TRUE CLASSIC

Claire Franklin and her husband Paul fell in love with a tired 1950s bungalow because they knew its potential was massive

When Claire Franklin and her husband Paul decided to swap the hustle and bustle of the capital for life in the country, their friends and even their mortgage advisor couldn’t see the attractions of the property they’d chosen – a dated bungalow, built in 1952. As the couple share a love of all things retro and mid-century, however, they both agreed it was perfect.

‘The bungalow had been designed by an architect as his family home and as soon as we stepped inside, we understood his original vision,’ says Claire. ‘It had the perfect blend of open and broken plan: there was plenty of communal space but there were also more private areas, with an easy flow between the two. Nothing much had changed in the house and it was looking a bit tired, but that was half the attraction. We felt we could carry on what the architect had started and repurpose the property to suit the needs and lifestyle of our family.’

Claire and Paul had a clear sense of how they wanted to rejuvenate the property. ‘Our ultimate plan was to renovate throughout and add a kitchen extension,’ says Claire. ‘But when our daughters Elsie and Poppy came along, we were happy just to enjoy the bungalow as it was, with a few minor tweaks,’ says Claire. She and Paul began the first of two extensions in 2016. ‘We gave the exterior a modern industrial look by partly cladding it and replaced the roof and windows,’ she says. ‘We also built a new entrance hallway with a cloakroom. The following year, we built the large kitchen-diner extension at the rear of

LIVING AREA Oversized windows were put in to make the most of the garden views. Similar Ercol Studio couch, £3,140, Woods Furniture. Dessert rug in Black/white, £101.95, Benuta, has this look. Geometric cotton cushion, £18, La Redoute, is similar

HALLWAY Timber beams soften the modern lines. Similar Louis Poulsen pendant light, £455; Hay Palissade sofa, £719, both Skandium. Lohals seagrass rug, £80, Ikea, has this look

HOME OFFICE Open shelving creates storage without making the room feel closed in. DINING AREA This space is part of a new extension and a long window was put in for architectural interest. Black Hay dining chairs, £169 each, Made in Design. Pamono sells vintage Arne Jacobsen dining tables, from around £1,500. Similar Jadon two-door glass display cabinet, £300, Habitat

Universal 606 table and drawer units, price on request, Vitsoe. Similar DSW plastic chair, £39, Cult Furniture. Similar Flådis basket, £13, Ikea