Jasmine, Ibthorpe, Hampshire

“Old and new converse with ease in this layered home, arranged around a scenic wildflower meadow”

Defined by a spectacular south-facing extension designed by local architect Michael Pagliaroli, this striking five-bedroom home is set in Hampshire’s beautiful Test Valley in the village of Ibthorpe. With an exceptional quality of natural light and robust material palette, the open-plan intervention brings voluminous ceiling heights and a bank of glazing to the original 1920s cottage. A separate one-bedroom en suite annexe lies in the private landscaped gardens, providing a fifth bedroom, quiet work space, or creative studio. The house sits in the Ibthorpe Conservation Area, close to Whitchurch and to Whitchurch Station, where trains run to London Waterloo in around an hour.

The Tour

From first sight, the black-washed larch and red-brick profiles offer a sense of the contemporary interventions that lie within. Entry is to a long hallway that connects to the rear extension.

An immaculately conceived area, the living space and kitchen zones within the open-plan space are unified by poured concrete floors warmed by underfloor heating. Above, a sloping ceiling defined by block and beam construction rises to an impressive height. The back wall is given over to a bank of glazed doors that open almost the entire width and height of the room, extending the inside plan onto a large, decked terrace.

Beautiful and bespoke, the kitchen has been handcrafted in solid oak and has a pantry cupboard and new appliances. There’s also an island with a sink and seating for three stools. In the living area, a log burner has an extended flue that reaches up to the ceiling. A utility room has garden access and sits towards the front of the plan.

Four equally sized bedrooms sit in the original part of the building, one with an en suite. Two have built-in wardrobes, and all of them are light and airy.

A smartly finished bathroom has a double-ended bath beneath an original sash window that draws in plenty of natural light.

Beside the main house is a detached garage building in the same finish as the extension, which also incorporates a workshop and guest bedroom with an en suite shower room.

Outside Space

Neat hedgerows line the frontage of the building, which has off-street parking space for two cars. There is a shingle path leading to the front door past the climbing jasmine from which the house takes its name.

Mature gardens at the rear extend across around a quarter of an acre and include a beautiful wildflower meadow. A large terrace abuts the house and provides expansive views across the surrounding countryside. Beyond the terrace are extensive lawns with raised vegetable beds and fruit trees.

The Area

The village of Ibthorpe is located a short distance from the small town of Whitchurch. It lies within the Ibthorpe Conservation Area, a protected location of special architectural and historic interest. Horseshoe Lane is a quiet village road in Ibthorpe known for its period houses.

The neighbouring village of Hurstbourne Tarrant has a post office and shop. A favourite pub among locals is The George Inn in Vernham Dean.

There are plenty of excellent school options in the area, including Hurstbourne Tarrant Church of England Primary School, which his rated “Outstanding” by Ofsted. The Harrow Way Community Secondary School is also rated as “Good” and is under five miles away.

The nearby town of Whitchurch has a mainline railway station providing services to London Waterloo in approximately an hour. Larger towns in the area include Newbury and Andover are around a 25-minute drive away and have a wider range of services. The A303 is nearby allowing convenient access to London via the M3 and the West Country.