This charming English cottage-style farmhouse is a beautiful blend of bespoke English heritage with American sensibility tucked away behind gates in the quiet Stafford Hamlet community in West Linn. Twenty years ago designer Phil Check purchased this home for his family and in the intervening years has renovated and remodeled, finessed and refined this property originally built in 1973 into an eclectic fairytale farmhouse. Set on 2.55 private acres, the property includes the house, a guest house, swimming pool, car collector’s garage and studio, barn and chicken house. Make no mistake, this is no modern farmhouse, it’s the American West meets English tweed with a 200 year old diamond pane window with the original hand-rolled glass in the dining room and Jerusalem stone surrounding the fireplace in the living room.

With a style nod to Martha Stewart’s Upstate New York farm or Ralph Lauren’s Colorado ranch, this single story home has comfortable rooms meant to filled with friends and family. The layout is elegant and simple with large windows that frame the view of the back of the property which is filled with beautiful seasonal flowers and lush foliage. Huge, mature rhododendrons, hydrangeas and roses, all planted and tended with a loving hand by Glynis Chek dot the landscape that is lined on all four sides with evergreen trees. The front courtyard includes a quatrefoil water feature imported from Versailles, France and a bronze sculpture of a deer created by respected Pacific Northwest sculptor Lorenzo Ghiglieri.

Inside, an inviting library featuring custom-built bookshelves and cabinetry is located just off the Dutch-style front door and foyer. This cozy spot and its window seat is the perfect place for a good book and hot tea on a chilly fall afternoon. Though the detached car collector’s garage includes an upstairs office, this would also be a perfect spot for an office inside the house. Just down the hall are two bedrooms and the peaceful primary suite. The suite is a serene space with vaulted ceilings and exposed, whitewashed beams. The ensuite bath is spacious as is the walk-in closet. The bedroom also includes a farmhouse door with a large window that leads out to the covered patio that spans the back of the house.

At the far end of the house is the warm and welcoming kitchen with a rustic central island. At the end of the kitchen is custom-built display cabinetry and a cozy breakfast nook with French doors that lead out to the patio. The kitchen has beautiful touches of the home’s overall a French country casual atmosphere with skylights that flood the space with natural light. Just off the kitchen is a laundry room and access to the attached two-car garage.

Step outside to the back patio and feel like you’ve been transported to the English countryside. Filled with lush flora, the grounds also include apple, pear and Italian plum trees. A recently added rustic pergola that has hosted weddings and a christening stands near the covered patio. Vibrant green lawn spans the area that includes a koi pond with a perfectly imperfect bridge positioned along the path to the guest house and secret garden. Complete with a kitchenette, dining area and a gas stove in the cozy sitting area, the guest house bedroom includes a special built-in bunk with access via orchard ladder perfect for sleepovers. The fully fenced pool is next door as is the she-shed. Modeled after the shed in Glynis’ family wartime garden allotment in Liechester, England, the shed is a wonderfully eclectic space paneled in materials salvaged from Phil’s projects. The shed also includes a faux fireplace, brick floor and covered porch.

The car collector’s garage has enough room for four cars and includes an extra tall garage door to accommodate an RV. Built-in cabinetry and a work bench provide plenty of space for tools and projects. Upstairs is a spacious home office with views of the tranquil back yard. The office/studio is large enough for three people to work and is fully equipped with internet, AC and heat. The nearby barn has parking for two cars and a separate storage room that doubles as a wine cellar.

Have the most delicious fresh eggs for omelettes every morning from the residents of the enclosed and heated chicken house. With enough space for eight chickens, the location is ideal for them to freely range around the property. At the back of the property is a lovely fenced meadow with four large raised beds for growing vegetables. Blueberry, raspberry and grapes also grow nearby. The far corner of the meadow is a play structure, covered patio with heat, water and electricity for bbq and wood storage for the nearby fire pit. A large, circular concrete pad built to house an authentic Native American teepee stands ready for adventure.

The timeless design and refined simplicity of this home is a testament to Chek’s skill as a designer. Known for his work on the renovation of the lobby of the Benson Hotel, he has been working in Oregon since 1986. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the haven he created for himself and his family. This quiet location is close to the highly rated nearby schools as well as the shopping, restaurants and community activities of downtown Lake Oswego as well as West Linn.