SWAPPING suburban comfort for a life in the countryside could be a daunting move for some.
But for Christine Trueman and Keith Maine, a company director, the transition was easy. Their beautiful home is one of five converted from a set of outhouses on a former Northumberland pig farm. And although the four-bedroomed property has the plush modern comforts of a suburban home it also showcases an array of original features, bringing warmth and character to the home, as Christine, an area development manager in the merchandising industry, explains: “It was the location and the quality of the conversion that appealed to us, as well as the fact that the property retained bags of character and features. “It was by chance that we drove past and saw the ‘for sale’ board at the bottom of the lane. We were looking for that type of property for a year before we found this. “We’d been living in Gosforth on a modern estate. It was quite suburban and we were looking for something with a bit more character and in a country location but with easy access to the city. This was perfect for children, horses and dogs.” The couple bought the property after it was converted around five years ago. Accommodation includes an entrance hall, dining room, living room and breakfasting kitchen. An inner hallway leads to a utility room and three bedrooms, all with en suites. The first floor has a master bedroom, also with en suite. The property has two south facing courtyards. At the back is the main garden with a sunken gravelled terrace area. There are also extensive views over the surrounding farmland. “We didn’t need to do anything – we just had to move in,” says Christine. “But we have landscaped the garden which has created an outdoor entertainment area.” Christine’s favourite part of the property is its original features: “There are a lot of exposed beams and stonework. There are two wood- burning stoves – in the living room and the dining room. “There is also a double Belfast sink in the kitchen and a mixture of stone floors and reclaimed oak floors throughout.” The property is also ideal for those who work in Newcastle, but hanker for a rural idyll. Christine said: “The property would suit somebody who wants to live surrounded by countryside but with easy access to the city as we are only a 20-minute drive away.” The property, says Christine, is also ideal for families with teenage children or those with frequent house guests: “The nice thing about the property is that you can live in one part and close off the other three bedrooms. This makes it ideal for teenagers or for families who have friends or relatives staying over.” Christine added: “It’s ideal for entertaining as the kitchen, living room and dining room are all interconnected with French doors meaning you can open up the whole ground floor.” The pair are now looking to downsize into a property as their three teenage children have flown the nest: “It’s time to downsize,” says Christine. “But the next home will have to be something equally as quirky and we will be hard pressed to find something this individual.” 3 Frenches Close Farm, Prudhoe, is for sale through Foster Maddison at a guide price of £525,000, tel: (01434) 605441. | 
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