Dogwood, Wattisfield, Suffolk

Unfolding over 2,000 sq ft, this fantastic three-bedroom detached house is set in a picturesque Suffolk village, just south of the Norfolk border. Designed in the 1980s, the material language of the building has been retained, including the original open-tread staircase, kitchen and exposed timber beams. A mature garden of a third of an acre encircles the house, with established trees providing a wonderful sense of privacy.



The Tour



Curved brick walls and hedgerows guide the driveway towards the house, which peeks out from behind mature cypress trees. A pebbled driveway leads to the terrace and the front door, which opens into a wide entrance hall. Wooden beams run overhead on entry - a motif that continues across the plan - while soft, cream-coloured carpet spreads out underfoot.



To the right of the entrance is the sitting room, a generous and bright space set beneath an elegant pitched roof with exposed rafters. A wide brick chimney provides a focal point and contains a log-burning fire on top of a tiled hearth. The room is dual aspect, with a wide picture window on one side and a glazed door to the outdoors on the other.



A circular design means that the house's ground-floor living spaces are thoughtfully interconnected. Each radiates out from the central hallway, while the sitting room connects to the central dining room through an archway above three brick-built steps. The latter is a smart space with a second picture window and a convenient hatch through to the adjacent kitchen.



Occupying the right-hand corner of the plan, the kitchen sits proudly with its original cream joinery. It takes a U-shape, with the sink set below a garden-facing window. A utility room is concealed behind a sliding door from the kitchen and grants access to the garden. A study and a WC sit in the front left of the plan.



The house has three bedrooms, with the primary on the ground floor. A picture window runs along one wall here, welcoming in the outdoor greenery. An en suite shower room adjoins, making the room a private retreat for guests.



The remaining two bedrooms are on the first floor, which is reached via a sculptural hardwood staircase. Skylights pour natural light into the space, casting shadows through the open treads into the hallway below. The remaining two bedrooms are even larger than the primary suite and share access to a large family bathroom. Both have built-in storage, while one is punctuated by a series of striking ribbon windows that capture a view of the tree canopies outside.



Outdoor Space



The well-maintained garden stretches behind the house, with large lawned areas as well as mature shrubs and evergreens. Surrounded by flowering plants and tall trees, it has a wonderful sense of privacy.



There is also a double garage and a pebbled driveway with room for overspill parking.



The Area



Set in the glorious north Suffolk countryside, Wattisfield is a peaceful village around a 15-minute drive from Diss. Renowned for its beautiful Georgian and Edwardian architecture, Diss sits on the Norfolk/Suffolk border in the Waveney Valley. There are plenty of independent coffee shops and restaurants such as Amandines, Diss Deli & Coffee Shop and Santiagos Art Cafe and The Pennoyer Centre, a community venue that also serves locally sourced food.



The bustling and historic market town of Bury St Edmunds is only 13 miles away. With streets of ancient pretty cottages and a renowned abbey, the town provides for all day-to-day needs and is chock-full of independent shops, such as Woosters for award-winning sourdough loaves, Javelin for boutique clothing and Parsley Pot for unique gifts. It is also home to two supremely comfortable independent cinemas, Abbeygate and The Everyman. A range of fine restaurants are scattered throughout the town, including the acclaimed Pea Porridge and 1921 Angel Hill.



Eye is a bustling market town under 20 minutes away and has a regular Friday market, along with an excellent array of shops including two butchers, a bakery and two fantastic antique stores. The Handyman is a well-loved local purveyor of almost all conceivable practical items, while Cocoa Mama is a local chocolatier. Eye also has a local florist, Fleur Artisan, two cafés and a first-class deli in Beards. The Queen’s Head and The Oaksmere in Eye are cosy local eateries that offer traditional fare, while the Swan at Hoxne offers a wonderful pub garden.



Under a 30-minute drive away is Lackford Lakes, an oasis of ponds, reedbeds, meadowland and woodland. The area is awash with iridescent kingfishers, dazzling dragonflies, colourful ducks and precious flora.



There is a wide selection of well-regarded primary and secondary schools both in Diss and the surrounding villages, including King Edward IV and Bury St Edmund’s County Upper. Slightly further afield, but accessible daily, are the independent schools in Cambridge, Ipswich and Thetford.



Trains run from Diss station directly to Ipswich and Norwich in under 20 minutes. There are also direct services to London Liverpool Street, which take 90 minutes.



Council Tax Band: E