Living on one floor has many advantages. There are no stairs to climb, gutters are easily accessible for cleaning, and there is plenty of roof space for solar panels.
And bungalows can be a good investment. As more and more are bulldozed to make way for two-storey houses, they become rarer, which increases their value.
Bungalows don’t need to be boring, either. Take Greenhouses, near the village of Marsh Benham in Berkshire.
Glass act: The stunning Greenhouses, which incorporates three Victorian structures
Grand designs: ONe greenhouse contains a swimming pool
Located within the Capability Brown-designed grounds of Benham Park, the five-bedroom property incorporates three stunning and very large Victorian greenhouses and two orangeries.
It was bought by Keith and Margaret Smith in 1985. Although the couple were not looking for a bungalow, they instantly fell in love with it.
‘It has been the most amazing family house,’ says Margaret, 65, the registrar at the independent school Pangbourne College.
The single-storey layout worked particularly well as the couple’s children, Penny and Alexander, were aged six and one respectively when the family moved in.
‘Living on one floor is perfect for small children,’ says Margaret. ‘You never have to run upstairs and the children could play in their bedrooms but still be close at hand.’
But wasn’t having all that glass around children a huge liability? ‘We were very lucky – balls bounced off the windows quite a few times, but they never broke.’
The main part of Greenhouses was built with reclaimed bricks from old stables, and the three greenhouses lead off this.
When the Smiths bought the 6,200 square foot house, the greenhouses were just empty spaces.
Bringing the outdoors, in: Another houses an indoor greenhouse
‘We had a gardener come in to design the layout of the plants in the central one and found some lovely floor tiles, which came from a French chateau,’ Margaret says.
‘We have skirting radiators all around the interior, so it’s warm enough in the winter. And in the summer, we just open all the windows. It doesn’t get too hot.’
One of the structures contains a swimming pool and another is used as a guest flat. The property also has walled gardens, a double garage and stables.
The only downside, according to Margaret, is the amount of glass to be cleaned. ‘We have it done properly once a year, but otherwise we do it ourselves. It is a bit of a mission,’ she laughs.
More one floor gems …
Merseyside, £675,000
Bedrooms: 4
Unique features: Bungalow in Ainsdale, near Southport, set back from the road in its own plot; two garages; fully double-glazed; underfloor heating in bathroom; garden room; lily pond; landscaped garden; electric steel gates; loft that extends the length of the property.
Contact: Purple Bricks, purplebricks.co.uk, info@purplebricks.com
South Yorkshire, £875,000
Bedrooms: 3
Unique features: Brick-built bungalow near Doncaster with large conservatory used as extra living space; multi-fuel stove; kitchen/diner with oak cupboards and central island; large dining room; living room with elegant fireplace; master bedroom with en suite bathroom and dressing room; landscaped wraparound gardens; landscaped pond; double garage; two paddocks; very large barn; 43 acres of arable farmland.
Contact: Northwood, northwooduk.com, 01405 814999
Buckinghamshire, £950,000
Bedrooms: 3
Unique features: On private road near Gerrards Cross; contemporary home with ten-year new home warranty; 3.5 acres of grounds with gardens, garage, carport, paddock, stabling and manege; bifolding doors from open-plan reception area/kitchen opening out on to south-facing terrace; large central island and wine cooler in kitchen.
Contact: The Frost Partnership, frostweb.co.uk, 01753 890909
Norfolk, £625,000
Bedrooms: 4
Unique features: Flint cobblestone house built in 2013 in the village of Syderstone; three en suite bathrooms; kitchen/breakfast room; study; large reception room with wood-burning stove; solid oak doors; underfloor heating; double garage; summer house that could be used as home office; south-facing garden and three acres of paddocks with stables.
Contact: William H Brown, williamhbrown.co.uk, 01553 771337