A country house full of surprises nestled in a picturesque nature reserve
Graeser Brook 14
-Ahaus
Oasis of Green Serenity
Like a painting by the French master Monet brought to life. This splendid villa with outbuildings just outside the German city of Ahaus can be summed up in a nutshell. The description ‘unique location’ is fully justified, as the distinctive house is situated in the middle of the Eper Graeser Venn nature reserve. The original house was built in 1920. Over the past fourteen years, the country house has been extensively renovated, thoughtfully stripped, and architecturally rebuilt. The pillars of this renovation were light, space, practical living enjoyment, and high-quality building materials. Even the smallest details have been considered. The end result is a luxurious villa with rare, eccentric details.
The entire house is equipped on the ground floor with large, floor-to-ceiling triple-glazed windows with a UV filter. The interior of these windows is finished with elegant wooden frames, while the exterior features maintenance-free aluminum frames. This provides an abundance of natural light and a beautiful view, combined with the perfect blend of style and durability. The house offers a generous living space of 621 m² and is equipped with all modern conveniences. The beautiful living room has a cozy electric fireplace and an adjoining terrace, perfect for relaxation and entertainment. The spacious kitchen is impressive with its abundant storage space, numerous handy appliances, and various kitchen accessories, making cooking a true pleasure. The upper floor also houses a stunning wellness wing with a luxurious shower/bath section, a steam shower, and a sauna. The imposing, multifunctional outbuilding and the detached garage, built in the same architectural style and with space for three cars, complete the rural picture.
The entire property spans an impressive plot of no less than three hectares. Hidden in the greenery, you experience an oasis of tranquility and complete privacy. Both indoors and outdoors in the extensive garden, which is surrounded by old trees. A large natural pond, home to Koi carp among others, forms the icing on the picturesque cake. The house is designed so that almost every room offers a view of the enchanting surroundings. Those who wish to live both comfortably and stylishly in peace and space, surrounded by greenery, will naturally want to live here. Practicality is also pleasant: by car, you can reach the center of Enschede within fifteen minutes. Additionally, you can reach the center of the charming Ahaus or the center of Epe within ten minutes. Need to quickly do some shopping in the Netherlands? No problem, the supermarket is only a ten-minute drive away.
From 2014 to 2019, the entire villa underwent a thorough renovation. During the renovation, the foundation was renewed, as well as the steel structure of the shell and the ring beams in the roof. Moreover, the entire house was equipped with new interior walls, glazing, and frames. The frames are low-maintenance thanks to a wooden structure on the inside and aluminum on the outside. The double-glazed windows contain a UV filter and are burglar-proof. The solar thermal system on the roof of the large guesthouse provides the buildings with hot water. Additionally, a pellet installation is used to heat the rooms. The switchover happens automatically.
The rural appearance of the thatched villa forms a surprising contrast with the serene, modern interior characterized by a unity of style. The white plastered walls and ceilings certainly contribute to this. Step inside and be amazed by the unique details this country house holds. This begins upon entry. In the entrance, you are welcomed by the stately staircase, a striking eye-catcher handcrafted. The curved, hand-bent wooden railings and the artistic wrought iron sides give this staircase a unique and elegant character. The entrance further features white plastered walls and light doors. Daylight shines through the impressive chandelier from the first floor through the organically shaped stairwell like a natural runner down the stairs. The atmosphere is enhanced by the LED lighting under the steps.
From the central hall, all rooms on the ground floor are accessible. Starting with the toilet with a washbasin. The walls are clad with Italian design tiles, an aspect often found throughout the house. On the ground floor, there is also a bedroom with floor-to-ceiling windows. There is enough space for a large wardrobe and a desk. Opposite the bedroom is a chic bath and shower room equipped with a rain and steam shower, bathtub, designer radiator, and sink. Daylight enters through a round window fitted with a custom pleated blind.
A hallmark of this rural gem is the many large windows. The spacious living room is therefore pleasantly light and spacious. Here, you feel one with the natural surroundings all year round. Only a glass sliding door marks the boundary between indoors and outdoors. The built-in bio-ethanol fireplace makes the living room a cozy home. This atmospheric fireplace is built into a wall panel of horizontally placed travertine elements. The white plastered walls and hardwood floors form a perfect base for any interior. Ceiling spotlights illuminate the space without disturbing the walls. The walls around the dining area consist of glass doors that provide access to the adjacent covered terrace.
In the living kitchen, space is abundant. Large windows offer a beautiful view of the natural surroundings. It is not uncommon to find yourself face to face with a curious deer in the morning. The white kitchen is practically laid out and looks sleek, partly due to the handle-less doors. A large cooking island forms the heart of the kitchen. This makes the kitchen perfect for a cozy evening of cooking and dining with family or friends. The cooking island has a natural stone countertop, a sink with three taps – a Quooker, a ceramic tap, and a tap for osmosis water – an integrated electric hob, and a Teppanyaki (barbecue) plate. A Gaggenau extractor is integrated into the countertop. The space under the island is divided into cupboards and drawers, making optimal use of it. Likewise, the kitchen wall is equipped with high-quality built-in appliances that leave nothing to be desired in terms of comfort. The kitchen is equipped with a steam oven, oven, coffee machine, vacuum drawer, warming drawer, dishwasher, and a spacious freezer. A separate partition wall contains two kitchen cabinets and two pull-out pantry cabinets with additional storage space. Other notable features in the kitchen are the flat round ceiling lamps of Italian design and the artistic light wall made of light-colored onyx from Italy. This wall is visible from both sides and definitely deserves the title of showpiece.
Another round window is found in the utility room. A sink and connections for a washing machine and dryer are present. The walls consist of high storage cupboards. Behind three cupboards is also the meter cupboard. A hatch in the ceiling provides access to the technical room above the utility room. From the utility room back to the main entrance. Via the beautiful staircase, you reach the upper floor. There, the bathroom, tiled with Italian design tiles, immediately catches the eye. A curved wall with a toilet and urinal behind it creates a playful effect. Instead of a large window, a modern variant of the traditional stable window was chosen. This is reflected in part of the upper floor. There is sufficient storage space in the floating bathroom cabinet and a sink. A striking feature is the separate bath area in the same room with a freestanding bath and a tap system that extends into the floor. For the ultimate wellness experience, the steam room with a higher tiled lounging area is a true addition. You can rinse off under two large rain showers and water jets from the wall. Particularly noteworthy is the wall built from Himalayan salt blocks in the sauna, which is located in a separate room. With this extensive, sublime wellness wing, you undeniably have a spa in your own home.
As soon as you leave the spa through the door in the frosted glass wall, you see the master bedroom already looming.
Sleeping like a baby is almost assured. The charming stable window with opening windows gives you a classic view of the rural outdoors at dawn. Amusing is the round door; a logical consequence of the curved wall on the upper floor. Multifunctionality reigns supreme in the next room. This currently serves as an office. The desk and low built-in cabinets are custom-made craftsmanship. Nevertheless, all the facilities are present to make this a bedroom as well. The surprising construction style of Himalayan salt is repeated in the small wall under the window sill.
The undisputed highlight of the Himalayan salt trend is the salt cave. After some research and driven by a passion for unconventional details, the current resident designed this magical space himself. “Both the walls and the floor are made of Himalayan salt,” informs the designer. “In the cave, there is a device that spreads salty air. It is said to support the respiratory system and increase resistance. Especially in the cold winter months, this is a delightful place to spend time.” The salt blocks are orange-red in color. Behind them, LED lighting has been installed, shining through the wall and evoking a feeling of a warm sunset.
A charming building on the plot is the characteristic boathouse. The cozy living room with electric underfloor heating and a small-scale cooking facility is immediately visible. Of course, privacy is guaranteed in the secluded shower area. Wooden ladders lead to the two sleeping quarters on either side of the open loft, as an idyllic nod to the traditional hayloft in a nostalgic barn. With the natural beauty, you are only two swing glass doors away. These provide access to a leafy outdoor terrace where you can relax right by the water.
Exercise, bubble, and relax in one space. The outbuilding, with a tiled roof equipped with solar panels, is divided into a living area and spaces for various purposes. This could include young people living at home but wanting to be independent, or a day care location for social groups. In line with the entrance is a laundry room with an Alape fountain, cupboard space, and a guest toilet. There is also a room currently set up as a sports and recreation room. Here, effort and relaxation go hand in hand thanks to the presence of a television and a six-person jacuzzi with various massage programs. The large window in the sports and relaxation room is equipped with Venetian glass, which has a blinding effect from the outside. Via a narrow fixed metal staircase in the sports/relaxation room, you reach the attic floor. The absence of partition walls gives you carte blanche to furnish the floor entirely according to your own wishes and insights. Even division into multiple sections is possible thanks to the large volume of this multifunctional floor. In an instant, a cinema can emerge thanks to a projector, a large retractable screen, and a surround sound system with multiple speakers. Active pursuits are also possible: for example, challenge each other to a game of table tennis on the large table tennis table. The winner gets to choose the movie! This room, with air conditioning, has a kitchen unit in the style of a bar, with a sink, kitchen cabinets, and a freezer chest.
Down the stairs and back on the ground floor, you reach a small sports room with a separate bathroom with shower (rain shower), cupboard space, and a separate toilet. The boiler room is also located here. The living area on the ground floor has an integrated kitchen area and a deep, cool cellar. With a small transformation, the best wines are within reach in your personal wine cellar. The living area has its own fixed staircase to the first floor. The landing is equipped with a wall with built-in cupboards and has three bedrooms. In the large bedroom, which has a freestanding sliding wardrobe, you can easily fit a king-size bed. On the same floor, there is one of these spacious rooms that serves as a walk-in closet, and there is a tiled bath and shower area. This is equipped with a bathtub, hanging toilet, sink, radiator, and a skylight.
The detached garage is much more than a storage space for three cars. A folding staircase leads to the floor that is used as a storage space. Here, the practical aspect comes to the fore again, as a hoist hangs on the floor to lift heavy items upstairs. The garage has three electric doors and rubber anti-slip tiles as floor covering. Opposite, an array of bicycles can be housed in the bike shed. Garden tools and larger machines can be kept dry a few meters away in the shed, the garage of the guesthouse, or the semi-open carport, which can be closed with plastic roller shutters.
Wherever you are in or on the estate, you are constantly reminded of the authentic place. The symbiosis of the garden with the nature reserve is breathtakingly beautiful. A wide variety of trees and shrubs not only provide privacy and a green fence but also form the backdrop of the large natural pond with dozens of Koi carp as permanent residents. Thanks to walkways and a small bridge, the terrace in the pond can be reached. A large weeping willow provides shelter. This makes it a special place for an original outdoor barbecue or to enjoy the sunset by the water in the evening. Wooden walkways have also been laid around the natural pond. Because they are illuminated with ground spots, you can take a walk in your own garden at any time of the day or night. And with a bit of luck, you can take a dip in your own pond when the mercury rises. Six months later, you can take out your skates to skate on that same pond. Every season has its charm in this garden.
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