Gossel Ridding
The turning off a quiet residential cul de sac in Windermere gives little away that such a driveway takes you to a grand mansion almost hidden in its sprawling leafy grounds. Enter this imposing Arts-and-Crafts mansion into a huge oak-panelled hall perfumed by scented candles, and three reception rooms will tempt you in each direction – a banqueting room, a music room with piano, and a huge sitting room with nightclub-worthy sound system – all with ready-to-light fires. Venture further and find the pitch-black home cinema with a vast window seat big enough for a movie’s cast and crew. The huge white kitchen is set at the back of the house, with a charming scullery now a laundry room in itself bigger than many kitchens. Two separate staircases take you to the second floor and the seven bedrooms. (Nosy parkers, might notice there’s an attic at the top which is yet to be renovated.)
Interior
BedroomsEvery bedroom has a view of the lake, the fells or woodland, and each is kitted out for kings, with super-stylish bathrooms. Crisp, white, high-thread-count sheets cover the brand-new Hypnos beds. Pretty, rustic baskets by each door are a dignified reminder to pop muddy shoes in here rather than risk blemishing these spotless suites – especially those with thick, white carpeting.
Bedroom 1: Officially called the Guest Room, the pleated cream French linen-lined curved walls, and dark-wood detail lend an air of first-class cabin on the Titanic – if it wasn’t for the spectacular view of the lake through themany windows, you might forget where you are. A tiled fireplace represents its Arts and Crafts heritage, and the en suite with shower is pure 21st century.
Bedroom 2: Stepping into this heavenly all-white master bedroom is like popping open a bottle of liquid yoga – the soft, plush carpet underfoot, the vast plain white bed and that view framed by plain white drapes. Two cupboards, benches in the original chintz, white-painted dressing table and Perspex tables complete the chic. The en suite has two side-by-side dranch rain showers, and a vast bath and glass sink.
Bedroom 3: A twin with a glorious wooden dressing room. (No ensuite, but there’s a heavenly spacious bathroom with freestanding tub across the hall.)
Bedroom 4: A double with a modern four-poster and en suite with stylish Scandinavian-style bespoke bath and shower.
Bedroom 5: A mint-coloured double will give bathroom fetishists a thrill thanks to the huge shower in the ensuite.
Bedrooms 6 and 7: The all-white Swedish-style double room and single (no ensuite) are pretty as can be.
In the bathrooms, contemporary rainwater showers, elegant eye-catching sinks – all the cherry-picked fixtures and fittings are entirely individual and especially alluring in the glow of dimmable lighting. Luxuriate with five-star-standard L’Occitane toiletries then swaddle yourself in huge, fluffy white towels.
KitchenIf Mac had to create a showkitchen, it would look this white, and its presentation would be as perfectly considered. The perfect marriage of now with then, a fireplace and servants’ bell box hark back to its 19th-century stately-home status, with enough modern-day clout in the glorious Mercury range cooker and Gaggenhau fridge/freezer to wow designer label lovers. The Lakeland grey-slate floor is heated underfloor but the larder is perfect chilled-pantry temperature, and as well as containing kitchen cupboard essentials, it boasts a microwave and most baking paraphernalia. Two tables mean everyone can eat here at staggered times if they wish. There is a back door leading to an outdoor game store with an extra fridge – perfect for when catering is required for events. The laundry room next to the kitchen was the scullery – its nod to the past comes in an incredible original glass-fronted wooden floor-to-ceiling cabinet. Something the staff here from yesteryear would no doubt have appreciated are the two Miele washing machines, and twinset of tumble dryers so you can get everyone’s washing and drying done in double time.
Living roomThere are four main reception rooms. The large beam-ceilinged oak-panelled room to the right was originally the Billiard Room, and continues to be called that although now its entertainment highlight is its impressive Bose sound system and huge slate fireplace. Giant-sized stoking tools hang ready for alpha males to act on any fire-stoking instincts. Enormous cream sofas are elegant (and thankfully have washable covers) and beg languid limbs to stretch across; you'll want to get supine to best appreciate that spectacular Lake Windermere view. The Adam Room is Gossel Ridding’s music parlour, with a concert-standard piano. (If you’re less musically gifted, they can arrange for a pianist to come and regale you for dinner parties or romantic serenades: one of the activities the concierge service can take care of.) Pad across the seagrass-covered parquet to a lilac chaise longe or beige circular cushion-covered sofa and admire the delicate mouldings in the ceiling and on the walls.
The TV Room is the audio-visual jewel in Gossel Ridding’s crown, with a 50-inch television begging for guests to take advantage of the enormous DVD library and Sky+. Pitch-black walls and light-excluding black-out blinds ensure it’s as dark as a coal mine even in full daylight, betraying that this is a house happy hosting film-industry professionals – if the framed movie posters weren’t enough of a give away. A vast room-wide charcoal-grey window seat is loaded with cushions in every size and shade of almost-black, complemented by a stack of cable-knit blankets for maximum cosying up.
Dining roomThe huge tealight-covered table seats 12, with two seats at each head, ideal for special-occasion suppers, yet another ready-to-light fire with a copper hood and traditional Arts and Crafts tiling. Magnificent hand-carved pannelling and ornate plastering in the ceiling, with a cosy corner and low wooden table and chocolate-brown leather square pouffes for kids to have their own party at, or for more intimate low-key dinners. Enormous, see-through string-molded orbs hang overhead striking a note of contemporary boutique-hotel chic.
OtherThere is a study equipped with a desk to pen that film script; it can instantly be made your very own office, because as well as WiFi there's a printer, scanner and fax if you really need to keep in touch with the outside world.
Outdoor
GardensEight acres of leafy flower-filled grounds look across Lake Windermere – you couldn't better this view. Walk to the bottom of the garden and open the back gate onto a road that leads you to the town in a few minutes; you can get to the lake itself in 15 minutes.
ParkingAs well as a garage, there is room for a few cars on the driveway.
OtherThere is a concierge service at your beck and call to make restaurant and excursion bookings. To really make a special occasion of your stay, if you’re not musically gifted enough yourself to have a tinkle on the ivories, they can arrange for a pianist to come and regale you for dinner parties or romantic serenades.
