Charmante chaumière de caractère à Bretforton, Cotswolds

Located in the heart of Bretforton, just across from the village green, next door to Bretforton Village School's playing field, within sight of St. Leonard's Church and a stone's throw from the National Trust-owned Fleece Inn, Old Fox Cottage will capture your heart even before you go in. The Tiffany-blue front door, with its foxy door knocker, peeping out from under the immaculate thatched roof, sets the tone for your stay here. It is a delightful property.

The owners, Adam and Lois, have worked tirelessly to produce a look and feel that is tasteful and luxurious throughout the cottage. With its peaceful blues, calm creams and woodland themes, you'll feel particularly warm, cosy and cosseted here. The attention to detail is fantastic, with every mod con anticipated and provided. Shut the front door and all the worries of the world melt away.

What makes this cottage additionally attractive is the village of Bretforton itself, which is a friendly, welcoming place best demonstrated by its community shop, stocked with essential items and tasty goodies. Similarly, the Fleece Inn is a warm and friendly place with an impressive calendar of events and activities to enjoy while sampling their hearty menu and fine wines and beers. Even if you never venture further than Bretforton, you'll have a great stay.


Ground Floor

Entrance Hall:
Enter through the partially glazed front door straight into the light-filled Entrance Hall, which combines as a snug vestibule (great for sinking into the comfy armchairs while pulling off boots and coats) and practical room with a cupboard for coats and wellies and a helpful umbrella stand. With its wooden floor, cream tongue-and-groove panelling and original beams, the Entrance Hall offers a warm welcome.

The Living Room:
The Tiffany blue and cream theme continues into this lovely room, tastefully furnished with two sumptuous armchairs and a large double sofa. The most striking feature in here is the inglenook fireplace with original beam work. Within the fireplace is a wood-effect electric burner. The Living Room is all ready for a cosy night in, where you can enjoy the large, flat-screen digital TV with Blu Ray DVD player and a wealth of films. Alternatively, there's a Wii console with games if you're feeling more energetic. An Emma Bridgwater DAB radio with iPod docking station on the dresser is set up for playing your own playlist or a podcast.

The Kitchen:
The beautiful and immaculate country-cottage kitchen has been carefully designed so that every appliance you'll need for your stay is there, but cleverly hidden away to provide everything you need in a small space; the only obvious appliance is the gas hob with built-in oven and extractor hood above. However, an integral slimline Hotpoint dishwasher and an integral fridge can be found beside the cooker, whilst behind an ingenious bifold cupboard you'll find the bread bin, Kenwood microwave, and Dualit toaster and kettle. The wall units house everything you'll need to cater for your group. There's also an iron under the large ceramic sink and a high chair, picnic basket and vacuum in the under-stair cupboard.

Utility/Laundry Room:
A compact space where you'll find the Hotpoint combined washing machine/dryer, a small library of books, rechargeable tea light candles, and storage cupboards housing cleaning materials and the boiler.

Family Bathroom:
As with the rest of the cottage, this room is impeccably and tastefully appointed with a limestone floor and travertine wall tiles. Relax and soak away stresses in the large roll top bath that sits under the small private window overlooking the side path. Or enjoy a rainfall shower in the separate elevated double-shower enclosure. The bathroom is thoughtfully stocked with all the shampoo, shower gel, and bubble bath you could need - so don't weigh your luggage down with those heavy items.

Conservatory:
Streaming with bright light (even on an overcast day), the heated Dining Conservatory is a great living space: by day it's an extra living and eating space where you'll sit to enjoy your breakfasts and lunches and access the patio garden and BBQ outside. By night, it can be transformed into an intimate dinning space with shimmering lighting.
First Floor

Bedroom One:
The oldest part of the cottage, the master double bedroom has a cosy yet luxurious feel, tucked under the beams and eaves. From the iron-frame king-size bedstead, you can enjoy private views through the traditional cottage windows. The cushioned window seat is a wonderful place to sit and while away some relaxation time.
The bedroom has a lovely full-length cheval mirror, a deep clothes closet, a hairdryer, and a digital flat-screen TV for bedtime viewing.

Bedroom Two:
A delightful room with two large, single beds, fluffy bed linen with bed throws, original beams, and a window overlooking a flat roof to the patio beyond. Ideal for children, this room would also suit two adults because of its L-shaped layout, providing individual privacy in a shared space.

Outside

The area to the rear of the cottage has been laid to patio and is reached either through the side gate and path or through the back door from the Dining Conservatory. In this clever us of space you'll find a lovely, ivy-walled sun trap. The main patio area is up two stone steps where there's a large ‘Outback' gas BBQ, a rattan-style patio table with four matching chairs to one side, and two rattan-style sofas with an all-weather coffee table on the other.

For a property in the heart of a village, this outside space is marvellously private being surrounded by high walls. (Note: one small window overlooks the area to one side but seems rarely unused.)