a garden terrace. A cantilevered section of the upper level serves as a brise soleil.

The dual-aspect kitchen is arranged around a central island with oak fronted drawers. A roof light overhead frames views of the sky, interrupted from time to time by wisps of swaying long grass from the green roof above. A bifolding window in the southern section of the kitchen recedes to become an occasional bar, framed by the playful datum of berry red that continues throughout the house. At the opposite end is a large pantry and laundry with its own external access and an outdoor shower for washing wetsuits, dogs and all other things that come with an active lifestyle.

The family room beyond the dining space is linked to the adjacent formal sitting room by a modern dual facing log burner. Leading on from the sitting room are two further double bedrooms, currently being used a study and a gym, both with access to a Jack-and-Jill shower room.

The first floor is given entirely to a sublime main suite, with a dressing room, en-suite bathroom and access to two large terraces, the larger of which has wildflower planting.

Lane Top was designed with sustainability in mind; as a result, it has been fitted with an air-source heat pump, an MVHR system and a series of solar panels.

Outdoor Space

The house is set in a very private and peaceful woodland setting, wrapped by beautifully planted beds, lawns and mature trees.

The terraces that wrap the southern and eastern elevations extend towards a further outbuilding currently configured as a games room/annexe, with its own kitchenette and shower room. The first floor terrace has a hot tub set in a wildflower garden. In all, the grounds extend to just over an acre.

The Area

The house is located on Crosswater Lane, within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and enjoys footpath access to National Trust SSSI heath lands, forests and lakes. The lane is located between the villages of Churt and Frensham, which provide for everyday needs including shops and pubs, including the local favourite Bel & The Dragon pub. There are plenty of excellent restaurants in the area including Maison, which is run by chef Ben Piette and his wife Lornette on the ground floor of their 15th-Century home. Also close by is the charming family-run Nathan Marshall Clarke House. Farnham, a town that is rich in architectural history is also close by and has a beautiful and bustling Georgian high street with an historic castle.

An abundance of superb countryside in the surrounding areas provides fantastic riding and walking trails. Popular golf courses can be found at Hankley Common, Hindhead and Liphook, with sailing also available at nearby Frensham Ponds and The Solent.

There are a good number of excellent schooling options in the area including Frensham Heights, Edgeborough, St Edwards and The Royal School.

The house is well situated for the A3 and A31, both providing fast access to the national motorway network as well as Heathrow, Gatwick and Southampton airports. Main line stations can be found at Farnham and Haslemere providing fast trains to London Waterloo in under an hour.

Council Tax Band: G