Our HOT PICK of the week is....a "Castle" in County Durham!

Hey everyone, Happy Friday to you all!

I have something pretty special to show you today, and if you're looking for a property that exudes 'Wow Factor', then you're definitely in the right place. To get us started off, I'm gonna ask you a wee question... have you ever dreamt of living in a castle one day? If the answer is yes (or, if the question itself has you feeling curious), then please read on and see what you think of this rather special property in County Durham...

Firstly, I'd like to make clear that it's not an 'actual' castle itself that's on offer here. We are about to check out the next best thing though. This property is not only set within the grounds of a real castle, it's a wonderful conversion of existing buildings that are actually attached to the castle itself! So, if you did manage to get your hands on this incredible property at auction, you would find yourself literally residing next door to an actual castle, and you'd be living in an unusual home that comes with some funky castle-type features of its own too! :-)

Once you  take a moment to get over just how incredible it is that this property is adjoining an actual castle, the next thing this unique home throws at you are those lovely stone walls with an amazing castellated roof line. Yup, that's the first time I've ever had to describe a property as castellated, and it's really not something you come across every day even when seeing hundreds of properties on a regular basis like we do here at UKAL.

Such a bold exterior combined with these stunning surroundings simply isn't to be missed, so lets take a closer look and check out what else this home has to offer...

Obviously that charming stone exterior is quite the talking point in itself, and I especially love that ragged edge of wall to the left of what I assume is the front door to the property. Likewise, I'm equally fond of that door which despite a fairly plain appearance is very much in keeping with the look of the property, and thanks to the shaped stone surround that frames the door perfectly it therefore becomes the ideal entrance to this quirky home. I adore the low key, subtle, and simple style of the exterior over all as it allows the battlements to make maximum impact, while still feeling proportionate to the size of the property.

I also love that nothing feels over or under done here. That seems to be a common theme throughout the interior as well. Every area of the home has a perfect balance of simplicity, neutral tones, and lovely little touches of magic where fabby features are to be found. The ground floor has a lovely open feel to it, especially thanks to the high ceilings in the main living space on the ground floor.

The room has twin archways to one end, there are twin glass doors leading into the kitchen on the opposite wall... add those with the two tall windows letting light pour in, and you've got yourself a light, spacious room with a fab feature fireplace as the focal point. That lovely wood burning stove is the icing on the cake, and it isn't difficult to imagine how much it will be appreciated to snuggle up in front of during winter when you have such a large space to heat.

The kitchen is equally impressive, if not even more so, and I'm loving the large kitchen island with what appears to be a dark marble countertop.

Those smart floor tiles are perfectly matched to the worktops, and it's the ideal space to combine cooking/baking with entertaining. That gas hob situated on the island is great, allowing you to enjoy cooking without having to turn your back on others in the room... an equally fab feature for allowing parents to keep a closer eye on the kids while preparing a meal. There's even space for a handy dining table with room still going spare. Add in the funky sunk in ceiling spotlights, smart cabinet doors, twin ovens, and what looks to be a large double fridge/freezer, and it's a wonderful kitchen that can handle whatever you need it to. Perfect for anyone with a love of cooking and baking :-)

Moving upstairs, the next thing to catch my eye was the quirky little window in the hallway. The way this building was converted to residential has resulted in the hallway window being set at floor height.

It's made what could have been a dark corner into a light bright space, the ideal spot for a comfy chair for reading in and perhaps a small table for enjoying a ccupa with the views. I don't know if the ceiling is actually arched there, or if it's just a trick of the light from the uplighters giving the appearance of a curved ceiling, but it looks funky either way :-)

The bedrooms appear to be largely a blank slate throughout, they are all well proportioned, and also enjoy plenty of natural light.

 

The master bedroom has the benefit of a lovely en suite, and the family bathroom is a good size too. Apparently there is a spacious enclosed garden outside the property, but unfortunately the exterior shots have all focused on the building itself, so the garden is a bit of an unknown. It's pretty safe to assume it's been well maintained though given the location and adjoining property.

Admittedly,  I'd personally find that having a single shade on all the interior walls throughout might not be to everyone's taste, but that isn't really an issue when you think about it. That's one thing that's incredibly easy to change. This is absolutely the ideal blank canvas, and it is totally ready for someone to make their mark and inject further character and personality into this stunning conversion. You could easily move in there as it is, and can then take your time decorating each room in turn... until one day that property you were once dreaming of has become the actual reality surrounding you.

So there you go folks, can you see yourself living in your own little castle? It really is the closest thing you're gonna get, and especially for such a reasonable price! Contact Auction House North East to arrange a viewing, the auction is on 5th June, so don't delay!

L x