Shipton Under Wychwood, OX7 6DY

THE PROPERTY: A house that has been thought through rather than merely extended this fine home's mellow, reconstituted Cotswold stone elevations sit comfortably within the local vernacular, giving the house an air of quiet permanence. Inside, the accommodation has been arranged with genuine flexibility in mind. A study on the ground floor could readily serve as a fifth bedroom, while a ground-floor shower room lends itself to single-level living, a detail that matters increasingly to buyers thinking beyond the immediate term. The living room and separate family/dining room provide distinct spaces for everyday life and entertaining alike, complemented by a sleek modern kitchen. A particular point of quality is the extension, warmed by wet underfloor heating tied into the central heating system, giving that part of the house a noticeably even, comfortable feel underfoot. Upstairs, four bedrooms are joined by a further room presently used as a nursery but equally suited to a dressing room, with scope, subject to consent, to form an en-suite shower room. The bathroom has been finished with a restrained, contemporary touch, and oil-fired central heating together with double glazing keeps the whole house running efficiently. Outside, a walled garden encloses a terrace that catches the sun for much of the day, offering the kind of private, sheltered outdoor room that is increasingly sought after. The garage, fitted with an electrically operated and insulated tambour door, and a recently cleaned roof point to owners who have attended to the practical as well as the presentable. West Oxfordshire District Council- Tax band E