A Contemporary Log Cabin Retreat in Marlow’s Woodland Canopy

Entry is to a wide hallway, where storage is neatly tucked beneath the stairs and pale, warm-toned tiles run underfoot. Walls throughout are finished in soft, neutral tones and lit by Lutron fittings that have been discreetly installed throughout the house.

Living spaces unfold upstairs to capitalise on the leafy outlook. The kitchen, dining and sitting rooms form a circular open-plan layout that feels at once free-flowing and clearly defined. Reclaimed floorboards run underfoot and pine panels line the walls, creating a sense of softness and warmth. An open fireplace set into an exposed stone wall sits between the dining and sitting areas, subtly delineating the two zones.

The kitchen lies beneath a voluminous pitched ceiling on the southern side of the plan. Bespoke mild steel cabinetry is topped with a mix of Calacatta Vagli marble and hardy steel worktops. A DeVol island unit has a Quooker hot water tap and La Cornue appliances, while a fitted bar houses a fridge/freezer and wine cooler.

Windows wrap the house, bringing the outside in. A bespoke seating area with a built-in TV sits beside the kitchen, and from here, double doors open onto a perfectly placed balcony, also accessed from the sitting room, which offers beautiful views through the foliage.

Two bedrooms lie on the first floor, including a generous principal suite beneath a panelled pitched ceiling. A wood-burning stove adds warmth and atmosphere, while the en suite bathroom is finished with an elegant clawfoot bathtub and fittings by The Water Monopoly. The second bedroom on this floor also has its own ensuite.

Downstairs are two further bedrooms. One has an ensuite shower room and opens directly onto the garden, while the other has a fireplace and double doors that lead out to a ground-floor terrace. A utility room and separate WC complete the plan.

The acre of private gardens has been carefully designed by Patrick Clarke and Flint Garden Design and brought to life by Chelsea Flower Show-winning contractor Yoreland Design. The planting is mature and considered, while the layout creates several places to sit, eat and entertain. A paved terrace extends from one of the ground-floor bedrooms, while the first-floor balcony offers a wonderfully elevated perspective of the surrounding woodland and water.

The house lies just outside Marlow, set on a picturesque stretch of the Thames. The town is known for its period architecture and culinary credentials, with Tom Kerridge’s two Michelin-starred The Hand and Flowers and one-starred The Coach, as well as The Butcher’s Tap & Grill, The Oarsman, and Fego, alongside familiar favourites such as The Ivy and Gail’s.

The Chilterns National Landscape is moments away, offering miles of walking and cycling routes, while Westhorpe Water Park is close by for paddleboarding, kayaking and outdoor swimming. There are several well-regarded schools in the area, including Herries Prep and others in nearby Maidenhead. From there, the Elizabeth line runs direct services to Paddington and beyond. The M40 is also easily reached by car.