The Househunter: A Country House

Room-by-room analysis of a house that's on the market. This week, a lesson in mixing colour and pattern.

This week we’re going big. Big in size and big in price – because it’s Christmas and if you can’t fantasise about a big house at this time of year then, frankly, when can you? But country estates aside, I have chosen to look at this one because, despite its size (eight bedrooms, eight bathrooms and four reception rooms) and its price (whisper it - £6,950,000 with Savills) it can still provide inspiration for our own, perhaps, more modest places and spaces. And let’s not forget I joined this platform about six weeks ago and there are nearly 8,000 of you currently reading, so we can either club together to buy it for about £900 each, or one of you may actually be able to afford it – in which case let us know, and we’ll all be round for tea.

First the business end: it’s a Grade II-listed country house set in nearly 52 acres of land with views over unspoilt farmland. It has recently been completely restored (which will partially account for the price tag) so is full of fireplaces, cornici…