Ehzerallee 8 7218 BS ALMEN
romantic country house 'de kleine ehze', a gem nestled in the tranquillity of the almen countryside
just outside the village centre of almen, with the river berkel flowing nearby, stands a fairytale-like country house. an impressively beautiful villa in the beloved english country house style. with its thatched roof draped like a stole over its shoulders, the magnificent english landscape garden, and sweeping views of the surrounding bocage landscape, this elegant residence appears as though it has always been there. and yet, it is remarkably young for its category, having been built in 2001. only the barn by the driveway recalls the predecessor of this magnificent home. villa de kleine ehze is a classical beauty, yet young in structure and condition.
the master's touch
the design originates from the drawing table of leeflang architectuur, renowned for masterfully blending contemporary and historicising elements in such a way that the result gains a sense of timelessness. it almost seems like magic-this architectural firm consistently delivers outstanding results: a substantial country house with a living area of 379 m², situated on a plot of over 2.5 hectares, yet feeling entirely like "home." human scale has always been the guiding principle, resulting in a residence full of charm, warmth, and domestic comfort.
thanks to modern construction methods and standards, this villa is not only visually striking but also exceptionally comfortable to live in. it features excellent insulation, hr glazing throughout, underfloor heating, a lighting plan with led spotlights, and a ground-mounted installation of 48 pv panels in the garden-earning it an impeccable a energy label. the interior is fully in harmony with the exterior, both in detailing and colour palette (beautifully curated in farrow ball tones), resulting in a well-balanced composition.
villa de kleine ehze draws heavily in look and feel from its larger counterpart across the road. huis de ehze is one of the iconic estates the achterhoek region proudly showcases. the 19th-century landscape romanticism is in full bloom here, as the surroundings were shaped in the 18th century when huis de hoogenkamp still stood here. in 1905, the current house in english country house style was realised, designed by george nicolaas itz. his design principles-abundant light and air, a large dramatic roof, refined window glazing bars, and shutters-create a charming image perfectly suited to the idyllic setting of almen.
almen
a village to dream of, just outside zutphen. almen looks as though it was conceived by a poet, with winding paths and roads, an ancient church, a small village school, stately tree-lined avenues, rolling fields, a church path, a small shop, a tennis court, and a swimming pool for warm days-all embraced by the gently meandering berkel river.
you live less than ten minutes from the vibrant hanseatic city of zutphen, and centrally between charming towns such as gorssel, laren, vorden, and lochem, each offering a wide range of shops and amenities. within 15 minutes you reach the a1 motorway, which connects you to the randstad in approximately 45 minutes.
the house - ground floor
a tunnel of greenery leads to the driveway. the property is enclosed by white fencing and tall hornbeam hedges. at the edge of the grounds stands the old young-cattle barn, a remnant of the former farm.
the house is preceded by a large circular driveway with a beautiful lime tree at its centre, symbolising happiness and domestic fidelity.
entrance beneath the large central canopy into the main hall. this beautiful hall is paved with solnhofen stone in shades of ochre. the white woodwork of the double staircase contrasts elegantly with the ochre-yellow walls, which provide a warm, sunny tone even on the dreariest days.
immediately to the left are the utility meter cupboard and wc, as well as a hallway providing access to the driveway, garden, and utility room with pantry, featuring sand-coloured cabinetry, a stone countertop, and a double stainless-steel sink. adjacent are two alcoves housing the cloakroom and access to the study. to the right is access to the kitchen, and straight ahead lies the living room.
the kitchen is a delightful space;
