Is this the perfect chocolate box cottage? It could be yours...

Who fancies a game of guess the price tag?

How good are you at judging the price of property? Here we have Aller Green Farm – a charming detached stone cottage, with all mod cons, located in a charming and quintessentially English Dorset village.

Curb appeal is everything! This immaculate family home for sale in St John's Hill, London, is even prettier inside

How much do you reckon it's on the market for? £1 million? Maybe more?

chocolate box cottage with brick walls and grass lawn

(Image credit: Savills)

Well, if you agreed, you'd be out by quite a margin. This dream home in Lower Ansty, Dorchester, can be yours for a relatively modest £685,000 through Savills. And you never know, the owners might even be open to offers!

house with exposed brick walls and plants in pots

(Image credit: Savills)

Believed to date back to the 1700s, it's a house full of character and period features. Like the freshly thatched roof and stone-and-brick facade. But there are also some very contemporary twists to enjoy, which we'll get to later.

Sitting room

sitting room with white wooden shelves and arm chair with cushions

(Image credit: Savills)

This is the oldest part of the cottage and stays cosy all year round thanks to fireplaces at either end of the room. Its exposed ceiling timbers and engineered oak floors have been here for centuries.

living room with wooden flooring and rug on floor

(Image credit: Savills)

Redecorate your own home with our fabulous living room ideas

Kitchen

kitchen room with white tiled flooring and dining table with chairs

(Image credit: Savills)

Two years ago, the current owners embarked on a total renovation of the building, adding a contemporary two-floor rear extension.

dining cum living room with white tiled flooring and sofasets

(Image credit: Savills)

It houses this large kitchen with solid-wood freestanding units, a four oven electric Aga and sliding glass doors leading out to the garden.

Exterior

sloping roof house with wooden walls and plants in pots

(Image credit: Savills)

The new part of the building has been clad in timber, reflecting its rural setting. The mature, well stocked gardens is bordered by open farmland beyond. It really is the best of country living.

Studio

sloping roof house with garden and plants in pots

(Image credit: Savills)

You'll be fighting over who gets the run of this spacious studio. It's large enough to serve as guest accommodation – we'd be happy to pay to stay here for a long weekend!

living room with tiled flooring and white walls

(Image credit: Savills)

Or it could serve as a great playroom for children, allowing you to enjoy tranquility in the main house.

Bedroom

bedroom with photoframe on white wall and bed with pillows

(Image credit: Savills)

Back inside the main house, and in the old part of the property there are two pretty bedrooms. A third master and en suite is part of the new extension. It even has its own balcony overlooking the garden.

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This really is a perfect country retreat – and potentially, a good business opportunity. Anyone want to chip in with us?!

Amy Cutmore
Contributor

Amy Cutmore is an experienced interiors editor and writer, who has worked on titles including Ideal Home, Homes & Gardens, LivingEtc, Real Homes, GardeningEtc, Top Ten Reviews and Country Life. And she's a winner of the PPA's Digital Content Leader of the Year. A homes journalist for two decades, she has a strong background in technology and appliances, and has a small portfolio of rental properties, so can offer advice to renters and rentees, alike.