\n Blenheim Farm. (Image: Duncan MacBrayne \/ Savills)\n<\/p>\n
\n Listed on the property market with Savills at an asking price of \u00a33,950,000, the home is currently “under offer” according to the estate agents’ website, and has been for weeks as those involved look to finalise the deal.\n<\/p>\n
\n The bespoke, handmade kitchen\/dining and family room is very much the heart of the home and offers spectacular countryside views and access to the garden terrace through the full-height sliding doors.\n<\/p>\n
\n The light-filled kitchen, arranged around a central island, complete with 2m long champagne chiller, designed by Belles, is equipped with a dove grey five-door Aga, gifted by Dame Mary.\n<\/p>\n
\n The antique painted wooden pews and the dresser were from a French monastery.\n<\/p>\n
\n A host of supplementary appliances are found in the adjacent test kitchen (second kitchen\/ utility room).\n<\/p>\n
\n READ MORE: Countryfile legend John Craven, 86, on ‘challenges’ after ‘final wish’ made<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n \n Using the main kitchen for entertaining and the second kitchen for housing the equipment works brilliantly, according to Belles.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cThe joy of designing your own house is you can have two dishwashers, two washing machines, two fridges and six bins if you want to \u2013 and we did.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n The library is full of character and charm and has a window into the kitchen with views of the fields and sky beyond.\n<\/p>\n \n The floor-to-ceiling bookshelves are home to part of Belles\u2019 father\u2019s literary legacy.\n<\/p>\n \n He had over 5,000 books from his antiquarian shop, so they built the library to house some of them.\n<\/p>\n \n READ MORE: Ellen DeGeneres makes ‘awkward’ TV comeback with rare appearance<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n \n A separate study\/office is Belles\u2019 creative hub and sanctuary, being home to her collection of cookery and gardening books.\n<\/p>\n \n The principal bedroom has a copper bathtub situated to enjoy the view, and there is a large dressing room with fitted wardrobes and a lantern light.\n<\/p>\n \n Its ensuite bathroom is Moroccan, from Habibi Interiors, as is the entrance hall fountain.\n<\/p>\n \n All the tiles in the property are from the Italian house Porcelanosa; bathrooms are Lefroy Brooks; finishing touches are Charles Edwards; the polished concrete floor is Lazenby\u2019s; and the bespoke wallpaper is by Zigati, Gucci & Cole & Son.\n<\/p>\n \n The walls of the master bedroom and Belles\u2019 office are sustainable bamboo.\n<\/p>\n \n READ MORE: Watch as legendary Flying Scotsman train departs Oxfordshire<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n \n Belles chose the interiors; the wallpaper in the media room is by Andrew Martin and encapsulates the fun vibe of the house, complete with an original 1970\u2019s tan leather sofa to set it off.\n<\/p>\n \n And the classic glass-topped drawered furniture is from her father\u2019s antiquarian bookshop.\n<\/p>\n \n The material for the blinds was brought back from a family holiday in Belize while the house was being built.\n<\/p>\n \n The house includes an oak-framed music room, which they turned into a games room during lockdown and has since become a fun place to spend the evenings\n<\/p>\n \n Designed and built by Belles and her husband in 2020 on the site of an old bungalow, the property is situated in the South Oxfordshire countryside overlooking its 10 acres of land.\n<\/p>\n \n READ MORE: UK comedy legend, 68, mugged and fought in ‘horrid’ attack<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n \n Blenheim Farm was previously an alpaca farm, and the family originally lived in the old bungalow when they moved there in 2014, before the family of five moved into the barn to stay on site for the rebuild.\n<\/p>\n \n Belles became an \u201caccidental smallholder\u201d and has kept orphaned lambs, cows and ducks. The family also keeps bees that supply their honey.\n<\/p>\n \n With over 4,000 sq ft of accommodation, the property\u2019s design takes full advantage of its peaceful position, with glazed walls of sliding doors to all rooms overlooking the gardens and land, offering panoramic, far-reaching views.\n<\/p>\n \n The house benefits from underfloor heating via an air source heat pump, polished concrete floors and double glazing throughout.\n<\/p>\n \n Outside, there is a characterful three-bedroom barn-style cottage (currently let) with an oak-framed vaulted kitchen\/sitting room with garden views, three ensuite bedrooms and a large loft serving as extra reception space.\n<\/p>\n \n READ MORE: How to pronounce this charming Cotswolds village seen in Hollywood films<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n \n The historic village of Ewelme is just over four miles away.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cI studied Feng Shui before we designed the house; a lot of thought went into the architectural drawings and where everything should go,” said Belles.\n<\/p>\n \n “We worked together with RPA Architects. It was a dream project and one we are extremely proud of.\n<\/p>\n \n “It\u2019s a happy house, and it has the wow factor, as the whole of one side is glass and south-facing.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n There is a large shearing shed\/barn, which still showcases the alpaca rosettes, and is the perfect place to store cars or boats.\n<\/p>\n \n READ MORE: Royal set to join reality TV show cast with Queen Camilla to attend<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n \n \u201cWe hosted mum\u2019s 80th in there on a perfect summer\u2019s day,” said Belles.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cThe rose garden is full of mum\u2019s favourite roses, Chandos Beauty\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n The gardens were designed by Clara Gardens with plants that sing with the house.\n<\/p>\n \n The grounds are also home to a 60-year-old beautiful beech woodland, which Belles has planted with snowdrops from the ancient woodland at Hedsor House.\n<\/p>\n \n READ MORE: BBC to make and air JK Rowling documentary without her input<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n \n The family have added a beautiful swimming pool and tennis court, which Belles says \u201cwas a winner in lockdown\u201d.\n<\/p>\n \n Belles added: \u201cBlenheim Farm has been the perfect home for the family.\n<\/p>\n \n “The children had an idyllic time, I became an accidental smallholder and enjoyed rearing lambs, cows, ducks and beekeeping.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cThere\u2019s a wonderful fruit garden at the back of the barn, and mum helps me pick and prune.\n<\/p>\nInside Blenheim Farm. (Image: Duncan MacBrayne \/ Savills)\n<\/p>\n
Inside Blenheim Farm. (Image: Duncan MacBrayne \/ Savills)\n<\/p>\n
Inside Blenheim Farm. (Image: Duncan MacBrayne \/ Savills)\n<\/p>\n
The outdoor swimming pool at Blenheim Farm. (Image: Duncan MacBrayne \/ Savills)\n<\/p>\n
Blenheim Farm. (Image: Duncan MacBrayne \/ Savills)\n<\/p>\n
Inside Blenheim Farm. (Image: Duncan MacBrayne \/ Savills)\n<\/p>\n
Inside Blenheim Farm. (Image: Duncan MacBrayne \/ Savills)\n<\/p>\n