Bespoke Beauty on the Oxshott Crown Estate

Octagon Bespoke’s recently completed project, High Ridge on the Crown Estate in Oxshott, Surrey, started out life as a simple off-plan purchase. But the purchaser had very definite ideas about how he wanted his house to look and function, which is when Octagon’s Bespoke division became involved.

The spacious six bedroom detached house sits in approximately 1.2 acres, and offers eye blinking areas of living space, something the client rather relished customising, to fit in with his own sophisticated lifestyle and interests.

The entrance hall paves the way for the property’s amazing proportions and design details. Marble floor tiles with contrasting border inlay create a fitting backdrop for the twin flight marble staircase, with polished chrome balustrading and rich oak handrail, that rises and turns to the first floor landing.

A sheer wall of glass, fitted with a double door access, separates the rear of the hall from the separate formal dining room, which results in a pleasingly light filled area, and tempting views of the gardens beyond.

Ground floor living includes a formal drawing room with cocktail bar, dining room, study, TV and family room, extensive kitchen opening onto an informal eating area and sitting room, with walk in pantry, plus a back-up second kitchen and utility room. An additional snug has the added attraction of direct views and access into the more than adequately stocked wine library through another sheer glass wall with integral door.

From the kitchen complex can be viewed the well-equipped gym and indoor swimming pool with steam and shower rooms, which has wide fold back doors opening onto a deep rear terrace. The owner has just taken delivery of a specially commissioned sprung dance floor that can be lowered onto the pool, and transforming it instantly into a giant party room. The detachable floor when not in use is stored in its own ‘studio’, discreetly positioned on the outside side pathway.

On the first floor are 5 very sumptuous double bedrooms, all with individually designed en-suite bathrooms. The master suite is unreservedly the show stopper, with two marble bathrooms, two dressing rooms, and in the main bedroom, a dual aspect contemporary fireplace with flickering gas log fire dividing the sleeping area from a relaxing lounge. This is where the main residents enjoy stretching out after a hard night’s sleep to watch the morning news on their super wide plasma, whilst sipping chilled orange juice from the cleverly concealed fridge and brewing up a couple of macchiatos on the state of the art De Longhi.

Meanwhile, fun and games get going on the lower level of this spectacular home situated under the garden lawn, where 2,000 sq. ft. of space has been devoted to all things recreational; a serious cinema room with full reclining chairs, and oversized den, with curved wet bar, a giant video wall, and multiple choices of pastimes. Owners and guests can flit from vintage pinball machines and shuffleboard, to pool, a casino fruit machine, and table football – where the two teams sport Sheffield Wednesday and Fulham strips, the owners being ardent and opposing supporters.

Outside, the gardens feature wide expanses of stone terrace, lavish planting, rolling lawns and yet more leisure opportunities. There is a full sized all weather tennis/netball/5 aside football court, and a charming timber roofed gazebo protecting the chicest of table tennis sets. Made in dazzling white, this is the first to be delivered in the UK from those kings of style, the Italians.

Between the house and gazebo is a sheltered cook-out area, with an impressive wall of catering equipment, padded seating, and opposite, yet another super large plasma TV, weather and sun proofed for uninterrupted al fresco viewing.

A second staircase from a ground floor vestibule accesses the fully self-contained guest annexe running over the triple garage. The double bedroom has electric black out blinds for the large roof lights, a dressing area, en-suite bathroom, and living area with compact kitchen, revealed by folding back a set of mirrored doors.

The owners appointed award winning L & C to decorate and furnish their splendid new home – a familiar and trusted name in the interiors world, and well known to Octagon, who have commissioned them for several of their show house schemes.

Summing up his Octagon Bespoke experience, owner Peter Brodnicki says,

‘This is very much our house, tailored to the way my wife and I wish to live, and enjoy with our family and friends. I have found great satisfaction in researching and selecting finishes, as well as advising on room layouts. Octagon were our first choice for the project, having such an excellent name for quality and service. We found the Bespoke team delightful collaborators, and the site manager Gordon Potter particularly outstanding.’