Vinegar Hill, Undy, NP26

This carefully-designed modern house brims with character and makes the most of its location, with a clever upside-down layout to capitalise on its elevated site and views of surrounding countryside, Bristol Channel and Welsh Mountains. It's a property made to capture the best of modern and sociable living.

The front door, reached by steps rising from the driveway, leads into a passage-like hallway with a practical tiled floor, off of which lies the three bedrooms, a bathroom and a utility room, together with a door into the garden and an elegant, bespoke oak staircase.

The generous main bedroom has a dressing room and an en suite with a shower, while the second bedroom also has an en suite. Both rooms have French windows that flood them with light and open onto a patio outside. The third bedroom is well lit and is situated next to the bathroom.

The first floor is an exemplar of open plan living, covering 37ft 7ins by 27ft 5ins (11.45m by 8.36m) and accommodating a living room, dining area large enough for a 16 or even 20-seater table, and kitchen.

Oak flooring, with heating beneath, and triple-glazed windows contribute to a warm, welcoming and comfortable environment, and there's a soaring ceiling with dramatic, exposed wooden beams.

Large French windows lead onto glass-fronted balconies looking to the south east and west, making the most of the views and sunrises and sunsets and providing the perfect spot to enjoy morning coffee and evening G&Ts.

The cooking area contains a sink, unusual space-saving extractor fan and built-in stove, ovens and fridge. There are lots of cupboards, all with wipe-able doors, granite work surfaces, and an island unit/breakfast bar. A skylight above the kitchens brings in more natural light.

The upper floor has a small WC while downstairs there's a useful utility room tucked away in the corner of the house with a sink, plumbing for a washing machine and cupboards for storage. Also on the ground floor is an integrated double garage that lies at the summit of the driveway.

Hen Ardd is beautifully decorated and all the windows are triple glazed for year-round comfort.

As with the interior of the house, the exterior of Hen Ardd has been carefully designed to make the most of every inch of available space.

The property is reached by an impressive driveway that leads to the door of the double garage integrated into the house. The garage is operated with electric controls and has a mezzanine storage area. The driveway can accommodate up to eight parked cars.

Steps lead from this to a flat, paved area. The adjoining piece of sloping land is landscaped with thick hedges and rockery-style planting for ease of maintenance. There's a flat area next to the paving that's used for a raised bed, with stepping stones leading around the side and to the back of the house.

The clever design of the property means that the back garden is an extension of the house, with the east-facing balcony providing shelter for a patio area that continues past the two French windows leading from the two larger bedrooms.

The garden beyond is perfect for entertaining and has been created to be low maintenance, with a gravelled area with a small fish pond and steps leading to a decked area, with raised beds and a charming stone outhouse, while next to it is a handsome walnut tree enclosed by a metal seat and a shrubbery. The garden is enclosed by an attractive leafy hedge that enhances the feeling of privacy. There's also a small shed along the side of the property.

Extensive solar panels on the south-facing slate roof contribute to the energy needs of the property.

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