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According to Rightmove, searches by renters seeking their own outside space are 16% higher than they were in January and February and 26% higher than the same week last year.
So, whether you dream of having a large garden that you can spend hours making sure it’s perfectly manicured, or simply enjoy looking at sprawling luxury mansions with all the prestige and privacy of a private estate, there are plenty of properties out there to choose from. We asked some of our team to tell us about their favourite property and why they would like to be isolated there.
My Desert Island Disc property during the COVID period would be Isis, Pharaoh’s Island in Shepperton.
Living on the riverside is amazing as it provides a constantly changing picture and the light has its own resonance, so you will never get bored looking at the view. The flow of the water is incredibly calming for the soul, exuding its natural karma, which is a little of what is needed when you are going to be housebound and without daily interaction.
The riverside environment is a haven for wildlife of all varieties from waterfowl, garden birds, vowels and other aquatics life. Boating has a way of whiling away the hours and they can always do with that tinker to make them shipshape – the Dory that comes with this house is no exception.
When you can drag yourself away from the water, the secluded southerly backing rear garden is a gardeners dream. It will keep you entertained for hours tending to its wide variety of sub-tropical and native plants, interspersed with different areas of interest including a pond, a shaded vine-covered arbour and a summerhouse to relax and admire your handy work – whilst enjoying that sundowner cocktail.
The house has a wonderful feeling of space and light, so you will not feel caged-in and bi-fold doors to the front and rear allow the spring breeze to flow through. In the evening when it gets a bit chilly, why not light the open fire.
Isis forms part of this close-knit, friendly island community of only 25 properties, with everyone sharing the passion for the river and exuding that ‘old fashioned’ neighbourly way of looking out for each other, so if you are running short of bread or milk, hop onto the island’s Whatsapp group and see who can help you out.
When searching for properties on Curchods.com I initially thought it would be hard to find something that I’d be happy to be quarantined in that wasn’t my own home… until I came upon Sachel Court Road which is listed with our Cranleigh office.
Why this property? Well, I got to thinking that it had to be as far out in the country as our offices cover – and southerly – so as near the coast as possible. It also needed to be rural as there’s no point being isolated in a busy town centre! Although despite it’s close proximity to Dunsfold aerodrome, I dare say even that is pretty quiet in times of ‘lockdown’!
As for the property itself, I would want a house that my family and my sister-in-law’s family would be happy to holiday in, as we often do in Dorset. And Saffron Gate looks very typical of the sort of holiday home we would go for, particularly as it is surrounded by an acre of gorgeous looking grounds. One thing’s for sure I would definitely need advance notice to stock up on plenty of gardening equipment and plants prior to my isolation starting!
Finally, the name. What could be a better name for a house than Saffron Gate – something to remind you of Indian food which I love. Id just need to remember to stock up on my favourite spices first!
Of all the homes to be isolated in, Swallow Cottage, is certainly one of the best around. The detached barn-style garage has a superb office on the first floor which would make the idyllic space to work from home while tucked away to the rear of the property, the stables would keep the rest of the family busy and be a superb way to take your daily exercise.
My favourite features of the home are:
Having grown up in a family home with an Inglenook fireplace, there is nothing quite like being in a such a warm, cosy and characterful room for the evening.
As a keen gardener, I certainly wouldn’t get bored in Swallow Cottage! The owners have kept the gardens to a very high standard and I would love the challenge to maintain it.
The property backs onto fields with an open view of the countryside beyond – what a joy to look out onto all that green space on a bright, sunny day.
This stunning Victorian home is my absolute dream! Not only is it filled with character features which I adore, but it’s situated in one of my favourite spots in Esher – West End village, overlooking the cricket green and pond.
Homes like these are almost always a pandora’s box of hidden delights. Not only are they usually a lot bigger than first impressions, but they’ve usually been refurbished to elegantly combine period features, such as fireplaces and window seats (which I love), with a more modern take on decor (which I also love).
This cottage is not only gloriously homely inside, but it also includes a fabulous garden office, perfect for painting and crafting, as well as what I consider to be a box hedge mini-maze in the front garden – who wouldn’t want one of those?
Oozing quirkiness this house would be absolutely dreamy for me in isolation! Unfortunately, it’s now sold, but I hope the lucky owners have enjoyed it as much as I would if I was isolated in it.
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