British Houzz: A Seaside Home Sees the Light
Victorian beachfront in UK says goodbye to dark and dingy interiors and hello to its beautiful views
Andrea Von
22 September 2015
Formerly editor at thegreenhubonline.com and Houzz UK Editorial Staff. I'm passionate about sustainability, innovative architecture and clever design.
Formerly editor at thegreenhubonline.com and Houzz UK Editorial Staff. I'm passionate... More
With the help of Azman Architects, the owners of this Victorian house in Aldeburgh, Suffolk gave it a complete overhaul in order to bring its dark and rundown interior up to date – the interior was completely gutted, leaving only the front and rear facades and the shape of the roof untouched.
Now the interior is airy, open and understated, with clean lines and pale colours creating a serene atmosphere in keeping with relaxed beach life.
Now the interior is airy, open and understated, with clean lines and pale colours creating a serene atmosphere in keeping with relaxed beach life.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two children, aged 9 and 6
Location: Aldeburgh, Suffolk
Size: 5 bedrooms, 3 ensuites, 1 family bathroom
Completed: Late 2012
Architect: Ferhan Azman of Azman Architects
The owners of this Victorian house wanted to capitalise on the stunning sea views they get from their double-fronted beachside home. Before the renovation, the rooms were dark and dingy, so Ferhan Azman set out to design the space in a way that not only made the most of the large windows in the main rooms, but minimised any internal visual barriers, too.
Though the facade was maintained, most of the internal structure was completely rebuilt. Azman removed some internal walls to open up the space, which meant a steel frame needed to be inserted into the external wall to maintain the building’s structural integrity.
Wallpaper in ‘Birds n Bees’: Timorous Beasties; Elan sofa: Jasper Morrison; CH28 chair by Hans J Wegner: available at Twentytwentyone; rug: Ikea
Who lives here: A couple and their two children, aged 9 and 6
Location: Aldeburgh, Suffolk
Size: 5 bedrooms, 3 ensuites, 1 family bathroom
Completed: Late 2012
Architect: Ferhan Azman of Azman Architects
The owners of this Victorian house wanted to capitalise on the stunning sea views they get from their double-fronted beachside home. Before the renovation, the rooms were dark and dingy, so Ferhan Azman set out to design the space in a way that not only made the most of the large windows in the main rooms, but minimised any internal visual barriers, too.
Though the facade was maintained, most of the internal structure was completely rebuilt. Azman removed some internal walls to open up the space, which meant a steel frame needed to be inserted into the external wall to maintain the building’s structural integrity.
Wallpaper in ‘Birds n Bees’: Timorous Beasties; Elan sofa: Jasper Morrison; CH28 chair by Hans J Wegner: available at Twentytwentyone; rug: Ikea
In the living room, Azman kept the fireplace in its original position, but she reconstructed the chimney breast. The fireplaces in the kitchen and bedrooms were removed.
To the left, behind the chimney breast, is a small area for watching TV. You can just see the turquoise cabinet that Azman found in a secondhand shop. “It’s slightly tattered, but the client loves it. She uses it as a drinks cabinet,” she says.
Behind the staircase is the cloakroom and utility room.
Wood-burning fireplace: Stuv; Lotis recessed downlights: Modular Lighting Instruments
To the left, behind the chimney breast, is a small area for watching TV. You can just see the turquoise cabinet that Azman found in a secondhand shop. “It’s slightly tattered, but the client loves it. She uses it as a drinks cabinet,” she says.
Behind the staircase is the cloakroom and utility room.
Wood-burning fireplace: Stuv; Lotis recessed downlights: Modular Lighting Instruments
The ground floor has been opened up to create one large space. The open cabinet and slatted partition provide some privacy, but are deliberately minimal, allowing light and colour to be shared between the kitchen-diner and living areas.
“I personally don’t believe in completely open-plan living,” says Azman. “There need to be some boundaries in any room – there’s a need to feel surrounded. It helps humans psychologically locate themselves in a fixed place and makes them feel comfortable.”
“I personally don’t believe in completely open-plan living,” says Azman. “There need to be some boundaries in any room – there’s a need to feel surrounded. It helps humans psychologically locate themselves in a fixed place and makes them feel comfortable.”
Azman chose these handmade Moroccan floor tiles over ceramic ones, which can feel flat, to create the look of brick pavers. “The tiles are slightly uneven and have wider grouting,” she explains.
Glazed handmade Moroccan tiles: Dar Interiors; rug: Ikea
Glazed handmade Moroccan tiles: Dar Interiors; rug: Ikea
Colours are kept to a minimum throughout the house. Where they are used, they are bright and cheerful. The yellow and two shades of turquoise echo beach colours – something that was important to the homeowner.
The shelves to the right are made from cold rolled steel. “They’re heavy and difficult to install and work with, but we use them a lot because they add texture and substance,” says Azman. “They feel solid and rough.”
Eames DSW chairs: available from SCP; Raft NA2 table by Norm Architects: available from Danish Design Store; Topan VP6 pendant lights by Verner Panton: available from Nest
The shelves to the right are made from cold rolled steel. “They’re heavy and difficult to install and work with, but we use them a lot because they add texture and substance,” says Azman. “They feel solid and rough.”
Eames DSW chairs: available from SCP; Raft NA2 table by Norm Architects: available from Danish Design Store; Topan VP6 pendant lights by Verner Panton: available from Nest
Azman designed the light and airy kitchen to be unfussy and in keeping with the rest of the home’s relaxed style. The homeowner cooks a lot, so she chose to have the hob on the island in a position where she can take in the view of the sea.
As an alternative to under-shelf LED lighting, the retro, wall-mounted, adjustable lamps provide light for the benchtop, and a welcoming glow after dark. “We weren’t trying to make it look retro, but there is a reference,” says Azman. “And if you look at the detail, the cabinet handles look like those in kitchens of the past. It’s light-hearted.”
As an alternative to under-shelf LED lighting, the retro, wall-mounted, adjustable lamps provide light for the benchtop, and a welcoming glow after dark. “We weren’t trying to make it look retro, but there is a reference,” says Azman. “And if you look at the detail, the cabinet handles look like those in kitchens of the past. It’s light-hearted.”
This wall is clad in ceramic tiles and the shelving is beech-veneered MDF. The benchtop is Caesarstone.
Prema series gloss tiles: Domus; Minta sink mixer: Grohe
Prema series gloss tiles: Domus; Minta sink mixer: Grohe
Upstairs there are four bedrooms, plus one in an annexe above the playroom (formerly the garage – see plans, below). The closed door on the left of the bright landing leads to the children’s bedroom, which has two beds; the middle doorway looks through to the balcony off the master bedroom, and the door on the right leads to the guest room. The fourth bedroom is accessed from the half landing downstairs, as seen in the next image.
One of the major changes made was to the staircase, which was originally a traditional painted timber stair and balustrade. Azman flipped the staircase layout to allow smoother passage through the house (see plans, below). She also added a skylight to saturate the space with light. The new balustrade and handrails are black-painted steel.
Skylight: Velux
Skylight: Velux
As you walk into the master bedroom, through the area seen on the left of the image, built-in wardrobes fill one wall. The panels for the bedhead were chosen for their differing widths as part of the laid-back feeling the homeowners wanted.
A pocket door (visible to the right in this photo) separates the ensuite from the bedroom. The narrow internal window to the left of the bed allows the bathroom to borrow lots of light.
DLM side table: available from Nest; Hector wall light: Original BTC; timber bedhead painted in Dulux 11BB 64/135
A pocket door (visible to the right in this photo) separates the ensuite from the bedroom. The narrow internal window to the left of the bed allows the bathroom to borrow lots of light.
DLM side table: available from Nest; Hector wall light: Original BTC; timber bedhead painted in Dulux 11BB 64/135
The homeowners left most aesthetic decisions to Azman, but did pick out the wallpaper in this room and in the living room. “The homeowner found the wallpapers and asked us to find a place for them, so we suggested here and in the living room,” she says.
Wallpaper in ‘Cotton Tree’ (sage grey): Miss Print; reclining chair by Robin Day: available from Twentytwentyone; Grashoppa floor lamp by Greta Grossman: available from Houseology
Wallpaper in ‘Cotton Tree’ (sage grey): Miss Print; reclining chair by Robin Day: available from Twentytwentyone; Grashoppa floor lamp by Greta Grossman: available from Houseology
The homeowners get a great view of the beach from several spots in this room, including the Juliet balcony and the reclining chair – and even from the bath, through the glass wall panel behind the bed.
The back of the blue timber bedhead creates a feature in the master ensuite. This image shows how much light floods through the vertical internal window from the bedroom.
As there’s already a shower cubicle in the family bathroom, the homeowners wanted to play up the relaxed feel of the house with a freestanding roll-top tub in here.
As there’s already a shower cubicle in the family bathroom, the homeowners wanted to play up the relaxed feel of the house with a freestanding roll-top tub in here.
The large mirror and pale colours allow the light to bounce off each surface. Minimal fixtures and simple finishes help to create a fuss-free look and the ‘beach spirit’ the homeowners so wanted.
Tessera PC white mosaic tiles: Reed Harris; cast iron roll-top bath: Aston Matthews; Ego 500 basin: No Code; Talis S tap: Hansgrohe
Tessera PC white mosaic tiles: Reed Harris; cast iron roll-top bath: Aston Matthews; Ego 500 basin: No Code; Talis S tap: Hansgrohe
The guest bedroom benefits from a large bay window that looks out across the beach to the sea.
A gap between the built-in wardrobe doors hides a second glass slit, mirroring the one in the master bedroom, and gives the guest ensuite a view of the sea, too.
Calvo side table in walnut by Lee Kirkbride: available from SCP; Hector table lamp: Original BTC
Calvo side table in walnut by Lee Kirkbride: available from SCP; Hector table lamp: Original BTC
The coastal palette continues in the children’s bedrooms.
Light ash bed frames: Muji; rug: Ikea
Light ash bed frames: Muji; rug: Ikea
This is the fourth bedroom, which is off the half landing.
Fairford bunk bed: John Lewis; rug: Ikea
Fairford bunk bed: John Lewis; rug: Ikea
The family bathroom, which has both a bath and a shower (to the left), is decorated with soft colours, minimal fixtures and simple finishes to allow the light from the skylight to bounce off the surfaces.
Rotondo tiles: Domus
Rotondo tiles: Domus
BEFORE: The rooms were self-contained and closed off from each other, and the living room was upstairs. The space labelled ‘Hall’ is now the utility room and cloakroom.
AFTER: The living spaces are now all on the same level, and there’s a separate area for watching TV. The garage has been turned into a play/TV room, as well as a space for storing bicycles.
BEFORE: There were only two bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs (and another bedroom and bathroom downstairs).
AFTER: There are now four bedrooms and three bathrooms upstairs in the main part of the house. The room above the former garage has been turned into another guest bedroom with an ensuite.
The house is the blue one in the middle of this photograph. There’s a decked area area for outdoor entertaining in front. It’s not hard to see why the homeowners were so insistent on making the most of their beach frontage.
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We stood on that beach admiring your frontage earlier this year, wondering what the inside was like. Now we know and I'm even more in love. beautiful
Shame that the only colour is on the outside of the house.
Wonderful transformation. Love the choice of wallpaper in sitting room so worth the money and balanced by an ikea rug