Shades of an English manor
It isn’t often that an architect gets the chance to completely rework a house that he or she had designed 25 years previously, so the muchcelebrated Terry Hitchcock was delighted when Geoff and Gay Shapland approached him to do just that, soon after buying their semi-rural 5000sq m property in 1995.
“He worked very closely with us to get exactly the outcome we wanted,” says Gay.
“I think he was really pleased to be able to expand on his original ideas.”
The project was so large it took 18 months to complete and the outcome is a seamless blend of the original concrete block house (now plastered) and the newer extended areas, with shades of rural Britain evident in its style – especially the high ceilings and polished brick floors.
Reached via a picturesque, tree-lined driveway, the house is full of surprises spread across two storeys, with two internal sets of stairs.
On the entry level, Geoff’s office lies to your left. Also on this level are two double bedrooms, a luxuriously proportioned separate laundry, plus bathroom and cloak room.
The kitchen, of course, has always been the hub of the house and it’s still a spot where visiting adult children and their offspring like to gather. Bright and light with garden views, it incorporates an informal sitting room. A walk-through semi-separate dining room with dark walls and elegant draperies leads to the enormous lounge which has sliding windows in order to enhance indoor-outdoor flow. There are several sets of french doors in this wing, each leading to the patio outside.
In a nod to the English flavour of the house, Gay has chosen beautiful fabrics throughout and the decor is tasteful and understated.
Upstairs from here is the master suite with a huge walk-in wardrobe, with built-in shelves, racks and an ironing board, a bathroom and, of course, the bedroom itself, which overlooks a pretty vista outside. Once again, the furnishings are lovely and the suite is peaceful and private.
On the other side of the house, the upper level features a large fourth bedroom and copious attic space for storage although there’s potential to turn it into an en suite if a new owner wanted to do that.
When the Shaplands moved in, the land was in pasture and there were sheep in residence.
“It didn’t take long for us to discover that we really weren’t farmers,” says Geoff.
“Instead, we decided to create a wonderful garden and we’re so glad that we did that because it’s been so rewarding.”
The couple planted trees, rose bushes and extensive hedging in what is essentially a European-inspired landscaping scheme, in keeping with the house.
They also built a heated pool, with pool-room and put in a tennis court.
Geoff still plays regularly with a group of local friends and the pool is an absolute magnet to his and Gay’s 12 grandchildren.
Their daughters all left from the house on their wedding days and many photographs were taken in picturesque spots around the garden, including in a romantic rose-covered gazebo.
In their 22 years here Geoff and Gay have seen enormous changes in the neighbourhood.
“We used to go and pick strawberries at Dannemora and now it’s all shops and houses,” she says.
Despite all this development, their property’s extensive views remain, and can’t be built out.
The local community is close; in fact Gay’s just remembered that the mahjong group is meeting at her place this week and she’s making sandwiches.
“We all know each other and that’s a big part of what makes this spot so special.”
Now empty-nesters, she and Geoff are looking towards new horizons.