THERE is something of a grand country home feel to Gable House at Deighton. Sitting in a peaceful tucked away rural lane, it has a handsome and imposing exterior, warmly attired in a reclaimed red brick facade.

It was built in 1991; exclusively designed for, and built by, a local builder who used it as his own home for more than 12 years.

It’s always a good sign when a builder does his own developing and then loves the finished article so much he moves in.

Today, it still has the mark of a very special property – but also benefits from a recent programme of refurbishment and improvements.

These include a newly-fitted kitchen and utility room, four contemporary bathrooms and the introduction of a solid oak staircase, internal oak doors and oak and Travertine stone floorings.

“We’ve done quite a bit to the house,” Rob Drye says with what sounds suspiciously like a spot of understatement. “It suddenly became something of a project…”

Rob and his wife Helen have lived here for eight years, originally attracted not just by the size and scope of the property, but also by its excellent location – Deighton is a small, tucked-away and attractive village, wrapped in by open country landscapes and yet just a moment away from the A19 with its easy access to York, Selby and commuting routes further afield.

“It was, still is, in a great location,” Rob says. “You are surrounded by countryside, in a nice peaceful spot, yet you can get out on to the A19 very quickly and then it’s just a short drive to the centre of York.”

But, clearly, Gable House has much more going for it than location.

This is a brilliant, spacious and beautiful property which manages the difficult task of being both grand and cosy… Take, for instance, the large formal lounge which runs from front to back of the house (that’s some 28ft). This is a brilliant room in all senses of the word – there’s lot of light here, streaming in from a bay window to the front, two large side windows and smart French doors to the back.

Other attractive touches include ceiling cornicing, deep skirting boards and an open fire in a burnished dark wood surround. It is an imposing room and yet, as Rob says, “it’s a very comfortable room”.

Comfortable as this room may be it is not, we suspect, Rob’s favourite – and that may be because there are so many other ‘wow factor’ spots to choose from.

Next up on the tour is a brilliant boys room – an extensive spot, sitting to the front of the house and boasting an immense wall-mounted television, a pool table and an array of sit-down and snuggle up leather armchairs.

“I think the builder created this as a snooker room,” Rob says, “at one time I think he had a full-size snooker table in here.”

There’s certainly room for one and, cannily, when they refurbished the house, Rob had services put in so you could easily have your own refreshment area and bar to complete the picture.

But even this does not quite grab the top spot. That must go to the quite stunning, refurbished kitchen/family/dining room. This is a super set of spaces. Firstly the bespoke kitchen, with its extensive mix of light ash base and wall units and contrasting oversize black granite worktops and exposed brick features – complemented by a fine range of appliances including a double Rangemaster oven, an Amana American-style fridge-freezer and Franke double sink and mixer.

The kitchen runs into a family – or garden – room which has an unusual curved semicircular shape with a high beamed ceiling and large windows overlooking the garden and open countryside beyond.

The heavenly trio is completed by a good-sized formal dining area with enough room to host even the largest of family gatherings.

With French doors opening to the patio and garden, this is the ultimate entertaining area – in good weather or bad!

What about upstairs? Well, there’s a few wow factors there, too.

The first floor is reached by another new addition – a double oak staircase up to a galleried landing.

Up here you will find a superb master bedroom suite with a big bedroom area with character added by gently sloping ceilings to the front; there is an excellent ensuite bathroom with Jacuzzi bath and walk-in shower and then another plus in the shape of a big walk-in dressing room to complete the stylish, spacious atmosphere.

Further down the landing, two double bedrooms share another luxurious bathroom and there are two further double bedrooms to the end of the house, both of which have ensuite shower rooms.

And completing the upper floor there is another large bedroom, presently kitted out for use as a gym. “Although I don’t see much of this room,” Rob jokes. “It’s Helen who uses it most.”

A grand house in so many ways, this is also a very modern home.

Along with the traditional refurb touches which, Rob tells me, include 20 brand new solid oak internal doors and a huge amount of solid oak flooring, there is a definite high-tech feel throughout.

This comes from the fact that the whole property is wired for sound with a media server stream supplying connected television, music, telephone and even PC and games console features to every room in the house. (And just in case any of this overloads the National Grid, Gable House has its own emergency generator).

“It means you can stream music, video, television to any room you are in,” Rob explains.

With its double garage and plenty of hard-standing space to the front and large mature gardens overlooking open countryside to the rear the outside attractions match those inside.

As we said, a grand country home…

 

At a glance

Gable House, Deighton

Reception rooms: 6 (including a ground floor office)

Bedrooms: 6

Bathrooms: 4

Gardens: Hard standing to the front, large mature gardens with open countryside views to the rear, double garage.

Wow factor: We loved the brilliant kitchen and the bright, light garden room with great rural views

Price: £875,000

Contact: Hudson Moody, (01904) 650650.