With four children aged between three and 16 living under the same roof, space for them to grow up was at the top of Chris and Shelley Sills’ wish list for their new house.
The busy family found what they were looking for at award-winning Linden Homes’ luxury Heath Wood collection in the West Sussex village of Felbridge – topped off with the ideal location and high quality finishes for the lifestyle they wanted.
Divided into two secluded cul-de-sacs, the five-bedroom detached houses of Heath Wood are set back from a peaceful country lane bordering the rolling green hills of the High Weald. It’s executive living at its finest within homes built with expert craftsmanship.
The family is looking forward to moving day in the summer, having bought through Linden Homes Part Exchange scheme where the housebuilder acts as a guaranteed buyer to save months of hassle with property chains and estate agents.
Shelley explained how the story started: “We found Heath Wood when I was googling for five-bedroom houses in the area and Linden Homes came up. We went to look at the site and it went from there – it was just what we wanted.
“The children have all seen the show home and the two oldest have been to see the actual house as it’s built – they pass it on their way to school every day. It’s been quite exciting for them and they’re very, very happy, particularly my daughter. She’s the only girl at home so she’s very pleased to be having her own en suite bathroom!”
Between them Chris and Shelley have six children. Two are now adults and have flown the nest, but the youngest four – including two teenagers – are fast outgrowing their four-bedroom house of the last seven years in nearby Copthorne.
“We have been dipping in and out of the market looking for a few years. When we saw Heath Wood it was the location that we liked and the size of the plot,” said Shelley.
“The homes at Heath Wood also have sizable gardens so having the extra space for the children to run around is great. Believe it or not, the amount of room on the driveway and double garage was particularly important to us. My daughter will be learning to drive next year and having so many children means there will be a few cars in a few years.”
The Sills’ house at Heath Wood shares 3,453 square feet of luxury living space across two floors. Downstairs are a bay-windowed living room, dining room and study, while the airy heart of the home combines an open-plan kitchen, breakfast room and family space.
Perfect for summer days, the ground floor merges into the large back garden through cantilevered doors and two sets of full height French windows, one of which passes through a charming loggia – an outdoor covered gallery ideal for lazing in the shade overlooking the lawn.
Upstairs are five bedrooms, three with en suites, including the sumptuous master bedroom with its own private dressing room and balcony. A double garage downstairs completes the property.
Shelley’s husband, Chris (43), is director of an office equipment company, while Shelley (41) works part time for one of its subsidiaries.
Two miles away is the bustling and popular market town of East Grinstead, which has a train service direct to Waterloo in one hour and 14 minutes. There are also stations at Dormans 2.5 miles away and Lingfield, just under 3.5 miles away.
Shelley said: “The location is close to where we live now and the children have friends in the area. It’s closer to their high school, so that was appealing. It was just right for us all-round, really.
“We part-exchanged, which was useful; it would have made it much more complicated without having part exchange. If we had not sold by the time the new house was ready, if we had a long property chain that dragged on, and having four children – it was easier for it to be cut and dried.
“Lynne and Sarah at the sales office have been fantastic. They’ve been so helpful, friendly and really accommodating. It’s made a big difference to us and helped make everything go very smoothly.”
The house will be ready for moving with upgrades and a selection of interior design tweaks already done to match the Sills’ own taste thanks to Linden Homes Enhance service, giving decoration advice and options.
Shelley added: “We have shown a few friends and my father-in-law the site. They all think it’s lovely.”
Andrew Reynolds, Linden Homes Guildford sales and marketing director, said: “I’m so pleased Chris, Shelley and their family found what they were looking for at Heath Wood. We designed it with the mix of location, space and quality that could offer exactly that lifestyle and room to grow.”
To find our more and to register your interest, call 0844 488 1672.
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Media can contact Claire Oakley or Claire Cathersides at Remarkable Content on 01962 893 893 for more information, images and interviews with Linden Homes.
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