1970s modern house in Crouch, near Sevenoaks, Kent
This 1970s modern house in Crouch, near Sevenoaks, Kent, is still faithful to the original design inside and out and is now on the market.
When I say 1970s, it was actually constructed in 1970, so it is essentially more of a 1960s design, with plenty of features and touches to back that up. Many of which are still in wonderful condition.
The architecture screams the 1960s, with an added touch of Scandinavian influence, too. It hasn’t changed much at all, except (perhaps) for a conservatory addition and the updated glazing.
Beyond that, it’s an interesting addition to the rural landscape, with a distinctive roofline and plenty of full-height glazing (which may not be immediately obvious) to take in the scenic views, and what looks like a good-sized plot.
According to the agent, the current owners have ‘embraced the essence of the property with interior design sympathetic to the era’, which is evident from the photos of the inside of the house.
The interior, in the most part, is unashamedly retro. Yes, there are some more contemporary updates, especially when it comes to the bathrooms. But overall, this is very much the house designed 50+ years ago, with the finishes in keeping with that era.
The high, angled ceilings certainly catch the eye, as do the American red cedar wood panelling and the exposed brick. They are pretty much the perfect backdrop for any house of this type. The kitchen looks like it might be from the original era, too.
But overall, it’s good to see how the use of retro furnishings, colours and decor can create a stylish contemporary home with character. This isn’t a time capsule, it’s not a renovation project either. This is a house you can move right into. But it looks so much better with the retro fittings, both original and added. They just work with the house.
So a strong look here, but that’s not the only selling point. The plot I’ve mentioned and I will do again later, with the village location also appealing. But the space inside this one is also something worth noting. There’s probably more internal space than you might expect.
Access the property, and immediately to your right, you will find the spacious living room. It’s a great room with wood cladding, retro lighting and built-in units for storage. The focal point is, of course, a log burner set in a brick fireplace. There is an angled ceiling and plenty of natural light, too. The floor-to-ceiling windows are a theme throughout the house, hence the abundance of natural light.
A conservatory is just beyond the living room. It’s useful, but I suspect it’s a space you might want to update. We had something very similar when we moved into our house. It’s a great space, but it looks slightly at odds with the rest of the design just now.
The kitchen is located in the middle of the property and looks largely original. But it’s still a very usable space—one of the more characterful kitchens I’ve seen for a while. Like bathrooms, kitchens are often the first spaces to be updated. A utility room provides additional storage space and has a door leading out to the front of the property.
The dining room is opposite the kitchen and has bi-fold doors leading directly out to the patio area, which in turn has some wonderful views over neighbouring farmland.
Three of the bedrooms are located at the end of a long hallway. The current owners use the first as the master bedroom because of the views it offers. Like the second, it is a large double bedroom with fitted storage.
The fourth bedroom is a single room, while the third bedroom is located in the central part of the home and has its own connected dressing room/sitting room – said to be ideal for teenagers or guests.
The family bathroom has a large modern shower cubicle. There is also an additional shower room off the main entrance hall and a study if you need somewhere to work from home.
This pretty much covers everything except the outside space. That includes parking for approximately three cars on the driveway, a double garage, and a single garage. Beyond that, there is a large rear garden overlooking farmland, mainly laid to lawn with a large patio area. There is also a front garden just ahead of that parking area.
Fancy it? The house is just on the market, with an asking price of £1,250,000.
Images and details courtesy of Hillier Reynolds. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.
