This two-bedroom cottage simply oozes character with a lot of thought put into its sympathetic renovation. Guests have all mod cons and functional open plan living, but with traditional features including the exposed timber frame inside. It’s truly brilliant and serves equally well as a romantic retreat for two or a great holiday base for friends or a small family in its idyllic Suffolk village location. Set in Walsham le Willows, the property is surround by countryside with long walks from the doorstep. If you tire of fields, try Thetford Forest Park which is 16 miles away further inland. Or check out Bury St Edmunds just 12 miles away for supplies, a mooch about the shops and its impressive Abbey. Why not time your visit to stock up on fresh, local produce at the market on Wednesday and Saturday. And for the liquid rations, take the 3.3-mile trip to Wyken vineyards which offers wine but also dining, a country store, RHS garden and weekly farmers’ market.
Downstairs, this historic cottage has been thoughtfully transformed to offer practical and popular open-plan living while stripping back its original interior to leave exposed the old timber frame. The effect is simply stunning, combined with terracotta-style tiled floor throughout downstairs and stripped floorboards upstairs. It’s so homely, you’ll struggle to leave! The living room has comfortable seating arranged around an inglenook chimney, now housing a sizeable wood burner for cooler days. With the low, beamed ceilings, it feels really cosy in here whatever time of year. The kitchen is fairly open with shelving and discreet cupboards and solid woodwork surfaces that tie it in with the older elements. But it’s got everything you need and more for your self-catering moments and a modern table seating two or three in comfort. The ground floor is completed by a useful utility room and shower room with WC. Upstairs is mainly about the wonderful master bedroom with its vaulted, cathedral-type ceiling, exposed and painted beams and simple, yet classic, styling. The landing is large and doubles admirably as the second bedroom, with a single bed and pull-out trundle as well.
To the front of the cottage is a small, courtyard that’s entirely paved, with some climbing plants and a bistro table and chairs.