All the bells and whistles

THE past 18 months have changed the preferences of country-house buyers. Forced to remain at home, they have come to appreciate not only the space a country property can offer, but also the many opportunities to keep family and friends entertained. As a result, many are now requesting ‘a wish list of toys’, in the words of David Carter, co-founder of House. Partnership, which ranges from fitness studios to garden rooms, automated garages and high-tech wine cellars. Similarly, he adds, ‘we are seeing a big investment in at-home spas. Popular equipment includes treatment rooms, sauna and steam rooms, ice baths and, in some cases, hydrotherapy pools and cryotherapy chambers.’

More established amenities, such as games rooms and bars, are having considerable upgrades: ‘It’s common to see smoking guns, immersion circulators and craft-brewing appliances in clients’ homes these days,’ says Mr Carter. In games rooms, ‘buyers are favouring a mix of traditional and modern, with classic snooker and billiard tables next to table football, table tennis, pool and air hockey. Computergaming rooms are appearing more often, with arcade gaming chairs and VR headsets’. And in home cinemas, ‘the latest installations feature UHD 4K laser projectors or OLED 4K screens with integrated mood lighting, speaker systems and voice-controlled automation. James Bond never looked, or sounded, so good’.