This is definitely the time of year when I start wishing I was somewhere else. Let’s start with some place warm, like Australia. And failing that, it’s the time of year to start dreaming about new places to go and trips you’d like to make. Yes, I’m talking summer. I’m talking packing a bag (okay, several bags), jumping in the car, and going some place. This doesn’t have to be abroad. This just needs to be some place different.
Which brings me to this house, Bramley, at Old Hunstanton in Norfolk, which is available to let through The Modern House. I always figure, if you’re going to holiday in the UK, find a house or cottage that excites you in terms of its style or design. Don’t opt for a bog-standard holiday cottage. We’ve all done it; we’ve all opened the door to a holiday let and thought, “Hmm…” I’d rather turn up to a property that packs a punch in terms of its design as, for me, the time spent in your holiday home is as much a part of the experience as the excursions.
This single-storey house certainly fits the bill. Built in 1971 by the architect Robin Spence, this steel-framed house is a classic example of Modern architecture. In an article in The Sunday Times in April 2014, Laura Golden wrote: ‘This is not a bungalow, it’s a slice of California cool buried in sleepy Old Hunstanton. Inspired by the Case Study houses of America, the architect Robin Spence built sleek, steel Bramley in 1971. Many of the original fixtures are still in place, such as the bronze-anodised aluminium windows, which allow you to peel back the sides of the house. The rest of the vintage fittings have been collected by the owners over the years. Gems include an Ercol sofa and chairs, a G Plan sideboard and a Patrick Caulfield print in the bedroom — and yes, they will notice if you slip the vintage Newton’s cradle into your holdall.’
And that’s precisely what makes this house so special. Yes, it’s an interesting piece of architecture and if, like me, you’re a fan of Case Study houses, well, you’re already sold. But the owners have reflected the mid-century influences throughout this interior, without being slavish about it as the end result feels vibrant and contemporary.
There are two double bedrooms, and the double sofa bed in the living room can accommodate another two people so this house sleeps 6. There’s a design library for those moments when you want to curl up with a good book, and a big flatscreen TV in the family room for when you want to curl up with a good film.
And Old Hunstanton beach – which is a mecca for kite surfers and kite boarders as the tide goes out for miles, leaving a wide expanse of flat sand – is just a five minute walk from the house.
I’m packing my bags now…
This property is available to let from £650 per week through The Modern House.
