South Green, Kirtlington, OX5

TAKE A TOUR FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME. One of the most sympathetic and elegant renovations of a period cottage that we have seen. Beams, stone, unusually good natural light, a fabulous extended kitchen, three ample bedrooms (two vaulted) plus a secluded garden. And surprisingly efficient! NO CHAIN.

Kirtlington needs little introducton locally! It is, simply, one of the most popular villages in North Oxfordshire. There are many reasons for being here. Try the walks through Capability Brown's gardens in Kirtlington Park, or through the woodland in the old quarry; have a pint in the Oxford Arms or Dashwood; or sample the friendly service from Amir and Rachel in the Stores. Then check the travel time to four different London-bound stations within a short distance, not to mention the A34 and M40 access. Frequent bus services to Oxford, Kidlington etc are available from a stop just yards away, and the walk to the school, shop and pubs is just a couple of minutes. There are many reasons to live here. But its all-inclusive ethos, sense of vibrancy and spirit makes Kirtlington the sort of place people rarely want to leave.

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Maurdon Cottage is one of the lovely, traditional stone cottages so typical of the centre of this agreeable village. Our client purchased it in poor order several years ago and has radically improved every aspect of its useability while preserving its character. The flow is now excellent, with a particularly generous downstairs which offers far more living space than most cottages in this price bracket. And, unusually for a cottage, every space is light and well proportioned, hence all the rooms feel easy to use. It's not just the character that impresses, it's also the smaller details. From new windows to extending the kitchen, to new heating, to uncovering then glazing over the well; everything has been finished to a great standard. But more than that, it combines style and taste with great comfort and ease of use.

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Walking in through the new front door, the quality of this renovation is instantly apparent. A broad, light hallway greets you with its high quality oak floor, the perfect surface for both style and practicality which continues through to the kitchen. Straight ahead is a door out to the garden, and on the right the cloak room is also a shower room - a clever and practical touch. To the left the living room is a pleasant surprise. At around 23 feet by 19, it is an unusually large and practical room. Windows to both sides bring in a wonderful amount of natural light, ensuring it's a positive place to be. In addition the fireplace is a delightful focus point which is just crying out for a wood burning stove to be fitted for those cold winter evenings. And the window seats to the front are lovely places from which to watch the world go by, behind modern double glazed wood windows. Back across the hall, the kitchen is the star of this cottage. A significant remodelling and extending exercise has resulted in a clever space that provides a generous range of modern kitchen units to one end and a large dining area at the other. Heritage roof light windows flood in light above. And glazed double doors flanked by further windows at the dining end open onto the very private garden. While renovating the house, the owner discovered it had a well! Rather than fill it in, they have repointed its walls, covered it with a reinforced glass top and added lighting. This is a lovely feature that speaks so well of the history of the house.

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Upstairs provides more of the same style and character. The landing ceiling is vaulted, framed by thick timber trusses that are part of the original roofing, and a window to the side throws great natural light across the stairs. To the right the first of the three bedrooms is a well proportioned double room, and feels larger still as it shares the same vaulted ceiling, which gives is great character. Next door the smallest of the three is also a double, the ideal spare or a great study. Moving down the landing, the vendor has built in a generous range of store cupboards along the left side, and opposite there is an attractive bathroom immaculately fitted with a classic suite. At the end of the landing the largest bedroom is substantial at nearly 16 feet long, unusual for a cottage, with alcove space that could be perfect for fitting large storage - or even adding an en-suite.

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Outside, to the rear the garden is secluded and surprisingly quiet. Walled, the longer part is mainly lawn with borders containing a good diversity of flowering plants, shrubs and bushes. To the right, the area immediately behind the kitchen is laid to gravel, providing a pleasant seating area for Summer dining. It's a rather lovely space.