The Househunter 8/4/16

We’re mixing it up this week by starting out with a modern house in a rural location. Let’s see what you think of that. This was built last year to the vendor’s bespoke design (and yes you do wonder why it’s being sold don’t you) and is in West Wittering, West Sussex. It’s on the market for £1,650,00 via Strutt & Parker, so shall we go in?

First up, I love this big open plan space and, if you had the space for it, this is a brilliant kitchen design. You would really feel at the hub of things wouldn’t you and yet there is masses of worktop, everything is within reach and yet you aren’t hemmed in by overhead cupboards and walls.

But why (oh why) is there so stuff hanging from the ceiling? The bottle lights are rather clever and I like that each one is different but what’s with the bunting? And I also like cardboard lights over the table, which look like Graypants, and are made from recycled card but again why the bunting. That sure is one busy ceiling.

Anyway, having taken down a few things from there, we come into the relative calm of this room which has a fabulou smix of concrete and wooden panelling although I long to ruffle up those cushions a bit don’t you?

This is the same room taken from the other end with a great view of the garden. It’s a great house, what do you think? It has, by the way, four bedrooms as well as a detached garden room/office as well as a garage with consent to create another office.

Next up let’s go to London, to this rather fabulous three bedroom apartment which is on the market with Domus Nova for (ahem) £3,750,000. Moving swiftly on, it’s a study in shades of grey which is why I wanted to show it to you.

This is clearly a kitchen that is used- look at all the books on the worktop – but the detail I wanted you to look at is the mirror splashback. It’s great for bouncing light around and increasing the sense of space. If money were no object I would say do this in foxed antique mirror which would give you the same effect but be softer than modern mirroring.

And yes I can see that that is quite pricey so then I found this tutorial on how to make your own. Basically vinegar, silver spray and black backing paint. Seemples. I quite fancy doing this in the bathroom where we need a full length mirror.

In fact, if it works, I can suddenly see it happening all over the house…I shall try and find time to give it a go and will report back. And if any of you try it out then let us know in the comments.

But, back to this house. I love the black which really brings the space alive. I think a new chandelier is in order – something brass and more modern which would be a bit warmer than this crystal.

I’m completely in love with that leather armchair below and it works perfectly against the parquet floor, dark velvet sofa and pale grey walls.

Finally this bedroom. I love how the owner has painted the wardrobes black. It’s an unusual choice – most people would have gone for a pale colour to match the walls but this really works.

The moral of the story is, as I have been telling you for ages, every rooms needs to have some black in it.

What do you think? Town or country this week? And who’s going to have a go at foxing some mirror?