Finalist Britain's Best Home 2003 - Channel 4

This is a lavish French chateau style 9000 sq ft house set in four acres. It has five bedrooms, murals, frescos, a swimming pool and loads of attitude. As well as this there are towers, curved walls, antique chimney pieces and all the exotic embellishments of a medieval French chateau, including gigantic proportions.
 
Sensibly, the kitchen and working areas are ultra modern, with sleek units, power showers, underfloor heating and a central vacuum system. A gravelled drive sweeps around to the front entrance where an ornate balcony overhangs the arched doorway. The tower, which houses the main staircase, is to the right and two decorative bell towers can be glimpsed over the rooftop.
 
Inside, a dramatic circular domed entrance hall has a patterned marble floor, marble effect pillars and walls and an antique French marble mantelpiece. A staircase with wrought-iron banisters winds to the upper levels. The tangerine & pink drawing room has a carved oak fireplace and turret area housing a baby grand piano. A dramatic carved oak chimney piece in the red dining room is in Jacobean style. A guest bedroom with dressing area and an en-suite shower room is also on the ground floor.
 
A very smart open-plan kitchen/dining/living space is designed on contemporary lines with Poggenpohl units, a royal blue Aga and a work island at the kitchen end. Double doors open to a terrace off a side hallway shower room and a gym. Upstairs the three double bedrooms all have en-suites, one with a domed frescoed ceiling and oval Jacuzzi bath. Also off the landing are two box rooms and a weekend room with brick fireplace and decorative ceiling. The grounds are landscaped with lawns, shrubberies and cobbled paths.