Submission by Andrew Hempsall and Colin Price
Located in a quiet Derbyshire village, this cottage had been uninhabited for more than 20 years and was virtually derelict when the current owners decided to buy it. The oldest part of the cottage was originally built in 1799 as a single dwelling, and the original parchment title deeds show that the house, garden and orchard were bought for the princely sum of £60.
Before renovation work began, the ground floor consisted of four very dark rooms. Now the house includes two bright reception rooms, a conservatory and three bedrooms. The house boasts a new oak staircase, along with oak internal doors and floorboards, giving a feel of the traditional, but that belies the secret - all the lighting, heating, air conditioning, audio and security are controlled by an EIB/ KNX system that is anything but old cottage. The system's finish has been carefully selected to bring modern life choices to perfect 'olde worlde' surroundings...
