close

The Househunter: Room by Room

And it’s Friday again. That rolled round fast didn’t it? Must be something to do with the four day weeks that May is so full of. Not that it makes much difference to a freelance or a journalist (we always had to work bank holidays when I worked for newspapers) but there’s something in the air when it’s a bank holiday. That feeling that it’s completely legitimate to write from your lap top on your lap (on the sofa) rather than feeling the need to put it on the desk and sit up straight.

But since here we are again rolling round into the weekend I thought we’d go coastal this week. Who knows what the weather will be doing – it’s only June after all – but I’ve found one seaside and one woodside near the harbour so I reckon we’re covered. Coming?

First up is this four bedroom Brighton townhouse which is on the market with Winkworth for £1,000,000. It has a private courtyard garden, seafront location with amazing views and there’s also a one bedroom flat on the lower ground floor which is available by separate negotiation.

The kitchen and dining area is on the ground floor so you go upstairs to the sitting room and get the views of the sea from the balcony.

Behind that is this sweet study area and note the pendant lights over the desk. I have often suggested one hanging to one side to free up desk space, but two makes a real statement. And a window seat. That’s the working bank holiday spot right there.

The floor above has two bedrooms and a bathroom while the top floor has been entirely taken over by a master suite consisting of large dressing room and bathroom with the bedroom at the front. Suddenly I feel the need to move to Brighton. Anyone else?

But then I see this in the forest in Dorset – near Poole Harbour – and I feel the need for trees. This one is a shade under four million quid at £3,650,000 with Savills but I think this is one of the most expensive parts of the country. And hell, it’s only fantasy money isn’t it.

It’s a collection of three houses- the other two aren’t on the market yet – set in this private enclave of which this is the largest. It has four bedrooms and a private terrace. It looks like other two have their own pools though, which this one doesn’t.

But you could get over that if you were having breakfast here I reckon. So much for the bank holiday window seat working spot. Now it’s the woodland glade working spot.

The developers have kept the inside very neutral and natural with splashes of green to link inside and out. Note also the use of the run under the table to zone the dining space. If you want to do this make sure the rug is at least a metre larger than the table all round so you can pull chairs in and out without ruckling it up.

It’s definitely a great spot isn’t it? It’s not entirely styled how I would furnish it but the thought of being surrounded by those woods making it a really private spot feels very appealing.

What do you think? There are lots more images if you click through on the link above. I have to say though that if I’m spending my fantasy money here I might go for a smaller house with a pool but we can have a look at the others when they come on the market.

What do you think? Who’s moving where this week?

 

 

 

 

 

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.

7 Comments

  1. I live in Brighton and really there’s no reason ever to leave (except for short exotic holidays, of course) and this house proves, but we have a ton of them down here.

  2. i love the dining room with the three green pendants. Do you know the source? Labor and Wait perhaps?

  3. I don’t usually go for modern but I love the second house. The architect has really used glass to great effect and I would feel I was living in a treehouse – albeit a very luxurious one. Yes please!

  4. Brighton for me, I would feel so glam and a touch decadent in that house. Fantasy money yes, and money is fantasy…

  5. While I love both, the Brighton one is more my style. I would need to change the furniture in the dining room but keep the chandelier though.

  6. Love these Kate. I’d plump for the seaside one tho as the decor is all done so I could just relax on the bank holiday. Ps try working part time and never on a Monday – I feel exquisite shame as others drone on about their long weekend on the occasional Bank Holiday… (May excepted) . Not ruling out the woodland one- in-fact, perhaps my husband could live there?

Comments are closed.