WowHaus

Updated inside, but this 1930s Ernst L Freud modern house in Betchworth, Surrey is still a stunning property.

Good to see another Ernst Freud house on the market. His house in the Hampstead Garden Suburb, London N2 is consistently one of the most popular on the site and this one certainly has a few similarities with it.

As I said at the top of the page, one is a fairly contemporary renovation. But this one has more originality than the Hampstead house still in place. Yes., the kitchen and bathrooms are modern, but elsewhere this one has more authenticity in place. Presumably, the result of it not being on the market very much. This is the first time the house has been offered for sale in 42 years.

It dates back to 1939 and was originally designed by Freud in 1939 for Dorothy Cottington-Taylor, who was Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute, who obviously wanted something to get people talking. Over 80 years on and we are still talking about it.

It sits pretty much in isolation at the foot of Pebble Hill, surrounded by ‘miles of unspoilt’ Surrey Hills countryside, described as ‘an area of outstanding natural beauty’. Around an acre of it is yours too.

But the house is the star of the show. How would you describe it? Some might say art deco, but this is probably more in the realms of the modern movement of the inter-war years. Modernism of the 1930s, with key features (thankfully) still in place.

The basics are the original parts here. The main architecture of course, along with the original floors, windows and doors. The agent rightly points out the rotunda interior spaces with half circular bay windows extending the dining room on the ground floor and the master bedroom upstairs.

Although I’m personally more taken with the living room and its wall of glass that opens out onto the garden. Maybe because it’s a sunny day and I can imagine that kind of inside/outside space being a dream when the warmer weather comes.

As for the layout, that’s across two floors and despite the forward-thinking nature of the architecture, the layout is more traditional than you might imagine across its two floors.

That kicks off with an entrance hall, which opens into the 32ft dual-aspect living room with open fireplace and classic bi-folding doors opening directly out onto the garden terrace. Open it up and you have the perfect entertaining area. Note that there is also a separate family room here too.

Beyond that is the newly-refurbished kitchen, which is as modern as that sounds and connected to the kitchen is that impressive dining room with half-circular bay window framing some great views across the nearby farmland.

Across the hall is the study, which could be used as an extra bedroom if required, especially as there is a nearby ground floor bathroom if desired. Completing the downstairs is the ‘very spacious’ utility room, a ground floor cloakroom with a boot room and an internal hallway accessing the garage.

Back to the hallway and a staircase curls up to the first-floor landing and eventually the bedrooms, storage and bathrooms in this floor. The obvious place to start is the master bedroom suite, again with the circular bay window, along with a separate dressing room area and an en-suite bathroom with separate shower.

Across the hall from that are four further bedrooms, all described as ‘very generous doubles’ and with built-in storage. Also on this floor is the family bathroom.

Of course, the outside space is a huge selling point too. At the front of the property is a private sweeping driveway with plenty of parking space for visitors (or yourself) and offering access to the garage.

The back garden is described as ‘tranquil’ and mainly laid to lawn with a full-width patio for relaxing or entertaining. Overall, there is something like an acred of grounds belonging to you, but the land beyond stretches so much further.

Fancy living here? If you do the guide price is £1,150,000.

Images and details courtesy of Seymours. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.