Traditional in appearance yet bright, warm and contemporary inside, White Cottage, Saxlingham Nethergate, has been built to mirror a pretty 18th century property that once stood on the site.

Eastern Daily Press: White Cottage in Saxlingham. as it was before the renovation which has transformed the property. Photos: Courtesy of Brooks ResidentialWhite Cottage in Saxlingham. as it was before the renovation which has transformed the property. Photos: Courtesy of Brooks Residential (Image: Courtesy of Brooks Residential)

Currently on the market with Brooks Residential at a guide price of £625,000, the four-bedroom house has been newly rebuilt by its owners, whose original intention was to renovate and extend its predecessor.

They used to pass the period property regularly and had imagined bringing it back to its former glory, while also creating a modern kitchen and living space at the back.

Eastern Daily Press: Exterior of White Cottage in Saxlingham after its renovation. Photo: Courtesy of Brooks ResidentialExterior of White Cottage in Saxlingham after its renovation. Photo: Courtesy of Brooks Residential (Image: Courtesy of Brooks Residential)

It became clear, however, when they started work on the single storey extension that the original house was too precarious and it needed to be taken down. And this not only meant a return quite literally to the drawing board but also a whole new planning application.

It has been a lengthy process for the couple who have been keen to create a home which carefully marries Norfolk country cottage style with modern day requirements for comfort and practicality.

Eastern Daily Press: Inside White Cottage in Saxlingham. Photo: Courtesy of Brooks ResidentialInside White Cottage in Saxlingham. Photo: Courtesy of Brooks Residential (Image: Courtesy of Brooks Residential)

They have also been determined to ensure a high-quality finish and as such have dedicated great time and expense to finding just the right products and materials for the interior. And they have nothing but praise for builders D&R Construction who have stayed with them throughout the protracted project.

The result is a home that is both inviting and stylish – and just a few miles south of Norwich.

Eastern Daily Press: Open plan kitchen space in White Cottage in Saxlingham. Photo: Courtesy of Brooks ResidentialOpen plan kitchen space in White Cottage in Saxlingham. Photo: Courtesy of Brooks Residential (Image: Courtesy of Brooks Residential)

The formal front door is where the original was positioned but the couple have also created an attractive new entrance area to the side of White Cottage.

Those stepping into the house now find themselves in a fabulous reception hall and family room, with space to arrange both comfortable seating and dining furniture. This opens into the kitchen at one end and also features a beautiful bespoke oak and glass staircase, from Cullum and Clarke Joinery in Felthorpe.

Eastern Daily Press: The bathroom inside White Cottage in Saxlingham. Photo: Courtesy of Brooks ResidentialThe bathroom inside White Cottage in Saxlingham. Photo: Courtesy of Brooks Residential (Image: Courtesy of Brooks Residential)

A porcelain tile floor, with a wood effect, runs through the space and into the drawing room. Light streams in from all directions and under-floor heating keeps it warm and welcoming throughout the winter months.

The cream kitchen is from Benchmarx, with a black work surface from Premier Marble. It has been carefully designed to offer maximum storage, as well as integrated Neff appliances and a breakfast bar positioned to take in views out across the open countryside. There is even a cutting-edge Elica extractor fan.

Eastern Daily Press: Modern bathroom inside the White Cottage in Saxlingham. Photo: Courtesy of Brooks ResidentialModern bathroom inside the White Cottage in Saxlingham. Photo: Courtesy of Brooks Residential (Image: Courtesy of Brooks Residential)

To one side of the kitchen is a utility room with matching units and wooden work surfaces: a door from here opens on to the garden. Also on the ground floor are the study, cloakroom and expansive drawing room.

Located at the front of house, the drawing room has been designed to include French windows on to a small terrace area and a brick-built fireplace, which could house an open fire or wood-burning stove.

Eastern Daily Press: Bright and open living space inside the White Cottage in Saxlingham. Photos: Courtesy of Brooks ResidentialBright and open living space inside the White Cottage in Saxlingham. Photos: Courtesy of Brooks Residential (Image: Courtesy of Brooks Residential)

The current owners hand-picked an oak beam for the mantle, which offers enough of an edge to hang fairy lights or a Christmas garland.

White Cottage has been beautifully and subtly decorated in Farrow & Ball's skimming stone and dimity, with pebble grey windows. On the stairs and up in the bedrooms, these delicate shades have been carefully complemented by a soft, sandy coloured wool carpet.

Eastern Daily Press: Large open room in White Cottage in Saxlingham. Photos: Courtesy of Brooks ResidentialLarge open room in White Cottage in Saxlingham. Photos: Courtesy of Brooks Residential (Image: Courtesy of Brooks Residential)

All four bedrooms are on the first floor. Located to the front of the house are two bright doubles and a single, which could have an alternative use as a nursery or dressing room.

These rooms still have a homely cottage feel, with low windows and partly sloping ceilings; school-style radiators add to the character.

Eastern Daily Press: Inside the White Cottage in Saxlingham. Photos: Courtesy of Brooks ResidentialInside the White Cottage in Saxlingham. Photos: Courtesy of Brooks Residential (Image: Courtesy of Brooks Residential)

The master bedroom is incredibly spacious and has been designed to allow the new owners to wake up in the morning to the glorious outlook across the fields.

The en suite bathroom features a huge shower and the family bathroom has been fitted with a beautiful bath, as well as a shower; both have exquisite tiling, which has again been selected to complement the stylish and understated décor.

Outside, the gardens and grounds have been landscaped by JDMA Landscaping. There is an attractive terrace area, together with paths and a lawn up to the banks of the stream that borders the garden. There is also a generous off-road parking area.

Certainly, the rear garden is something of a blank canvas for new owners to enjoy developing and taking further. It is beautifully presented, however, and like the house ready to enjoy immediately.

From the front, White Cottage stands as proudly as its namesake did for hundreds of years and adorning its walls are railings believed to have been made by a former resident of the house who was also Saxlingham Nethergate's blacksmith.

These were wrought specifically to celebrate the Queen's coronation and although for a time they were painted red, white and blue to mark the great occasion they are now once again in an elegant black, setting the new house itself off perfectly, while also giving a gentle nod to its history.

White Cottage, Saxlingham Nethergate, is on the market with Brooks Residential at a guide price of £625,000. For more information, call 01603 660969 or visit www.brooksresidential.co.uk