Reginald Gale midcentury modern house in Barnstaple, Devon
Someone has done an amazing job bringing this Reginald Gale midcentury modern house in Barnstaple, Devon, back to its best.
That someone is (of course) the current owner in association with the leading design studio Sybarite. Such a good job that you have to look closely to believe this isn’t a perfectly preserved time capsule of the era.
Which era? Would you believe the 1970s? 1971, to be precise. I know; I presumed it to be much earlier. But this was originally designed by the renowned local architect Reginald Gale for his family just over five decades back. Except, it wasn’t quite like this.
The house has been the subject of a significant renovation in recent years. Fully restored, upgraded, and extended by Sybarite. The end result is a joy to behold.
That renovation has done what every renovation should do. Look at the key features, preserve them and make them the backbone of the house. Once you take out key details, you lose everything. Not least, the character. All the important details here have been restored/enhanced, with a knowledgeable eye adding in some wonderful designs of the midcentury modern era.
Some modern additions too, which you would expect. This is a luxurious house for the 21st century, not a museum of the 20th century. Some obvious updates, some much less so. But the two eras work so well together here, which isn’t always the case.
You’ll need to discuss whether all of the fixtures and furnishings are staying with the agent and the seller. But they work so well here. From the Colani light fittings to the 1960s Radiofonografo record player by Brionvega, this is a celebration of the design of that era, and even if it isn’t staying, it gives you inspiration when it comes to fitting out the place.
Some fitting out will be required, too, as this is a sizeable house. And that’s before we get to the 1.3 acres of outside space. More of that in a moment. But first, let’s talk about the house itself, which, with updates, now offers an internal living space of something like 2,335 sq. ft. across two storeys.
You will find it in a wonderful position in the Devon countryside, with views across the Taw Estuary and Hartland Point and easy access to Exmoor National Park, Dartmoor, and the North Devon coast surfing beaches. A nice spot is an understatement.
A driveway leads off a quiet country lane and down to the gated entrance for a first view of the architecture. A mix of stone and timber, with areas of painted render beneath a cedar shingle roof. Plenty of glazing, and let’s be honest, everyone loves an angle on a roof. Oh yes, that front door, too.
The interior is a joy to behold. Decorative coloured glass screens have been retained in the entrance hall and the original Sicilian marble floor, leading to the show’s stars and the double-height living spaces.
The main living rooms are likely a dream if you have any love of midcentury modern architecture. The space, the finish, the fittings, the furniture. Something to catch the eye at every turn.
The split-level living area’s lower section features a striking central fireplace clad in copper, which rises to meet a vaulted beamed roof.
Timber-framed sliding doors and windows frame the views across the countryside and allow plenty of natural light to stream in. The dining area is on the western side, with a large picture window overlooking the terraces.
The kitchen is a concession to the modern era, with plenty of storage and necessities. A large utility space is interconnected, with external access from both the front and the back. An original ‘tea room’ has been converted to a ‘quiet room’ for reading or working, offering more views of the garden. Need more workspace? A study with original cork tiles on the walls is at the front of the house.
Completing the ground floor layout is a large separate annexe, should you need self-contained living space for guests. Direct access to the gardens from the living and sleeping areas, with an adjoining kitchen and bathroom set to the side.
The original (and quite stunning) open-tread timber staircase takes you to a galleried landing. The main bedroom suite is at one end of the first floor, with sliding doors opening onto a west-facing balcony overlooking the gardens. An ensuite bathroom is also here.
The guest suite is on the opposite wing of the upper storey and also has a balcony, this time with panoramic views towards the estuary. The original bath and tiling in the en suite have been retained here. Two further bedrooms are positioned centrally, the largest of which features the original vanity unity and full-height walls of glazing.
Which pretty much covers the interior. But that is only half the story here. The outside is as important as the inside. As I said earlier, there are 1.3 acres of garden, all superbly maintained.
Lawns, of course, as well as the original hard landscaping bridging the Koi pond, larch, walnut, apple, willow, fig and pear trees bordering those lawns, and a ‘sculptural’ Japanese-inspired glasshouse too. Much more, too. See the photos to get an idea of it.
Note also the newly built triple garage with polished concrete floors and two 13.5 Tesla Powerwall batteries, served from a 24-panel solar array. To the side of the main entrance, the original integral garage also offers further storage.
I think that’s pretty much it. Well, except for the price. When this one was first offered for sale, it was for £2,300,000. It is now being remarketed with a new agent and a lower price. Offers in the region of £1,775,000, to be precise.
Images and details courtesy of Fine & Country. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.
