Barrow Hill, Sellindge, Ashford, Kent, TN25

If you were asked to picture a Victorian home then what would you think of? Large rooms? High ceilings? Fireplaces and black and white tiled flooring? Without trying to shepherd you into a particular direction, these are the traditional features that people talk about when buying this style of home. Over the years we've seen so many period homes robbed of their character by modern refurbishment and we understand that no one feels the need to live exactly like the Victorians did - bath time for example would be a very different experience. So it's a joy to see a home that successfully walks the line between modern style and traditional character ? and here at The Firs you have just that.

From the outset the property is impressive. It has been sympathetically extended over time, but it has maintained the strong, even imposing feel that you would expect from a property built in this era. What is a surprise is how set back and how much higher than the A20 it is ? conveniently this means that the sound of the road disappears almost entirely.
The current owners have added a Double Garage to the gated Driveway ? this, alongside parking for 6 or more vehicles is more than most families could need and certainly more than most modern builders would offer.

The Entrance hall will engage anyone who loves this period of build. This long sweeping hallway has a black and white tiled floor which tempts you to step further inside. From here you can access a large Dining Room and what would have been a Sitting Room. This is currently used as a Second Lounge/Study area and is a welcome and flexible addition. Both Rooms are well-proportioned and have feature fireplaces.
The long hallway seems to pull you towards the Kitchen, and when you step into it you'll see why. This is the beating heart of the home. Functionality aside, this is the place where people come to talk, to laugh, to eat or just to be together. There is enough room for a very large dining table and chairs as well as a sofa here.
From a practical point of view there is a wealth of storage and worktop space here as well as a large cupboard and a pantry. There is also a Utility Room - ideal if you have pets or to hide things in when people come by unannounced.

A further hallway with a Shower Room joins this room to the main Lounge. This Hallway may seem unimportant in the scheme of things - but if you were thinking of separating or annexing the property it could be an integral feature. There is access from here to the front of the property and the Driveway which would allow for a private entrance to be put in. Such flexibility opens a multitude of options for now or in the future.
The Lounge has a beautiful view across the Garden. It features solid wood floors and a Log burning stove. This will be the place you gravitate to on winters afternoon after lunch when you're absolutely not under any circumstances going to have a nap..

As you head to the First Floor there is a ?Hotel like? feel. In most houses the landings run front to back, with every Bedroom accessible off of it. Here you have to turn a corner from the main split-level landing to enter a separate wing of Bedrooms. It's one of the places you'll stop and think about the overall size of the house rather than visualizing it room by room.
All but one of the Bedrooms are double rooms and the Master has both a walk-in wardrobe and an En Suite Shower Room. There is also a family Bathroom with a roll top bath and a separate shower cubicle, which once again references the balance of modern and traditional styles.

Externally one large Garden has been divided into a series of Gardens, each with their own role. Immediately outside the house is a large patio and a family friendly lawned area with trees and mature shrubs. This is the more traditional Garden space. This section is also home to the Lodge.

Part Games Room, part Home Office this is a dream for most families. Having the flexibility inside the house is one thing, but to have an outbuilding of this type is something special. This could be used as a self contained annexe, or as a place for the children to hang out with their friends when they all come over (rather than in your Lounge). It could be a home cinema or an entertainment suite - the options are limitless.
At the rear of the building is a decked platform area with a hot tub. This gives a real holiday home feel as it's away from the house and the perfect place to fire up the barbecue, pour a glass of wine and relax on a summers evening.

The other sections of Garden are currently used as a childrens play area and as a more rustic space ? almost like the Utility Room of the Garden. It offers lots of potential to grow fruit and veg, or to keep chickens like the current owners. The Garden is a deep plot but it has been used in such a way that it never feels overwhelming. The separate areas allow you to not feel that you have keep on top of everything all of the time ? so you can actually enjoy the Garden rather than looking out of the Kitchen window and thinking of all the jobs that will steal your weekend from you.

This is a home that gives so much. It offers the traditional Victorian style, versatility in design, lots of outside space and a rural feel even though you're only a ten minute drive from a town. You can even catch a train into the city from the nearby Westernhanger station if you don't feel the need to travel into Ashford - and it's only an hours journey. The Firs has everything you could ask for all in one home.