1930s art deco house in Taunton, Somerset

This 1930s art deco house in Taunton, Somerset, is the best renovation project I have seen for quite some time.

Because 1930s houses in largely original condition just don’t come up very often these days. And especially 1930s houses with architectural merit, which is what we are looking at here.

Located in a popular residential area of Highlands, the house is nestled amongst a group of other interesting designs. All of these are within easy reach of the town centre and walking distance of Vivary Park. It’s a great spot.

And this is a great house. A design that hovers between art deco and the international style, this 1930s design looks to have changed little since construction all those decades ago. It’s down as needing modernisation, which I am taking as a positive.

All too often, these houses are renovated to death, with the character replaced by a rather bland, minimalist finish. You have the opportunity here to keep much of the original character while updating it to a modern-day family home—the best of both worlds.

The design itself looks unchanged, and the kerb appeal is undeniable. Those angles and curves, the white exterior, the original Crittall windows (for the majority of the house), the original door, and the balcony spaces—this is picture-perfect 1930s living set back from the road and within a large plot. More on that in a moment.

The inside doesn’t disappoint, either. As you might expect, the interior has been updated over the years, particularly the kitchen and bathrooms. Looking at the radiators, I suspect the heating, too. But beyond that, not a lot.

This is why this one is so appealing. Some people might see this as a big project—and that might be the case—but I see it as a chance to renovate a house with the kind of original touches you would struggle to put back in if they were ripped out.

Of course, a viewing and a complete survey would be required to discover the extent of the work. Images on a listing never give the whole story. I think we’ve all bought and sold enough houses to know that. But there’s so much to get excited about here.

I mentioned the original windows, which I love. They are not always practical, but they look amazing and can be reconditioned and upgraded. The volumes within the house are impressive, too. There is so much light and space, especially in the rooms with the large curved windows.

It’s great to see the original internal doors still in place, too, as well as the original door frames and staircase. I suspect there is much more, too, if you browse around with a viewing.

Elsewhere, the kitchen and bathrooms haven’t aged well. There is plenty of cosmetic and decorative work required—perhaps more looking near the window frames—but that’s to be expected of a house pushing 90 years old. The positives far outweigh the negatives, and I don’t think this house will have trouble finding an appreciative new owner.

And yes, all of that space. There is plenty of it both inside and out.

In terms of the interior, you are looking at a good-sized entrance hall, which in turn leads to the living room, a lounge, and a dining room with doors to the garden. These are all well-proportioned rooms and blank canvases.

The kitchen looks to have been updated a few decades down the line and is a large, practical space, but likely an area you would want to rethink. The room also has a door to the garden.

The rest of the living space includes a shower room, the master bedroom with a door to a balcony (I love balconies), three further bedrooms, a bathroom, a WC, and a loft room.

Of course, there’s all that space outside, too. It’s the kind of space you would never get with a contemporary build and is estimated to be something like a quarter of an acre.

Much of the enclosed garden is laid to lawn, with a drive at the front leading to the house (and for added parking), an outbuilding, and a garage.

I don’t think this will be on the market long, so if you are interested, get in touch with the agent as soon as you can. It is just on the market at offers in excess of £550,000.
Images and details courtesy of Robert Cooney. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.