Bittern in Thorpeness

Available exclusively in December 2022 and January 2023, this gorgeous family house is situated in one of the best locations on the Suffolk coast in the magical village of Thorpeness, with uninterrupted views of the Meare from most rooms. Interiors are beautifully designed, furnished and equipped for memorable family gatherings or celebration weekends with the ideal ratio of five chic bathrooms for the six bedrooms. At the heart of the house is a stylish open plan kitchen/dining room with French doors opening onto the terrace with the garden and the water beyond. One of the two living rooms opens off the dining room, making it a particularly sociable space; the other is more of an informal family room where guests can watch TV or have a bit of peace and quiet. The kitchen is perfectly equipped for catering at home with an Aga, two electric ovens with an electric and gas hobs, two dishwashers, two American style fridge/freezers. and (of course!) two deep drink fridge drawers. Six luxury bedrooms are spread over the first and second floors; three with double beds, one with handsome four poster twin beds, another twin, and the last with a king size bed plus three singles - ideal as a family room or for older children on the top floor. The main bedroom - with stunning views over the Meare - has an en suite bathroom with a separate toilet. Another double has an en suite shower room; three further bath/shower rooms are conveniently located for guests in the other rooms so everyone has a degree of privacy. Bittern sits in a quiet spot at the top of Lakeside Avenue next to the Golf Club. There’s ample parking at the front for five cars so you can take a stroll to the popular Dolphin Inn; or enjoy walks along the beach or the coastal path to Aldeburgh, where you’ll find an excellent range of independent shops, eateries, and galleries. The Space: GROUND FLOOR ENTRANCE HALL You know you’re somewhere special when you step into this impressive double height hallway with wonderful portraits of previous owners welcoming you. Carpeted stairs rise to the first-floor landing and a second staircase rises to the top floor. KITCHEN/UTILITY ROOM An incredibly well-equipped kitchen both in terms of the cooking utensils, crockery, cutlery, glassware etc. and appliances. There’s a three-oven electric Aga with two hot plates and an electric oven with two gas rings in the kitchen, and an additional electric oven in the utility with ceramic hob; a microwave; four fridges (one American style with deep freezer door, a standard upright fridge, two deep drawer fridges (great for drinks!) plus two upright freezers; two dishwashers; a washing machine (no dryer but drying rack). The good-sized utility room (three steps down from the kitchen) also gives lots of extra space for groceries. There’s a sink and, conveniently, has a back door which leads through a porch to the driveway – easy access! There’s also space for coats, footwear and buggies in the porch. DINING ROOM This whole area is fantastic for socialising with the dining room opening off the kitchen, double doors from here to the living room, and French doors opening onto the terrace with stunning views of the iconic Meare throughout. At the heart of this room is the oval dining table which can be extended to seat twelve guests with upholstered dining chairs. There’s an open fire adding to the atmosphere, a drinks trolley (bring your own butler!) and large cupboards stacked with glassware for your use with a 2nd cupboard housing a Nespresso coffee machine, toaster and other breakfast bits. LIVING ROOM A key feature here is the wood burner with an old-fashioned club fender so you can perch and enjoy the heat. Three comfy sofas surround a gorgeous coffee table made from South African railway sleepers and there are lots more occasional tables around the room. French doors open to the patio and another door leads back to the entrance hall. TV ROOM Also with a door to the patio, this more casual room is great for relaxing infront of the TV with a couple of sofas, a chair, an attractive settle French doors, and lots of games and jigsaws to choose from. FIRST FLOOR LANDING Stretching along this floor with doors to four beautiful individually designed bedrooms and the family bathroom. A relatively steep carpeted staircase rises to the top floor. BEDROOM ONE WITH EN SUITE BATHROOM A magnificent room with views of the lake and a patio, furnished with a bench and table where you can enjoy your morning coffee. The bed is a double wrought iron bed and there’s plenty of space to relax with a sofa and a TV sitting on the handsome chest of drawers. A large wardrobe with additional shelf space gives extra space for your clothes. EN SUITE BATHROOM Soak up the view in this luxury bathroom whilst cleaning your teeth at the double basins which sit beneath the window. The double shower cubicle has both a rain and hand held shower and there’s also a hand-held shower over the bath and a heated towel rail (towels ae provided). The WC sits in a separate room off the bathroom and there’s another door back onto the landing. BEDROOM TWO WITH EN SUITE SHOWER ROOM Another superb bedroom with waterside views, original oak flooring and a TV. A double bed sits between bedside drawers and there are a couple of chairs so you can relax with a good book .and ample storage in the wardrobes with shelves and additional drawers. EN SUITE SHOWER ROOM Equally chic with a two-person basin and handy vanity drawer beneath it, both rain and handheld shower heads in the large cubicle, a WC, and a heated towel rail. FAMILY BATHROOM Conveniently placed for guests in bedroom three and four, this bathroom has a bath, shower cubicle with handheld and rain showers, double basins and a heated towel rail. BEDROOM THREE For a bit of peace and quiet with a good read there can be few better places to sit than in the charming window seat in this pretty room on the corner of the house which has a double wrought iron bed, a credence table with the TV on it, and storage in drawers beneath the window seat and bedside drawers. BEDROOM FOUR Guests are sure to sleep well in the twin antique four poster beds in this unusual room which sits at the front of house and has a little alcove with a chair, chest of drawers with the TV on the top and a unique ornamental fireplace. There’s also a wash basin in this room and storage in a chest of drawers and bedside drawers. TOP FLOOR The landing runs along the length of this floor with two shower rooms to the left, the family room to your right and the twin down a couple of steps at the end of the corridor. FAMILY BEDROOM Sleeping five guests, this large beamed room with fantastic views to Aldeburgh, is great for older children or for a couple. Due to the steep stairs it isn’t suitable for little ones and, despite sleeping five guests here, the total number of guests in the house is set at twelve (primarily due to reception/dining space) but this room gives more flexibility in the sleeping arrangements. There is a king size bed plus three singles and a chest of drawers and a hat stand for your clothes. TWO SHOWER ROOMS Almost identical with double cubicles with both rain and handheld showers, basins, WCs and heated towel rails. TWIN BEDROOM A quaint room with steps down from the entrance to the twin beds in the eaves beneath the sky light. There’s a chests of drawers your clothes. OUTSIDE Bittern is in an exceptional location with a garden sloping down to the iconic Meare, mainly laid to lawn with attractive borders and a generous patio furnished for outside dining or simply relaxing on the rattan lounge furniture. The house is set back from Lakeside Avenue at the top just before you get to Thorpeness golf club with space on the drive for 3/4 cars and a bike rack. Please be aware that there is no border between the garden and the water so children must be supervised and swimming is not permitted.