IN years to come do you think social and housing historians will call this the decade of the bi-folding door?

They might well do because, after all, they’re seemingly mandatory for new builds at the moment. Then there are all those companies springing up who offer to retro fit a pair to our less than new builds, while the rest of us are probably either saving up for our own kitchen bi-folds or already have them ordered.

Not that it’s a bad thing. Bringing the outside in to our homes is a wonderful idea, especially so at this time of year.

And here is a perfect example of why they are so popular, even in a traditional cottage, when cleverly designed.

Indeed clever design is the byword for this fabulous four bedroom period farmhouse, which has been extensively refurbished and extended in recent years.

Boldly too and proving the point that just because a property is old, it doesn’t have to be a museum piece.

Indeed the modernisations here include these fabulous bi-fold doors which open up the superb kitchen/living/dining room and would be equally at home in a brand new home.

That’s not all. The ground floor has been designed to offer a bedroom suite with integral shower room/WC and its own entrance to the rear. This makes it a most flexible proposition. Granny annex, perhaps, or maybe some much needed independent space for the teenager in your family. It would certainly make a brilliant guest bedroom.

The front entrance door opens into the original part of the house where there is a living room with wood burner on a stone plinth and a separate family room. The dining room extends through into the kitchen/living room which has a Travertine limestone floor and also boasts a freestanding solid fuel stove, this time adjacent to an exposed brick wall.

The kitchen section is fitted with a quality range of high gloss wall and base units with drawer units and notably sleek curved base cupboards. The slate grey worktop is an excellent complement and there is a comprehensive collection of integrated appliances. To keep things tidy you will find a separate utility room for the inevitable household bits and bobs, not to mention a cloakroom/sink/WC, which is separate to the ground floor bedroom suite.

So far the only clues we have gleaned to this house’s great age have been the mellow Yorkshire brickwork of the original frontage and the lead topped bay windows, but that all changes as we climb the stairs to the first floor.

Here you’ll find three good sized bedrooms, with tell-tale signs of antiquity such as ceiling beams, sloping ceilings and built in cupboards.

We’ll start with the master which at 15ft by 15ft is a very respectable size for a country cottage. Naturally in this day and age it has an en suite, but this one is very smart. Take that fabulous modern sink and low flush WC and who wouldn’t want to languish in that deep bath encased in the same limestone tiling that adorns the floor.

On a clear night you could even do a spot of stargazing through the ceiling Velux window.

This room also acts as the family bathroom, being accessed from the landing as well as the master bedroom.

Not that the occupant of bedroom two will need to disturb you, because they have the benefit of a further en suite shower room/WC and of course the downstairs bedroom is fully self-sufficient.

Turning to the outdoor attractions, this house has a great deal of kerb appeal thanks in no small measure to the pretty and neat lawned front garden which is set back behind a wall with inset railings and mature shrubs.

Round the back those bi-folding doors from the kitchen/living/dining room lead us into the walled garden. This is a really lovely private space; a sunny west facing courtyard style area which has a flagged patio that echoes the kitchen’s Travertine Limestone floor.

There is a lawn area and planted borders, plus a driveway to the rear which leads to a garage with double doors and some very useful loft storage.

Location-wise, the property is situated in the much sought after heart of Strensall village which is just short of six miles north of York s city walls at Monk Bar and 2.5 miles from the outer ring road.

There is another bonus, because The Robert Wilkinson Primary School is just a few minutes walk and the house falls inside the catchment area for the highly regarded Huntington Secondary School, which even provides courtesy buses for students.

All in all this is a very attractive proposition. Pairing period features with the very latest design touches can be fraught with difficulty, but here the owners have pulled it off impressively.

And if in years to come social and housing historians will indeed call this the decade of the bi-folding door, they may very well include this place as an exemplar of how such things can work just as well in a traditional cottage. When it’s cleverly designed, of course.

AT A GLANCE

The Village, Strensall, York, YO32

Reception rooms: 3

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 3

Gardens: 2

Wow factor: Bringing the outside in

Price: £550,000

Contact: Your Move Anscombs York

Tel: 01904 621532