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Original poster

Anyone else find this house too confusing?!

70 replies

Thurlow · 23/09/2021 12:27

Imaginary house-hunting near us with an imaginary budget.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/112945526#/?channel=RES_BUY

It's clearly a family home after the children have moved out so a lot of the rooms aren't being used but... aren't there are just rooms off rooms off rooms?

Could be amazing with a few walls knocked down though.

OP posts:
spiderlight · 23/09/2021 13:27

If i went to view that, I would never find my way back out!

Mangozesty · 23/09/2021 13:38

@Firstruleofsoupover

I think it looks terrific. Children would love it so what with space and pool and garden to play games in. They could have loads of friends over and never get in your way. Imagine the number of bookcases you could have. The labradors. It looks like very good value for money indeed (reaches for marmalade sandwich).

All you would need to do is paint some of those eave ceilings perhaps a darker colour to bring them down, or white, and perhaps remove a bit of panelling, as it is quite woody over all. It needs some softer looking soft furnishings, floor length curtains instead of the short ones, change out leather sofas for ones with higher snuggle appeal* and a bit of paint and wow.

*I know the sofas would go with the sellers but just in terms of overall appeal.

I agree! I think it looks great
Original poster
Thurlow · 23/09/2021 13:42

@spiderlight

If i went to view that, I would never find my way back out!
Yes!

It looks like it has been extended room by room with no thought for the overall floorplan.

But I agree that while it is bonkers and the floorplan also gives me a headache, it looks like the kind of place kids would LOVE to live in!

OP posts:
NatBully · 23/09/2021 13:42

Where is the recent thread from the person with a terrible sense of direction? Somebody warn her not to go and view this - she'd never get out!

qate · 23/09/2021 13:43

That sunken bath looks like a death trap!

Original poster
Thurlow · 23/09/2021 13:44

Or it's one of those rambling holiday homes you rent in the south of France for a week, where no one actually minds sleeping off of the living room because you all go to sleep at the same time

OP posts:
Original poster
Thurlow · 23/09/2021 13:44

@NatBully

Where is the recent thread from the person with a terrible sense of direction? Somebody warn her not to go and view this - she'd never get out!
Grin
OP posts:
BrimfulOfBaba · 23/09/2021 13:47

Picture 15 - the doors to the ensuite leave a big gap at the top! I'd not be able to deal with that 😳

FindingMeno · 23/09/2021 13:49

Not really.
I like a house that's a bit quirky.
But it's way way too big!

Pheasantlysurprised · 23/09/2021 14:09

'houses near us' are considerably richer than yeeeeeew Grin

dworky · 23/09/2021 14:10

Never has the term 'higgledy-piggledy' been more apt.

godmum56 · 23/09/2021 14:18

I think its fabulous....but if you want to see quirk, look at this www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/111837653#/media?channel=RES_BUY&id=media42&ref=photoCollage

Waxlyrically · 23/09/2021 14:20

I do love it though in a way. It looks like it’s evolved around a family rather than to be fashionable or valuable. I can imagine it as the scene of a happy family life & the sort of house in children’s books. It’s a non pretentious, happy house to me!

cookiemonster5 · 23/09/2021 14:22

I'm confused by there being 2 kitchens. The first one is the same as mine from the 80s in a housing association property.

Nice enough house but I think you would need the same money again to update and modernise it.

Original poster
Thurlow · 23/09/2021 14:28

@Waxlyrically

I do love it though in a way. It looks like it’s evolved around a family rather than to be fashionable or valuable. I can imagine it as the scene of a happy family life & the sort of house in children’s books. It’s a non pretentious, happy house to me!
Oh, definitely - as odd as the house it’s clearly been a hugely loved family home and was probably an amazing place to grow up
OP posts:
Porridgeislife · 23/09/2021 14:36

I think the original part is where the entrance & sitting/dining etc is. The bedrooms are mad - Bedroom 1 looks like perhaps an au pair’s room, but that’s where you access the pool.

The layout hasn’t had any thought put into it. It’s a red flag that means it’s been cheaply extended and will cost an absolute fortune to put right.

Emmelina · 23/09/2021 14:38

The decor is very tired, it’ll need a new kitchen and bathroom and a good refresh literally everywhere! I’m not talking about going super modern or anything, but it all just looks tatty. Potentially it could be a really amazing house but it’ll cost a lot to get it there!

Antinerak · 23/09/2021 14:49

The exterior is lovely but the interior is 50 years out of date and seems to be vaguely American. Double yuck. I don't mind the higgledy-piggledy layout though. Other than the sunken bath and vile kitchen and bathrooms I'd just redecorate and get some vaguely co-ordinating furniture in. Most likely it'll be bought by someone who plasterboards the walls and puts crushed velvet sofas in but one can hope not.

VainAbigail · 23/09/2021 14:54

I wonder how many people has tripped in to that bath before now…..

Antsinyourpanta · 23/09/2021 14:58

Did anyone else think of hyacinths bouquet and "room for a pony" when one of the bullet points/selling points was "space for croquet and tennis court "

Imagining the OP using the advanced search on rightmove "must include the word croquet!" 🤣🤣

I'd be worried about kids playing hide and seek there, they might be missing for weeks!

FatAnkles · 23/09/2021 15:01

I like the garden.

The tennis photo is hilarious Blush

The house? If I had the money I'd knock it down and build something that flowed much better. As well as being in keeping with the area of course. The current house is a total headf*ck.

waybill · 23/09/2021 15:04

@MaggieFS

*knock it down
You can't knock it down.

That's two original early 20th century Garden City houses (which will be listed buildings) and they've joined them together to make one large house.

Houseofvelour · 23/09/2021 15:07

It really is hideous.
It should be knocked down with something amazing built on the grounds.

dodobookends · 23/09/2021 15:11

@Shedbuilder

This is a building site that happens to have a hideously over-extended and dilapidated house currently sitting on it.

It's on an acre of land. Forget the house, it's the land that you're buying. It depends on the zoning etc, but you might reasonably expect to build a cul-de-sac of 8-10 properties or one very large modern home with a range of outbuildings.

Nobody would be allowed to do that. The two original houses will be listed and in a conservation area. You can see the two are separate if you look closely at the thickness of the walls on the floor plan - the original layout is still there buried under all the new stuff.

Knowing the local council as I do when it comes to houses in Letchworth, I'm amazed the owners got planning permission for what they've done. In some parts of Letchworth you practically have to get planning permission to change the design of your front door.

Unicornhorns · 23/09/2021 15:11

The garden is lovely.
I would want to knock the house down but imagine making any external changes at all might be difficult as it’s in a conservation area.