This £2million home is the perfect place to host festivities. Denise Barkley chats to its current owner.

A double-height glass atrium and suspended glazed walkway add the ‘wow’ to a fabulous family home, in one of Headington’s most desirable residential streets.

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The magnificently spacious, light and airy detached house is 43 Sandfield Road – which sits in a plum position at the end of a no-through road lined with similar large houses and in close proximity to Oxford Brookes University, the hospitals, top schools, Headington shops, bars and cafes, and South Park.

Oxford Mail:

A few decades ago, the road was the home of some of Oxford’s literati including Lord of the Rings author J R R Tolkien, who lived at number 76 in the 1950s and 60s with his wife Edith.

Owner Ian Williams is moving on, but will miss his handsome home in this upmarket Oxford suburb.

“It’s such an exceptional house!” he enthused. “We bought it from an interior designer four years ago – he had already refurbished it and built an extension which increased the floor space from 2,500 to 4,000 square metres, and we finished off the work he had begun and invested in the garden too.”

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The white-painted five-bedroom property is an excellent example of 1930s’ architecture, dominated by the profusion of original Crittall Hope metal windows. This style has been replicated in contemporary style in the glass atrium, which is used as a dining room.

“This is by far my favourite part of the house,” Ian revealed.

“Coming through the front door into the entrance hall, you turn left into the kitchen and as you walk through there the atrium opens up in front of you – filled with light, and two-storeys high, you can see the gardens in all directions, it really is quite something!

“I also love the stainless steel and glass walkway which stylishly joins the new part of the house to the older part, avoiding the need for a second staircase.”

Oxford Mail:

Cleverly, the previous owner realised that this breathtaking glass structure would be well shaded by two large, mature trees, ensuring it doesn’t become overheated. Another notable feature is what Ian describes as “the three largest sash windows in the world” on the south side which open fully and have the effect of merging the house with the outdoors. This is enhanced by the use of the same limestone floor tiles in both the house and on the terrace.

The previous owner’s design also included demolishing the existing garage and replacing it with a 30x16ft family room with a spacious en-suite bedroom above it.

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“I use the downstairs room as my den -I have the biggest telly in there, along with my cross-trainer, weights, desk and so on,” explained Ian.

“The bedroom above it is lovely, and we call it ‘the hotel’ because it’s five-star. In fact, my daughter visited with her husband and children and said she was quite happy to live there!

“Conceptually and in terms of detail, this house has it made – it has elegant touches along with good mod-cons. It has been well thought out.”

Ian has enjoyed being involved in putting together his home décor.

“I have a good eye, and it’s fun to do,” he said. “I have quite a lot of Georgian furniture which I have collected over the years and I’ve been able to show it off well in this spacious house.”

Oxford Mail:

The house has five reception rooms on the ground floor and five bedrooms on the first floor. There’s a total of four bathrooms, a cloakroom and laundry room.

The private south/east-facing gardens lie principally to the side and rear of the house and are beautifully maintained. The main area to the rear is laid to lawn and flanked by pleached hornbeam trees. There’s a garden shed, part of which has been converted to a wine cellar, further sheds and greenhouse, and the garden is illuminated by uplighters.

Oxford Mail:

A vegetable and fruit garden lies to the side of the house with raised beds, mixed borders and beech hedges. There’s parking for five cars and the grounds of the John Radcliffe Hospital lie to the rear, well screened by trees and shrubs.

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Ian added: “It’s a very flexible house which lends itself to a variety of lifestyles. It’s also a wonderful place to throw parties!”

Ian, who is retired, plans to move to London to be nearer to two of his three daughters, who live there, but if his chic Oxford home sounds ideal for you, then it’s currently on the market with Knight Frank at £2,150,000, call 01865 790077, www.knightfrank.co.uk

*This article originally appeared in August's Limited Edition magazine, out now