From Commuter Belt to Countryside Haven
Tiller Close winds its way up a shallow hill off a quiet country lane on the edge of Badwell Ash village. A single row of detached houses stands proudly in its landscape, which is bordered by fields. It’s quiet. The only sound is of birdsong and the odd barking dog.
This haven of tranquility is quite a contrast to the bustling town of Harpenden that Gary and Jo left behind when they bought their three-bedroom bungalow on the Symonds Walk scheme.
Harpenden in Hertfordshire is a popular commuter town on the border of St Albans just north of the M25. Gary and Jo had lived there for their whole lives. Jo’s childhood home became the family home where their two children were raised. Over the years the children grew up, their son moved to Vancouver and daughter to North West London, whilst friends and family gradually moved away as well. Despite their incredible affection for the place, the couple decided the time was right to set down roots in a different location.
The world was literally their oyster, so together they came up with a list of criteria to help them find the perfect home.
- Countryside village location
- Within two hours of their daughter’s home in Northwest London
- Active community
- Shop, pub and amenities
- Decent sized garden with space for a greenhouse and kitchen garden
- Double garage
- Future-proof property
The aim of the move was to downsize, but to have enough space for all their belongings, including Gary’s classic MG. The search narrowed to Suffolk and Norfolk, and so began weekends of exploration, wandering villages with the aim of ticking every box.
Tiller Close winds its way up a shallow hill off a quiet country lane on the edge of Badwell Ash village. A single row of detached houses stands proudly in its landscape, which is bordered by fields. It’s quiet. The only sound is of birdsong and the odd barking dog.
This haven of tranquility is quite a contrast to the bustling town of Harpenden that Gary and Jo left behind when they bought their three-bedroom bungalow on the Symonds Walk scheme.
Harpenden in Hertfordshire is a popular commuter town on the border of St Albans just north of the M25. Gary and Jo had lived there for their whole lives. Jo’s childhood home became the family home where their two children were raised. Over the years the children grew up, their son moved to Vancouver and daughter to North West London, whilst friends and family gradually moved away as well. Despite their incredible affection for the place, the couple decided the time was right to set down roots in a different location.
The world was literally their oyster, so together they came up with a list of criteria to help them find the perfect home.
- Countryside village location
- Within two hours of their daughter’s home in Northwest London
- Active community
- Shop, pub and amenities
- Decent sized garden with space for a greenhouse and kitchen garden
- Double garage
- Future-proof property
The aim of the move was to downsize, but to have enough space for all their belongings, including Gary’s classic MG. The search narrowed to Suffolk and Norfolk, and so began weekends of exploration, wandering villages with the aim of ticking every box.
The draw of the new build
The couple weren’t initially looking for a new build property, having been put off by large developments of identikit houses, which were not up their street. However, a drive by the Symonds Walk development in Badwell Ash, piqued their interest; attracted by the low-density scheme of individually designed homes.
With a home to sell Gary and Jo were subject to the fickle nature of housing chains and suffered their fair share of disappointments in their journey to becoming the owners of a Hartog Hutton home. However, their determination to stick to their guns and patience paid off.
“Emma Green was an absolute Godsend,” explained Jo. “She kept on top of the chain, was constantly in communication with us and has a lovely calm way about her. We honestly don’t think it would have all come together without her.”
Typically, the minimum time between exchange and completion on a Hartog Hutton home is five weeks, to allow for finishes such as flooring, tiling and kitchen design to be customised and installed. Through no fault of their own, Jo and Gary ended up with just days instead of weeks. As a result, they spent the summer without a kitchen.
“What could have been a nightmare was actually a dreamy time for us. We ate BBQs and salads whilst admiring the view and taking in the constant wildlife sightings that we’d never experienced from our own garden before,” said Jo.
With an open plan living space the kitchen had to not only be functional but also aesthetically pleasing. Gary and Jo put a lot of thought into the precise layout, maximising storage with a generous larder cupboard and under counter cupboards to keep the worktops clear of appliances and clutter. The result is stunning.
A home for now and the future
Whilst a home’s finishes give it character, it is the hidden features that make it functional and efficient. Gary and Jo were eager not to be reliant on an oil-powered heating system, so the air source heat pump and solar panels were highly appealing and ticked the ‘future proof’ box.
“Our experience with Hartog Hutton has far exceeded our expectations. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and everyone was so generous with their time and advice. It was always easy to speak to someone, and we felt that they genuinely cared,” said Gary. “We would not hesitate to recommend Hartog Hutton to anyone considering moving to a new-build home.”