01494 778787
01494 778787
Brid Carr, Senior Principal, Randell Design Group, discusses the brief for this refined contemporary family home, which makes the most of the location’s stunning countryside views.
Project details
Architect and interior design: Randell Design Group
Contractor: King and Drury Construction
Front door: Parma special bronze 112 (1400mm wide by 2453mm high) external side with a RAL 7022 finish inside
Internal doors x3: Raw in RAL 7022 with option 1 lever handles
Structural engineer: Archibald Shaw
Bespoke staircase: Spiral
Landscape design: James Lee Landscape and Garden Design
Windows and balustrades: Cantifix
Kitchen: Modulnova by Design Space London
Fixtures and fittings: Dornbracht and Samuel Heath
Photography: Julia Toms
What was the brief and how did you meet it?
To create a beautiful, contemporary, sustainable family home and garden that maximises the views of the landscape beyond. We designed a home that responds to its setting using a muted materials palette and an emphasis on horizontal lines. The low roof line is inspired by the shape of the harbour nearby. The house’s position on the site creates different zones: a lovely south-facing garden with an axis, a rear garden with stunning views for entertaining, a play zone, and an orchard. There are two main living areas. On the ground floor, we created an open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area that provides ample space for entertaining with direct access to the garden and terrace. On the first floor, there is a large games room and a first-floor terrace and dining area.
What was your vision for the entrance to the property?
The door was designed to create a wow factor on arrival. A central axis path leads to the gorgeous Urban Front door, which is a wide, patinated bronze pivot with clear glazed side panels. On entry, a beautiful view of the countryside is revealed through the windows that line up with the entrance door axis.
Why did you choose an Urban Front door?
Urban Front offered the bespoke designs we needed to achieve our desired vision for the front entrance door. We have worked with Urban Front on several projects in the past and felt that the level of service, quality, and design offered by Urban Front was desirable for this project.
What was the brief for the interior of the home?
My colleague Rachel Ellis was the interior designer on this project. Her brief was to create contemporary and beautiful, but also durable and functional with views from the windows an important part of the design choices.
She chose high-quality materials and fixtures and fittings that are both high design and practical. The palette is neutral with colour introduced in soft furnishings and artwork. The flooring is a combination of wide light oak floorboards and large format porcelain throughout.
Is the property sustainable?
Sustainability was achieved through a ground source heat pump, underfloor heating, thermal mass, passive solar heating and cooling and solar panels.
Did you face any challenges during either the planning or building phases?
Being in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty meant a very careful design approach that respects the natural habitat. This included the introduction of large overhangs and external metal screens to reduce the amount of glazing and light spillage.
What’s your favourite part of the finished property?
The house viewed at dusk with the lighting at low level is so beautiful, set against a background of stunning landscaping. The clients love walking through a substantial front door into a double height foyer, featuring a stunning limestone-tread spiral staircase, with views through to the water beyond.