Is this the library nook of dreams? Inside a new-build eco-home in Sussex
Owners Steve Ackhurst and Bronwen Malcolm based their new-build home around the aesthetics of a boathouse. Configured on split levels with an open-plan layout and oversized glass panes, it allows light to flood the space with energy. The styling is pared-back but considered, with designer furniture and lighting guaranteed to inspire...
Natural light bounces around the house thanks to the oversized glass panes and reflective floors. The soaring wood-clad walls are Norwegian pine, washed with pale Osmo oil.
A bespoke wooden staircase leads up to the top floor with living areas and a master bedroom and bathroom.
The bespoke carpentry has created zones with partitions in the open-plan living area with a library and TV area.
The masterful library nook has its own ladder, while the Eames chair was originally Bronwen’s parents’. The Dutch stove by Dik Geurts is glazed on three sides.
The polished concrete floor (which has underfloor heating) has a cool, watery, patinated appearance, reflecting the changing light and scenery outside and contrasting with the warmer woods.
Beneath the building, a concealed pool with changing areas and showers on one side is primarily heated by solar energy.
The open-plan top floor is cleverly arranged to enable a flow of light and areas of privacy.
The fluid lines of an Etcetera chair and footrest by Jan Ekselius (an Italian design from the 1970s) and a cow-hide rug sit beside a collection of religious icons in the master bedroom, with its far-reaching views out across the Sussex Weald.
• This house is available as a photography location through Light Locations.
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