Fancy a step into the past? Check out this 1960s midcentury time capsule for sale in Wrecclesham, Surrey, which is up for sale.
There’s more to this than being a retro house too. It’s a property with a past.
The house was designed by noted artist Jack Couto for his own use and that of his sister. Jack has been exhibited at the Royal Academy in London and has a place in the permanent collection at the V&A, so a man with some pedigree.
But not as an architect. Despite no formal training on that front, Jack Couto oversaw the construction of this house in the mid-1960s and lived here until his recent death, which was also followed soon after by the death of his sister. So the house is now looking for a new owner. Ideally someone with a love of the 1960s.
That’s because there has been little change since the house was built all those years ago. In fact, I’ll rephrase that. The house hasn’t changed at all since the middle of the 1960s.
With that in mind, this is probably someone’s idea of a midcentury dream home, from the architecture to the fixtures and fittings. In fact, I don’t think the paintwork has been changed since it built. It really is that original.
Where to start? I’m not sure. But the angled, wood-clad ceilings are probably of interest, as is the original fireplace in the living room. There’s also a great workshop/studio here, bags of original storage, the staircase and a kitchen that really is something else. Oh yes, the original wood floors are still in place too. So much more, as you can see from the imagery here,
The problem with it being untouched is that it might well need some work before you move in. Yes, there are lots of details both you and I would be mindful to keep in place. But the house would almost certainly need a thorough survey and some updating here and there.
Yes, it’s interesting to see a 1960s bathroom, but I’m not sure how effective that would be right now. Likewise, the kitchen could (and should) be preserved, but it would need a rethink in terms of being practical in the 21st century.
Do it right and you could have a rather special 1960s house with bags of retro character. You don’t see houses with this much midcentury detail come up for sale often, so it’s definitely one to consider if you are looking in the area and have the money. More on that in a moment.
But for now, let’s look at the living space on offer here.
That includes an entrance hall, taking you through to the stunning 25ft triple-aspect sitting room with vaulted ceiling and its original fireplace, along with sliding patio doors to the rear garden and an internal sliding door through to the family room.
That family room has built-in storage plus stairs to the first floor. The ground floor also has a study with open-tread staircase to the first floor and that original 1960s fitted kitchen with pantry/cupboard area.
Beyond that, you have two bedrooms with built-in storage, a very retro family bathroom, a cloakroom with WC and a triple-aspect third bedroom, which could also be used as a studio.
A good-sized plot too, one with driveway parking to the front, a garage and a south facing rear garden with shed.
If all of that sounds like a dream, you will have to find something in the region of £550,000 to secure it.
Images and details via Andrew Lodge. See the agent’s website for more details and to make an enquiry.
Via WowHaus
