The Drive, Godalming, Surrey, GU7

Prompting an enviable sense of peace and privacy throughout, Dove House sits back from the leafy tree-lined environs of a road considered to be best in Busbridge. Within a stroll from the coffee shop of the Old Rectory Gardens, the fluidity of its layout unfolds over an impressive 2,192 sq. ft behind a double fronted facade adorned with Wisteria.

Glazed and enclosed, an entrance porch amplifies the already palpable air of privacy and once inside double doors open into an outstanding ground floor where sunlight filters freely throughout.

With the clever design of an open tread staircase that subtly enhances the lovely measure of light and space further still, a central hallway extends seamlessly to the rear where a wonderfully spacious double aspect kitchen/dining/family room makes it effortlessly easy to feel at home. Sociable and relaxed, the open plan layout with its vaulted ceiling and easy flow immediately gives you room to breathe, relax and spend time together. The extensive dining and family areas can be tailored to your own needs and the excellently generous dimensions are ideal for everyday life and entertaining. Twin sets of timber framed skylights within the vaulted ceiling combine to fill each aspect with natural light and matching French doors allow the room to transition smoothly out into the garden.

Carefully curated to be both functional and stylish, the exemplary large kitchen is fully fitted with cream Shaker-style cabinetry that’s topped with the classic contrast of marble and finished with traditional cup and pull handles. The prodigious wrap-around arrangement includes dedicated recessed space for a freestanding American-style fridge freezer, and a range cooker sits sleekly within the chimney breast. A central island, with bar stool seating, pairs the warming tones of a solid oak countertop with the heritage sage green of further Shaker-style cabinets and the quartz splashback of the chimney breast reflects garden views around the room. An adjacent utility room with handy side access keeps laundry appliances hidden from out of sight.

With a warm neutral palette and double aspect windows letting the gardens add an idyllic backdrop, a notably sized sitting room generates an admirable example of modern-day elegance. Impeccably styled yet homely and inviting, it has the focal point of a wood burner set within the clean lines of a fireplace that adds to the simplicity of the pared-back aesthetic. Restful and soothing, this is a beautiful space in which to unwind and catch up with one another’s lives.

Offering plenty of flexibility for multi-generational households, a family room/playroom/guest suite has lovely leafy outlooks and the contemporary yet charming Scion Little Fox patterns of an accent wall. Its solid oak floor complements the timber detailing and doorways that feature throughout, and the added luxury of an en suite shower room is arranged in a refined tile and mosaic setting.

Upstairs, the brilliantly light and airy feel flows from the landing into a series of four excellent double bedrooms. An enviable double aspect principal bedroom has a wall of fitted wardrobes stretching up to its ceiling, while across the landing the third extends into an open area with a tall south facing picture window. Two additional bedrooms sit peacefully to the rear along with a study room that provides dedicated space in which to work from home. Adding the perfect finishing touch and designed for modern family life, a deluxe shower room and stylish separate bathroom make busy mornings easier.

Outside
Swiftly transporting you away from the hubbub of daily life, the secluded south facing front garden and gravel driveway of Dove House are framed by high hedgerows and allow the house to sit considerably back from the tree-lined road of The Drive.

Picture perfect beds within the immaculately kept lawn take full advantage of the north facing aspect. Budding gardeners will appreciate the addition of a greenhouse and potting shed, and while vines and Wisteria clamber elegantly across the red brick facade of the property the driveway provides the convenience of private off-road parking for several vehicles.

The tranquillity and seclusion continue at the rear where the quintessential planting and landscaping of an English country garden evokes the romantic feel of a heavenly hideaway. A tastefully landscaped patio is a wonderful spot for al fresco dining and curved flowerbeds brimming with the height and colours of herbaceous and perennial planting reach out along an extensive lawn. Adding yet further versatility, a large and secure timber shed provides excellent proportions for storing bikes, paddle boards, lawnmowers, tools and a workbench – a hugely practical feature given the absence of a garage. Garnering a cherished measure of privacy, the garden entices you down to a superb fully powered summerhouse that gives you a host of options for a home office, gym, games room or garden bar.