Ralph reviews a detached bungalow in Malpas village
hat a time it has been over the last week or so. Before I introduce this week’s Ralph’s Review, I would just like to take the time on behalf of all at Rickitt Partnership to extend our sincerest thanks to Her Majesty, the late Queen, and our deepest condolences to her family. We, along with the rest of the nation, mourn her loss, send appreciation for her lifelong service and celebrate a life well lived.
I think we have all taken time to reflect over the last week and I was certainly in contemplative mood on the approach to the attractive village of Malpas where the subject of this week’s review was located. As we turned into a driveway in the heart of the village and I caught a glimpse of an attractive timber-clad bungalow, my attention was brought back to the here and now and I stepped down from the car fully focused on the job in hand. To my expert eye The Sycamores looked as though it had been recently refurbished and I cast dad a questioning look. As ever he read my mind and explained that the property had indeed been extended and refurbished by well-known local developer Harris Homes. From the outside it looked to me like this charming home had been styled very much with modern living in mind. I was keen to see if my suspicions were correct and so I marched over to the front door with a determined spring in my step.
Stepping over the threshold I found myself in a spacious hallway which, courtesy of the magnificent floor to ceiling windows, was bathed in gentle sunlight. Instinctively making my way to the back of the property the first door I took led me into a beautiful open plan kitchen/dining/living room. Wandering around the space I admired the contemporary kitchen units, the granite work surfaces and the conveniently placed centre island. Every detail right down to the cupboard handles, the mixer tap (I am an expert on these, mum uses ours to get the water in my water bowl to just the right temperature, not too hot and not too cold) and the light switches and sockets, was finished to the very highest standard. To add to the room’s charms, I spotted a skylight which allows sunlight to flood into the room whilst the back wall boasts a set of double glazed doors as well as a set of patio doors – what a perfect scenario should a case of the “zoomies” overwhelm me, out the doors, back through the patio doors and around and around I could go until I was overcome with dizziness!
Before I left the kitchen I popped my head through a door tucked away at the back and found a good sized and very handy utility room. Back in the hallway I continued my explorations of The Sycamores and discovered a study as well as a sitting room – and what a serene room this was, with exquisite oak flooring and bifolding patio doors leading out to the courtyard beyond.
I made my way further through the property and was delighted to find a very stylish family bathroom and three bedrooms, two of which have en suite shower rooms.
My final stop before heading back to the office was to investigate the outside space that complements this lovely home. At the back of the house there is a landscaped, paved terrace courtyard, a thoroughly beautiful space just perfect for evening drinks after a hard day at the office. As I wandered around busily sniffing the eclectic range of smells, I spied a set of stone steps at one side of the courtyard which beckoned me onwards and upwards. So up I trotted and then just stopped with a sigh of pure contentment. I had found myself in an idyllic garden. I know my imagination can sometimes run away with me but being partly enclosed by a stone wall and after climbing the stone steps to reach it, I rather fancied this as a sort of secret garden – with a shiver of excitement I set off to circumnavigate it, busily identifying yet more tantalising smells as I went.
It was with significant amounts of reluctance that I left The Sycamores and I have to say that I was incredibly impressed with this compact but perfectly formed family home. The refurbishment has been finished to such a high standard that all one would need to do when moving in would be to hang their family pawtraits on the walls. If you would like to book a viewing of The Sycamores please contact myself or one of my team on 01244 322322 or info@rickittpartnership.co.uk.
Until next time
Ralph X
