The Househunter 1/5/15

Heading off to Devon this week to this newly renovated chapel house which is on the market with Strutt & Parker  for £895,000.

This Grade I Listed family home was created from a former a convent school in the 1990s and has just been completely renovated throughout by the current owner and overseen by the interior designer, Naomi Cleaver.

It sits in a gated courtyard with a private garden terrace and landscaped communal gardens of around half an acre incorporating part of the City’s ‘Roman Wall. Nice innit. That kitchen is very long and thin but it does open out a bit towards the front of the image. But that marble worktop and black cupboard is definitely a look I would like to copy.

And this is a great space isn’t it. I’m admiring the bold choice of that green sofa, which looks great and is not something I would ever choose. One thing to point out the bedrooms are downstairs and the living space upstairs, which is completely right in this case because otherwise those fabulous windows would be wasted.

Where now? How about this in the Ashdown Forest in East Sussex. Designed by the architect Michael Wilford it is on the market (via The Modern House) for £1,750,000.

Now yes, so far so modern house. Although there’s a rather interesting metal structure stuck on the side of it but never mind that come inside. Look at that view. And look at that pink pillar just standing there cool as you like. I LOVE that.

Here it is again just livening up an otherwise minimal white kitchen.

And then suddenly, there is it with a yellow wall peeping out.

And I don’t even like yellow. But this is very cool. Do click the link above if you want all the details of bedrooms and so on.

Finally, the sitting room. I don’t know, this post is a riot of colour. We’ve gone from green velvet sofas to purple leather ones. Whatever next?

This is what next. I can’t top those sofas but this is a great example of a really modern building mixing vintage and mid-century pieces to great effect. Come inside with me…

It’s in Royston, in Hertfordshire, and it’s also on with The Modern House for £1,100,000. Designed by Richard Britain, it has four bedrooms and a huge landing which is big enough to be used as an extra sitting room.

Of course I rather love this black kitchen but it’s made less stark by the table at the end and below, the retro chairs bring a more relaxed feel to the space. Very often these modern builds are terribly stark inside and while you can appreciate the clean lines and light, I often feel that I would have to sit upright and say only clever things in houses like that.

At least in this one you feel you could put your feet up and own up to quite enjoying the last Lee Child thriller.

It’s set on the highest point in Cambridgeshire, which admittedly isn’t going to give the Peak District any worries about the views but there are big views even if they aren’t mountainous.

And the owners are definitely winning points for those chairs below. This has turned out to be a post about the best seating on the market rather than the best houses. Anyway, which one do you like?

Enjoy the rest of the week everyone.