HOUSE OOZES RETRO CHIC
IT’S rare to find a designer house from the 1970s that can still offer a slice of the luxury retro design from the past and combine it successfully with contemporary additions in a way that flows seamlessly. But this five-bed split-level home on a private cul-de-sac development that was created in the ’70s in an upmarket part of Cardiff is a perfect example.
It oozes retro cool that has met hitech modern with touches of luxury interior design in every room.
This mid-century masterpiece can happily boast all that was stylish and cool from this decade that many people write off, wrongly, as being the decade that style forgot thanks to avocado bathroom suites and mindbending swirly-pattern carpets.
But this is just not the case as the 1970s saw the rise of many luxury designer homes based on open-plan living and split-level spaces as well as the rise in the use of mixed materials and a love for huge expanses of glass windows doors to provide the maximum light and garden access.
In this desirable suburb of Cardiff, where there are huge dream homes from a variety of eras, the 1970s are under-represented – until you come to this private road hiding some absolute retro beauties.
Most people would happily drive past the entrance to the secluded and select development of Cwrt Cefn in Lisvane – and it’s a private road so that’s probably just as well.
For those lucky few living here the small road leads to an island of mainly detached retro houses built mainly in the 1970s or boasting the best of style from that decade within more recent additions.
But there are also apartments sometimes for sale on the street within the converted Victorian mansion called Cwrt Cefn House found at the heart of this two-pronged private road.
But this super-stylish home is a total 1970s classic featuring some of the top design features from the decade.
Built in the mid-1970s the house has been designed around the central
Mediterranean garden. This inviting outdoor space is accessed via the two main wings of the house, which form an L-shape of accommodation over three floors, cocooning the garden and making it a very private area.
From the front door, found under a covered porch, there’s no hint at the amount of space and light on offer inside.
There’s no clue given about the gorgeous central garden that almost every space is connected with, either physically through a door or visually through vast picture windows.
Even where the slatted staircase takes you to the first floor in the main wing of the property there is an abundance of glass, hugging the corner on both levels and surely making you stop on the stairs and admire the garden views from this angle.
And it’s a tempting proposition to step out into the garden at every opportunity with the split-level theme of the house continuing outside via sunny terraces for alfresco dining and snoozing on a sun lounger on different levels.
As soon as you step inside the design of the house grabs you. There’s a view right down the open hallway to the lounge at the end of the singlestorey wing with the glimpse of a log burner teasing you to investigate further.
The interior design of clean, sleek lines, a modern mix of white and strong accent colours, and the warmth of natural materials and tactile textures is established early on and flows throughout the home.
There are statement pieces of furniture taking pride of place in the home too such as the Eames lounge armchair and the dining chairs – appropriately vintage but classic, timeless designs that are forever chic.
The smooth solid wood flooring guides you to the main living space – an open-plan lounge diner that has an impressive whole wall of glass, visually expanding the space into the garden and making it appear even bigger.
The floor-to-ceiling windows and doors along the wall ensures the garden is a constant source of changing beauty. Designing this generous space to have two different floor levels for two different functions is so effective at breaking up the large space.
It means that visually and physically it’s not just the placement of appropriate furniture that zones the two spaces but it’s the difference in sightlines too, which was a popular element of house design utilised in this era.
The kitchen is located between the cloakroom next to the front door and the lounge dining room so if any alterations were to be considered by the new owner then amalgamating this into the sociable space next door might be an option that they could investigate further.
The contemporary, glossy white kitchen has all the integrated appliances expected plus Amtico flooring and integrated speakers to a central sound system so you can have a sing while you whip up a souffle.
This house might be a mid-century gem but it is packing some modern tech punches too.
The programmable underfloor heating, full surround sound home cinema with Bower & Wilkins wallmounted speakers, and an integrated sound system throughout the main rooms of the property are arguably the main highlights.
Back to the entrance hall and there are two mini staircases to choose from to get you into the two-storey wing of the house.
Pick the stairs leading down and you discover three double bedrooms and a family bathroom off a single corridor that also boasts a wall of glass and direct access to the garden with its own terrace area.
At one end of the corridor are two storage rooms which is very handy for a family home although the house does come with a double garage too.
Then it’s either back to the hall to get to the second storey or you can use the cool, slatted staircase in a mini tower at the end of this lower floor’s corridor where you are joined by lovely garden views as you ascend.
It’s definitely worth the climb too because almost all of this floor is dedicated to the master bedroom with a separate fifth bedroom or study home office on this floor too that could even become a dressing room attached to the adjacent master.
There’s a posh en suite at one end of the bedroom, worthy of a boutique hotel five-star rating, and a wall of wardrobes at the other end while in the middle maybe the best spot in the house.
There’s a bed in the centre of the room looking directly out over a highly engaging view of the garden, treetops, and the occasional roofline. With a view like that to wake up to it must be even harder than normal to drag yourself away from the pillow on a Monday morning.
And who could blame any owner for not wanting to ever leave this tranquil oasis of classic mid-century luxury design and private, idyllic garden? It’s pretty perfect.