1970s Eric Mayne modern house in Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Original from the outside, this 1970s Eric Mayne modern house in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, has been renovated to a high standard within.
In fact, I would go as far as to say that this is absolutely stunning inside. Mixing original details, period touches, and the right amount of upgrades, this is 1970s living for the 21st century.
In terms of the architecture, it’s perhaps later than you might expect at first glance. The house dates back to 1976, one of three houses hidden away along a no-through road and beyond a ‘substantial’ driveway.
The architect has been featured on these pages in the past, courtesy of a remarkable midcentury modern house in Surrey. This one is a little more subdued but every bit as appealing, mixing modernist architecture of the era with more than a hint of midcentury California.
As I said, a first look suggests a house barely changed in over 40 years and, as such, has the potential to be a time capsule of the era. In a small way, it is, but the owner has done an amazing job on this one, working with the original design, adding in some modern-era functionality and plenty of eye-catching touches that hark back to a bygone era.
Not that all the eye candy here has been added in. Far from it. Take a look at the original parquet floors and wooden Pella accordion room dividers, for example. Both look like new, and the latter really opens up the inside space. Or closes it off if you prefer.
As for the architecture, that’s a modern (1970s) update on the courtyard house, configured in a ‘horseshoe’ around a central courtyard. A concept that is rarely seen today.
Found at the end of a long driveway and with a garage from the house by a covered walkway, the design is all about clean lines, with a flat roof and a simple mix of brick and white soffit boards for the finish. Understated – and in a good way.
A pathway leads through the large front garden to the front door, which I can only presume is original to the house. Beyond that is the entrance hallway, which has a large coat cupboard and a WC.
The living room opens out beyond two ‘original mottled glass doors’, creating a large space for both living and entertaining. But if you want to close things down, use those original wooden accordion screens by Pella, which separate the dining area and study area.
Plenty of glazing also means plenty of natural light, with a large sliding door opening to the central courtyard, allowing it to be an extension of the living room in warmer months. A separate study at the front of the house can be partitioned by the same wooden screen as the dining room.
Another set of double glass doors leads from the dining room to the recently renovated kitchen, which is the one area I would say has a contemporary feel about it. No bad thing when it comes to a modern house, especially with a minimal design like the one here.
To the side is a ‘secluded’ second living room with a wide picture window, two skylights, and ply-clad walls. If the open space of the main living area is a bit much for you, this is a great ‘cosy’ space to retreat into.
A long corridor runs north from the living room, beside the courtyard and onto the bedrooms at the rear of the house. There are four double bedrooms in total, each with built-in storage. The second bedroom overlooks the central courtyard and has its own door to the outside space. The others all overlook the lawn at the rear of the house.
The main bedroom has an en suite shower, while a bright family bathroom with a yellow rubber floor serves the rest of the rooms.
That’s not quite as a ‘sizeable’ garage sits at the front of the house and is currently used as a potter’s studio. Of course, other uses are available.
Outside, there is a large driveway that has off-street parking for several cars, including a carport. And the garden space too.
A woodland garden ‘wraps around the house’ to enhance the privacy, and of course, there is the central courtyard connected to the main living rooms. Also, to the rear of the house is a lawned area and an apple tree, with scope to boost the landscaping if you want or need to.
Fancy it? £1,050,000 is the asking price of this one.
Images and details courtesy of The Modern House. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.
