Get Set, Go: six homes ready to be loved and lived in

While we’ve all caught ourselves dreaming of featuring on our own episode of Grand Designs, the idea of moving into a fixer-upper can seem a little daunting. Of course, for some, the prospect of hard hats and spreadsheets positively thrills (and why not? We’d be doing ourselves a disservice in saying there isn’t plenty of fun to be had with a project). But we also know that not everybody needs the challenge. No judgement here, mind you. There’s lots to be said for ditching the hassle and moving straight in. And, as luck would have it, we’ve a whole host of homes for sale that tick just that box. Here, we celebrate the convenience and ease of six of them. Pack your bags!

MAPSTONE HILL, LUSTLEIGH, DEVON

As the saying goes: you’re only as old as you feel. And despite having been around since the 14^th century, this manor house somehow seems in the first flush of youth, its medieval arched windows and oak beams having been looked after beautifully. Living through the ages, the house has naturally picked up some newer additions along the way, from Victorian joinery in the lower-ground kitchen to the Crittall doors leading from the converted coach house out into the garden. The current owners have dedicated 15 years to celebrating the historic bones here, partnering simple-pared back schemes with traditional textures (stripped floorboards, warm timber, lime plaster) and perfectly restored period features. Hats off.

View listing here.

CAMBERWELL GROVE, LONDON SE5

Sitting on the edge of a grand tree-lined road, this two-bedroom apartment in south-east London is remarkable for its perfectly preserved period features, celebrated in a recent and extensive up-do. Built as a Georgian house and since converted into separate living quarters, the building remains true to its 18^th-century roots – think high ceilings, sash windows and original fireplaces – yet the flat itself has a fresh feel, thanks to the elegance of its smart new cabinetry, peaceful cream colour scheme and the warm wooden floors that run throughout the open-plan dining room and kitchen.

View listing here.

CAREBY, STAMFORD, LINCOLNSHIRE

Next stop: restoration station. As grand on the interior as it looks from the outside, this recently revamped manor house is a countryside retreat of the finest calibre. Stone fireplaces, tall ceilings and a pleasingly symmetrical façade lend the place an air of being remarkably untouched since its late 17^th-century origins – but this is belied by the extensive works carried out by the current owners, who have sought to preserve the essence of this historic home near the market town of Stamford.

The internal makeover, deftly done, rightfully makes a feature of the house’s Georgian panelling, original flagstone flooring and wooden beams. Head outside to the brilliant Victorian walled gardens, meanwhile, and you’ll be met by a kind of Eden, with regal gardens, plush grasslands and even a newly introduced tennis court.

View listing here.

LAURISTON ROAD, LONDON E9

Built in the late 19^th century, this Victorian townhouse backs on to east London’s greenest goddess, Victoria Park. Spread out across four floors, the home has undergone contemporary alterations while managing to maintain its historic heft – think subtly modernist furniture and classical shutters. And nowhere is this better seen than on lower-ground floor, the partitions of which have been removed to create an open-plan kitchen and living area, featuring conventional bay windows and cast-iron radiators, as well as a poured-concrete floor and mid-century-style cabinetry. From here, you can access a west-facing courtyard garden paved with red brick, which provides a private sanctuary from the gentle hum of Victoria Park Village.

View listing here.

MARKET STREET, ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT

As its name suggests, this two-bedroom home is found right in the mix in the market town of Royal Tunbridge Wells, on a quaint cobbled street. Built in the 1880s, its careful reconfiguration has resulted in a rather compelling dwelling. Having been thoughtfully redesigned after its days as a wine cellar, this bright and simply decorated home is perfect for those wanting both an air of the antique (shout-out to the cast-iron spiral staircase) and the merits of modern design; we’re lusting, in particular, over the pairing of an egg-shaped bathtub with stained floorboards and richly veined marble. We’ll raise a glass to that.

View listing here.

FARLEIGH WICK, FARLEIGH, WILTSHIRE

Hidden in the countryside on the outskirts of Bath is this golden oldie: a 16^th-century stopover built of honey-coloured Cotswold stone that was once frequented by travellers trudging the long road between the spa city and London. This home (the house was recently divided into two) still bears the hallmarks of its history in the form of grand stone fireplaces, ancient plank doors and box sash windows, while newer changes have been made with an eye on the vernacular, from the tumbled flagstones in the kitchen to the soft stoney paint colours. Outside, a pétanque court makes a playful addition, while the sumptuous cinema room with mezzanine sums up succinctly the balance between old and new this house strikes so well.

View listing here.