How long has this villa been yours?
We bought it in December 2015, but we have known the house as it belonged to our friends and we have been visiting it since 1990 and loved it every time we went there.
What was the trigger for you to buy this house at the time?
We wanted a home with a bedroom on the ground floor and at least 4 bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms. A home for the kids and the family to come to.
Which aspects of the house are the core values for you? What makes living in this house so nice?
I love the feel of the house as you come in. It is warm, sunny and welcoming. Despite the large number of bedrooms- 6 – it doesn’t feel so large. Having ensuite bathrooms with every bedroom is such a bonus. The bedrooms are a great size and all with built in storage. It is extremely well planned with all parts of the house having their own privacy but still being very accessible. You never feel lost or alone. For me it was important not to have sprawling grounds as my husband travelled a lot and I felt safe when I could see the boundaries and know the neighbours were close by, and yet you had your own privacy. The large eat in kitchen was a central place where everyone gathered. It’s a perfect home for having friends and family come spend time.
Why is the house for sale?
It’s only my husband and me living at home now, we want to downsize to a one level home, an apartment, where we can lock one door and travel to see our kids and grandkids.
Has the house been renovated or changed a lot over the years? If so, what? And, what was the reason to renovate?
When we bought the house, we kept the main structure outside but changed the interior completely. Our objective was to maintain the charm and character of the house and modernise it.
We put in all new electrical wiring and plumbing. We added air conditioning to the rooms including ceiling ventilators which is a godsend in the changing climatic conditions.
It is a smart home with a Control 4 electronic system controlling security and media. All comman living space and bedrooms have built in ceiling speakers. We transformed a studio on the ground floor into a bedroom and built an ensuite bathroom. We opened up the entrace so you walk right into the house and not into an entrance. The height of the doors were raised to give a wide open feeling. The kitchen is very well thought of with 2 dishwashers and a state of the art Smeg cooking range with two ovens and lots of storage. We changed the traditional fireplaces into modern ones.
In the master bedroom we added a big walk-in closet and a steam shower. The bathrooms have bidets built in. On the second floor, we broke walls and made 2 large bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and have a dedicated laundry room too. There is enough storage both in the basement and attic. In the basement we also added an extra pump to the new boiler system so that all the bedrooms, even on the top floor get good pressure of water flow even with multiple people showering at the same time.
We have a ‘mesh’ system for the wifi so the signal is good in every part of the house.
What can you tell us about the (living) environment?
It’s a perfect home- warm, inviting, comfortable and very practical and manageable. Bright and airy and we get sun through the day.
It has a large patio and garden perfectt for entertaining.
I think I’ve mentioned a lot of the virtues in the other points.
Who are your neighbors?
We have a Dutch couple on the right with 2 teenage boys. Opposite a lovely Dutch family with grown up children.
Are there any other things to report that would be interesting for a buyer?
Den Haag is 10 minutes away. Easy access to N44 and The Hague and Wassenaar centrum and Leidschendam mall. Close to Meijendael and beautiful walking areas around. A very nice wide street which does not get too much traffic. A quiet neighbourhood but yet not deserted. Close to public transport.
What makes living in Wassenaar so nice?
We’ve lived in Wassenaar since 1997 and would love to continue to do so. A lovely community where you get to know everyone easily – sports clubs and swimming pools and the beach close by. Our kids went to the American school and grew up in Wassenaar and were part of the local sports teams. Easy access to highways and close to Schiphol. A large expat community and International schools. A safe environment to bring up kids.