Country Life Trending: A new country house in warm golden stone, by Neil Quinn of Yiangou Architects Credit: Yiangou Architects When it comes to building new country houses, much of the focus is on substantial properties with 10,000sq ft or more. Arabella Youens examines the options for buildings that are more modest in scale. Not all those with the budget necessary want (or need) to live in a 10,000sq ft house. Something half that size is generous enough to check off all the standard must-haves: enough space for entertaining, a large eat-in kitchen, a boot room, utility room and five bedrooms with their own bathrooms.