The Laurels Main Street | Harborough Magna | Rugby | Warwickshire | CV23 0HS THE LAURELS Beautifully positioned close to the heart of the lovely Warwickshire village of Harborough Magna is The Laurels, a very handsome former farmhouse that dates back to the early 19th century. ‘The Laurels’ is a handsome former farmhouse believed to date from the early 1800’s. In more recent times, it has been extensively modernised and very well maintained. The benefits include a bespoke fitted oak kitchen, fitted alarm system, double glazing throughout and gas central heating to radiators. The accommodation offers four versatile reception rooms, four double bedrooms and two fitted bathrooms. Outside there is a south facing courtyard, a formal garden to the west, attached garage and parking for 2 vehicles. A grass track meanders around 400 yards down to the paddock, which measures slightly over an acre. KEY FEATURES Ground Floor The original frontage has a tiled storm porch with a wooden door leading into an open plan hallway and snug area. The snug has a tiled fireplace and coal effect gas fire. This has fitted shelving set into the former inglenook fireplace with both front and side windows overlooking the garden. The main living room has an operational open fireplace with a polished cast iron surround and a granite hearth. It has a high ceiling with fitted picture rail, wall light points and down lighters. A side window overlooks the front courtyard with a bay window and French doors leading to the garden. The central dining/family room is a particularly spacious and attractive room that has an inglenook fireplace with brick surround and a raised wood burning stove. It has ceiling beams and wall light points. There is a feature arched side window and a front window. Solid oak flooring runs from here into the study. The study is tucked away and could provide an ideal music room. It has steps down to the room with wall light points and a rear window. A further door and steps descend to the good sized cellar. The kitchen/breakfast room has been fitted by a highly regarded local craftsman. It has a range of painted wooden base units with drawer sets, oiled wooden work surfaces, oak sills and an inset ceramic sink unit. There is a Rangemaster electric fan-assisted range with a five ring gas hob and concealed extractor canopy, and further painted eye-level units with coving and a full height oak storage pantry and spice rack. The kitchen has a tiled floor, down lighters and a ceiling beam. There is space for a tall fridge/freezer. There are front and rear windows with a step down to the rear hall/boot room which has a stable door and two windows to the courtyard. There is a separate cloakroom with wash hand basin and a high-level cistern. The utility room has a range of base and eye-level units with a Carron ceramic double sink. Worcester gas-fired boiler, plumbing for a washing machine and dryer ventilation, with adequate space for two further appliances. Emerald pearl granite work surfaces and two rear windows. SELLER INSIGHT There were so many things that attracted us to this house when we initially came across it five years ago,” says Julia. “Firstly, the location is absolutely superb. The village itself is surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside, so it feels far from the madding crowd, and yet it takes just ten minutes to drive into Rugby, where you can get just about everything, and we benefit from having superb transport links so it’s ideal for anyone who needs to commute both north and south. The other big plus for us as a family was the paddock, which is set slightly away from the house and accessed along a little winding path. We’ve never kept animals on it, but it’s been ideal as a play area for the children, we’ve had parties over there, camped out over night and it’s a fantastic place to walk the dogs.” “The house itself has been the most wonderful family home. It was originally built in the 1800s, but over time it has been enlarge and modernised, so it’s spacious and comfortable, but it still retains an abundance of its original character and charm. There are some lovely fireplaces, some huge beams and there are lots of quirky nooks and crannies that make the house totally unique and really interesting. We’ve not had to do a huge amount of work to it during our time here, it’s been surprisingly low maintenance for a period property, but we have toned down the décor throughout using a more neutral palette, which has enhanced the feeling of both light and space tremendously.” “As well as the paddock, we also have a very pretty garden, which is easy to look after and also very peaceful and private,” continues Julia. “It can be accessed via the French doors leading from the sitting room, and as well as a pretty patio area it also incorporates a lawn that’s edge with deep borders of shrubs and flower. It’s ideal, because it’s easy to look after and to keep looking nice, and then we also have the paddock where the children can run wild and kick a ball about without the worry of them perhaps breaking a window or trampling all over the plants.” “Harborough Magna is a lovely village with a really strong sense of community, and we’ve been extremely happy here. The Old Lion pub is at the end of the road, the Co-op is a five-minute drive from the house and there’s also a great farm shop that sells fresh local produce and also offers fruit picking during the summer months.” “This is such a lovely place to raise a family and one of the big pluses is the fact that there are so many good schools in the local area, both state and private, and a number of them operate bus services that pick up from the village.” “We are moving because our circumstances have changed, but we are going to be so sad to leave,” says Julia. “In terms of what I’ll miss most, I’d have to say the paddock. I particularly love the walk along the honeysuckle lined winding lane, enjoying nature, being outside with my dogs to a little piece of Warwickshire countryside that’s all ours to enjoy.” * These comments are the personal views of the current owner and are included as an insight into life at the property. They have not been independently verified, should not be relied on without verification and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agent. KEY FEATURES First Floor The extensive landing has both a conventional and a Velux window with exposed timbers. There is a walk in shelved storage cupboard incorporating the loft access which could either provide excellent storage (or possibly an en-suite to the adjacent bedroom). The principle bedroom has a vaulted ceiling, heavily beamed, supported by the central chimney breast. There are two front windows and a replacement rear window overlooking the courtyard. A door and steps lead down to the en-suite which has a white spa bath. The shower enclosure has a Bristan power shower. Quality floor and wall tiles, ladder radiator. Wall hung basin, fitted mirror, low-level flush wall mounted WC and an opaque window. The second bedroom has a high ceiling with exposed wall beams and purlins with a loft access. There is high level fitted storage, wall light points and a front window. The third bedroom is a good size child’s room with a picture rail and front window. The fourth double bedroom has fitted shelving, picture rail and two side windows overlooking the garden. The master bedroom is probably my favourite part of the house. It’s a really big room with a gorgeous vaulted ceiling and huge beams, and it’s double aspect so I wake up every morning to the most spectacular countryside views.” KEY FEATURES Main Garden To the west of the house there is a colourful formal garden with a central section of lawn. It is fully enclosed by a combination of low-level brick walling, laurel hedgerow and wooden fencing. There is a greenhouse and well-stocked flower border which features a twisted hazel, roses, peonies and a range of annuals. Rear Courtyard Directly behind the house is a raised south facing paved courtyard with low level retaining walls. There is a circular border with ornamental cherry tree, hot and cold water tap, water butt and outside security lighting. There is a narrow border inside the wall allowing for a bay tree, climbing roses and clematis. Paddock/Meadow Land Heading off south of the property, there is a 3 metre grassed pathway which meanders down to the paddock situated around 400 yards walk away. The paddock measures just over an acre. To the left there is a wild meadow with mown pathways running through which attracts a selection of wildlife, birds, butterflies and insects. There is an orchard with a selection of apple and trees, a damson and gooseberry bushes. To the right of the orchard there is a tree mounted rope swing and a slightly undulating section of lawn ideal for a football pitch or pitching tents in the warmer months! This versatile area is enclosed by a combination of fencing, trees and mature hedgerow. Garage & Parking Attached to the south of the property there is a single garage with a high pitched roof providing good storage facilities.