HOME + GARDEN
After years of searching for a‘ forever home’, Brant and Cathy discovered a quaint but dated 1940’ s bungalow in a sought-after Shoreham location. The property would require a complete transformation to suit modern family life, so the couple enlisted local architects to help realise their vision. The goal was to create a contemporary, light-filled home with a touch of industrial design, all while maximising the stunning vistas. The project involved a full-scale renovation to create a large, open-plan living space connected to the outdoors through a glass wall. Despite some initial planning challenges, the result is a peaceful, practical and beautiful home that has completely changed the way they live.
Tell us about how this beautiful Kentish restoration began. We were searching for more than just another property or project; we were looking for a forever home. For years, it felt like we had been living in building sites or stuck in a loop of planning applications that never came to fruition. We wanted a place where we could finally put down proper roots. The bungalow itself was a familiar sight, albeit tucked away behind a fence. My offices are in nearby Otford, and I would often run past this quaint little house, admiring its position. Shoreham is a highly sought-after village and this property sits just outside, with a beautiful, uninterrupted view across the Darent Valley. It’ s a fantastic spot. From the moment we properly saw it, we fell in love with the place and were determined to make it our own. It was not just about the building; it was about the location and the future we could see for ourselves here.
What drew you to an extensive renovation? Was a fixer-upper always the plan when searching for your dream home? A fixer-upper was not necessarily the plan, but with this property an extensive renovation was unavoidable. The bungalow hadn’ t been updated in decades and was still configured in an oldfashioned way. It had two small bedrooms, but a significant portion of the interior space was given
www. insidekent. co. uk • 159