Skinny but spacious homes for sale in England
Close to the green spaces of Alexandra Palace and Highgate Woods is a quiet residential road of mostly Edwardian housing stock. A dark blue front door leads to stairs to a two-bedroom, upper-floor flat. The light-filled, dual-aspect, open-plan living area consists of a kitchen with marble-top surfaces and an island that overlooks the wooden-floored sitting area with a large period fireplace. The back door leads down spiral stairs to the garden, planted with tropical trees. £695,000. The Modern House, 020 3795 5920 Photograph: The Modern House
Nested between two larger Georgian properties is this Grade II-listed home just 3.6 metres wide. The property widens towards the back and once inside its width is quickly forgotten. The decadent interiors scream gothic opulence. The front door opens into the sitting room, which has an oversized fireplace, black wood panelling, and a mural of almost life-size dancers on the wall. Above is the glass-partitioned mezzanine upper floor. There are three bedrooms to choose from after such visual stimulation. £1.15m. Hamptons, 01243 884307 Photograph: Hamptons
The village sits on the northern slope of the Yealm estuary in the South Hams region, part of the South Devon area of outstanding natural beauty. This cottage has been refurbished and redecorated in the past two years, including the creation of an open plan kitchen-dining room. Furniture is available via separate negotiation. Newton Ferrers is not a coastal ghost town in the winter but has a buzzing community all year round, with a primary school, a shop, two churches, a chemist, a cafe, three pubs and a yacht club. £499,950. Marchand Petit, 01752 873311 Photograph: Marchand Petit
Portland stone steps lead up to the front door of this Grade II-listed, four-storey townhouse built in the 1860s. Replica Victorian tiles cover the entrance-hall floor; from there the grand cantilevered staircase curves up to the five bedrooms on various floors. To the front of the house on the ground floor is the sitting room, and the drawing room is at the back. A drinks cellar, an open-plan kitchen extension and the dining room occupy the lower ground floor. From the top of the house are views of the River Medway. £1.2m. Inigo, 020 3687 3071 Photograph: Inigo
This prism-shaped maisonette is full of twists and turns. Up the stairs to the first floor of the apartment is the kitchen and two bedrooms. Up again is the second floor, dominated by the living room, and on top is an orangery and a wraparound roof terrace. This space has chimney pots for company and views of London. The main reception has a trio of south-west facing sash windows and the sculpture-like underside of the exposed staircase structure is very much part of the room. There's a soaking tub in the plush designer bathroom. £850,000. Inigo, 020 3687 3071
Photograph: Inigo
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The Herald Scotland
12 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
What does Kirstie Allsopp think of Scotland's offers-over system?
**** COME on, we've all been tempted. It's that moment at the end of Location when Kirstie asks if you would like help finding your next home. Like it? I'd bite your hand off, mate. Imagine: Kirstie and Phil, Allsopp and Spencer, swooping in like the fourth emergency service, putting in the hard yards and sourcing that dream home no one else has found. All you have to do is choose one, then rock up to the pub for the big phone call. Then again, what do southerners Kirstie and Phil know of the Scottish property market's mysterious ways? Rather a lot, as it goes. IWC Media, which makes the show (and Scotland's Home of the Year), has had offices in Glasgow for donkey's years. Plus Kirstie has a well-known pash for Victorian stone, some of which turned up in their search of Stirling and East Dunbartonshire. 'By UK standards, house prices are reasonable,' said Phil, quoting an average of £260,075 for places on the outskirts of Glasgow - 7% less than the UK average of £281,000. Phil was searching on behalf of Lorraine and Emma, a mother and her law student daughter, looking to downsize. Kirstie's duo were going the other way, hoping to swap their small flat for a family home. All life is there in Location, and it is always surprising - and central to the show's success - how much a home search reveals. Read more Lorraine acknowledged she might need a shove to get herself over the line between looking and buying. She hadn't found downsizing easy, then. The sales and marketing director also wanted Phil to find her "a mansion for the price of a tin shack." Don't we all? Kirstie's couple, business banking manager James and nurse Gwyneth, had been househunting for a year and made just two offers, both of which were second-to-last in the queue. 'That's where we need your help,' said Gwyneth, 'knowing how much to offer over.' Kirstie sympathised. 'It's a nightmare.' Phil's first pick was a three-bed terrace in the 'charming village' of Cambusbarron, offers over £234,000 with a home report valuation of £250,000. Nice but too small. Kirstie's Kirkintilloch choice was in an extended bungalow in turn-key condition. James liked it, Gwyneth wasn't feeling the love. James and Gwyneth check out an extended bungalow in Kirkintilloch (Image: IWC Media/C4) On they went: a period maisonette flat Kirstie thought 'beautiful' but was too much of a project for Lorraine and Emma; James and Gwyneth felt the same about a semi-detached in Lenzie. Kirkintilloch, Torbrex, Milton of Campsie - the hour and the properties flew by. Kirstie must have been feeling the pressure, and the effects of the Scottish sun, because she had taken her scarf off. Phil was worried. 'Are you okay?' he asked, only half-joking. Closing dates arrived. Not everyone got what they wanted at first, but things worked out in the end. Would the househunters have found the properties anyway? Perhaps, but the crash-course in househunting from Kirstie and Phil, 25 years-plus in the business, helped things along enormously. The pair had arrived in Stirling arm in arm like the old non-couple they are, and they had offered the same support to their househunters. The credits rolled. 'If you'd like help …' began Kirstie. Oh, I was tempted.
Press and Journal
13 hours ago
- Press and Journal
Scotland's Home of the Year: Our writers pick their 6 favourites from over the years, from Banchory to Skye
We've been glued to the screens on Monday nights for the past 7 weeks. Hilltop House in Aberdeenshire came out on top in the official Scotland's Home Of The Year (Shoty) final this year. But what are some of the best homes to have featured on the show of the years? Two of our writers, and top Shoty superfans, Kirstie Waterston and Sarah Bruce have gone through to pick their top three properties from the programme's history. Let's start off with Kirstie's top picks… Kirstie is a lover of all things vintage, a rabid Shoty afficionado, and runs the home renovation account on Instagram @ For me, successful entries on Scotland's Home of the Year are the memorable ones – not necessarily the series winners. Shoty enables us to pass judgement from the comfort of our own (probably less polished) living rooms. There's something endlessly fascinating about crossing the threshold of other people's homes, and you really appreciate the vulnerability of any homeowner who invites the nation inside. As someone slowly renovating a Victorian cottage, I'm always drawn to historic properties. While I can't resist an elegant Georgian mansion or Victorian villa, I find the cosy cottages and rural boltholes endearing and relatable. Naturally I root for the properties that represent the north and north-east, but there are some that always stick in my mind…. It goes without saying charming Quiney Cottage appealed to me – and clearly the judges too as it scored full marks on series six. Quiney Cottage is so typical of rural Aberdeenshire housing stock, but with the wee gate and path leading to a sage green door, it could be straight out of a Beatrix Potter illustration. Inside, the cottage is unapologetically cosy; a symphony of colour, pattern and curios are carefully curated by Rachel Dougherty to create a welcoming home. Traditional panelling makes an understated backdrop to showcase bold prints, wallpapers and thrifted finds, but elsewhere woodwork is painted in unexpected arsenic green and sky blue. Quiney Cottage is simply a treasure chest for interior magpies. Your eyes dance from delightful details like handcrafted textiles to mismatched charity shop frames, chipped furniture to vintage finds, yet it's not cluttered. It speaks volumes of Rachel's fun eye for design that the cottage exudes the warmth and soul of a home lived in for decades – not one that was renovated, herself, little over three years ago. Hot on the heels of Quiney Cottage in series six was Casa Barra, a self-build bursting with personality. If you could build a house anywhere in Aberdeenshire, you would want unspoilt views of Bennachie – and that's exactly what Craig and Maria Michie did. The barn-style house was built on land farmed by generations of Craig's family, but Casa Barra throws out the rulebook of what a farmhouse should look like. Here, the beauty and rural idyll of Aberdeenshire's landscape courts the colour and exoticism of Latin America. Instead of being dictated by tradition, self-building meant the Michies shaped a home around their family and lifestyle. The house is steeped in natural light and picture windows make the most of the views to the west. Stepping inside the bright yellow door, Maria's Columbian heritage and flair for interiors is woven throughout the home. Designed on open plan, the downstairs is a social space elegantly zoned with furniture, artwork and colour to create cosy corners. New builds can feel stark, but Casa Barra is a lesson in styling with playful prints and tactile textiles. Upstairs, there's a snug for hunkering down on winter nights by the fire. But in summer it opens onto a balcony overlooking Bennachie, realising Maria's dream to bring a piece of South American culture to her Aberdeenshire home. Harking back to series two, a once-derelict cottage in Stromness stole the show with its nautical nooks and old-world nicknacks. Ships' lamps at either side of the front door guide visitors to the tiny cottage, which is a welcoming refuge from the elements. Coming from a fourth-generation fishing family, trawlerman Liam Temple resurrected the old property, but ensured his heritage was embedded in the cottage by incorporating materials like driftwood. Along with partner Caro Stockan, he took the property back to stone, and the pair were able to start again, tailoring the layout to maximise the downstairs area. Mirroring life at sea where space on a boat is at a premium, Liam utilised any opportunity to create storage at the Wheelhouse where a bunk bed even doubles up as a wardrobe. But beyond the clever joinery, it's the loving little touches that made the Wheelhouse a home. Proud Orcadians, the pair dressed their home with local artwork and vintage finds to create a homely feel. Twinkling fairylights and the glow of old lanterns transport you back to a bygone era, with judge Anna Campbell-Jones describing it as a 'wonderland'. Although not the 2020 winner, the small but mighty cottage was a very worthy finalist. Sarah is our Schools and Families writer, and is based in Inverness. I love watching Scotland's Home of the Year – it's a killer combination of interior design inspiration, Banjo's often-hilarious comments and the important opportunity to judge other people's homes. I would never consider opening my front door to Banjo and his pals, but thankfully there are people out there who are less camera-shy. Over the years, I have lived in Aberdeen flats, Edinburgh tenements and a new build in leafy Milngavie. These days, I'm a Victorian family home with the obligatory high ceilings and cracks in the walls that you learn to ignore, so similar properties tend to speak to my soul. But sometimes, the opposite is true, and a brand spanking new house can be a novelty that I find myself rooting for. As a chippy Highlander, it needs to be north for the win in my mind. So here are my favourites from 'P&J land' in the current and past series of Shoty… Sometimes, the Shoty winner just gives you a warm feeling – and this humble croft from 2022 did just that. New Tolsta was owned by artist Tom Hickman, who had bought it in 2006 and painstakingly restored it. Before him, the 1930s croft had been uninhabited for 37 years. Tom took 15 years to renovate it, so it was no rushed job. By the time he had finished, it was part traditional croft and part art gallery – but it was also 100% a home. At the time of his win, Tom was very much of the philosophy that less is more. He said: 'To me, the art of restoring it is to make it so that it doesn't look as if anything has been done to it – don't lose the charm.' But he is also an artist – and as a result, Bakelite switches remained, but floorboards were painted. A four poster bed was a resounding yes, and art was everywhere. No wonder they handed Tom the title. This one is in because I loved the staircase and I can go and look at it from the outside any time I want because it's pretty much round the corner from me. I know, these are very narrow criteria. A long time ago in 2021, Gaelle and Simon Patton showed us the Colonel's House in Inverness. The couple were from the Loire Valley and Lancashire respectively and first moved to Scotland in 2002. This Victorian end-of-terrace had everything – traditional exterior, an interior injected with a touch of the exotic and a great history. It had originally been occupied by, you guessed it, the Colonel of the city's Cameron Barracks. But it had been turned into an eight-bedroom B&B and been stripped of many of its period features, so there was work to be done. Then end result was an eclectic and strong decor full of surprises. The Colonel's House went up for sale last month and is currently under offer. Skye has always punched above its weight on Shoty. This year alone, two of the three north finalists were from the Misty Isle. An Cala was lovely and a worthy episode winner, but I suspect Lena Vurma and Thor Klein's tin-clad cabin might be remembered too. The film-making couple, from Switzerland and Germany respectively, bought half a croft and took it from there. They harnessed the local community to help with their tiny build, and really took advantage of the surroundings. Lena said at the time: 'You look out of the window and see the horizon – we can even see the northern lights from our cabin. 'I just really love how the windows frame the landscape outside – even from the bed. One side we see the sunrise over the Cuillins, then the other side we have perfectly framed the sunset over Loch Harport.' The tiny footprint means whoever lives there really needs to get on with each other. But the views are to die for and the design is genius. Read more from Shoty:
Scottish Sun
19 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
We live in ‘UK's most BORING seaside town' with barren, deck chair-less beaches & no arcade in site… but celebs love it
The picturesque port town has been branded the "Costa del Dull" BEACH BORE We live in 'UK's most BORING seaside town' with barren, deck chair-less beaches & no arcade in site… but celebs love it Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A HISTORIC seaside town has been voted the "most boring" in the UK because its pier is too short and it lacks classic beach attractions. Despite featuring in a host of BBC shows, the village's barren Victorian-era jetty finished bottom of a national seaside league table. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Kilcreggan, Scotland, has been branded Britain's most boring pier Credit: Alamy 8 The 63-yard jetty has featured in a host of BBC shows and podcasts Credit: Getty 8 It placed last in a recent survey of 60 seaside piers Credit: Getty Kilcreggan, situated on the stunning Rosneath Peninsula on the west coast of Scotland, was branded Britain's most boring pier. At the end of the town's pier, instead of arcades and ice cream, there lies a small collection of old photos. A recent Telegraph survey of 60 seaside piers across the country awarded points for attractions on offer and how far they stretch out into sea. Winning town Southend-on-Sea, which has previously been dubbed the "British Miami", scored 540 points. But Kilcreggan, which is located on the "Costa del Dull", limped in last with just 78 points. The league table has caused fury among locals, including Bargain Hunt presenter Roo Irvine, who have come out swinging in defence of their home village. The Beeb star's antique shop sits across the road from the town's jetty, which is just 63 yards long. Roo defended the pier's crucial location, which acts as a vital transportation hub to access neighbouring villages, including Gourock. Blasting the pier's low score, she fumed: "Kilcreggan is good for the soul. "Ours is not your traditional seaside pier so no surprise it got a low score. The UK's best beach bar – with DJ sets, sunset views and signature cocktails 'But there are no towels on deckchairs here, and even the seagulls are friendlier. 'It's a Victorian pier in full working order, which is credit to how well it's been maintained. 'This beautiful village still has a pub, café, post office, butcher's and doctor's. 'Kilcreggan pier has its own place and reason for being. 'What other pier means you can get across for a day out in the town in just 13 minutes, saving you a three-hour round trip in the car? "It's keeping our peninsulas connected.' The historic port town has featured on the BBC numerous times in antique shows such as Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip. 8 Locals have praised the historic port's crucial transport links Credit: Getty 8 There is a small collection of photos at the end of the pier Credit: Getty It is also the focus of an episode of the Scottish Island adventure podcast, which includes an interview with Roo. The pier is also used as a backdrop for the movie Borges And Me, starring Bond baddie and X-Men actor Alan Cumming, which was released in December last year. Holidaymaker Jenny Park hailed the port for being "untainted". She added: 'It's a functioning pier that does its job. 'I don't know what else it's supposed to do, but maybe a refreshment kiosk would improve it. "I grew up going to tacky piers like Skegness, which I didn't like. "Kilcreggan's brings you to a nice little place – it's got its charm and is untainted.' The winning pier, in Essex town Southend-on-Sea, stretches more than a mile into sea. Hotels in the area have opened their doors to some of the UK's most popular TV personalities. Earlier this year, Fool Me Once star Michelle Keegan was spotted there with her husband Mark Wright and their baby, Palma. The Netflix actress spent her first Mother's Day as a mum at the Roslin Beach Hotel on Thorpe Bay. It has also hosted Gary Barlow, Tyson Fury, Denise van Outen, and TOWIE stars including Frankie Essex. And locals have left glowing reviews of the idyllic beach town where VIPs are spotted on the regular. 8 Southend-on-Sea's pier stretches more than a mile into sea Credit: Getty 8 Hotels in the area have opened their doors to some of the UK's most popular TV personalities Credit: Getty 8 VIPs are regularly spotted in the idyllic seaside town Credit: Getty They are no strangers to stardom as it's scenic landscape makes it a highly sought-after area for film sets. From The Walking Dead to Wonder Woman, the hometown of Helen Mirren has almost made it on the big screen as much as those who hang out there. Recently West Ham star Michail Antonio was spotted filming an advert near the pier.
