Property spotlight: Art Deco homes

My favourite building in the UK is Embassy Court in Brighton. It’s positioned on a corner plot directly opposite the seafront and the size, shape and colour of the block of flats sits perfectly amongst its Regency neighbours.

Art Deco and Moderne architecture can be identified by either its curves (think 1930s ocean liners) or blocks (like white Lego houses). The (often flat-roofed) buildings were constructed using lots of reinforced concrete with wraparound, steel-framed glass windows.

Many original Art Deco homes keep their exterior looks; unfortunately, the interiors have often been messed about with beyond recognition. 21^st century domestic life has changed dramatically from what it was when these housed were first constructed. We want open-plan life and large, airy rooms.

The Brighton house we’ve featured below is almost brand new and has been built in the Art Deco manner – with today’s type of lifestyle at its heart. The other two Art Deco homes are contemporary to the original style. Both include integral garages – cars were de rigueur for the middle classes at the time.

£332,500 – 40 Station Road, Weston-Super-Mare BS23 1XY

Central location
Semi detached ‘Art Deco’ style house
• 4 bedrooms
• 2 reception rooms
• Kitchen/breakfast room
• Gas central heating & double glazing
• Gardens & garage
• Requires modernisation

A rare opportunity to acquire a 4 bedroom semi detached ‘Art Deco’ style house with recently rendered elevations under a flat roof.

£600,000 – The Grove, Bearsted, Maidstone ME14 4JB

• Extended, modern & beautifully presented
• Located in a quiet and sought after cul de sac a short distance from the Village Green
• Close to schools and local amenities
• Downstairs Cloakroom
• Newly re-fitted shower room and kitchen
• Conservatory

£4,000,000 – 39 Roedean Road, Brighton BN2 5RA

• Detached Art Deco style house, circa 2013 – 10 year warranty
• 6 double bedrooms all en suite
• 9456 sq. ft
• South facing garden with pool & sun terraces
• Off street parking and double garage

With gentle curves and strong lines accentuated by banks of energy efficient crittal style aluminium windows this beautiful house is a stunning reimagining of the classic ‘style moderne’ with glass walls to bring the light and sea views into the heart of the home, an exacting finish with the best of 21st century fittings including a Poggenphol kitchen with top of the range Gaggenhau fittings, a wine tasting room and a library created by one of our top craftsmen Michael Mancini, and C.P Hart bathrooms as well as underfloor heating throughout
A glamorous reimagining of the Art Deco style delivers a unique coastal home beautifully designed to make the most of the stunning setting and although it is like stepping into a painting and every room has a designer finish, it is also a family friendly, comfortable home with a discreet practical ethos.

Property spotlight: Lighthouse homes

Many moons ago, for Justin’s birthday, I booked us a stay in a lighthouse cottage in Kent. It was a beautiful building and a memorable experience watching the comings & goings in the English Channel.

A surprising number of lighthouses and lighthouse homes are available as holiday lets; and there are even a few currently on the market if you’ve always dreamed of living in one!

We’ve selected three of them and have shared the details of each below.

Offers in excess of £90,000 – The Engine Room Strathy Point, Strathy, Thurso KW14 7RY

• Spectacular panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean
• Peaceful remote location
• Fabulous scenic walks
• Close to a beautiful award winning beaches
• Oil fired central heating

The Engine Room is a cosy one bedroom mid-terrace home, converted from the former engine room, and has amazing views. It’s one of three unique homes on the market situated in the remote Strathy Point Lighthouse complex – there are six properties within the Lighthouse, which was decommissioned in 2012.

Guide price: £525,000 (plus fees) – Hornblower Lodge, Hawsker, Whitby, North Yorkshire YO22 4JY

‘Hornblower Lodge’ stands on just under 1 acre of land between Whitby and Robin Hood’s Bay along the ‘Cleveland Way’ a historic trail popular with walkers and tourists alike. This property offers flexible accommodation and currently comprises a spacious four-bedroom family home and self-contained one bedroom holiday cottage.
The land was purchased by the Trinity House Corporation in the 1850s and by the end of the decade the plot on which Hornblower Lodge sits housed one of two neighbouring lighthouses. At the turn of the century the lighthouse was demolished and replaced with Whitby Foghorn Station.
Auction date: Tuesday 14^th February 2023.

£750,000 – St. Anne’s Head, Dale SA62 3RT

• Being sold by GOTO Online Auction
• Buy-it-now option available
• Buyer’s fees apply
• Unique opportunity to own a lighthouse
• 360 degree observatory
• Six bedroom main lighthouse & two bedroom cottage
• Dual living
• Five reception rooms
• Pool, sauna and games room
• Excellent revenue from holiday let business

A truly one off, historic building. One of only a handful of privately owned Lighthouses. The dream property to own.
This gorgeous and unique home sits nestled among beautiful cliffs and high above the sea near Dale, Pembrokeshire, with unbeatable views and the absolute perfect location.
St. Ann’s Head Lighthouse was built in 1844 to guide shipping bound for Milford Haven, replacing two leading lights established in 1714.

Property spotlight: Church properties

This week, we’re looking at church properties around the country that are currently on the market. With the drop in church-going, many of these buildings have become surplus to requirements. There are a range of former churches, church halls, chapels, vicarages etc – many sadly falling into disrepair – looking for new owners to show them some love and attention.

We’ve chosen ones that are ready to move into and ones that are ripe for renovation. We even have a BOGOF property!

The ‘buy one, get one free’ property is actually a virtually identical pair of former chapels located in Brecon (in the Brecon Beacons National Park) and just off the River Usk. They’re an absolute steal at a mere £100K for the two.

The Baptist chapel in Okehampton in Devon only has one bedroom however the open-plan living area is very spacious. The charming exterior is clad with corrugated zinc and the interior is wood panelled throughout. It’s a really special property!

If money is no object and you love church properties, Naish Priory could be for you.£2.4 million will get you this historical Somerset home. This 14^th century building still retains many of its original features and the expansive gardens are stunning.

£100,000 – Cemetery Chapels, Cradoc Road, Brecon LD3 9LH

They are an early example of 19^th century Gothic cemetery chapels and have lots of features.

• A wonderful pair of Grade II listed chapels
• Enjoining superb views of the Beacons
• Full of character
• Flagstone & tiled patterned flooring
• Unique development opportunity subject to planning & Listed Building Consent
• Easy access to town centre
• Lots of potential
• An ideal home with a difference, holiday let, workspace or a combination of the three
• Potential for parking

£325,000 – The Baptist Chapel, Taw Green, Okehampton EX20 2LU

A wonderfully converted 1903 Baptist chapel set in its own garden with the most beautiful Devon setting.

• Unique character property
• Converted Baptist chapel
• Vast open plan living space
• Large master bedroom
• Wonderful vaulted ceiling
• Idyllic hamlet location
• Cottage style garden surrounding the property
• Various outdoor seating areas
• Detached garage with potential (stp)

£2,400,000 – Naish Priory, East Coker, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 9HQ

• Stair hall, drawing room, morning room, dining room, library, ante room/rear hall, kitchen/breakfast room, scullery, boot room, cloakroom
• First floor: Principal bedroom with bathroom, guest bedroom (former chapel), 4 further bedrooms, family bathroom, cloakroom
• Second floor: Landing, 2 further bedrooms, shower room
• Stables & Coach House: Two garages, loose boxes and tack room, apple and wood store
• Gardens and Grounds:
• Wonderful formal and informal gardens
• About 2.41 acres
• Two cottages available by separate negotiation

The property is Listed Grade I and believed originally to have been a chantry rather than a priory.
…it is a house of immense character, with a sense of English history throughout. The exterior has fan tracery, octagonal chimneys, carved stone gargoyles and corbelled heads. The rare “Beast of Botreaux” corbel by the sealed doorway is significant. There are also flagstone floors, high beamed ceilings, arched stone door surrounds, medieval panelled doors, stone mullion windows with leaded lights and a fine oriel window. The northern door sports a Beauchamp Knot carved motif, and above the Coach House, a stone carving of two roses, surmounted by a large Tudor Rose and weathered crown, can be found.
The property is situated on the northern edge of the picturesque Somerset village of East Coker, near the Somerset/Dorset border, tucked away at the end of a no through country lane with good access to bridleways and footpaths.

Property spotlight: Ikaria

The properties that we’re highlighting in today’s spotlight are all located in Ikaria; in Maganitis, Agios Kirikos and Oxea respectively.

Ikaria is a Greek island about 20km south-west of Samos with a population of just under 8½ thousand. The island is named after Ikarus, who famously flew too close to the sun, falling and drowning in the sea… supposedly in this area.

Ikaria was brought to our attention just last week. Jon Snow is currently fronting a television programme entitled How to Live to 100. One of the places he travelled to was Ikaria where, apparently, locals live a whole decade longer than the European average. It’s one of only 5 Blue Zones in the world – regions with higher than usual life expectancy.

The local people that Jon met all seemed to be very healthy and content; they eat well, drink tea, exercise regularly. According to Dan Buettner, one of the Blue Zone researchers, “they have about 20 percent lower rates of cancer, 50 percent lower rates of heart disease and almost no dementia”.

As it’s a relatively small island, it goes without saying that there isn’t much property availability. We’ve found three that we like between €70K and €480K. Much of the real estate on the island is sold by area; that doesn’t refer to it’s location – but rather the square footage or metreage. Therefore, the cheapest of the properties that we’ve selected is 45 m² on one level and the most expensive is 205m² over 3 levels.

€70,000 – Detached house in Maganitis

45 m² on one level
on a plot of 61m².
150m from the sea

€120,000 – Detached house in Agios Kirikos

252m² on 2 levels
on a plot of 192m²
It consists of 2 independent houses. It is a traditional stone building in good condition and needs renovation.
5 bedrooms
2 bathrooms
200m from the square and the port of Agios Kirikos.

€480,000 – Traditional house with a view

A beautiful, authentic house with breathtaking views, in the mountains of Oxea.
On an amphitheatrical plot of 4,224m².
3 bedrooms
205m² on 3 levels

H is for Home Harbinger

Category: Property spotlight