5 bed farmhouse for sale

Porthkerry Road, Nr Barry CF62

£900,000 - £950,000

Before you even approach the home, you know you're in for a treat. The sweeping, wrap-around driveway can comfortably accommodate up to 8 vehicles and there's a double garage to boot. Ahead stands Upper Porthkerry Farm with its water-reed thatched roof and gorgeous deep eyebrows framing the windows.

Once inside the spacious hallway (featuring a historic blue pennant standing stone), you could be stepping into the pages of an interior design magazine. The beams in the living room are reclaimed from an old shipwreck and steeped in history. But there's no banging your head here, or remembering to 'duck' as the ceilings are loftily high and the rooms wonderfully airy. If you like your toes nice and toasty, fear not as you'll find a log burner inside an original inglenook fireplace, surrounded by dressed blue pennant stone. The original stable door with 500 years of history is an absolute gem and leads right on through to the farmhouse kitchen.

The bespoke kitchen is an absolute dream, handcrafted by the current owner and painted in a lovely soft French grey. The curved central island is a perfect spot to enjoy a cup of coffee and catch up with friends. The range-style cooker is ideal for a traditional farmhouse breakfast, and there are plenty of built-in appliances (with no less than two dishwashers!) and a plethora of storage space. From here, the kitchen flows effortlessly into the family room, which sits at the heart of the home, a fabulously sociable space. There's even a really useful boot room off the kitchen, which's light and airy, filled with integrated cupboards and a full-size fridge freezer.

The sitting room is elegant and bright, again with a large, period fireplace. The dining room makes the perfect entertaining space, with its exposed wooden floor and room for the largest of tables. Both rooms are dual aspect, so you can step out to the garden with a glass of wine and soak up the views. Upstairs, you'll find five exceedingly well-proportioned bedrooms, no less than three en-suites and a luxurious family bathroom. The master bedroom is sumptuous, dual aspect and flooded with natural light. A freestanding, roll-top bath demands attention in the centre of the room, with a walk-in shower and a pretty vanity sink unit completing the spa-like sanctuary.

But back to the room itself. Even with a super-king bed and generous furniture, the master bedroom is still, well...huge! With its curved ceiling, exposed beams and Emma Shipley wallpaper, it's jaw-droppingly fabulous. The second bedroom again is dual aspect, has a shower room with a triple vanity unit and basins, while mirrored subway tiles complete the look. There's an ample dressing room to keep all your clothes well organised. The other three double bedrooms (one with an en-suite) are all large, bright and airy, with their individual quirks. They all share the same sense of openness and style, and glorious views, of course! The family bathroom is beautifully designed and utterly sublime. It's all in the details here. The freestanding, cast-iron slipper bath even has the original plug!

Outside, a separate annexe with a mezzanine offers a myriad of possibilities for multi-generational living. With its own fitted kitchen and shower room, it would make an amazing home office, teenage den, guest accommodation, dedicated gym studio or a wonderful writing retreat.

The garden is equally impressive as the interior. There's a large social space with decking and a sunken seating area for entertaining and the star of the show a covered, heated swimming pool. Just the place for a refreshing dip or leisurely lap or two. With its retractable cover, you can throw a pool party no matter what the weather. There's a positively Scandinavian vibe in the sheltered courtyard with its hot tub and Cedar barrel sauna. Film buffs aren't forgotten either in the clubhouse with a cinema room and home bar. Cocktails, anyone? All you need to bring is popcorn. On a practical level, there's access to the farmhouse's utility room and downstairs cloakroom with a shower from the courtyard, which is perfectly placed for your pool towels and rinsing off the dogs after a long walk. The neighbouring 220-acre country park is the perfect place for an amble and leads to a lovely pebble beach.