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The House that George Clooney Bought?

A couple of weeks ago (well shortly after that wedding in Venice in fact) I started noticing that the blog was getting numerous referrals from estate agencies saying that George Clooney and his new wife Amal had bought a house in Berkshire. I couldn’t quite understand why it was pinging back to me, so I did what I often do in these situations – completely ignored it. Poured another cup of coffee, glass of wine, depending on the time of day and minded my own business. Not something I often do but still, just sort of couldn’t be arsed with the story.

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Then, yesterday I noticed I was getting yet more referrals, this time from Variety magazine as well as Sotheby’s International Realty. So, returning to my roots as an intrepid investigative reporter (pause for hysterical and hollow laughter from every reporter and news editor that’s ever met me) I clicked the link. Oh yes I did.

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And there it was; a whole load of guff about how George and Amal have been seen in the village, in the pub and then the vicar saw them (and he wouldn’t lie now would he) and he told the local WI or someone equally upright and reliable and she told the local paper and so on and so forth and so it must be true etc. Then it turned up in the Daily Mail and we all know what we think about that.

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And the pictures of this house were credited as coming from Sothebys via the little old Mad House! I know, extraordinary (you can see for yourself here). Anyway, turns out, I featured this house for sale last May (2013) which means that either it never sold back then and has been on the market ever since, or George hasn’t actually bought it. Hmm, I wonder…

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Anyway, it’s a fab house so we’re off to have another look because you won’t remember it so we might as well. After all, it’s not every day the blog gets a link from Variety.

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Mind you, I can’t find it on the Sothebys site now which leads me to believe that it has actually been sold. We will probably never know to whom, but I stand by what I said last year though – fab house, rubbish kitchen.

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So, how to top that? Well I’m not entirely sure I can but let’s have a go. Sticking Thames-side, what about this 1960s house set in the grounds of Henry VIII’s hunting lodge.

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Now Grade II listed by English Heritage in recognition of the outstanding, dynamic design, the building is steel-framed, timber-clad and has a sculptural form that is typical of the architect Rodney Gordon’s work. He built the house in 1961 for his family.

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The house is in a rural setting in the former hunting grounds of Henry VIII, but within walking distance of Walton-on-Thames train station which runs services to London Waterloo in 25 minutes.

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To start with I wasn’t sure I could cope with all that wood but it really doesn’t look like a Swiss ski chalet. Then I started seeing all the triangles and decided I couldn’t live here without knowing exactly how many there were and being able to spot them all before I could relax.

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Anyway, triangles aside, I love all the glass and the open plan space. It’s on the market for £1,750,000 via The Modern House although there are only two bedrooms and a large study area so it only works for a small family (Gordon had one child).

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Mind you there’s an outdoor heated pool about 20m from the building with a poolhouse and terraced area so you’ll have to decide which you want more – children or a pool.

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Bonus fact: for those of you who don’t know who Rodney Gordon was, he also designed the Michael Faraday Memorial in the middle of Elephant and Castle roundabout.

Finally, this one is a cheat as it isn’t actually for sale at all, but I thought you might like to see it anyway.

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It’s a project by London-based architects Patalab and is tucked away between a railway line and a Victorian terrace in Primrose Hill. A run down courtyard that was home to a mechanic’s garage and office, it’s now a three bedroom house and two one-bedroom apartments.

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Gables was conceived as a family home for the owner who wanted a space with clean sweeping curves and lots of light. The proximity of the house to the railway line benefits this and windows are oriented in this direction to capture uninterrupted light.

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What do you think? I love the sweeping lines of concrete and the industrial windows but think I would want to soften it with lots of textiles; monochrome deep pile rugs, and velvet chairs and that sort of thing. That’s probably not the point though is it?

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So there you have it. This week’s, slightly unusual, edition of The Househunter. I hope you enjoy it.

Kate Watson-Smyth

The author Kate Watson-Smyth

I’m a journalist who writes about interiors mainly for The Financial Times but I have also written regularly for The Independent and The Daily Mail. My house has been in Living Etc, HeartHome and featured in The Wall Street Journal & Corriere della Sera. I also run an interior styling consultancy Mad About Your House. Welcome to my Mad House.