4 Bedroom detached house ● Millington Gate, Willen ● £725,000

When Sue and Steve first visited the elegant house at Millington Gate in Willen 13 years ago, they were attracted by both its gorgeous exterior and its excellent position. “I really loved the way it looked from the front,” Sue recalls. “Its Queen Anne-style design gives it the appearance of a doll’s house.” She continues. “We were also drawn to its position. From here, we can see straight down the tree-lined avenue and across the greenery of the roundabout towards the church. Beyond that is Willen Lake, which is only a 10-minute walk. There are good local shops and we are very conveniently located for central Milton Keynes and everything it has to offer. We are just one mile from the M1 motorway and within easy reach of Newport Pagnell, Stony Stratford and Olney.”

INTERIOR DESIGN

Steve explains that the property, built in 1984, was a three-bedroom home when they bought it. “The previous owners had opened up two bedrooms to create one especially large bedroom. When we saw this, we knew we wanted to transform it back into a four-bedroom house to give us more flexibility,” he explains. “We also realised we wanted to upgrade and modernise it throughout.” As a result, they ended up working their way through the entire house, removing Artex, replastering walls and redecorating to give their home a bright, contemporary finish. “We also reconfigured the kitchen and breakfast room, opening them up to make one much larger space, providing a better sense of flow and making the whole area much more usable.”

SUMMER AND WINTER

With a generous driveway providing off-road parking for up to five cars, the appealing, red-brick house has a sophisticated, symmetrical façade. Entered from the front, via a porch and light reception hall, the property offers well-proportioned accommodation throughout. To the right is the long, triple-aspect sitting room, which stretches from the front to the back of the house and features sliding glass doors. With an eye-catching burgundy feature wall and cosy electric fire, this room, like others in the property, features deep, period-style, tip-and-tilt windows that bring the natural light pouring in. “This is a fantastic family room all year round – in the summer the doors can be pulled back onto the garden and in the winter it is lovely and warm.”

STYLISH KITCHEN

Double doors from the hall open into the dining room, creating a superb open space when the owners are entertaining. This stylish room is perfect for dinner parties, Sunday lunches and special occasions, such as Christmas. While its position adjacent to the kitchen makes it an ideal formal dining room, new owners may decide to arrange it as a playroom, study or snug instead. “Now that we have opened up the kitchen, there is plenty of room for a table and chairs in there too,” says Sue. “This is where we usually sit down to meals.” Refurbished just a year ago, the airy kitchen encompasses cream cabinets, chic metro tiles, granite-style composite work surfaces, and new composite dark wood-look flooring. “There is a dark green feature wall at one end, where we have the table and television,” she adds. Adjoining the kitchen is a downstairs cloakroom and utility room.

EXTRA TOUCHES

Stairs from the reception hall lead up to a galleried landing. From here, there is access to all four good-sized bedrooms. The master bedroom leads into an en-suite shower room with a double shower. The family bathroom has Jack-and-Jill access to the third bedroom, making it ideal for guests. “We have replaced both bathrooms and recently redecorated the master bedroom. One of the bedrooms is currently arranged as a study.” Although the house is already beautifully finished, further enhancements could be made by the next owners. Steve suggests there could be plenty of space for the addition of an orangery, for example, without losing too much garden. Subject to the relevant planning permissions, there could also possibly be scope for an attic conversion.

OUTDOOR LIVING

The landscaped garden, which wraps around the house and is not overlooked, provides ample space for outdoor living. There is a summerhouse, a covered barbecue area and decking with power suitable for a hot tub. “The summerhouse currently houses a bar and is great for entertaining, but could easily be used as an office,” Steve observes. The garage, which is larger than double in size, could also hold potential for other leisure or work purposes, especially as it has a spacious, pitched roof."

SETTING THE SCENE

The house at Millington Gate sits very comfortably within its plot, with a generous driveway and access to its large garage to the front. To the rear, it opens onto its very private lawned garden, where there is ample space for children to play out and adults to relax and entertain.

• Property reference CWR080610112
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