WowHaus

The Domus 1950s midcentury modern house in Reedley, Lancashire, has always been one of my favourites. Now, it is back on the market.

Back on the market because it was up for sale some years back, and if I told you the price it was up for in 2012, you might just weep. Things have gone upwards since across the board and this one is no exception. I did consider this one 12 years ago and it was a little out of my price range. Sadly, it’s well out of it now.

But it might still be within your range. If you love the idea of a bold piece of midcentury modern architecture that’s still faithful to the original architect’s vision, it could be the house for you.

The original architect was Alan Chambers. The house he designed on this 5.7-acre plot is known as Domus and is, as you might have guessed, grade II-listed.

Listed because this was a pioneering design, especially in this part of the world. Domus was designed way back in 1958, one of the first modern houses in the county, and originally commissioned for Eric Cookson and his wife. If you know the area (a part of the world I used to work in), then you’ll know just how out of step this house is now – and even more so back then. This is farm and stone terrace country, not an area packed with modernism.

This midcentury modern house in Reedley is a stunning piece of architecture, and its current state is a credit to its subsequent owners, not least the most recent owners, who have renovated and restored the house to a very high standard. Adding in some modern-era functionality but making great efforts to keep the look and feel of the 1950s original.

This is the pull of this one. In some ways, it is a house that hasn’t left the 1950s and is packed with original details. But at the same time, it has been updated for the 21st century. A look at the kitchen tells you that.

But the architecture of this 3,100 sq. ft. house remains unchanged. It consists of a series of glazed geometric forms, with dark brown brick contrasting with the white rendered concrete, offset by a splash of red in the ribbon glazing.

Not that you’ll know that without booking a visit. The house sits ‘low’ on the site and is concealed from view with landscaped gardens and a ‘screen’ of mature specimen trees. It is very much your own modernist idyll.

Inside is what every good modern house aims for – light and space. But there’s so much more than that.

Yes, this is a light and bright house, and through those glass walls, it offers a strong visual connection with the manicured gardens. But it’s also about the details within and the materials used inside the house, many of which remain unchanged in over 60 years.

The built-in units, the staircase, the wooden touches along the walls, the marble flooring, exposed brick, internal tiling (not least the wall with the ‘Domus’ name featured), the stunning minimalist wood-clad dining area with light and clock, the art panels, and of course, the best bar area you’ll see anywhere. Every night should begin and end there.

And that barely scratches the surface. There’s so much more to see and love. Little details you spot at every turn. A light fitting here, some textured walls there, the light switches, the door furniture, even the built-in seat in the bedroom – something catches your eye every time you look at it. Because good design does that. It keeps pulling you in.

There are, of course, updates to keep this house relevant in the 21st century. The kitchen area is the most obvious, but also in terms of the heating system, some of the decor and the owners’ own furnishings. This is a family home for now, as well as a statement of the past. And that’s how all listed houses should be.

The main living spaces are across the upper level, benefiting from the glazing that dominates this floor. The glazed entrance hall sets the scene, leading to the main reception space, which has full-height glazing and a suspended log burner as a centrepiece.

As I mentioned earlier, the dining area is one of my favourite spaces here. It’s minimalist but with enough detail to catch the eye, and the hand-crafted rosewood joinery is a joy.

I also mentioned the updated kitchen, which is very much of the current eta, but the clean lines and subdued colours work well together. Glass doors slide onto the south-facing balcony, with a spiral external staircase leading down from here to the lower terrace.

Head across the hallway with its wonderful marble floor and full-height walnut panelling with ceiling-height doors, and you’ll access the master bedroom, complete with original midcentury joinery, a balcony to take in the garden, a dressing room, plus an en-suite bathroom.

The northerly edge of the house houses two further bedrooms, with a shared bathroom complete with the original bathtub. There is also a study on this level. Yes, even somewhere to work from home.

Head down the staircase and admire the tiling. Once you get to the lower living space, you’ll find a dream of an entertaining area. How about this – a circular underfloor-lit glass dance floor set centrally and an amazing bar built into one corner. This is the place to have a party. If you want to have a quieter moment, there’s seating and a wall of bespoke bookshelves to help you wind down and relax.

Glass doors also slide from here to the terrace, allowing an easy spill if you have guests around. A third bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe is also set on this level. Finally, for additional storage, there is also a large cellar and a double garage.

Well, that’s not quite all, as the outside space is something worth talking about, too. The gardens and woodland extend to around 5.7 acres and are an integral part of the home.

There is plenty of lawn, a thicket of native trees, and borders packed with perennial planting that bursts into colour through spring and summer. You don’t need me to describe it; just check out those pictures.

As I said at the start, this is a house I considered some years ago, but it was out of my price range. It looks like more money has been invested since, creating what you see here—one of the finest examples of midcentury modern housing in the northwest of England.

So, the price has jumped up for this midcentury modern house in Reedley in the intervening 12 or so years. Just on the market, Domus is available for around £1,200,000.

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