Houzz Tour: A Devon Home That Cleverly Frames a Spectacular View
This timber-clad house nestles beautifully into the landscape and provides stunning vistas for those inside
The owners of this new-build home had originally bought a dilapidated bungalow. “It was in a bad state of repair and didn’t relate to the amazing views the site had,” architect Ian Phillips of van Ellen + Sheryn says. “The owners realised the best thing to do was replace it with a new property.”
The brief for the architect? To build a new home that made the most of the views, fitted sympathetically into the wooded site, and didn’t obstruct the view for others.
The brief for the architect? To build a new home that made the most of the views, fitted sympathetically into the wooded site, and didn’t obstruct the view for others.
“We quickly realised the best views were from the steepest part of the slope,” Ian says. “So we designed the property as a two-storey home, with the living spaces on the higher floor.”
It was essential the two-floor building had a flat roof to ensure it didn’t block the view from behind. “However, the owners didn’t want a big, white-rendered, modernist box,” Ian says. “We took the approach of cladding it with timber to reflect the trees on the site.”
Western red cedar in two sizes is laid horizontally, while at the entrance it’s laid vertically. The driveway curves around towards the entrance bridge, constructed from two steel sections that span beyond the white wall. Each vertical timber is fixed to a steel plate attached to the bridge.
The utility area below is covered with a 30mm thick natural stone cladding. “It’s a nice feature as you’re entering the home,” Ian says. “We spent money where it would have the most impact.” The more cost-effective white render appears mostly at the sides of the house, which are least visited.
It was essential the two-floor building had a flat roof to ensure it didn’t block the view from behind. “However, the owners didn’t want a big, white-rendered, modernist box,” Ian says. “We took the approach of cladding it with timber to reflect the trees on the site.”
Western red cedar in two sizes is laid horizontally, while at the entrance it’s laid vertically. The driveway curves around towards the entrance bridge, constructed from two steel sections that span beyond the white wall. Each vertical timber is fixed to a steel plate attached to the bridge.
The utility area below is covered with a 30mm thick natural stone cladding. “It’s a nice feature as you’re entering the home,” Ian says. “We spent money where it would have the most impact.” The more cost-effective white render appears mostly at the sides of the house, which are least visited.
As the owners enter the house on the upper level, they immediately have a view of the sea beyond.
A glazed Crittall screen frames the entrance to the kitchen-diner to the right of the hallway.
Find an architect or building designer in your area.
A glazed Crittall screen frames the entrance to the kitchen-diner to the right of the hallway.
Find an architect or building designer in your area.
Full-height sliding doors ensure a wonderful view out to the balcony and coastline. A light, washed-oak, chevron parquet floor adds warmth to the modern space.
Timber flooring, Ted Todd.
Timber flooring, Ted Todd.
At the side of house, the windows have deliberately been kept smaller to ensure privacy for the neighbours as well as the owners.
A large kitchen island provides a view for the cook, while the drop ceiling that houses the extractor mirrors its dimensions.
A large kitchen island provides a view for the cook, while the drop ceiling that houses the extractor mirrors its dimensions.
The interior scheme was planned out by interior designer Jenny Luck. She also designed the kitchen and commissioned a local company to build it.
The discreet style means it doesn’t distract from the rest of the space. A row of tall cabinet doors (here seen closed) hide the worktop, appliances and sink when required.
Vanilla noir quartz worktops, Caesarstone.
The discreet style means it doesn’t distract from the rest of the space. A row of tall cabinet doors (here seen closed) hide the worktop, appliances and sink when required.
Vanilla noir quartz worktops, Caesarstone.
At the other side of the open-plan space is a relaxed seating area. Comfortable sofas allow the owners to gaze out at the view. A glazed wall behind leads to another, cosier TV room, where the screen is the main focus.
A long side window in the main seating area is framed externally by Corten steel (pictured in the first image). “There’s a building just down the slope that blocks a fair amount of the view of the coastline,” Ian says. “This frame directs the view to the sea, rather than the roof of the neighbouring house.”
The end wall of the TV room is positioned at a 45 degree angle to run alongside the entrance bridge. “As you walk over the bridge, you get a split-second glance into the slot window,” Ian says. “It creates a visual point of interest at the entrance to the house.”
Jenny Luck used a dramatic deep green shade on the walls and ceiling in here to give an edgier contrast to the light, airy home.
Walls painted in Obsidian Green, Little Greene.
Jenny Luck used a dramatic deep green shade on the walls and ceiling in here to give an edgier contrast to the light, airy home.
Walls painted in Obsidian Green, Little Greene.
The upper storey floorplan shows how the TV room’s wall forms an angle along the entrance walkway.
Stairs lead down to the bedroom floor. A screen of timber battens was installed for safety and to add a feature that’s different from the usual balustrade and handrail.
The staircase is made from concrete and clad in wood, while powder-coated metal has been used as an attractive edging.
On the ground floor are five bedrooms, three bathrooms and a utility area.
The master bedroom is located below the seating area and leads directly to an outdoor pool. Jenny designed the floor tiles and had them made to fit the owner’s requirements and budget.
The bed is positioned to provide an uninterrupted view of the pool and sea beyond. The screen behind hides an en suite bathroom. It’s covered with the same wood as outside, but stained in a dramatic charcoal.
“I’d worked with the owners on previous projects, so I knew them very well,” Jenny says. “I wanted to come up with something different for them – decadent, yet warm and cosy.”
“I’d worked with the owners on previous projects, so I knew them very well,” Jenny says. “I wanted to come up with something different for them – decadent, yet warm and cosy.”
In the en suite, there’s a walk-in shower and a freestanding copper bath.
“After introducing Crittall screens in the living space, I wanted to incorporate the same look in the bathrooms,” Jenny says, “so I managed to source similar shower doors.”
Bath, The Cast Iron Bath Company.
“After introducing Crittall screens in the living space, I wanted to incorporate the same look in the bathrooms,” Jenny says, “so I managed to source similar shower doors.”
Bath, The Cast Iron Bath Company.
A dark wood cabinet forms a stylish vanity unit.
The children’s bedrooms are smaller, with minimal views to the side for privacy.
Jenny chose warm shades for the walls and ceiling in these rooms to create a cosy feeling when the lamps are on.
“I wanted to create a sandy beach feel throughout the house, with an edgy twist of blacks and terracottas,” she says.
Walls painted in Clay, Little Greene.
“I wanted to create a sandy beach feel throughout the house, with an edgy twist of blacks and terracottas,” she says.
Walls painted in Clay, Little Greene.
Corten steel frames the balcony area and breaks up the timber surface. “It’s a material that will weather over time and become darker brown and more subtle,” Ian says. “It adds visual interest to the muted palette.”
The guest bedroom is set back slightly, providing room for a covered area with composite decking.
“This [patio area] was a key part of the brief, as the owners wanted somewhere to sit outside when it rains,” Ian says. “The balcony gave us the opportunity to create that space. When you’re under there, it frames the view really nicely.”
It was a little challenging to create a pool on the sloping site, but the team managed to support it from below with concrete piles and beams.
The pool is heated with an air source heat pump, while another air source system provides warmth for the house. “We replaced the oil tank with the air source heat pump. It works well in this part of the country, with its fairly stable temperatures,” Ian says.
The ICF construction is also well insulated, so minimal energy would be needed to keep the owners warm inside their home.
Tell us…
What do you like about this beautiful coastal home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
The pool is heated with an air source heat pump, while another air source system provides warmth for the house. “We replaced the oil tank with the air source heat pump. It works well in this part of the country, with its fairly stable temperatures,” Ian says.
The ICF construction is also well insulated, so minimal energy would be needed to keep the owners warm inside their home.
Tell us…
What do you like about this beautiful coastal home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
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Who lives here? A family with three teenage children
Location Salcombe, Devon
Property A new-build house
Size Five bedrooms and three bathrooms
Architect Ian Phillips of van Ellen + Sheryn Architects
Interior designer Jenny Luck of Jenny Luck Interiors
Careful planning was needed when building this modern home that overlooks South Sands in Salcombe, particularly when it came to the sloping site.
“We discussed using prefabricated timber panels to build the home,” Ian says, “but it would have been too difficult to transport them to the steep site.”
In the end, the team decided on an insulated concrete formwork (ICF) system. A series of polystyrene forms were slotted together on-site and this framework was then filled with concrete.