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There's an almost century-old gracious thatch-roofed national heritage house nestling on the slopes of Houghton Ridge, north-east of Joburg, which owners Sandy and Carole Mason are sad to leave.
Mostly they’ll miss spectacular vistas of Joburg from their three-level haven at 76 Houghton Drive on Houghton Estate, and from patios over manicured lawns and a sparkling pool.
Picture: Supplied
Offering five bedrooms and five garages, the house has special features including a gym with its own bathroom, stone walling and cladding, a generator and garden revision.
“We wanted an uninterrupted view so used lots of soil to offer a 180 degree view of Joburg,” says Sandy.
Owen Dormehl, chief executive of Dormehl Phalane Property Group, says: “On a really good day, one can spot the famous Nizamiye Mosque in Midrand, even OR Tambo International Airport.
The entrance gate is on Houghton Drive, its rear area on Houghton Ridge.
At the end of the driveway are three spacious garages, and two more are halfway down the driveway. Nearby outhouses have been used as offices, but may be easily converted to become two extra bedrooms with lounges and bathrooms.
On entering via an ornate Victorian wooden door, one’s eyes are drawn to parquet flooring running through the entrance hall to adjoining rooms.
A wooden staircase leads to a landing and the home’s upper floors. Picture: Supplied
A winding wooden staircase leads to a landing, then up towards the home’s first floor.
At the end of the entrance hall is a guest bathroom with two toilets, bidet and basin.
An L-shaped formal lounge with parquet flooring has a wood-burning fireplace. A spacious dining room is wooden panelled and comfortably accommodates a 12-seater table.
The TV room is carpeted and has double doors and wooden bay windows.
A spacious farmhouse-style kitchen, has storage aplenty. It has tiled flooring, earth-tone cabinets (some with glass panel doors) and granite surfaces. There is a gas hob with extractor, a scullery, laundry and wine cellar.
The farmhouse-style kitchen has plenty of storage space. Picture: Supplied
The kitchen door discloses a forecourt with under-floor heating. A few steps away an entertainment area overlooks the pool, lawn and the views.
The home’s first floor landing is a carpeted central area leading to all other rooms. The Masons created a study on the landing and a sunroom.
The large main bedroom offers solid wooden floors, a lounge, gas fireplace, walk-in cupboards and a circa 1920s en-suite bathroom, with original tiling, providing bath, shower, toilet and basin.
The house has five bedrooms, all filled with natural light. Picture: Supplied
A second bathroom offers shower, basin, toilet, bidet and bath.
The big second bedroom is carpeted, has wooden bay windows overlooking the garden and built-in cupboards.
Its tiled, en-suite bathroom is accentuated by French designer taps and sanitary ware. A third bedroom has built-in cupboards and double doors leading on to the room’s own patio.
Also on the second level, the Masons have created a cosy library with log fireplace and a floor-to-ceiling bookcases - a perfect place to put your feet up with a book and a crackling fire.
A fourth bedroom on the first floor has earth-tone cupboards. It accommodates a single bed, and a small fourth bathroom offers a basin and a toilet.
The carpeted staircase leading to the second floor which has a fifth bedroom with ample space for lounge and sleeping area.
It is the house’s top floor, and offers views as far as Sandton, Midrand, Joburg’s CBD, and even Pretoria.
A view of Joburg from the stylish tiled patio. Picture: Supplied
The home is close to well-known schools, golf courses, a sports club and a public gym,
Dormehl rates the house a terrific find for the discerning buyer.
A 3D online pictorial tour of the property is available, plus many additional photographs.