About this property
The Lake House occupies the most incredible and highly sought after position in the heart of Thorpeness with far reaching views across The Meare. The Lake House was built in 1913 and is set centrally along Lakeside Avenue with gardens leading to a private jetty and direct access to the water.
The property has been meticulously renovated, remodelled and redesigned by the current owners with great flair to create an exceptional waterside property that truly maximises the wonderful views and magical setting.
The property is approached from Lakeside Avenue through a professionally landscaped garden with mature gnarled olive trees enclosed by box hedges, roses & lavender. The front door opens into a vaulted reception / dining hall where you are greeted with spectacular views, straight through and over The Meare beyond.
The accommodation is immaculate and flows exceptionally well, comprising well-proportioned and light-filled rooms with American walnut and French limestone flooring with underfloor heating and good ceiling heights throughout. Glazed doors between the reception hall and drawing room create a seamless flow providing both separation when required and large open plan spaces for entertaining.
The house is filled with natural light through large glazed windows, and doors which allow wonderful views to be enjoyed and maximised throughout the property. The drawing room with fitted wood burning stove and bespoke wood store beneath has full width bi folding doors opening out to the terrace, a tranquil shaded loggia and stunning landscaped gardens beyond.
The Mark Wilkinson kitchen / breakfast room is a particular feature of the house. It has been carefully designed with large roof lights allowing ample light as well as French doors opening out to the terrace, gardens and offers views over The Meare. The bespoke kitchen units and central island have granite work surfaces, a four oven Aga and integrated Miele appliances. To one side lies a superb utility room with fitted cabinetry, a stable door to the outside and access to the shower room, perfect for coming off The Meare or beach. Located off the entrance hall there is also a cloakroom and two cupboards. There is also approved planning for a ground floor extension to create a boot room, pantry and gym.
Stairs lead from the galleried landing to the first floor where there are four double bedrooms two of which benefit from en suite bath / shower rooms and the principal bedroom also has a spacious dressing area. All the bedrooms face The Meare and have wonderful views as well as doors leading out to the balcony. A further staircase leads up to the second floor, which is currently used for storage, but has approved planning for a superb principal bedroom suite.
The Lily Pad
The property has been carefully designed to provide an independent annexe that can be used for ancillary accommodation, a separate highly profitable holiday let or easily integrated into the main house for additional accommodation. The current owners have used this as a holiday let known as The Lily Pad, which has been highly reviewed and generated excellent income. Within The Lily Pad there is a bespoke kitchen with dining / sitting area, which is complimented by full width bi-folding doors, leading out to the terrace and providing views across the gardens to The Meare and bedroom with en suite shower room. The Lily Pad also has underfloor heating throughout.
Gardens
The landscaped gardens to the front and rear were designed and implemented by renowned David Forestier-Walker Landscape Design (gardendesignsuffolk.com). The gardens are now a luxurious outside retreat.
To the rear of The Lake House there is an expansive French limestone terrace, which flows from the kitchen out into the garden creating the perfect haven for alfresco dining and entertaining.
Beyond the terrace, lavender beds and verdant lawns lie either side of a gravelled path that leads down to a private jetty and seating area, which is flanked by beautiful, well established garden beds creating a peaceful and relaxing scene. The garden is also surrounded by mature trees and shrubs offering a high degree of privacy and seclusion.
Local information
- The Lake House is set centrally down the highly sought after private road, Lakeside Avenue.
- The village of Thorpeness, which is set around a boating lake known as The Meare, has developed from its Edwardian inception as a fairytale holiday village. Set on the Suffolk Heritage Coast with a shingle beach, the village lies to the north of the well served seaside town of Aldeburgh, and is just a few miles from Leiston where there is an excellent sports centre with a swimming pool and gym. The town also has a good variety of shops and a supermarket.
- Thorpeness boasts its own country club, tennis courts, golf club, cafés and pub/restaurant. There are many more amenities including galleries, a cinema, library and restaurants at nearby Aldeburgh. Saxmundham, approximately eight miles away, has a weekly market, and railway station with frequent trains to London Liverpool Street via Ipswich railway station.
- Attractions in this part of Suffolk include nature reserves at Minsmere and Havergate Island. There are ancient castles at Orford and Framlingham, sailing at Aldeburgh and Woodbridge and music at Snape maltings – home to the internationally renowned Aldeburgh Festival.
Additional information
- Services: Mains electricity, water, gas and drainage.
- Planning portal reference – DC/24/1613/FUL
- Agent Note: Be aware of proposed infrastructure projects in East Suffolk, including a new nuclear power station at Sizewell and North Sea wind farm expansion with related cabling and substation works.
- EPC Rating: C
- Tenure: Freehold
- Council Tax Band: G
