SOME people stumble on their dream home by way of simple serendipity. They drive past and there it is – for sale sign board and all… For David and Jane Brewer, however, finding Applewood House, their home of the last 16 years, was most definitely not a case of pure chance.

“We were coming down to York and knew we wanted to find a village house,” David explains. “We were told by one of the estate agents here that there was a property coming up soon which might be ideal but it wasn’t yet on the market as the owner was painting it.”

Armed only with the knowledge that the house was in one of the villages surrounding York, David set off on a quest.

“I must have driven round every village for miles,” he remembers. “And then I came to Sand Hutton – and there was this chap painting his house. It had to be the one.”

It certainly was. And the couple moved quickly, snapping up the property after a first look round.

It was perhaps just as well they were so determined. This is a house which does not come to market often – in fact the Brewers are only the third owners since it was built in 1890.

And it is likely to prove an even more popular home since David and Jane have considerably extended and improved what was originally designed as a simple home for one of the Sand Hutton estate managers.

“There was quite a bit to do,” David says. “The house itself only had one bathroom and a small kitchen to cope with the large family living here.”

And the garden needed attention, too. “There were chickens running around everywhere and it even had a pig sty,” Jane recalls with a smile.

House and garden have certainly been transformed since then. This is now a quite stunning country home with large, splendidly maintained gardens outside and beautifully presented, spacious rooms inside.

I arrived on one of those idyllic summer mornings created, it would seem, with the intention of highlighting just how green and pleasant a land we have here in Yorkshire.

l Continued from Page 1 As I walked up to the front of this double-fronted, high-gabled house, there was a slight breeze rippling the tall trees, bushes and shrubs that form the first of many delightful garden views.

The gardens, in fact, roll their way around three sides of the house, with sprawling lawns, gravel paths, a host of mature trees including apple, pear, damson and cherry, and patio and terraced seating areas. It is, on this wonderful morning, simply stunning, a haven of greens and golds and reds and yellows.

And while there might not be free-range chickens pecking around there is an abundance of birdlife – including a very tame blackbird named Doris who occasionally pops into the house for breakfast.

But what about the house itself? Standing in the back garden and looking back towards the house you can see how skilfully an extension has been blended onto the side of the original property (using perfectly in-keeping Yorkshire brick) and how much extra space that has provided.The house is formed in almost two ‘wings’, and as you step into the entrance hall there is a smart sitting-room to the right. This room, like the others throughout the house, has been elegantly reformed while retaining the period pieces that make the house so special. It has a bay window to the front and a window to the side, with character features including an original open fireplace with splendidly ornate cast-iron surround and mantel, picture rails and ceiling rose.

Next comes a dining-room or second reception room, another super light and bright room with bay window to the side and french doors to the rear opening onto the garden. Again, there is an open fire, this one with granite surround and hearth.

And now we move along to one of the house’s wow factors – a superb kitchen and dining/family area.

The kitchen is a gem, a bespoke Valentine’s of Pocklington designed and fitted area with a fine range of painted oak-fronted units and granite work surfaces and with appliances including a Bosch double oven, hob and microwave and with dishwasher and integral fridge.

The kitchen is open to the oak-floored dining area, which is a brilliant spot with wall units matching those in the kitchen and lit by full-length windows and french doors thrown open to the garden and patio area (where Doris the blackbird is busily hopping around).

Doors from this room lead to a utility room and a rear lobby – and a hugely useful office suite consisting of two office spaces.

These are, it turns out, something of a “his and hers” set. The first office served Jane as the ideal home base when she worked for Proctor and Gamble. “It was a godsend,” she says. “I could come in here, shut the door and immediately have a quiet, peaceful workspace.”

It is a lovely working room, fitted out neatly and facing out onto the rear garden (it is another attractive feature of this house how many of the rooms have lovely views out to the garden).

The second office space is now used as a “man-den” music room for David, where he can play his guitar in peace (he took it up, along with motorbiking, after he retired from teaching). As it happens, David also has another ‘den’ in the shape of a standalone double garage and workshop in the garden.

And now for the equally extensive quarters on the first floor, four large bedrooms, retaining original cast-iron fireplaces and picture rails and with lovely views. There are two bathrooms, the main house bathroom being superbly styled with a roll-top claw-foot bath and a separate shower cubicle.

As we make our way back downstairs, David points out one of a series of painting and other artworks on the wall, created by his late mother. The picture shows the house as it originally stood before the Brewers took residence and created the extended living spaces.

“The irony,” David says, “is that if the house was still that size we would not be moving. It would be just right for us.”

But Now, with their daughter grown and moved on, the house is simply too big for the couple in retirement. This simply wonderful, spacious and elegant country home will see new life. And this time the new owners won’t have to spend hours driving around to find it. Simply contact the selling agents Hudson Moody.

At a glance

Applewood House, Sand Hutton

Reception rooms: 5

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2 (plus 2 ground floor cloakrooms)

Gardens: Stunning, extensive, gardens to front, side and rear.

Wow factor: This is a simply beautiful country home with superb gardens – but if we were pushed it would be the light, bright kitchen/dining room.

Price: £795,000.

Contact: Hudson Moody. Phone: 01904 650650.