Cranham, Gloucester

Occupying an exceptional edge-of-village setting, this architect-designed home enjoys uninterrupted views across adjoining common land and the surrounding countryside. Created with sustainability at its core, it combines bold contemporary design with intelligent energy-efficiency.

Description - Built around 15 years ago and designed with entertaining in mind, the house centres around beautifully connected open-plan living spaces that combine impressive scale with an easy, informal flow.

The front door opens directly into the heart of the home where a striking double-height entrance and galleried landing create an immediate sense of space and light.

The principal sitting room forms the focal point of the ground floor where English oak and ash flooring extends throughout and a substantial sandstone fireplace reclaimed from an Arts & Crafts house in Motherwell, Scotland, provides a striking centrepiece.

At the heart of the home, the kitchen sits between the sitting room and the snug with substantial oak sliding doors allowing each space to be opened up or closed off as required. Designed around a large central island with an oak worktop, it is fitted with ash cabinetry providing extensive storage and space for a large dining table. Its dual-aspect position enjoys views across the valley to one side and the garden and courtyard to the other.

Beyond the kitchen, the garden room opens directly onto the sheltered inner courtyard while the adjoining snug centres around a contemporary wood-burning boiler stove, contributing to both the property's heating and hot water. Together with an adjoining shower room and a secondary kitchen, currently arranged as a utility room, this section of the house can be closed off to create self-contained accommodation for multi-generational living, guests or independent family members.

An oak staircase rises to five first-floor bedrooms. The principal suite includes a dressing room, en-suite bathroom and private balcony, while a second bedroom also benefits from an en-suite. The remaining two bedrooms share a Jack and Jill bathroom and all four enjoy access to balconies overlooking either the gardens or the surrounding countryside. Three bedrooms also feature elevated gallery spaces, accessed by bespoke ladders or a spiral staircase.

The second floor provides further flexibility, with a spacious home office and an additional room currently used as a music room. Complete with an en-suite shower room and private balcony, it could equally serve as an additional bedroom or guest suite.

At lower ground floor level, a self-contained suite comprising a spacious bedroom, kitchenette and en suite shower room provides excellent flexibility, whether for guests, independent living or potential Airbnb use, subject to any necessary consents.

Garden & Grounds - The gardens and grounds extend to approximately 1.75 acres combining established gardens with a paddock to create a peaceful and private setting.

An enclosed south-facing courtyard garden to the rear provides a sheltered retreat, while a south and west facing glazed verandah enjoys views across the surrounding landscape and the setting sun.

The gardens have been thoughtfully planted to include a productive fruit garden, orchard and a fine mature mulberry tree. Quince, apple, pear and plum trees add both seasonal colour and a wonderful sense of abundance.

A shed/log store, provides useful storage and an impressive timber summerhouse with full-width bifold doors offers a versatile space ideal as an artist's studio, home office or peaceful retreat.

On the far south east boundary an ensemble of larch clad enclosures surround a brick paved courtyard which has been used for rearing and milking of goats for artisan cheese making.